Free Microsoft Security Essentials Beta
Microsoft is replacing is Live OneCare with a free version called Microsoft Security Essentials.
Formally known as Morro, this free antivirus software protects genuine XP, Vista and Windows Seven users from Viruses and Spyware.
Features and Video review after the jump!
Some of Microsoft Security Essential features:
- Real-time protection- Microsoft Security Essentials uses real-time protection to help address potential threats before they ever have an opportunity to become a problem.
- Dynamic Signature Service- In addition to taking advantage of daily signature downloads, Microsoft Security Essentials is able to validate suspicious files against newly identified malware in near-real time by querying the Dynamic Signature Service. Actions from unknown sources such as unexpected network connections, attempting to modify privileged parts of the system or downloading known malicious content all trigger requests for updates from the Dynamic Signature Service.
- Rootkit protection- Microsoft Security Essentials includes a number of new and improved technologies to provide additional defense against rootkits and other aggressive threats. These technologies include live kernel behavior monitoring for monitoring the integrity of kernel structures, support for direct file-system parsing to help identify and remove malicious programs and drivers hidden from the file system, and improved live rootkit removal that dynamically loads a new kernel mode driver as part of the cleaning process so that it can help successfully remove some of the more advanced rootkits.
- Lightweight design- Because Microsoft Security Essentials is core anti-malware only, it doesn’t carry the weight of the suite products and has a much smaller download size.
- CPU throttling- CPU throttling helps ensure that the user’s system remains responsive to those tasks the user is likely to be performing such as opening files or browser windows, launching programs, editing documents, saving files, etc.
- Idle-time scanning- Scans and updates are scheduled to run when the PC is idle and use a low-priority thread.
- Smart caching and active memory swapping- Signatures not in use don’t take up space in the available memory, making Microsoft Security Essentials friendlier toward older PCs as well as today’s smaller, less powerful form factors.
Microsoft Security Essentials System Requirements:
- Operating System: Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3); Windows Vista; Windows 7 (Beta or Release Candidate)
- For Windows XP, a PC with:
- CPU with clock speed of 500 MHz or higher
- Memory of 256 MB RAM or higher
- For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with:
- CPU with clock speed of 1.0 GHz or higher
- Memory of 1 GB RAM or higher
- VGA (display): 800×600 or higher
- Storage: 140 MB of available hard-disk space
Video Review:
At the moment, users who want to download this free antivirus from Microsoft will see this message “Thank you for your interest in joining the Microsoft® Security Essentials Beta. We are not accepting additional participants at this time. Please check back at a later date for possible additional availability.”
Malaysia Technology Blog however has managed to get a copy of Windows XP and Vista 32 bit of the Microsoft Security Essentials Beta.
To download Microsoft Security Essentials Beta for Windows XP click here
To download Microsoft Security Essentials Beta for Vista 32 Bit click here
As the software is still in Beta, Malaysia Technology Blog recommends users to stick with their current antivirus software until Microsoft releases a full stable version.
P.s: Microsoft Security Essentials includes spyware protection, please uninstall Windows Defender if you are using it on your PC.
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