RSSNew anti-virus program from Microsoft
Posted by callthatgirl on February 8, 2010
I’ve been playing around with and testing the new Microsoft antivirus program “Microsoft Security Essentials” and so far, I have to report…nothing but great results for the “home/basic user”.
This is a free AV program for those that have purchased any of the Microsoft operating systems. While it installs, it does a validation of the license. Keep in mind, this product is to replace their not so lucky in life product “Windows One Care”. So if you are about to change AV programs, One Care is not that easy to remove. You may need a special remover tool.
What I like about Microsoft Security Essentials so far
- Quick to install
- Updates are quick
- Scheduled scans don’t slow the computer down too much
- Finds viruses and malware (most importantly compared to Norton which doesn’t fair well)
- Runs in “real time” meaning, it’s always on and looking out for you
In my repair shop, on a weekly basis I get computers in that have the big boxy AV programs and they are failing left and right. I have found that the free ones do just as well or better than those that are costly.
To download this program, go to http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
For another review, http://www.pcworld.com/article/167246/first_look_microsoft_security_essentials.html
I hope that helps some of you out there that are looking for some free software to fight those pesky intruders!
What is your opinion of Eset Nod32 Antivirus 4? Does that also include malware or only virus?
I tried this Microsoft Security Essentials, both x86 and Windows 7 64 bits. The XP worked fine. The W7-64 bits hung up both times within 2 minutes. I had to reboot the computer, reinstall before I could uninstall it.
It was a mess.
Hi Lisa – have you heard of any success with MSE preventing infections of the browser hijackers that everyone’s been getting infected with lately? Three relatives got nailed in a month and guess whose job it is to fix them. The last (not latest) version of Avast was letting them slip by…although it appears to have prevented any major infestation.
Keep up the great work!
Aw, this was a really quality post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get something done.