Microsoft Security Essentials - Best Free Antivirus Software

Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) provides real-time protection for your home PC. MSE offers the latest technology to protect your computer against viruses, spyware and other malware, adding antivirus, rootkit and Trojan scanning capabilities.

Uncluttered Interface

MSE is very easy to install and operate. The interface is very clean, simple, and uncluttered, without excessive, confusing options. There are four tabs, with compact labels: Home, Update, History, and Settings. From Home you can run: a Quick Scan, a Full Scan, or a Custom Scan, and change the scheduled scan.

In the Settings window you can schedule scans, toggle default actions, adjust real-time security settings, and create white-lists. However, there are also some advanced options to exclude files by ‘type’ and ‘location’ as well as customizable alert actions.

Latest Technology at Work

When the MSE icon is GREEN, you are protected and your status is good. That’s all! There are no irritating alerts. MSE runs quietly in the background, using minimal system resources.

MSE automatically updates once a day. It features a new technology called Dynamic Signature Service which checks for the latest virus signatures when it detects a potential threat.

Independent testing firm AV-Test GmbH conducted tests on MSE with common viruses, bot Trojans (virus used for theft) and worms, in which MSE detected and treated all malware, coming ahead of other antivirus software, and MSE also came out with flying colors in false positives testing.

MSE is is our favorite free antivirus. The only pre-condition of Microsoft is that your system undergo Genuine Microsoft Validation Check when you select “Download” of MSE. Download here.