Review of Microsoft Security Essentials, free Antivirus by Microsoft
Microsoft Security Essentials, codenamed ‘Morro’ is the free antivirus solution by Microsoft expected to launch with Windows 7. Recently a few screenshots were leaked, and just after that the whole application is available of the Internet to download. Microsoft Security Essentials is available for Windows XP (32 bit only), Vista and 7 (32 and 64 bit).
It is built off the core of Microsoft’s previous subscription only security suite, Windows Live OneCare. Although I have been unable to test if for any virus detection due to my lost virus filled USB drive, the performance is amazing. It almost feels as if you’ve got no antivirus installed. Unlike OneCare, it doesn’t have a Firewall. Windows 7’s built in Firewall already provides good enough protection for both ingoing and outgoing traffic so that shouldn’t be an issue. Although I wonder if the bundling of a Firewall could take Microsoft to the EU court again. 
The interface of MSE is very simple and straight forward. Installation requires a genuine validation check, so if you’re pirating, Microsoft thinks you deserve viruses. It also comes with Microsoft antimalware, although in my experience it didn’t turn off the default Windows Defender automatically. Also, one would question why Microsoft would work on another free antimalware solution, rather than improve Windows Defender which comes bundled with Windows. An important missing feature is the capability of being able to monitor other computer’s antivirus software in your home network, through MSE, which was a feature I really liked in OneCare.
So far I’m really impressed with MSE. It’s small ( setup just under 5MB), fast, stays out of your way and doesn’t hog your resources. Only detailed lab tests would show whether MSE will put up a fight with the likes of Norton, McAfee, NOD32, Kaspersky, Avira and so on. If you want to give it a try, head on over to JCXP, where they have the download links for both 32 and 64 bit versions of Microsoft Security Essentials.
Check out the screenshots of MSE below.
Subscribe to our RSS feed to stay updated with our latest blog posts!
Join our Facebook fanpage or follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all things different about Microsoft, Apple and the Internet.
[...] thing as a free meal. The Microsoft SpyNet membership is a part of Microsoft Security Essentials ( Read Review), which you can’t disable or walk out off, and has 2 types — Basic and Advanced. Both of [...]
Review of Microsoft Security Essentials, free Antivirus by Microsoft http://bit.ly/19FjdV
RT @imhassan: Review of Microsoft Security Essentials, free Antivirus by Microsoft http://bit.ly/19FjdV
[...] Continued here: Review of Microsoft Security Essentials, free Antivirus by … [...]
#security Review of Microsoft Security Essentials, free Antivirus by … http://ow.ly/eMp0
Review of Microsoft Security Essentials, free Antivirus by Microsoft by @imhassan — http://tr.im/p0J6
Review of Microsoft Security Essentials, free Antivirus by Microsoft http://short.to/ghw0
Review of Microsoft Security Essentials, free Antivirus by Microsoft http://short.to/ghw0 (via @infosecstuff)
[...] a review of MES, check out my previous post. Also, keep in mind that your personal information might be sent through the Microsoft SpyNet. The [...]
[...] GmbH did a thorough test of Microsoft Security Essentials, with almost 3200 viruses, Trojans and worms. All files were detected by the AV, even those ones [...]
[...] That’s the number one complain from people who experience viruses and worms. Use Windows 7 with Microsoft Security Essentials, and you’re safe and sound. Although, no OS can claim responsibility for lack of common sense on [...]
[...] Free solid antivirus + anti-malware solution by Microsoft – Read review [...]
[...] been a very happy user of the limited beta for Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft’s free antivirus and [...]
@pat_laughner I already did here: http://tr.im/A6qe
[...] auch Deutschland. Nutzbar ist das Programm für Windows XP, Windows Vista und Windows 7. Auf ithinkdiff.com gibt es einen Erfahrungsbericht im Umgang mit der Software. Passende Angebote zu [...]