This week, Microsoft confirmed that it would soon be releasing a free antivirus product that can run Windows versions all the way back to XP. That puts the company on target to deliver the product, code named Morro, that they announced last November to replace the paid OneCare product that meet its end this month.It's been a long trip to this point for Microsoft. When Windows viruses began to cause a problem in the mid-1990s, Microsoft all but ignored the problem, creating a lucrative business for companies like Symantec and McAfee in the process. Microsoft started to address the problem with the free Windows Defender, which evolved from their purchase of the GIANT AntiSpyware product in late 2004. The Malicious Software Removal Tool, delivered through Windows Update, is a batch scan-and-clean tool that targets specific high-prevalence viruses. Neither product is a full-spectrum solution to prevent users from catching viruses in the first place. The lack of full antivirus protection in Windows has meant that users and businesses need to pay an additional $50 to $100 a year to keep a PC secure.

Finally, it seems like Morro will deliver the final piece. Microsoft will be offering full-spectrum protection from both virus and spyware threats without an extra cost. I wonder how that will change the typical user's out-of-box experience. Many PC makers get a significant cut of the money earned by convincing users to sign up for a third-party antivirus. Those offers often exploit users by lowballing the initial subscription price, then renewing at a much higher price. Free may be good for users, but PC makers may not feel the same way.

This doesn't mean the end of the road for security companies like Symantec and McAfee. Large businesses will want reporting, remote management, and customizability that a free consumer product like Morro won't deliver. Third-party security companies will also do their best to convince PC users that Morro is not good enough for even consumer or small business use. I am looking forward to seeing how good it really is.