Okay it is free so that helps.. It scans your computer and updates the software. Is antivirus but really does not say if you have a virus. Does not warn me without doing scan. So unreliable at times.Good start if you need protection in a hurry.

princess441

Flushing, NY

I had Norton antivirus installed on this computer when purchased & within 3 days had malware/virus. I did not have the Norton 360, it was a different version. Microsoft security helped me restore my computer along with HP, and suggested I use this free download of theirs to resolve unwanted downloads from devastating my new computer as they had done to my previous XP computer. This has Windows 7 operating system and I don't care for the operating system but the anti-virus free from Microsoft Security Essentials has kept my computer clean without interrupting me. It downloads the updates without waiting for me to ask, and I have had no security issues when using all the different websites I regularly use. This is the finest protection and one of the best from Microsoft!  I have the choices of Quick Scan, Custom (you check what you want scanned) and Full Scan which goes over everything with a fine tooth comb - so to speak. I recommend this to anyone that has either Vista or Windows 7 installed for easy and very affordable protection. Microsoft made #1 in my computer. The cons would be as to the limitation of it having to be used on newer operating systems as I really did like XP.

jode999

Cedar Rapids, IA

I have Microsoft Security Essentials installed on all of our computers, work and home. I used to use Windows Live One Care and I liked it. I was very upset when they sent me an email saying that it would no longer be available but Microsoft was suggesting that I try their new one, Security Essentials. It was free, so I did. I've been using it for probably about 3 years now and it has worked for me. I've never liked Norton, it always slowed my computer down. I used to frequently download music from some free sites, which I will not name and I was always very cautious about what I downloaded but sometimes you can't tell and you miss something. Well Essentials was right on it. It caught a virus before the download even finished and it quarantined it and cleaned my computer immediately. I have tried other free anti-virus programs but I always ended up removing them and putting something new on because they just didn't seem to be doing what they were supposed to. I'm keeping Essentials for as long as it is available. Highly recommended! Another program I often run to keep my computer safe from adware and spyware is Malwarebytes, but I will write a separate review on it if I can find it on here. Detection Rate Always catching a problem before it is too late Ease of Use Very simple to run a scan and update Scan Speed Quick scan runs completely in about 10 minutes or so and I have A LOT of files to scan. Full scan usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half, sometimes longer. But it recommends that you run Quickscan first and you will be given further instructions if you need to run the full scan Availability of Updates Updates often

missdanamay

Mentor, OH

Microsoft Security Essentials is a comprehensive virus and spyware protection solution that you can download for free from Microsoft's site. It is easy to download and install, very user friendly. It automatically updates virus and spyware definitions any time you wish to schedule it to do so. You can set it to do a full scan or a quick scan. It is always running in the background, monitoring your email and while you surf the net. I am pretty careful and tech savvy and rarely get caught opening up or downloading a virus or spyware but on those rare occasions, it has saved me. It automatically notifies you if you have stumbled onto a virus or spyware and quarantines it before it can do any damage. The best part is that this is free!

jeb445

Mountain City, TN

I have had Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender, AVG, Avast...I have tried them all and this is the best one I have come across yet. Being free isn't the best thing about it. It works with Windows because it is also made by Microsoft, so it doesn't use up unecessary resources like Nortan and McAfee do. It doesn't slow your computer down, but it does offer great protection against viruses and malware. It is active protection so it is always running. You can just go to the microsoft site and download it for free. It works better with Windows than any other anti-virus out there. I have had it for about a year and a half and haven't had one virus on my computer. It catches everything. Works great, great price (free), and no annual subscription you have to pay. Finally a free antivirus that protects your computer like it should.

davisthegreat

Chatsworth, GA

I have been using McAfee and Norton security softwares for years. They do a good job too, but the problem with them is they take too much of memory on the machine and make the machine slow. One of my friend recommended the Microsoft Security Essentials, so i downloaded them and installed it. Since it is free, i wasn't sure how good they are. But, i have to say that im impressed. Microsoft once again proved that they are the best in whatever softwares they release. Microsoft Security Essentials does a great job in preventing the machine from all the trojans and viruses. I have this installed on both of my home machines and one of my work machines and i don't have any virus issues now. It updates the software automatically and does a pretty good job in scanning all the folders, files and the registry. It is very effective and it easily goes with the Windows operating system. It scans my computer every weekend and so far i haven't had any issues with it. This software proves that sometimes the free ones are very good and worth to try it. You got to love Microsoft!!!!

ramyacss

Carver, MN

Being a tech person, and a avid user of Linux, I have not been overly pleased with product offerings by Microsoft, but this little gem of software makes me not only use them, but recommend it to others as well. it is fast (takes less then 1 minute to preform a quick scan), well integrated, easy to use, even for the most novice of users. and best of all it is free! Working in IT, and tech support, I am always looking for faster, more efficient methods of getting my job done. I not only use this as a prevenitive tool, but as a tool to help fix computers after the fact. Also, I use reccomend it to all my side clients that are not already paying for a paid service... and then I still recommend that they drop their paid service as soon as they can and to use MSE. You will not regret using Microsoft Security Essentials with your choice of Windows products, kiss those other PAID subscriptions away! This progam will compliment your other security programs, or work well by itself. Also, it is pleasing to the eyes with a very easy to use Grahpical User Interface that even my grandmother could use.

joshuapbell

Sheffield, IL

I do try to extensively test software before recommending ti for clients. After 1 1/2 yrs of testing SE and it being OK with some utilities that I have handy, like the very versitile IZARC found here on FileHippo MS SE decided it was dangerous. Yes the setting for Severe, High & Medium levels are configured to REMOVE, and I may now change these for a last minute 'CONFIRM' option.

58

Seattle, WA

Most antivirus and security software are quiet obnoxious, with ugly interfaces and unnecessary alerts, Microsoft Security Essentials is the opposite of all that, is one of those few software that just do what they are suppose to do, and that just what you want in an antivirus and security software. MSE is both an antivirus and antispyware, so you don't need to install a bunch of security softwares to protect your PC, that makes your computer run really smooth, beside the fact that MSE don't consume a considerable amount of memory, so you almost don't notice it, even when the scan is running you can still use your computer as is nothing is happening, I even play games when the scan is running and I can't notice a difference in performance. The malware databese is updated really frequent so you don't need to worry about catching some "new" virus. Another thing is that you don't need to be a high tech user to know what to do when MSE catch a malware, the options are straight forward. Is easy to modify the scan schedules, the same way go to modify what you want MSE to do in case a malware is detected, the default preference are the way to go but if you don't like them you can change it in a few clicks.

kerosene84

San Juan, PR

I just recently found out about Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) from my IT representative at work.  What a great product!  It is not just anti-virus, but anti-malware and anti-spyware. Because MSE is a MS product it runs so much smoother on my computer than the other products I've used.  Even better, MSE is FREE!  I've paid for Norton and McAfee in the past and didn't find that they were more protective than MSE, just more expensive.  But don't get me wrong, free is good, but with out quality free doesn't mean a whole lot.  I would actually pay for MSE. I've also used other free products in the past, such as AVG, which I found to be not as protective and caused my computer to run slower.  Prior to using MSE, I used CA's Security Suite via being a RoadRunner customer and found that it seemed to many times cause my computer to lockup upon attempting to shutdown due to some type of error which I never figured out how to correct fully.  MSE is what security for your computer should be.

lco1000

Columbia, SC