Three years after its release of Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft is again trying its hands at the antivirus market.

Code-named "Morro," after Brazil's Morro de Sao Paolo beach, Microsoft's antivirus software is a free, comprehensive antivirus alternative that offers basic features, similar to the low-end consumer products sold by Symantec and McAfee.

Microsoft: Biting the Hand that Feeds

Analysts, however, are warning Microsoft to think twice about launching the software. This is because anti-virus companies like Symantec and McAfee already protect Windows PCs from malware and hackers every day; thus, many question why Microsoft would want to jeopardize this relationship.

While Morro is still technically considered a competitive threat to the other two anti-virus companies, it would not offer anywhere close to the added perks of owning a higher-end subscription. (Source: reuters.com)

Live OneCare Revisited?

About three years ago, the Mcirosoft launched "Live OneCare", but the project turned out to be a commercial bust. When Microsoft decided to pull the plug on OneCare, they promised to return with a better product by the end of 2009.

True to their word, the topic of anti-virus is being discussed once again.

While only considered a small threat, Symantec has lashed out at Morro, claiming that "Microsoft's free product is basically a stripped down version of the OneCare product Microsoft pulled from the shelves. A full Internet security suite is what consumers require today to stay fully protected." (Source: indiatimes.com)

Microsoft said that most of the Morro testing will be done using their own employees. A trial version for public release is expected soon, though no specific date has been announced.