What is the Microsoft Security Essentials? This is a high quality protection program for Windows Vista (and Microsoft Windows 7) that protects against viruses and spyware. This protection also covers worms, Trojans and other malicious software. The program also keeps you upgraded and updated automatically. A feature that this protection offers is letting you know if it’s working. The icon will be green if your status is good. Yellow will mean potentially unprotected and user should do a check on their system such as a scan. Red will indicate that computer is at risk and immediate action is required to protect system. Security Essentials is designed to run in the background, alerts are only given if it requires your attention.
Microsoft Security Essentials is a free program.
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) runs on Windows Vista (and Microsoft Windows 7). Small businesses and home owners can install this simply and easily. The license agreement grants use free of charge. This program replaces Windows Live OneCare which has been discontinued.
How does the antivirus work?
The same definition of viruses is used for all Microsoft products dealing with security. With the real time feature of MSE, the user is given ten minutes to respond to prompt sent regarding possible threat. If the user does not respond, default actions are implemented. According to MSE settings this may include a system restore checkpoint before malware is removed.
One review is not favorable to MSE.
In a report by, Neil J. Rubenking, from PCMag (www.pcmag.com), it is not believed MSE stands up very well as an antivirus product. On ten of the twelve computers he tested on, ten were able to install properly. He ran into numerous issues with the program that even running a full scan did not fix. MSE did not find as many threats as other products. It left behind executable files, and some files listed as removed were actually still running. Mr. Rubenking stated, “Its overall score of 4.3 points for malware cleanup is the lowest of any current product.”
One review believes MSE is the best product on the market.
PCMag review is not shared by everyone. In a review of MSE done by About.com (www.about.com), they rate this program as one of the ‘best free antivirus program available.” They also dispute reports where users are urged to use additional third party tools. Their belief is that Microsoft Security Essentials is all that you need.