Microsoft to release free antivirus software tomorrow

Microsoft has confirmed that it is to release free antivirus software out of beta tomorrow.

The company’s Security Essentials software has been available in beta form since June but will go live for everyone tomorrow.

The software will update its antivirus signature daily to deal with new threats.

"Microsoft Security Essentials, the highly anticipated no-cost consumer security offering, will be released to the public tomorrow, September 29,” said the company in a statement.

Microsoft insists that it is not looking to compete with the big security vendors like Symantec and McAfee, which have paid for security suites, but is instead looking to get more people who don’t have any antivirus software running.

Security Essentials was born out of Microsoft’s first attempt at security software, dubbed OneCare. OneCare however failed to excite interest from customers or major OEMs and the company said that it was scrapping the suite last year.