Microsoft has just announced that the company will provide a free anti-virus and security solution in the second half of the next year.

The software maker says that it will no more sell its all-in-one security and PC management service from the end of June 2009.

The new software has been code-named as Morro and this no-frills program is being considered quite suitable for smaller and less powerful computers.

The new software will support Windows 7, Vista and Windows XP and it will be free to download.

The anti-virus marketplace is replete with big-name players’ likes of McAfee and Symantec and this step is being taken as sales of the OneCare subscription service are weakening.

OneCare was launched in May 2006 and since that time it has gained less than 2% of the security software market share.

Microsoft told about Morro that it would be a small-footprint program that would use fewer system resources and because of its specific design it would be quite handy for users with low-bandwidth and for computers with less processing power.

For consumers who are buying comparatively low-powered ‘netbook, computers, this new software will be of particular interest.

“The new free offering will help us to protect a large number of consumers, particularly in markets where the growth of new PC purchases has been outpaced only by the growth of malware,” says Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management in the online service division at Microsoft.