So this puts me in an awkward spot. I can't really discuss this too much further at the moment, but since Reuters dropped the ball…
* Microsoft getting ready to unveil free anti-virus service
* Software maker says will soon put beta version on website
* Company employees testing it internally
Microsoft Corp is getting ready to unveil a long-anticipated free anti-virus service for PCs that will compete with products sold by Symantec Corp and McAfee Inc.
A Microsoft spokesman said on Wednesday that the world's biggest software maker is now testing an early version of the product with its own employees and that it will "soon" make a trial version available via its website.
Microsoft has said that it will only include basic features for fighting viruses, which would likely make it comparable to the least-expensive products sold by Symantec and McAfee.