As a no-cost service for genuine Windows PCs, Microsoft Security Essentials offers you comprehensive, state-of-the-art protection against malicious threats such as viruses, Trojans, spyware, and other malware. Microsoft Security Essentials:
Delivers quality protection backed by industry standards and ongoing research into software threats.
Built on the Microsoft industry-certified antimalware protection platform, Microsoft Security Essentials takes advantage of the same core antimalware technology that fuels the rest of the security products from Microsoft, including Microsoft Forefront, the Malicious Software Removal Tool, and Windows Defender, and has received the VB100 award from Virus Bulletin Ltd., Checkmark Certification from West Coast Labs, and certification from the ICSA Labs. Microsoft Security Essentials is backed by the Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC), which provides world-class antimalware research and response capabilities to support all Microsoft security products and services. You can rely on rapid, effective response to a wide range of threats with security research laboratories in multiple locations around the globe on the lookout for new malicious and potentially unwanted software threats wherever and whenever they arise.
Find information, definition updates, and analyses of all the latest threats that Microsoft Security Essentials can help protect you against in the MMPC.
Makes it easy to stay protected after a simple download.
It’s as easy as clicking a download button to get Microsoft Security Essentials. Your system downloads Microsoft Security Essentials in the language you need and installs* with a few simple clicks. Once you have installed Microsoft Security Essentials your software updates automatically, making it easy to sit back and relax.
Microsoft Security Essentials uses the Microsoft Update service to ensure the signatures, antimalware engine, and application are automatically updated. New malware signatures are downloaded once per day with the new signatures accessed in near real time through the Dynamic Signature Service. As the threat landscape changes and new malware emerges, malware engine upgrades and new application features are also delivered to you automatically through the Microsoft Update service.
Is simple to understand and easy to use.
Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your PC the way you want. The software uses the popular green-yellow-red color coding to designate the security status of your PC, and a color-coded icon in the taskbar tells you at a glance if your attention is required. It’s simple – when you’re green, you’re good. However, if a yellow or red icon is present, you can take the required action directly from the system tray icon without having to enter the application.
When user intervention is required, clear status and recommended actions are presented to you on the home page and through application alerts, which are designed to minimize interruption. In addition, you can take immediate action directly from an alert.
Doesn’t get in the way of PC performance.
Microsoft Security Essentials doesn’t carry the weight of suite products and has a much smaller download size. Scans and updates are scheduled to run when the PC is idle and use a low-priority thread. CPU throttling ensures that no more than 50 percent of the CPU is utilized by Microsoft Security Essentials activity, so that your system continues to perform those tasks you are likely to be performing, such as opening files or browser windows, saving files, and using cut, copy, and paste. Microsoft Security Essentials uses smart caching and active memory swapping so signatures that are not in use are not taking up space, thus limiting the amount of memory used even as the volume of known malware continues to increase. This makes Microsoft Security Essentials friendlier toward older PCs, as well as today’s smaller, less powerful form factors such as netbooks.
We are focused on ongoing Microsoft Security Essentials performance improvements as well. Telemetry on files that are slow to scan is sent to Microsoft for analysis and resolution, and routine engine updates can incorporate advancements for improved scanning speed, remove unneeded signatures, and reduce memory usage.
Runs quietly in the background.
Microsoft does not push offers or display information-only pop-up windows or update status notifications. Microsoft Security Essentials simply runs quietly in the background. You will be alerted only if and when there are specific actions that need to be taken. When you are not present or are too busy to take the recommended action, Microsoft Security Essentials can take the default action on your behalf; you can launch the application at a later time to review and adjust actions taken if desired.
*Your PC must run genuine Windows to install Microsoft Security Essentials. Learn more about genuine Windows. Internet access fees may apply.
