Free Security From Microsoft

Challenging free security programs such as AVG and Avast!, Microsoft has released the beta version of Security Essentials. The free antivirus program will replace the fee-based Windows Live OneCare, which tanked. The program has launched to some generally positive reviews; many of the negative comments I've seen swirl around Microsoft's image and business practices, not the performance of the software.

Just a digression; I'm amused by the fact that so much of the world hates Microsoft and yet 99.99999% of all computers still run on Windows. If you really believe that Microsoft is the Evil Empire, maybe you should be running Free BSD.

The Security Essentials release is in beta testing, and Microsoft's cap of 75,000 downloads has already been reached. If you want to try Security Essentials, you'll probably have to wait until October.

By the way, Microsoft is thinking about anti-trust as well as antivirus with Security Essentials. The software will not be bundled with future releases of Windows, which should head off any lawsuits.

For more information on Security Essentials, take a look at the recent review in ComputerWorld as well as Microsoft's Security Essentials site.