Symantec and McAfee Could Face Trouble as Microsoft Tests Free Anti-Virus Software

There’s trouble ahead for the anti-virus sector, and it is coming from Redmond.

Microsoft (MSFT) Wednesday said it is testing an early version of a free anti-virus service for PCs that will compete with paid products from Symantec (SYMC) and McAfee (MFE), Reuters reports. Microsoft is testing the service with its own employees now, and expects to make a trial version available via its web site soon.

The company first disclosed plans for a free anti-virus service in November.

SYMC is down 26 cents, or 1.6%, to $16.27. MFE is down $1.02, or 2.5%, to $39.55.

MSFT is up 18 cents, or 0.8%, to $22.26.

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Comments

[zorro6204:]

Oh please! Judging by the totally pathetic software the Evil Empire has burped up, like the laughable malware removel tool, the security software industry has nothing to fear. Whatever they come up will be overly intrusive, maddening to use, buggy, prone to hanging up and inappropriately blocking legitimate access.

MSFT tries to do everything, and as a result they do little well. You think the video editing software sellers fear Movie Maker? Considering it can't be minimized and doesn't even have a volume control? Never mind that it can't handle whole classes of files and blows up at a breath. See many companies using "TIFF" files to publish online?

Jun 10 07:54 PM

[notsosmart:]

this may work & come as a surprise.mfe & symc werent that great.one of them i could not even renew & the guy in india could not help.i gave up.got a free one.never had a virus problem.the other offered thru my broker was another headache.gave up there also.

Jun 11 07:56 PM

[aeireck:]

Those anti virus can work well. But I trusted anti virus software from a reputable company...

Oct 21 08:27 PM