Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free antivirus of Microsoft company. For the first time Microsoft Security Essentials was submitted to the general public on September 29, 2009. In July, 2010 Microsoft developers released the next portion of updates for a free anti-virus packet of Security Essentials. The new version of the software product received index 1.0.1963.0.

Security Essentials is intended for protection of computers under management Windows HR, Windows Vista and Windows 7 from viruses, espionage modules, rootkits, Trojans and the other malware. The antivirus works in the background and according to specialists of corporation renders a minimum load on hardware resources of the PC. The application is characterized by intuitively simple interface translated to a set of languages (including Russian) and displaying pop-up notifications only when from the user actions for correction of a situation and prevention of possible penetration of threat are required.

In the beginning MSE was available in 18 countries in 8 languages, for today its geography contains 74 countries and 25 languages. The antivirus from Microsoft is intended not only for home users, but also for small business – since its October, 2010 can download free of charge the companies with PC number no more than 10.

In total in the world by the end of 2010 there are about 30 million active users of MSE, in Russia – about 900 thousand. Since November 29, 2010 Microsoft Security Essentials is offered for optional installation in structure of automatic updates of Windows. As the marketing manager of Wimdows OS for consumers of Microsoft Russia Ksenia Koshkina told, in January, 2011 there will be the second version of MSE in which the improved protection against network threats will be implemented – now the anti-virus product of Microsoft will perform scanning and check of network on existence of key vulnerabilities. Besides, in MSE there will be a new engine with the improved system of pro-active detection of threats. In new release of MSE check of a status of the Windows firewall will also be possible it (is included/is switched off).

Security Essentials 2.1.116.0

The Microsoft company announced in July, 2011 availability of the final version of the product Security Essentials 2.1.116.0 Final, the free anti-virus application capable to provide reliable protection of client PCs against Internet threats. The list of innovations includes the updated anti-virus engine guaranteeing faster and exact detection of threats. The interface of a product also underwent some changes, access to key functions of a product became even more convenient and intuitive. The product Microsoft Security Essentials is available to Windows platforms of XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions). It should be noted separately that in installation process the antivirus verifies authenticity of the operating system and refuses to work under control of pirate copies of Windows.

Functionality

At installation the antivirus will disconnect built in by Windows Defender and will provide protection against viruses, trojans, spywares, rootkits and the other malware, speak in Microsoft.

According to representatives of the company, its new product consumes less memory and disk space, than normal commercial antiviruses from Symantec, McAfee and other firms, and at the same time provides the same reliable protection.

Also earlier the staff of Microsoft announced that users at whom the piracy version of the Windows operating system is installed will not be able to download Security Essentials. The antivirus will work in OS Windows XP SP2 or later version, Windows Vista and Windows 7. It will be possible to download it on the official site of the company.

In July, 2010 new it was reported, the chtobeta-version of a packet of Security Essentials includes the facilitated anti-virus module, the module for fight against spywares and also the protection against network attacks for the first time provided in a packet of this class.

The circuit of network protection in a packet of Security Essentials is separated into two parts. The first part is an integration of a packet of MSE into the Internet Explorer browser for protection against the threats connected with potentially dangerous web pages. In particular, the packet of MSE blocks execution of dangerous scenarios on pages now. The new version of MSE checks web scenarios when they register in a cache of the Internet Explorer browser, however such check can be insufficient.

For users of environments Windows Vista and Windows 7 the new beta of a packet of MSE offers protection against the network exploits connected with use of different vulnerabilities in network components of operating systems. The packet of Security Essentials undertakes careful check of all network traffic and blocking of any suspicious connections. This function is unavailable in the environment of Windows XP as it relies on use of the Windows Filtering Platform technology for the first time implemented only in Windows Vista. The Windows Filtering Platform technology allows applications to be connected to a network subsystem and to trace network traffic without serious decline in production of all system in general. The technology allows to recognize attacks on the applications which got permission to connection to network from the firewall.

Security Essentials 4

In November, 2011 there was the first public beta of Microsoft Security Essentials 4 – a powerful, functional and free antivirus for the computers working running Windows. Despite the status of "beta", the program represents full-function tools of security for protection against viruses, espionage applications and other widespread Internet threats. Moreover, developers are regularly going to update a product on Microsoft Update channels that guarantees effective protection against new and poorly studied threats.

One of the most interesting innovations provided to betas of Microsoft Security Essentials 4 is the advanced mechanism of automatic elimination of the detected threats. The program learned not only to identify independently security concerns, but also to solve them without any intervention from user side.

Thanks to the updated anti-virus engine, Microsoft Security Essentials 4 can detect and liquidate threats much quicker. Developers assure that the new version of a product will not have a noticeable negative impact on PC capacity. The simplified user interface guarantees even more quick and simple access to functions of a product.

History

2017: Recognition by one of the worst antiviruses

In October, 2017 the German anti-virus  laboratory AV-Test  published results of complex testing of antiviruses. According to a research, honor the corporate software of Microsoft intended for protection against harmful activity most worse copes with the duties. Read more here.

2009

During development this product was known under the code name Morro. Microsoft released the beta of Security Essentials in June, 2009, access to which was got by about 75 thousand beta testers.

In September, 2009 Microsoft announced beta testers of the free antivirus of Security Essentials that the final release of this product will take place within several weeks. Representatives of Microsoft thanked beta testers for the help, having advised them to set also at themselves the last test version of a product to make transition to final release simpler.