Microsoft releases free anti-virus software

Microsoft released its free anti-virus system, Microsoft Security Essentials yesterday.

The real-time anti-virus scanner, which is available for personal use, runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. It focuses on malware blocking and does not include a firewall or security optimiser.

Microsoft hopes the program will increase security across the Windows ecosystem by encouraging broader anti-virus software adoption.

“Consumers have told us that they want the protection of real-time security software but we know that too many are either unwilling or unable to pay for it, and so end up unprotected,” general manager for consumer security Amy Barzdukas said in a statement.

Reviews of the system, which has been available in beta since June, have been mixed.

“MSE did a good, but not top-notch job at detecting Trojans, keyloggers and other malware, with a 97.8% overall block rate as tested by AVTest.org,” PC World‘s Erik Larkin wrote. “It did shine in proactive tests that simulate how well an anti-virus program can detect new malware that doesn’t yet have a signature, and its performance there was topped only by Avira’s AntiVir Personal.”