The software also monitors all file activity looking for malware. Be default Security Essentials will scan your PC once a week on Sunday night. The user interface is nicely designed and there isn’t much to see. I let this complete – nothing was found – and then had a poke around the tabs and settings. When the update completes, it does a quick scan, which took around 30 minutes on my machine. Once done, Security Essentials – a terrible, unmemorable, tongue-twisting name – announces that your computer is at risk while it goes off and downloads updates: The other issue is that removing other security software will probably mean a reboot as well as passing one or more dialogs pleading with you to reconsider.

It does make the point that this free software will not be good for competitors at this end of the market. I am glad that Microsoft is confronting this issue, since running multiple antivirus applications is terrible for performance. The trickiest moment comes when the installer recommends that you “remove other antivirus and antispyware programs”: Installation was smooth, guided by a simple wizard with a castle logo: I installed it on my Windows 7 64-bit desktop PC.

Businesses are meant to use Forefront Client Security, though “home-based small businesses” are specifically permitted in the license agreement. It runs on XP 32-bit, or Vista or Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit, the only technical restriction being that Windows must validate as “genuine”. Microsoft has released its free Security Essentials software, antivirus and antispyware protection aimed at home users.

Mse windows 10 64 bit