Although you get firewall and anti-spyware tools as part of Windows, Microsoft has always been reluctant to give Windows users free anti-virus software. Indeed, for the past couple of years it has encouraged customers who want anti-virus protection to subscribe to the Windows Live Onecare service which also includes firewall, anti-spyware, backup and other tools. A Onecare Server implementation is also available specifically for small businesses. Unfortunately the Onecare anti-virus tools don’t compare well against those from specialist vendors such Mcafee, Sophos and Symantec, and very few customers have signed up to use them.  

The world's biggest software maker is now into antivirus software.Although you get firewall and anti-spyware tools as part of Windows, Microsoft has always been reluctant to give Windows users free anti-virus software. Read More: http://www.bench3.com/2009/06/microsoft-is-to-launch-free-antivirus.html

As a result, Microsoft has announced that it will be discontinuing the Onecare service in favour of a free anti-virus product, code-named Morro, which is expected to start shipping in the second half of 2009. Onecare will be discontinued on 30 June 2009 but updates, support and subscription renewals will continue to be available until Morro ships. Our advice is to keep your wallet firmly closed and wait until that happens, especially if you’re not already a Onecare customer.