Computer Associates has replaced its free anti-virus service with
my-eTrust.com, a new site with priced software.
Computer Associates (CA) has ended the InoculateIT Personal
Edition, eTrust Mail Watcher and eTrust Content Inspection Personal
Edition "promotional programs" after two years.
According to a company statement current users will continue to get
updates as long as the software is installed on their personal
computer and runs one of the supported operating systems.
CA began offering InoculateIT Personal Edition to US home users in
April 1999 and the offer was expanded to include computer users
worldwide in December of the same year. The service included free
software upgrades, virus definition updates and technical support
via e-mail.
"Keeping the software up-to-date has proven to be costly. It turns
out we have to ask some money for it," said a company
spokesman.
Customers visiting CA's anti-virus site (antivirus.cai.com) are now
directed to my-eTrust.com. The company's online store offers a
range of security products sold on a subscription basis, targeted
at home and small business users. A new package, eTrust Antivirus,
costs US$19.95 for the first year and $9.95 for subsequent
years.
The product is still cheaper than some of the competition.
McAfee.com offers virus protection for $24.95 a year while the
Symantec Corporation offers Norton AntiVirus 2001 version 7.0 for
$39.95, which includes one year of virus definition updates.
It is doubtful whether CA's new offer will attract customers, says
Rob Hailstone, a software analyst with market research firm
International Data Corporation.
"I don't think CA has done enough to exploit its free service.
People still associate other names with the provision of anti-virus
software," said Hailstone. "I don't think they will be making a lot
of money out of it."
The CA spokesman admitted that the end of the program was not
widely announced, but said all registered users should have
received notification via e-mail.