Microsoft Debuts Free Security Essentials Application Suite

Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday pushed live the beta iteration of its free consumer security software, dubbed as “Microsoft Security Essentials”, to help consumers handle malware and virus intrusions better.

Initially codenamed as “Morro”, the software will be available to first 75,000 customers using Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 7 machines, in four countries, including United States, Brazil, Israel, and China.

The new security suite from the labs of Microsoft comprises of all the fundamental features that users could expect from a free security tool: a scheduler, a real-time protection shield, multiple integrated and customisable scan features, protection from rootkits, automatic definition file updates, to name a few.

Microsoft Security Essential will be replacing Windows Live OneCare, the software maker's consumer subscription antivirus tool, which is set to be phased out by the end of this month.

The software is tailored to have smaller footprint and to consume less computing power, making it apt for less-powerful PCs and in considerably low bandwidth scenarios. In addition to this, the tool will present users with antimalware aimed at tackling viruses, internet worms, Trojan horses, botnets, as well as spyware.

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Security vendors offering competitive antivirus applications, including AVG and Avast, asserted that the new tool from Microsoft won't have a considerable impact over their business, and seems unlikely to snare significant share from established vendors.  

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