Microsoft gives free Symantec software in limited offer

[Virus Guy]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...tec_software_in_limited_offer?source=rss_news

Microsoft gives free Symantec software in limited offer
By Nancy Gohring
November 17, 2010 08:20 PM ET

IDG News Service - Microsoft is now offering free Symantec security
software to small businesses for a limited time, through retailer PC
Mall, following some grumbling in response to the free distribution of
its own security software.

In October, Microsoft began offering small businesses free copies of
Microsoft Security Essentials for as many as 10 PCs. It has also started
letting customers download the software from Windows Update.

Panda Security and Trend Micro are among the companies that complained
about Microsoft offering the security software free, with Trend Micro
suggesting that the software giant could be violating competition laws
in distributing it via Windows Update.

Panda suggested that Microsoft offer free antivirus software from a
variety of companies as a way to prevent a security software monoculture
that could make it easier for viruses to spread quickly.

It appears Microsoft is taking that suggestion, although not in
partnership with Panda, and only through one retailer.

From Nov. 1 until Dec. 31, businesses that buy a new copy of Windows 7
Professional from PC Mall will also get a copy of Symantec EndPoint
Protection Small Business Edition free. The offer is good for up to 50
PCs.

In September, Microsoft said that Security Essentials had been
downloaded more than 31 million times. The free software, distributed by
Microsoft, poses a competitive threat to other antivirus software
developers.

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Microsoft gives free Symantec software in limited offer

Heh, this looks like Microsoft's Final Answer to the question:
Q: "Will Microsoft ever be able to fix its vulnerabilities?"
A: "Apparently not, so let's give away someone else's tools."

 

[Man-wai Chang]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...tec_software_in_limited_offer?source=rss_news
....
From Nov. 1 until Dec. 31, businesses that buy a new copy of Windows 7
Professional from PC Mall will also get a copy of Symantec EndPoint
Protection Small Business Edition free. The offer is good for up to 50
PCs.

Why Symantec?


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