First it was spyware - now Microsoft is heading for the lucrative anti-virus market. CNN reports the software giant is to release "a free security program" which will tackle the most dangerous of infections. The "Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool" is expected to be made available next week as part of the Windows update cycle.
The new program won't tackle all infections - however, a full anti-virus suite is believed to be part of Microsoft's plans. It bought out GeCAD Software Srl, a Romanian anti-virus firm, two years ago, and it's expected the full program may be available as soon as this spring. Rich Kaplan, vice president for Microsoft's security business and technology unit, revealed: "We will have a standalone antivirus product that is one of the things you can buy from Microsoft, but we're not announcing anything today."
Among the viruses and worms expected to be tackled by the new program are the MSBlast, Sasser and MyDoom bugs which spread rapidly around the net.
View: Microsoft's anti-spyware and anti-virus plans
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