Microsoft partners protest free antivirus distribution

Two antivirus vendors have criticised Microsoft over its decision to push out its free anti-virus (AV), Security Essentials, under its Microsoft Update service. 

Microsoft began offering Security Essentials as a free program in late 2009, which drew little objection from AV vendors, however its decision to push it to customers in the US and UK during the past fortnight has triggered claims the process is anti-competitive. 

"We think this is not fair," PandaLabs technical director Luis Corrons told UK technology news site, ITPro. 

He added that the ubiquitous distribution of Microsoft's anti-virus would make it easier for criminals to develop malware that bypasses the blacklist.      

The company wants Microsoft to continue pushing antivirus to Windows users, including illegitimate copy owners, but also include other AV programs in the update. 

A Trend Micro executive raised similar concerns last week after the UK launch in late October. 

"Commercialising Windows Update to distribute other software applications raises significant questions about unfair competition," said Carol Carpenter, Trend Micro's general manager of the consumer and small business told Computer World.

"Windows Update is a de-facto extension of Windows, so to begin delivering software tied to updates has us concerned," she added. "Windows Update is not a choice for users, and we believe it should not be used this way."

Microsoft initially justified its free AV service because it knew that "too many people" were unwilling or unable to pay for it. 

This week it defended its new push program because giving away AV wasn't enough to encourage customers to use it, according to a statement Microsoft issued to CNet on Monday. 

"Despite the broad availability of anti-malware software, we still find that many consumer and small business PCs remain unprotected," Microsoft said.