Microsoft Offers Free Virus-Removal,
Anti-Spyware Programs for Windows
01-06-2005 6:43 PM
By TED BRIDIS

WASHINGTON --  Microsoft Corp., whose popular
Windows software is a frequent target for
Internet viruses, is offering a free security
program to remove the most dangerous infections
from computers.

                               The program, with monthly updates, is a step
                               toward plans by Microsoft to sell full-blown
                               antivirus software later this year.

                               Microsoft said Thursday that consumers can
                               download the new security program from the
                               company's Web site _ www.microsoft.com _ and
                               that updated versions will be offered
                               automatically and free each month. It will
be
                               available starting Tuesday.

                               Also, Microsoft offered Thursday a free
program
                               to remove "spyware," a category of
irritating
                               programs that secretly monitor the
activities of
                               Internet users and can cause sluggish
computer
                               performance or popup ads.

                               Microsoft said the virus-removal program
will
                               not prevent computer infections and was
never
                               intended to replace the need for traditional
                               antivirus software, such as flagship
products
                               from McAfee Inc. or Symantec Corp.

                               But a senior Microsoft executive confirmed
the
                               company's plans to sell its own antivirus
                               software, which would compete against
programs
                               from McAfee, Symantec and others.

                               Microsoft purchased a Romanian antivirus
firm,
                               GeCAD Software Srl., for an undisclosed
amount
                               in 2003. Industry rivals expect Microsoft's
                               formal entry into the market as early as the
                               spring.

                               "We will have a stand-alone antivirus
product
                               that is one of the things you can buy from
                               Microsoft, but we're not announcing anything
                               today," said Rich Kaplan, vice president for
                               Microsoft's security business and technology
                               unit.

                               The offers of free virus- and
spyware-removal
                               tools were intended to convince consumers
that
                               Microsoft is working to improve its
software's
                               security, Kaplan said.

                               Microsoft and other companies occasionally
have
                               offered separate programs to disinfect
specific
                               viruses. Microsoft promised its new removal
tool
                               will target a variety of infections and will
be
                               updated each month to recognize new ones.
                               Microsoft is sensitive to criticism about
the
                               susceptibility of its Windows operating
system
                               software to computer viruses. It has
responded
                               by tightening security for its popular
Outlook
                               e-mail software and improving the protective
                               firewall utility for Windows. But its
reputation
                               largely has hinged on consumers' effective
use
                               of antivirus products and other security
                               programs outside Microsoft's control.
                               Microsoft has proceeded more cautiously in
                               recent years as it moves to compete against
its
                               one-time partners. European antitrust
regulators
                               last year fined the company $613 million
over
                               charges it abused its software monopoly.

                               Microsoft is operating under restrictions
from a
                               U.S. antitrust settlement with the Bush
                               administration until 2007.

                               Kaplan encouraged consumers to buy updated
                               antivirus software from vendors such as
Symantec
                               and McAfee. He also expressed confidence
that an
                               industry organization formed to share
details
                               between Microsoft and leading antivirus
                               companies about virus outbreaks would
survive
                               Microsoft's decision to compete directly
against
                               those same businesses.

                               Antivirus vendors have warned investors
about
                               the fallout as Microsoft enters the market.
                               McAfee, for example, said in its most recent
                               annual report that its own products could
become
                               "obsolete and unmarketable" if Microsoft
were to
                               include antivirus protection in Windows
software.
                               A Symantec executive, Vincent Weafer, said
                               Microsoft's success as an antivirus company
at
                               Symantec's expense was not guaranteed.
Weafer
                               noted that some leading security companies
have
                               decades of specialized experience and
skilled
                               researchers.

                               "This is an area we certainly think we can
                               differentiate ourselves from Microsoft,"
Weafer
                               said. "We've worked hard over the years to
build
                               trust with customers."

                               Microsoft disclosed last month that it
planned
                               to offer software to remove spyware programs
                               that are secretly running on computers. But
in a
                               shift from past practice, Microsoft said it
may
                               charge consumers for future versions of the
new
                               protective technology, which Microsoft
acquired
                               by buying a small New York software firm.
                               Kaplan said the free version of Microsoft's
new
                               spyware-removal software will expire July 31
and
                               pricing for future versions is still
undecided.
                               Rival anti-spyware tools, such as Lavasoft
                               Inc.'s popular Ad-Aware product, offer
similar
                               functions to Microsoft's, and many are free.
                               __
                               On the Net:
                               Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/