Microsoft Security Essentials
Update: 29 Sep 2009 – Microsoft Security Essentials is now available for download.
Testing of Microsoft Security Essentials is complete and will be released in the next few weeks as a downloaded application. Microsoft Security Essentials is a free antivirus program to combat spyware, viruses, trojans and rootkits on Windows machines.
Minimum hardware requirements for running MSE are:
Windows XP (Service 2 or 3) with 500 MHZ CPU and 256 MB RAM
Windows Vista or Windows 7 with 1 GHZ and 512 MB RAM
WSE comes from the fact many Windows users don’t utilize any antivirus creating major issues for Windows and its users. The technology of WSE has evolved from prior Microsoft products such as One-Care and Windows Defender. Installation will disable Windows Defender, as it will no longer be required, and security definitions will be automatically updated through Microsoft update services. If you are currently running the Beta of MSE, you can update the product by Clicking on the ‘Upgrade Now’ button on the Microsoft Security Essentials Home tab or select ‘Upgrade Microsoft Security Essentials’ under the Help drop-down menu.
If you are asking yourself “Should I install Microsoft Security Essentials when available?” My response would be why not? MSE is light weight, free and will protect you from vulnerabilities. Finally, any antivirus application is not a guarantee for a malware free system. Your Web surfing habits are the most important traits to a threat free life.
