Microsoft Releases Free Anti-Virus Software

Lighter, faster than Norton/McAfee

It is the year of Microsoft - the software giant has just released Security Essentials software that will help protect your computer from pesky viruses, spyware, and other malicious programs.

But what's the big deal, you say, there are dozens of other anti virus programs? Just that Microsoft's Security Essentials is fully integrated with windows 7 and runs quietly in the background without popping up any annoying messages. What's more, its free!

Another aim of the Security Essentials is to make casual users aware of viruses and spyware to stay protected. Other famous anti-virus programs such as Norton are notorious for being too heavy and hogging too much memory, slowing down the computer. Microsoft's Security Essentials does just the opposite and still provides adequate security to you PC.

The Security Essentials will automatically download updates and your virus definitions will always be up to date. Like Norton and McAfee, the Security Essentials can be utilized to schedule full or quick system scans, exclude certain file types of processes from being scanned, and designate how you are alerted of various actions and what you want the default step to be.

You can download Security Essentials for free without signing up or registering; all you need is a genuine copy of Windows XP SP2 or SP3, Windows Vista (Windows Vista), or the upcoming Windows 7. Also, if you're planning on running Windows XP mode in Windows 7 you don't need to worry since Security Essentials will also run simultaneously in XP mode without affecting the computer's performance.

Although if you wish to install Microsoft Security Essentials, make sure you uninstall your previous anti-virus programs.