A future core antimalware solution will replace Windows Live OneCare, which, considering the price of a one year subscription, has already qualified for an alternative to free security software, come mid-2009. Sales of OneCare licenses will be discontinued at the end of June 2009, in order to be replaced by
codename Morro, a free security solution tailored to Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Microsoft indicated that its decision had nothing to do with OneCare's quality, performance, and overall level of protection.
“Microsoft is refocusing our efforts away from the for-fee OneCare security suite business, and on to a quality no-cost anti-malware solution for a simple reason: We are committed to helping more consumers in more markets have a reliable, trusted experience on Windows PCs,”
revealed a member of the Windows Live OneCare team.
The Redmond company emphasized that it would continue to deliver support for OneCare, as long as subscription agreements would last. Additionally, existing OneCare users that would wish to adopt Morro, would receive guidance from Microsoft for the transition.
“OneCare is tested by numerous organizations around the world and has been certified by two of the industry's leading independent certification authorities, ICSA Labs and West Coast Labs, as providing high-quality and effective protection against viruses, spyware, and other forms of malware. In addition, Windows Live OneCare has received VB100 awards since June 2007,” the OneCare team member added.
Microsoft is attempting to squash comments and criticism that welcomed the demise of OneCare, due to the way the product performed on end-users’ machines, the level of security it managed to offer, and how it compared with other security products available on the market. The software giant indicated that, with the free antimalware Morro solution, it was aiming to make it easy for over 60% of Windows users, who did not run security software to stay secure.
