Microsoft Security Essentials, independently certified by West Coast Labs, is backed by the company’s global security response team and is built on the same award-winning core security technology found in the company’s security solutions for businesses. It requires no registration, trials or renewals and will be available for download directly from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

“Consumers have told us that they want the protection of real-time security software but we know that too many are either unwilling or unable to pay for it, and so end up unprotected,” said Amy Barzdukas, general manager for consumer security at Microsoft. “With Microsoft Security Essentials, consumers can get high-quality protection that is easy to get and easy to use — and it won’t get in their way.”

Making Microsoft Security Essentials broadly available as a free consumer download for genuine Windows-based PCs is part of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to provide a more trustworthy computing experience for all customers. By making Microsoft Security Essentials easy to get and easy to use, Microsoft hopes to encourage broader adoption of anti-virus protection across the consumer audience, which in turn will help increase security across the entire Windows ecosystem. For business customers, Microsoft continues to offer Forefront Client Security, providing centralized, comprehensive management and reporting capabilities.

Maximum Security, Minimum Resource Requirements

Microsoft Security Essentials is designed to run quietly in the background alerting users only when there is an action for them to take. It also limits CPU and memory usage, resulting in less impact on the tasks consumers perform every day such as opening documents or browser windows or loading search results, even on older or less powerful PCs. Microsoft Security Essentials uses real-time protection to help prevent PCs from becoming infected, and it is the first Microsoft security product to make use of the company’s new Dynamic Signature Service, a technology that helps ensure users stay protected by the most current virus definitions available without having to wait for the next scheduled download.

“Microsoft is focused on the challenges that prevent consumers from running up-to-date anti-virus software today, particularly in emerging markets where there is a growing prevalence of malware,” said Jon Crotty, security analyst at IDC. “With Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft is helping to reduce some of the barriers that constrain consumers from running AV.”

Microsoft Security Essentials will be available for Windows XP SP2 or SP3, Windows Vista and Windows 7 including Windows XP mode on both x32 and x64 PCs.

Source: Microsoft

Recently, we reported the story on Microsoft’s plan to release free, anti-virus software, speculating that it would be codenamed “Morro”, well, the day has come, Tuesday June 26, 2009. Mark it on your calendars and get out the party hats.

Contrary to our initial report though, the release name for the software will be  ”Microsoft Security Essentials”, however it is still intended to completely replace the paid LiveOneCare service, and will be completely free, no strings attached. The software will only be released in beta form for now, so bugs are expected.

The software works like most traditional anti-virus programs; matching information on downloads and programs against signatures of known malaware. Microsoft claims it will be publishing virus signatures three times  daily, and users can update their client through the Windows Update. Unfortunately it is unknown as to whether or not the program will be able to update definitions independently, meaning users may have to set Windows Update to update automatically, and consequently download other listed OS updates, if they wish to “set it and forget it”. Failing that, regular manual updates may be required if a user wants to weed out only the virus definitions.

Security Essentials is not intended to revolutionize or replace existing virus software on a users PC. “We’re targeting people who aren’t protected already” states Alan Packer, the manage of Microsoft’s anti-malware team. Their focus is on the unprotected, and those who are unhappy with their current bloated and resource hungry anti-virus. Security Essentials is lightweight, and attempts to reduce system usage by running when the PC is idle. It has also been tuned to conserve memory usage.

Update: June 23rd, 2009: MSE has been released on Beta and can be downloaded here

While the words “free” and “Microsoft” aren’t exactly synonymous, the Redmond WA, company is looking at turning over a new leaf as it hopes to infiltrate your system with one more piece of its software – all for free.

LiveOne Care never really caught on, whether it was the $50 USD price tag, or the fact that it seemed to mimic that free “protection service” you can get from most ISPs (which you should also avoid at all costs), the fact of the matter is that there is plenty of great AV and system protection software available to users these days.  You don’t have to go to far to find quality free offerings, and if you are willing to pony up the cash, there are some widely acclaimed European companies who are considered the best in the biz for under $30/year

Recently a  company spokesperson confirmed that they are in fact, currently setting up for a Beta release of an anti virus program, codenamed “Morro” which should hit their website for download in the near future. The service is said to improve where most other free anti virus programs fail and primarily focusing on low usage of system resources. It it also said to protect against other nuisances such as spyware, rootkits and trojans.

Microsoft discontinued their LiveOne Care service this past November after it unquestionably flopped. LiveOne Care was a paid service, versus the now free service, it brings up the question as to where the revenue will come from. Traditionally most freeware anti virus solutions are subsidized through ads included with the installation, limits on service which are released with a paid subscription or other “catches”.

It will be very interesting to see what kind of impact this freeware software has on other anti-virus developers – not just competiting freeware – but paid services as well. With over 90% of computers running the Microsoft OS, they have a very large audience to directly offer this program to through such avenues as Windows Update.

• Question!  (- Source: Dwight Schrute)
• If you read this far and weren’t scared off by the word “free” – What anti virus software do you currently use?