Microsoft Corp., whose popular Windows software is a frequent target for Internet viruses, is offering a free security program to remove the most dangerous infections from computers.

The program, with monthly updates, is a step toward plans by Microsoft to sell full-blown antivirus software later this year.

Microsoft said Thursday that consumers can download the new security program from the company’s website — www.microsoft.com — and that updated versions will be offered automatically and free each month. It will be available starting Tuesday.

Also, Microsoft offered Thursday a free program to remove “spyware,” a category of irritating programs that secretly monitor the activities of Internet users and can cause sluggish computer performance or pop-up ads.

Ryan Purita, senior security consultant with Vancouver‘s Totally Connected Security Ltd., slammed Microsoft for producing software that is susceptible to virus attacks and so drives the anti-virus market.

“Viruses are caused by flaws in Microsoft software, spyware is caused by flaws in Microsoft,” he said. Instead of creating its own anti-virus solutions, Purita said Microsoft should be asked: “How about you get your programmers to code secure software so we don’t have to worry about anti-virus?”

Companies like Sophos, an international network security company with North American headquarters in Vancouver, will be in competition with Microsoft only if the new anti-virus services are extended to businesses as well as consumers. Unlike Symantec and McAfee, which offer consumer products as well as business solutions, Sophos caters only to the corporate crowd.

Catherine Ducharme, director of corporate communications for Sophos, said it is too early to determine what effect the Microsoft announcement could have a Sophos‘ business.

“We don’t know anything about what the product is or who the product is targeted at,” she said. “From Sophos‘ point of view, our focus is exclusively on providing protection to business. We don’t know if it is competition for us. It’s a little speculative right now.”

© The Vancouver Sun 2005