Microsoft Security Essentials hits beta

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 24th June 2009
Comments (17) Stumble
Microsoft Security Essentials hits beta

Microsoft Security Essentials - formerly known as Morro - has hit public beta, albeit limited to 75,000 downloaders.

Microsoft's own anti-virus package, originally dubbed Morro, has officially launched in beta – after early builds were leaked to the web.

As reported over on Download Squad, the 1.0 build of the newly-named Microsoft Security Essentials is available for download directly from Microsoft should you be interested.

The offer is, however, limited: as the release is considered a public beta, rather than a final build, Microsoft is limiting the number of downloads to 75,000 worldwide – although the company has stated that it will increase this number should demand prove high.

The move towards offering a Microsoft-branded anti-virus and anti-spyware solution is likely to anger purveyors of third-party solutions to Windows' foibles, as it represents a likely drain on their revenue stream. The issue is made even worse by the fact that, perhaps surprisingly, Microsoft Security Essentials appears to be receiving generally positive reviews – with companies praising its low memory footprint and high detection rate.

The demand for the product may, however, be dampened by an issue of image: with an anti-virus offering, as it does, a partial solution for issues arising from the Windows codebase, it's somewhat questionable as to whether it's safe to trust a solution from the same source as the originally questionable code.

Despite this, Microsoft appears to be going full steam ahead – although there is no firm date yet set for the retail launch.

Would you trust an anti-virus from Microsoft, or does it require a third party to restore your confidence in the platform? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote B1GBUD 24th June 2009, 13:15
I think I'd trust a Microsoft Anti-Virus/Spy/Mal product, why wouldn't you? You run their OS so what's to be worried about?
Quote wuyanxu 24th June 2009, 13:26
will the final product be free?

i'll consider it depend on the result of installing into VMware, if it's non-intrusive. as long as there is an option to completely disable 100% prompts, i'll use it. that's the exact reason i use Nod32, a few tick boxes and never be bothered by it, ever.
Quote SlickGnome 24th June 2009, 13:46
Wow, already hit their cap. Not accepting any more users at the moment.
Quote k4p84 24th June 2009, 14:05
If it works and is free i'll gladly use it. I'm awaiting news of the law suits though...................... I hope MS make it: Optional / Removable so that if you chose to bog down your system with a hug of an app like Norton you are free to do so.
Quote Kúsař 24th June 2009, 14:40
It's a good thing for lazy/noob users who are carelessly running spambots on their PCs.
Quote mjm25 24th June 2009, 14:46
Not available in England is what it's teling me :( i would've given it a go too
Quote Pyr0 24th June 2009, 14:55
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=153446
Quote BlackMage23 24th June 2009, 16:51
I did hear that MS are bring out a free Anti Virus, not sure if this is it.
Quote Pyr0 24th June 2009, 17:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjm25
Not available in England is what it's teling me :( i would've given it a go too

If you sign in to Connect, you can sign up for the Microsoft Security Essentials Beta there.
Quote MiNiMaL_FuSS 24th June 2009, 18:37
only allows the sleekest mircosoft malware!
Quote dicobalt 24th June 2009, 19:14
I hope this means that OEM's will stop shipping Norton and Mcafee preinstalled. I have more faith in Microsoft making a product that will work better with the OS then those two slobs. I am so sick of uninstalling security software that doesn't work. I don't even use antivirus and never get viruses because of my usage patterns, but when I must use one repairing botched up bot PC's I use AVG and Antivir, they are the only Antivirus that actually work. I will be testing this Microsoft package when it is released final.
Quote Nicb 24th June 2009, 20:07
Microsoft is like the mafia to me. "If you accept our malware we will grant you protection from all others"
Quote:
it's somewhat questionable as to whether it's safe to trust a solution from the same source as the originally questionable code.

That too..... :|
Quote dicobalt 24th June 2009, 20:25
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicb
Microsoft is like the mafia to me. "If you accept our malware we will grant you protection from all others"



That too..... :|

Generally when you extort someone you don't do it for free. This software will be free. They are simply providing antivirus that actually works (unlike Mcafee/Symantec). Because OEM's are failing to do so. A smart business move to protect users and make their product look better.
Quote yodasarmpit 24th June 2009, 20:44
Quote:
Originally Posted by article
it's somewhat questionable as to whether it's safe to trust a solution from the same source as the originally questionable code.
Come on, I expect better from bit.
Quote cebla 25th June 2009, 06:41
The thing you have to remember is that alot of viruses are installed by users and not through a security hole in the OS. You also have to realise that Microsoft is a very big company and it will be totaly different teams working on Windows and this product. Which means its pretty much no different to either Symantec or Mcafee.
Quote dicobalt 25th June 2009, 06:45
Well it looks like Microsoft did a good job on it so far, http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9134753
Quote:
"All files were properly detected and treated by the product," said Marx in an e-mail. "That's good, as several other [antivirus] scanners are still not able to detect and kill all of these critters yet."
Quote dyzophoria 25th June 2009, 08:49
honestly alot has been improving in MS this past years even though people say Vista is a FAIL, reality is, its still a big step from the old Windows architecture before, and with 7, still MS has raised the ante, I wont be surprised if their Virus solution actually works well.
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