Comments on: Microsoft's free security beta fills up

A day after its launch, Microsoft Security Essentials is no longer available from the company's site. The beta had been limited to 75,000 participants.

[Mr. Dee]

What I like most about Microsoft Security Essentials apart from being free is the focus on simplicity with substance. The interface features a clean, well organized design that's easy to work with and maintain and light on resources. Integration with Windows technologies like Security Center in XP/Vista and Action Center in Windows 7 will provide the cohesive experience that users expect from security utilities such as this. When combined with Windows 7's rich suite of security technologies already built in such as UAC, DEP, Patch Guard, Safe Unlinking and ASLR, users will certainly enjoy an even more complete security experience. Its early days yet, but Microsoft is doing something I believe that's right for both Windows and its user base. Personally, I wouldn't mind if Windows came with a program like Security Essentials already built in. With a strong brand identity behind it and I am sure strong marketing, this will encourage users to ensure that their Windows PC is protected.

[SlimGem]

Hmmm, some people might get the impression that you are on the Microsoft payroll with that glowing tribute. But I will admit, it has very nice usability. I really lucked out since I just downloaded it last night and installed in Win7 RC. Seem to make a good combo. Hopefully it will turn out to be a strong performer against the bad guys. i agree it would be great if it came bundled with Win7, but I can just see the EU coming down on MS again.

[Dalkorian]

Read past comments from him Slim. He's *definitely* on the M$ payroll, no doubt about it.

[0zSpit]

it's good to read a comment actually aimed at the product. i'm running it on windows7 rc also and so far this is one of the best operating systems i've come across. the security essential is an excellent addition even in its trial phase. so far microsoft has blown everything else away and it hasn't even reached the market yet.

[n3td3v]

At least only 75,000 machines will get pwned

[monkeyfun14]

Hopefully yours does it will keep you from trolling for a bit.

[n3td3v]

@monkeyfun14

Is that a threat?

[Vegaman_Dan]

I'd say that it's more of a prediction based upon both this and prior comments by you. You don't strike readers as the most... ah.... enlightened of commentors when you make such silly comments.

[n3td3v]

@Vegaman_Dan

I don't see whats silly about the comment, I thought that was the *actual* reason Microsoft limited it to 75,000 users.

[BogusBasin]

Of course they ran out of free copies of security software. Because WinPC users are both at risk and cheap as hell. You get what you pay for. Amen

[n3td3v]

@BogusBasin

I blame "SpyNet", they probably worried about that not working right

[monkeyfun14]

@n3td3v & BogusBasin

Keep your ignorant attitudes i'll sit here laughing as more and more Mac malware and trojans take more unsuspecting Mac users.

Something tells me one of these days Apple will have some explaining to do.

[BogusBasin]

monkeyfun - Be sure to hold up a mirror while you're doing all that laughing. 15 years computing with no virus protections whatsoever. Not one virus ever. Yeah, I'm laughing too.

Amen

[monkeyfun14]

@BogusBasin


15 years of computing with no virus protection?

Really if i'm not mistaken <OS9 was riddled with them. Nice bluff there

[BogusBasin]

@monkeyfun - You are mistaken. As usual.

But I meant that I had never had a virus after 15 years computing on the Mac platform with no virus protection. I never said it wasn't possible. Just said it never happened. No firewall. Nothing.

In addition, I ran a Mac consulting company for more than 10 years. Very few of my customers used virus protection. NONE EVER got a virus. Not one.

Try that on a WinPC. I double dog dare you. That is why MS is giving away protection for free. Because you need it. I'm not bashing them for it. I would do the same if I were them. I'm bashing YOU. Because you bang your head against the same wall day after day and you make excuses and you point fingers and you belittle those of us that refuse to be MS sheeple. That's okay. We don't have to like the same things. Actually, I hope you never use a Mac. But I will never stop speaking out against MS. Because they have earned their rotten reputation for making sub-standard, over-priced, anti-competitive, buggy, insecure products that everyone uses for no other reason than that everyone else is using it.

Amen

[Otto Holland]

@ n3td3v
No it's not a threat; it's to tell you how stupidly crazy you are and that this article is none of your business. If you have nothing to say constructively, go to another site where you can spew nonsense. Keep off the drugs...will you!

[n3td3v]

@Otto Holland

My industry is cyber security and my interest is national security, why wouldn't it be my business?

[monkeyfun14]

@n3td3v


For someone so educated why act like a prepubescent teenager?

Anyone can claim something online this is the internet you know trying to say your in a certain career to defend a certain argument just further lowers your credibility.

[n3td3v]

@monkeyfun14

Because my username probably looks prepubescent, so you judge by that instead of listening to me at face value.

[viper396]

@n3td3v, nice try but people aren't calling you prepubescent because of your name, they're calling you prepubescent because of your ignorant and very juvenile comments.

[n3td3v]

@viper396

I'm old enough to be your dad

[wolivere]

"I'm old enough to be your dad"

Age has nothing to do with mental state. Now if you really are that old...well... what can we say..

[jhacker]

I was able to get it downloaded before Microsoft stopped accepting participants. This security program, for lack of a better description is definitely basic. However it doesn't use much system overhead. I doubt that I'll keep it on our main computer very long. I will consider putting it on the two older computers though, because of the low overhead.

[ZetaZeta_]

Maybe with a free web-based malware solution, we'll start seeing the price of other solutions drop or run lighter. I hope the competition will work like that.

[ColinABQ]

There are already such solutions available, depending on what you mean by web-based, and that hasn't happened. Of course, none of the free solution providers are positioned as Microsoft is. This one might do it if Microsoft doesn't trip up too much between now and release, and if it is popular enough. If a LOT of common folk opt for this then, yes, it might eventually drive prices down. Many people, however, are just never going to trust a free solution in that market. Never,no matter what. That keeps prices up for the major players in the AV market.

[ITcomposer]

There are viruses for both pcs and macs, end of story. Its just that for a hacker it makes a whole lotta more sense to pay attention to oh,,,, 85 billion PCs than, um 50 million or so macs. No offense i am the proud owner of a MAC MINI intel, but seriously guys stop the trolling will ya. Each platform has its positives and negatives, so why cant we just get along.

[Dalkorian]

Name one virus for OSX. Yes, you can use the internet to research this.

Caution: I wouldn't name a trojan in place of a virus, unless you like showing your lack of knowledge.

[Hokulea]

I doubt this will fly in Europe considering the lawsuits Microsoft has been targeted with for including things like a browser and media player with the OS. I've never understood those lawsuits as Mac OSX and every LInux distro I've seen also include browsers and media players.

[wolivere]

Its an optional download.

[shinji257]

You guys do realize that thisd is a beta and that was why it was restricted to 75k downloads???

[poetworm]

So far, I haven't found any problems with it. It looks great and it's very lightweight. Did a full scan, took about four hours, a quick scan takes about 10-15 minutes.

[0zSpit]

after reading the latest reviews on avcomparatives and seeing windows livecare rated up there with nod32 and kaspersky i had to try this out. it downloaded quick, and scanned quick. i had to manually update the first time but after that it worked perfectly. low system resources is a plus, but i did notice a very slight lag on some other programs while it was scanning. this will be a perfect addition to windows7. i feel sorry for the lowly mac/linux trolls now, forums like this will be all they have left to come crawling back to just to let everyone know they still exist. like anyone cares, lmao...
i did throw a few infections at morro, like winantiviris2009 and 2 variants of coolwebsearch. all were stopped without even entering my system. unlike avast, avg, and all those other junk av apps, that let them in and make your system 100% useless while trying to get rid of what it just let in. this definitely has my attention. i uninstalled eset smart security to try this, so far i'm not disappointed.

[empirestatebuddy]

I agree that MSE is very simple. At first, you're not expecting that from Microsoft... but it's refreshing. Almost miraculously, Microsoft seems on the right path in a lot of areas at the moment--Bing, Win7, IE8, MSE, Xbox, etc.

[Nortonpal]

New principle of work. Very simple.This simplicity does not prevent to reveal to it any threats for the computer. During special testing it has found out all viruses (more than 1000 pieces). Without additional options it supervises all necessary parametres of the computer. Simplicity and speed of work (unlike many similar programs) is combined with unsurpassed efficiency of its work.
Well works with Windows 7 and has no conflict with NOD Smart Security Business Edition 32.4.