Web users in Korea will able to access more free security programmes beginning in April, as NHN Corp., which runs Naver, the country's most popular portal, announced Wednesday it will provide a real-time antivirus programme for free in partnership with local web security firm Ahn Lab.

Naver will offer the programme as part of its “PC Green” user service, The Korea Herald reported Thursday.

Experts believe the agreement between Ahn Lab and Naver will mean changes for Korea's local online security programmes market. Naver has an average of 30 million visitors each month, and controls 80 percent of the search market in the country, according to The Korea Herald.

“The trend, although sure to hurt profits of online security firms, will intensify and make programs for individuals free in the long term,” Chun Sang-phil, Samsung Securities Co. analyst, told The Korea Herald.

The partnership comes after Yahoo! Korea began its free antivirus monitoring programme in October, and other firms made their programmes free, such as local Internet firm Eastsoft, and its online security software Al Yac.