Microsoft to release free anti-virus software today

Microsoft's Security Essentials is released today

Microsoft has confirmed that it will take its free anti-virus software out of beta today.

Security Essentials has been available in beta since June, but will go live for everyone on 29 September. The software will update its anti-virus signature daily to deal with new threats.

"Microsoft Security Essentials, the highly anticipated no-cost consumer security offering, will be released to the public on 29 September," 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 persuade more people to install anti-virus software.

Security Essentials was born out of Microsoft's first attempt at security software, dubbed OneCare. The tools failed to excite interest from customers or major OEMs, and the company scrapped the project last year.