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Neowin has posted a couple of shots of an older Morro build. Again, I can't really comment except to note that this build is already out of date.
Discuss this Article 43
I love that neowin link with the Symantec quote. This is going to KILL Symantec in when it comes to small companies and home users.
With the security in Windows Vista/7 and this free product, why even use AVG or other free software. I imagine that it will update its self, and also get updates via windows update. Plus it probably pulled the annoying parts of One Care.
I don't know about you people - but Symantec already has huge competition from other antivirus companies, and there isn't a single person I know that uses Symantec unless it's a free trial version they got with laptop - and it's just temporary solution. Avast, AVG, and other free solutions for real-low-end, NOD32 for those that want to buy something (if buying antivirus, just don't buy Symantec for God's sake!).. So Symantec should be lucky they still sell ANY antivirus products.
As for Morro, I can't wait for it to materialize! Morro+Defender+Firewall+all those being updated through Windows Update... I doubt that home users will need anything at all. With a better and less leaky browser (IE8), UAC that won't be turned off as soon as Windows installs, 64bit OS features like NX bit... I think we can finaly expect Windows to be pretty safe and secure out of the box, and without extra expenses. I just hope this thing ships as a part of OS, or at least as a part of Windows essentials or through Windows Update.. something easy, Average Joe easy..
As for the product itself - I just hope it includes mail scanner for Outlook/Live Mail at very least. If that's covered, I think most people will be fine.
Oh, and read that quote from Symantec - hehe, nothing like bashing competitor while it's not even out, huh? ;) Full suite? Sure, like I've said, you get Win7+Morro and you get firewall, antispyware, and antivirus, all with real-time protection. What else do you need for the "suite"? 1GB installation of Symantec stuff? Yuck! Even if I'll need better protection, I'd rather just buy NOD32.
I guess im just wondering if morro is both anti-virus & anti-spyware will they remove windows defender from 7 before it goes to RTM since there will be no need for both???
@bdizzel
I think Windows Defender will turn itself off if it detects that Morro has the same, if not better, capabilities as Defender. I have seen Windows Defender turn itself off when it detects other AV software like Norton 360, for example. If you try to start Defender when you have other AV software, Defender pops up a message saying that it's not needed and recommend using the software you have installed : )
bdizzel
As I understand it, there are legal reasons why anti-virus and anti-spyware have to be at least party separate. The big difference being that a virus is put on your system without your permission where much spyware actually gets on users systems WITH their permission (typically buried in the middle of a long EULA often as compensation for using a "free" application that's subsidized by the spyware author).
Removing a virus that the user didn't agree should be on their system is no big deal.
Removing spyware without the users explicit OK would be breaking a contract the user agreed to without them explicitly agreeing to take the risk of being out of compliance with the agreement they'd OK'd.
From the Screen shots it looks like Morro will be replacing windows defender, or Morro is an update to windows defender that now includes protection for viruses.
I like it, looks simple, now I just hope that they add this as part of windows update instead of a separate installer. It would be nice if it came with windows 7 in the dvd as an option to install.
I'm not a UI expert (I wish I was one -- if there's such a thing) but somehow that "Check for updates now" button seems out of place. Maybe it would look nicer on the bottom-right corner.
Is "Morro" going to be released as a public beta? I might give it a spin (I tried OneCare when it was in the public beta.)
@techfan - Note - PAul states that those screenshots are out of date. I still like OneCare and hope that this is a s good!
--tayme
Looks OK to me. Looking forward to switching from free Avast. If Microsoft does a good job of advertising this and making it easy to obtain (Windows Update hopefully) it will be really bad for Symantec and the others, which is fine by me. Users shouldn't have to pay extra to have a secure PC. It will also destroy the typical "Mac is better than Windows because you don't have to buy anti-virus" argument.
The one caveat is that if it is made readily available, it's liable to cause another anti-trust fuss in the EU.
I stopped using Symantec products after their Internet security suit finished last on comparative test of security products.
As I thought, this uses a UI that is fairly familiar to Forefront/Defender. At least, the same basic stuff is there even if it has a fresh coat of paint.
I'd like to know from any beta testers if Forefront Stirling's new Client Security agent is similar to this. I haven't had a chance to test it. Supposedly the Stirling desktop agent was the basis for Morro.
I'd like to see how this fares, performance-wise, against Norton AV 2009 Gaming Edition.
"Norton AV 2009 Gaming Edition" is that the real name? If so that is just plain stupid.
I'm no fan of anti Virus systems, and with the level of security in Vista and now Win 7 I see some of these vendors going the way of the Dinosaur, of course they'll continue to try to scare the less sophisticated users out there of which there are quite of few.
If Morro is light and efficient I'll give it a try.
""Norton AV 2009 Gaming Edition" is that the real name? If so that is just plain stupid."
It's for gamers. It has a "Gamer Mode" that turns off notifications and tunes the performance so that you get a better gameplay experience.
I hope that MS does NOT put this in Windows Update, but rather as an independent DL from their web site, as I think that there is less of a chance of getting sued by the AV companies. Even a DL link 'invite' from WU might be better, but IANAL. One of my rules is 'don't feed the lawyers'! Wasn't Silverlight like that at first?
I actually expected it to be more tightly integrated with the Windows Security Center or the Action Center in Windows 7.
That makes more sense than my suggestion, Shark. As part of an improving security center, it would be more difficult to win a law suit, especially when free.
@tayme: Ah. I thought by the built being out of date, Paul meant something else, not UI-related. Feature-wise maybe.
I find it insane that anyone, the EU or any other country, can possibly complain about a company doing everything it can to ensure that the operating system they sell, and the user who purchases it, is protected from being attacked by virus and malware problems.
It would be like the government preventing car companies from including airbags if there were other companies offering them for sale.
If other companies can offer a more secure alternative then people are free to spend their money to buy it. But Microsoft should be permitted to do anything within reason to protect the product they market and that the vast majority of companies use to conduct their business.
techman
Your ascribing rational motives to the EU, big mistake given the latest browser nonsense.
Clearly this will be an independent download with no "push" from MS.
@techfan - You may be right...it looks like we both read that differently. The UI may very well be complete in the version noted by Paul and just features exist now...time will tell.
--tayme
Norton Antivirus 2009 is a revelation. I'm using it for the first time in 7 years and what an amazing improvement it is compared to past editions which basically consumed the resources of the host PC.
"That makes more sense than my suggestion, Shark. As part of an improving security center, it would be more difficult to win a law suit, especially when free. "
I'm pretty sure there will be a link to download this along with other AV software in the Action Center.
I doubt if Microsoft can use Windows Update to provide updates, etc. I think it would be Microsoft Updates.
Shark
Integration with Action Center, like with Security Center before it, is part of an open set of calls that any relevant product can use.
Anybody's AV or AS or Firewall, for example, can hook in to the APIs in Action Center to integrate the status of the notification icon or display status updates or launch their configuration dialogs. That's been true since Windows XP SP2.
Appears to be super dumbed down. Not much control over anything and basic protection. Not expecting much from FREE.
i don't use any AV but i might try this, hopefully it's tiny, non-intrusive and very, very lightweight.
Stim, I think that Mike has been experimenting with gamma rays again, so watch out!
djRob,
The 2009 version of Norton is much better than previous versions.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/protect_your_pc_from_guys_like...
When MaximumPC gives a thumbs up for a product, it means it works well.
Anyway I can't wait for Morrow, It should be a good free alternative to paid suites. Is it supposed to have any of the capabilities of Windows Defender in terms of scanning for spyware?
I switched of Norton in 2003 to AVG and I've never been more satisfied. Its a free product that gets the job done. Its not perfect as Wae will be the first to point out. However, if you're being smart about how you browse and download, that's half the battle right there.
I will evaluate Morro when it comes out.
DRWAM
" I think that Mike has been experimenting with gamma rays again"
Actually, my avatar is green as a symbol of support for the students in Iran. (See #IranElection on twitter)
As Sub and others gave pointed out, common sense is our best defense in safe computing. But a decent AV app should help when there is a safety lapse [bad judgement or kids using your computer]. I stopped using AVG when it seemed to slow my eMachine. Then on my custom PC when I installed the Virtumonde trojan + variants trying a free app to revive a dead HD. AVG didn't even detect it, although the support site claimed that it should. OneCare found it and all it's variants and deleted it [the trial version]. I use OneCare with Vista but saved one license for the future, so AVAST is now on the XP PC's. AVAST recently detected two trojans before they infiltrated my system. The kids were using Google to create pictures, and I have noticed a warning at some sites about malware. But I can't monitor all three 100% of the time and they are 8,8 and 9 yrs old. I'll use the MS product when available. If it works, why pay for something else, but I think I'm done with AVG for good.
@sub:
You should try Norton Antivirus 2009. There's already 2 other people on here that say it's like night and day compared to the old versions.
My only complaint with it is the stupid Norton browser toolbar. Luckily that can be turned off easily.
It's really fast to install and uninstall now too.
Just try it out and see what I mean about the performance.
I think if Symantec can market the bare antimalware product properly against Morro, they might just get over the Norton-Good/Norton-Bad reputation people seem to flip-flop on.
@runner:
Norton Internet Security is a waste of money with Windows doing most of the work already.
The bare AV 2009 product is fine for Windows Vista (or 7) though.
Seems Neowin have updated their screenshots to a more up-to-date build.
@Waethorn,
Yeah I don't pay for any of the virus or antispyware programs I use(AVG Free, Windows Defender).
More/ Newer Screenshots!
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/06/leaked-microsoft-security-...
"AVG Free"
@runner:
You get what you pay for (in most cases). I get a lot of systems in with AVG Free 8.0.xxx.whatever with viruses.
It certainly doesn't fix WinFixer problems. Many of the systems I see have WinAntivirus200x/XP on them also.
Avast is better. Not by much, but it's free too. Otherwise I'd use the OneCare trial for the time being until Morro launches.
Morro will be the best free one though.
Aside from that, I'd recommend ForeFront Client Security for businesses (managed OR unmanaged mode, ie. with our without the management server[s]), or Norton AV 2009 Gaming Edition for gamers - at least until I see how it compares to Morro, er, Microsoft Security Essentials.
FCS costs about $15US per computer per year for the desktop agent. The server is where it costs big money, but you don't actually need it if it's a small business. The FCS agent will also load on Windows Server if you need something lightweight for a simple file server. Exchange and Office SharePoint Server 2007 systems should have the respective Forefront products for those though.
Security Essentials isn't validated (as of yet) for any business use though, so it shouldn't be used in that kind of environment (don't expect any high priority support either). Unmanaged FCS gives you the same capabilities, but you'd get business support with it (it's only sold with a volume license agreement) so businesses are getting something for their money. Consumers often get stuff cheaper - Office multi-computer licensing anyone? - so this is nothing really new.
@all:
I can confirm that those antimalware definitions in the Arse Technica shots are identical to what I am using RIGHT NOW on Forefront Client Security.
The date and timestamps are the same.
Guys, you could just take your own screenshots ;-)
http://www.jcxp.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=35080
Also FYI:
The engine version is the same. I had to look in the About section in FCS to check that though.
My client version is 1.5.xxxx though. Theirs is 2.0.xxxx. I'm guessing because this is based off of the new 2.0 beta version of Forefront Client Security. I'm using a production version though, not a beta.
