Back when Microsoft announced it was going to release its free Security Essentials antivirus program, some security firms scoffed at the idea that an au gratis solution could hang with fleshed out, non-free AV suites. Among them was Symantec, who warned that "if you are only relying on free antivirus" to keep your PC safe, then "you are not getting the protection you need to be able to stay clean and have a reasonable chance of avoiding identify theft."

Symantec made that comment over a year ago, and whether Comodo has been stewing over it ever since then, or just recently became aware of it, the company wants Symantec to put up or shut up.

"I read what Symantec has said about free antivirus products. This kind of misinformation is just unacceptable from companies like Symantec!," Comodo CEO Melih Abdulhayoglu said in a blog post. "Enough is enough!...You can't mislead end users with blatant lies like this!

"If Symantec truly believes what they preach to the media when then they will have no problem taking this challenge."

Hit the jump to see what the challenge is, and to read Symantec's response.