Today Microsoft launched the beta version of its free antivirus/anti-malware product. Originally said to be named "Morro" after a beach in Sao Paulo, Brazil, it's now called Microsoft Security Essentials. MSE is meant to replace the subscription-based Windows Live OneCare consumer security suite, and is also geared toward consumers. Pcmag.com has a review of the SME beta version here. ZDNet.com reports that the downloads will be capped at 75,000. May the Force be with you.

Also, Steve Ballmer stated last week how much he's willing to pour into Bing over the next five years:

"Our shareholders, I told them we were willing to spend 5 to 10 percent of operating income for up to five years in this business, and we feel like we can get an economic return," Ballmer told a business luncheon in Chicago, without elaborating on the timeframe.

"We invested in Xbox for years and now it generates nice economic returns for us," he said, referring to the company's popular gaming console."

Fair enough, but a well-established video game console isn't the same thing as a relatively undeveloped Internet search engine. Citing industry data, Reuters also said that Bing had nabbed "12.1 percent of U.S. Internet searches for the June 8-12 work week, up from 11.3 percent from June 1-5 but trailing Google's 65 percent of U.S. searches in May."

Via reuters.com and pcmag.com.