microsoft security essentials windows 11

The free-for-home-use field is currently dominated by the three ‘A’s: Alwil ( avast !), AVG and Avira. What about the people who don’t have the time or inclination to regularly reinstall software, and who can’t afford the kind of service contracts that throw in extras? For them, the most common answer is the free-for-home-use model, under which developers make pared-down versions of their software available free of charge, on the condition that it is only for personal use. Of course, none of these are completely free – the trial option requires considerable investment of effort, while the value-added path depends on having paid for the original product or service. Should I need one, I could get myself set up with an expensive security suite at no charge thanks to extras thrown in with my bank account, my ISP, my phone line or TV provider, or any of a number of others. Others get free access to security software via a value-added model. They do so quite legally, simply by switching from one free trial to another every few months.

One question which has received little attention amongst the hype and hyperbole surrounding the launch of Security Essentials is: what is meant by ‘free AV’? We know from correspondence with our readers that some people always run some high-quality, multi-function suite without paying for it.

The new project, codenamed ‘Morro’, excited a great deal of debate and no little controversy around the topic of free AV – and the debate continues to rumble on now that Security Essentials is available to the public. Despite a much improved version 2, Microsoft quickly decided to give up on the product – and its retirement and replacement were announced almost a year ago. When the globe-straddling giant began its push into the anti-malware sphere a few years back, some initial poor test results dented the launch of OneCare, and sluggish performance and general lack of user interest were immediately apparent. Microsoft Security Essentials, the long-awaited replacement for the Windows Live OneCare package, is finally with us.

Microsoft security essentials windows 11