Anti-virus software is a necessity for all Windows users. Microsoft have finally released their own security package named Security Essentials. It offers protection against viruses, malware, trojans, rootkits, and other malicious software.
The product is free and can be downloaded by anyone using a genuine copy of Windows from the Security Essentials website. Versions are available for Windows XP, Vista, and 7. No registration is required and the software can be installed on any number of PCs without restrictions.
Security Essentials takes over from Windows Live OneCare, a commercial offering that was phased out in June. Although Security Essentials is free, it will not be installed with Windows or provided as an automatic update. That’s probably a wise move: automatic installations could clash with existing anti-virus software. It would also attract unwanted attention from anti-trust regulators, especially in the EU.
The big question: is Security Essentials any good? I’m testing it now and will report back soon.
Links: Microsoft Security Essentials website
Have you tried Security Essentials? What did you think? What’s the best anti-virus software you’ve found? Or are they all awful?!
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