Microsoft Security Essentials – A Move in the Right Direction

Microsoft has now started to promote a new product called Microsoft Security Essentials a product that was beta under the name Windows Live One-Care.¬¨‚Ć This program is simply a great antivirus protection suite(antispyware, antimalware, etc), and by great I mean it meets all of the criteria necessary:¬¨‚Ć free, effective, low impact on system resources, and is non-invasive .¬¨‚Ć For the last few years I have recommended that people choose AVG free edition (free.avg.com) or Avast free edition – in addition to these tools I would recommend a variety of free anit-spyware(malware programs) – including spybot, malwarebytes, etc.¬¨‚Ć This entire process has always rubbed me the wrong way since I think a large number of home users have either left Microsoft or are considering leaving it because they have to navigate through this process.¬¨‚Ć Think of it from the consumer’s perspective, “You mean this new 500$ computer I need to buy a 80$ antivirus (yearly) program to make it work?¬¨‚Ć What else do I need to buy?”¬¨‚Ć Although the antivirus and malware market has been lucrative for 3rd party companies the truth is that the emergence of this multi-billion dollar industry has hurt Microsoft’s reputation as countless users grow frustrated with their machines due to computer Malware and Viruses.

Imagine buying a new computer from Bestbuy today and feeling confident ignoring all the sales on extra anitvirus software packages and instead just use Microsoft’s free product (That works well, I cannot stress enough how frustrating it is to see how bad some anti-viral software is – for example Norton Antivirus could be the worst I give it 2 out 10 in my book – practically worthless).

The only flaws in this system is that Mircosoft Security Essentials does not come pre-installed on Computers and is not included on the Windows 7 Media DVD, this means you must first download and install it.

Download Location for Microsoft Security Essentials : http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Screen Shot of Essentials Running on Windows 7
This could be a move in the right direction for Microsoft РIf consumers gain the confidence that buying a Windows machine is safe and relatively stable from most Malware and Viruses this could help increase Windows 7 sales worldwide.¬† Also with Security Essentials backwards support for Windows XP systems РMicrosoft is moving in the right direction with improving its standing from the home consumer standpoint.¬† From an enterprise perspective having an effective working free antiviral software solution supported by Microsoft Рequals a lot less hassle and money when it comes to supporting a large number of machines.

It will be interesting to see what happens down the road with Apple whose security model as been effectively “security by obsecurity”.¬¨‚Ć With Apple market share increasing steadily and with most projections having them continue in this direction how they handle security in the future will be interesting. In my experience Unix based Apple machines are still way more secure and resistent to malware infections than PC’s and because of this currently offer a safer, more stable platform.¬¨‚Ć If Apple continues to grow at its current rate it will be interesting to see if they will remain this secure over the next decade.

Click here to view current OS market share: http://marketshare.hitslink.com/os-market-share.aspx?qprid=11

Notice that Microsoft still holds 90% of the World’s market share = Apple’s model of security by being obscure will still work for the near future.

Apple Security Flaws?

http://www.pcworld.com/article/172197

/vista_windows_7_are_more_secure_than_snow_leopard.html

http://news.cnet.com/2100-7349_3-6178131.html

http://www.securitymanagement.com/news/leopard-killed-first-hacker-competition