A few days ago Microsoft released their free anti-virus software called Microsoft Security Essentials, which is replacing Windows Defender.

Microsoft says Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, but it is Security Essentials itself that contains spyware. Read on, I’ll explain. This is a must read for anyone concerned about their privacy.

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In response to Microsoft’s announcement of their free Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software, Symantec Norton posted a commercial on YouTube dubbed You Get What You Pay For.

Norton’s point is that free software is limited for all sorts of reasons, like it won’t scan email, or web pages for phishing, or email, and you don’t get free support, but almost none of that is true. In fact, none of it is true. The free support might be true in some cases, but most often it is provided by other users of the software, and the support is often better than that obtained directly from Norton. Even Norton’s software is so bloated, and slows PCs down so much, that years ago I switched to McAfee, and have never been happier.

Probably realizing their commercial can’t hold water, Norton took the ad down within days.