MIcrosoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials is the not so new but new Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware software for Windows Operating Systems from Microsoft. I have now been using it for a couple of weeks and I must say so far I am pleased with it.

Right from the onset Microsoft has been able to make it a breeze even for the village grandmother back home to not just use Security Essentials but feel comfortable at it as well.

The installation was quick a walk in the park and involves 6 basic steps which partly consist of agreeing to usage terms. One thing I personally had reservations about in this process is the fact that this can only be installed on genuine Windows Operating System.

I really understand where Microsoft is coming from and the need to protect and support their products but am looking at it more in terms of the social view where the source of your next threat could originate from a non genuine Windows PC sitting somewhere out there.

It is in my opinion that all PC’s ought to be protected regardless.

Once installed I was pleased to see too that the interface has been kept simple and clean in the form of a tab dialog with clear and concise tab labels. Each tab (four of them) has just what is enough to to configure the software and get it to do what it does best.

In terms of memory I must say I have had nasty situations with some of the commercial Anti-Virus software applications hogging all my valuable memory.

Since I am trying to keep this as simple as possible. Basically there is no noticeable difference in performance and total memory usage and boot times of my PC before and after I installed and started using this Software.

Just  that the way I usually work keeps me safe from virus attacks. I rarely get infected and so as of the time I installed this application nothing has been picked up in terms of threats so I will not write about its ability to zap out threats, but one thing I know is that Microsoft had been testing and using it internally and they seem pretty happy with it. I think this was long overdue from Microsoft and am proud of them that they have finally taken this step.

To the other commercial Anti-virus vendors out there such as Symantec, Kapersky, McAfee and others; I would be really worried about this one. To the users. If you are skeptical about trying it out there is no harm in running it alongside your current Anti-Virus, after all, its free.