Microsoft's Free Antivirus and Secure XP

       Microsoft will finally release a free antivirus called Morro.  The antivirus will be based upon the original Windows One Care Antivirus.  I outlined the original Windows One Care's features here. I've come across a few articles on the internet that basically state the notion that the Windows One Care antivirus engine was insufficient.  However, in av-comparative reports, they found (here) that One Care received the highest ranking "Advanced+." So there is definitely some contradictory information on the internet. This may be because if Microsoft is going to offer a free antivirus, the product would go into direct competition with the current entrenched competitors in the antivirus industry with billions of dollars in revenues.  The stakes are high since Microsoft is providing the free antivirus  and it will definitely be downloaded by a large amount of people.  These people may think twice about buying a regular antivirus product.  I have also heard threats on part of the antivirus companies that they will sue if a Microsoft free antivirus program is released.

       I think there is also another important point to note. If Microsoft bundles free antivirus software with their operating system, the industry as a whole will probably not benefit.  This is because the current environment allows competition and an increased difficulty to attack the masses' computers. If the there is only one antivirus used by the majority of users, then hackers will test their viruses to make sure that the free antivirus doesn't detect their virus.  Millions of computer's could be impacted in such a situation.