Microsoft's free antivirus software nears public release

Security Essentials leaving beta

Microsoft free antivirus nears public release

21 September 2009 10:43 GMT / By Duncan Geere

Microsoft's free antivirus product, "Security Essentials", is leaving beta and a final version will be released "in the coming weeks", according to an email sent to participants in the beta test.

Although it's not been officially available in the UK, British users with an MSN account set to America have had access since the beta began in June. The release candidate has now been rolled out to those testers - version 1.0.1500.0 - so if you're running the older 1.0.1407.0 then now is the time to update.

Microsoft has said that Security Essentials will offer a very basic level of protection against a wide range of viruses. It won't offer the encryption, firewalls, password storage, parental controls and backup services that high end security software includes.

Microsoft's ambitions towards free antivirus are expected to hurt sales of Symantec and McAfee products, but will probably hit already-free apps like Avast! and AVG even harder. We'll let you know when it becomes fully available.

Related
Full tags
Software, Microsoft, Viruses And Malware, Security software, PC software
UK Shopping
Amazon.co.uk, play.com, pixmania.co.uk, Currys.co.uk, Dixons.co.uk, 7dayshop.com, ebay.co.uk
US Shopping
Amazon.com, bestbuy.com, ebay.com

share Subscribe to RSS feeds email story save story print story pdf

Comments

  • Free Antivirus Software. While I do like free products as much as Microsoft charges for OS and Office Applications I think they can afford to offer free security software to make up for the lack that their software is so insecure. Posted by Kino, United States

(Will not be published)

  (Next time sign in to bypass captcha)

Latest in Software

Latest on Pocket-lint.com

About Pocket-lint

Pocket-lint is your one stop shop for gadgets, technology and consumer electronics, bringing you the low-down on the latest televisions, cameras, phones, GPS and much more. Whether it's learning about what's hot in the world of Apple, finding out about the latest home cinema kit from Samsung and Sony or merely seeing what not to buy, we have you covered. So check out our reviews, news, comment, hands-on photo galleries and videos. Enjoy.

Pocket-lint.com poll

Q. Do you still buy CDs?

Vote YES Vote NO

» LAST TIME
When asked Do you want the Droid by Motorola? 53% said yes and 47% said no

Top 10 Broadband

Compare 50+
broadband packages

Home Broadband »

Top products

tip us on news

reviews hub

Rss feed

Follow us on Twitter