Major security companies have criticised Microsoft's OneCare security software and the software giant's decision to stop charging for the offering.

Microsoft's new solution, codenamed Morro, will be available in the second half of 2009 and will protect against viruses, spyware, rootkits, and Trojans, according to Microsoft.

Rowan Trollope, senior vice president of Symantec's consumer business, characterised the announcement as a "capitulation by Microsoft, and a reinforcement of the notion that it's simply not in Microsoft's DNA to provide high-quality, frequently updated security protection."

Consumers have already rejected OneCare even though it entered the market at a lower price

Symantec's Rowan Trollope

"Consumers have already rejected OneCare even though it entered the market at a lower price, because OneCare offered substandard protection and poor performance as evidenced by scores of third party reviews," he continued. "The offering only gained modest market share and ultimately was deemed unsuccessful in the marketplace.

"Making a significantly scaled-back version of that same substandard security technology free won't change that equation."

Trollope said even if it was free, Microsoft's offering would far worse than its predecessor. He claimed it would put consumers at risk without additional protection.

"Additionally, our research clearly indicates that, after effective protection, what consumers care most about in a security product is performance. OneCare is widely recognised as one of the most egregious offenders in hogging system resources," he said.

Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management for the Online Services and Windows Division at Microsoft, earlier this week dismissed similar criticism from McAfee. "If the current approach isn't working ... (as far as protecting consumers broadly) we need to go with a new approach," she said.

A representative for AVG Technologies, maker of AVG Antivirus, said: "We view this as a positive step for the AV (antivirus) landscape. AVG has believed in the right to free antivirus software for the past eight years." The company said it will be "business as usual" and doesn't plan to make any changes to its own product offerings as a result. "Based on what Microsoft is planning to deliver, we don't feel the need to make any changes to our free product at this time," the company said.

AVG has believed in the right to free antivirus software for the past eight years

AVG spokesperson

Asked if AVG had any advice for Microsoft, the company said: "Consumers will use a free product if it's robust and it protects them. The product has to be easy to use, fast, unobtrusive, and be able to address the latest web threats."

Alex Eckelberry, CEO of Sunbelt Software, maker of Vipre Antivirus + Antispyware, said the move to get out of a profitable business appeared to be a capitulation on Microsoft's part. "This gives them a chance to do something altruistic while getting out of an unattractive business," he said. He noted that Microsoft would still be selling Microsoft Forefront, a collection of business security products.

Eckelberry said there remained two questions: One, how exactly would Microsoft distribute the product (would it consider bundling it with Windows 7)? And two, would the company make the application available through enterprise group policy management? In the end, AVG said the market still needs to be educated. "Microsoft will have to do more than simply make the product available," the AVG representative said.

(CNET News' Elinor Mills contributed to this article.)