Microsoft first released a public beta
of its Security Essentials antivirus suite back in June and it was
met with mostly positive reviews. The public beta was only open for
the first
75,000 downloaders and that limit was reached rather quickly.
Today, however, Microsoft has released
the final version of Security Essentials and anyone running Windows
XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 can download it for free. Microsoft
Security Essentials offers basic antivirus, spyware, and malware
protection -- it also offers real-time protection and regularly
updated malware signature files via Microsoft's Dynamic Signature
Service.
Since Microsoft Security Essentials
provides the bare minimum protections for a Windows-based machine,
other niceties such as a firewall and multi-PC management are not
available. This should appease Microsoft's competitors in the
anti-malware software segment.
Those who wish to try out the software
can download it directly from the Microsoft
Security Essentials website. The download requires that your PC
pass Windows Genuine Advantage checks, so only legit Windows users
will have access to the software.
