Microsoft customers have had the option to purchase software preloaded on their new computers for years now, but here’s a chance to get something for free. That’s right, Microsoft is actually offering something more than a free trial. Microsoft automatic updates will now detect whether or not a computer has adequate anti-virus protection – and if it doesn’t, it will make their own Security Essentials anti-virus software available. It’s kind of nice that they’re offering something so important that it should already be built in, but two competing anti-virus companies disagree.
Panda Security and Trend Micro both are against the move, saying that Microsoft is effectively stopping would-be customers from shopping around first. They may have a point, but any person who is knowingly connected to the internet without any type of security probably isn’t the type that would have bought from them anyways. Both companies contend that their main concern is that Microsoft is once again not giving customers a choice. Automatic updates isn’t just a catchy name – whatever technology and information Microsoft deems as imperative will still be transmitted to your computer, even if you opted out.
Panda Security and Trend Micro may just have a point. Security Essentials provides basic protection, but the software doesn’t offer any malware protection. By making it so easy for customers to say “yes” to Microsoft’s instant anti-virus protection prompt, they may mistakenly think that Security Essentials will keep their computer safe. Neither anti-virus company went any further than publicly complaining about Microsoft’s latest move, but this could change in the future.
