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You’d think that with all the viruses, malware, spyware and what not on Windows, Microsoft would offer some sort of protection.  Well, actually it does, currently the service costs $49.95 per year and is called Microsoft Live OneCare.  It’s one of the many things Microsoft has that’s easy to forget about.  That’s not a bad thing, though, as it will be leaving on June 30, 2009.

To replace OneCare, Microsoft is working on “Morro.”  Morro is the project-name for its new, free virus protection program.  According to the Reuters article, Morro is being designed to work on “smaller, less powerful computers.”  That probably means it is being made to work with netbooks. 

There’s no word on what Windows platforms will be supported by Morro, though given that it will be released “the second half of next year,” it seems natural to include Windows 7, though it will most likely work on XP and Vista as well.  At least that’s what I would assume.

Rueters claims this is a direct shot at McAfee, which it could be.  Although, I don’t know anyone who actually pays for virus protection anymore.  Most everyone I know has Avast, or maybe AVG.  This might be more of a shot at those programs more than McAfee.  It seems a bit ridiculous to have to pay every year for a new version of virus protection for a computer, though it is needed.  This gives Microsoft more of a chance to either control more aspects of computers, or manage to screw them up somehow (which is unlikely).  It is more competition for free personal virus protection, and that can only lead to good things for the average user in the long run.

Read [Reuters]