| Microsoft Security Essentials- Recent Antivirus add-on |
Summary:
Microsoft Security Essentials is the newest security product from Microsoft that helps protect consumers against viruses, spyware and other malicious software. The program, using the same technology as the Forefront product family, is designed to protect and take the guess work out of you wondering if you are protected or not. It is not a replacement for or designed to be a comprehensive Internet Security, computer tuning or Antivirus/ Antispam program.
Microsoft works with several selected security software providers to protect to provide overall computer security software for their XP, Vista and Windows operating systems. If the Vendor is not on Microsoft's list, it is highly likely that the program is malware and could severely damage your computer's files and their integrity.
Purpose:
The software is supported by Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC) in locations around the world to help protect users from malware specially aimed at Microsoft products. Microsoft's recent add-on is an extension to Windows Defender.
It is recommended that you install separate security software to help protect your computer from viruses and other security threats to your applications, data and Internet activities.
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Advice:
We were not too impressed with the idea updates to our virus definitions were daily vr's. immediate and up to the minute. Something major antivirus programs come standard with. Viruses, bots and trojans do not sleep or wait to strike until Microsoft happens to get around them. In addition, Microsoft demands you to uninstall any pre-existing antivirus or spyware program (Internet Security, 360, too) half way through their install. Kind of sneaky since you may have invested in months of decent security protection.
What this free antivrus program could do to your overall network security and safety plans is another issue. We imagine data processing managers all over the world will be pulling their hair out trying to fix the damage this will inflict on gateways, password protection and authentication schemes. The hackers on the other hand will love new opportunities to penetrate large networks once local and remote users try to switch to out of synch virus and spyware protection.
There will be a remedy with Microsoft's Forefront Security but at a premium price and with a very weak track record. Sorry but after years and years of promising better protection of their operating systems and applications, we are not buying into this even if it is seemingly- free. For a few pennies a day for high quality Internet Security, it is worth having a good nights sleep knowing the experts in the field are looking out for our best interests.
What does it do?
"Microsoft Security Essentials is designed as an extra layer of security software to address cost and other barriers that have prevented many of our customers from running up-to-date security protection on their PCs.
Because there are no subscription fees, there is no registration required to collect billing or other personal information. It also runs quietly in the background scheduling scans when the PC is most likely idle and interrupting the user only when there is an action required to keep their PC secure. It employs practices like active memory swapping and CPU throttling to limit the impact on your PC performance, even on older or less powerful PCs.
This is not a security suite product that provides rich PC tuning capabilities or backs up your data. But if what you’re looking for is “install and forget” malware protection and solid quality Microsoft Security Essentials may be just what you’have been waiting for. Plus, as a user of Microsoft Security Essentials you’will get support from the MMPC. We think you’re going to like what you get with Microsoft Security Essentials. It is available now in 8 languages and 19 markets around the world for genuine Windows PCs. It can be downloaded from Microsoft as an extra layer of protection." Microsoft Support Center Sept. 30, 2009
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