Microsoft Security Essentials 2 maintain the security of your PC
In a world dominated by IT dangers using antivirus software on your personal computer has become essential for it to properly work. This kind of software is installed immediately after the operating system.
However a lot of less experimented users face a diversity of problems. They are either unwilling to pay for the license, or use the pirated versions that expire after a year, or do not understand how useful such a software is. A lot of this users end up infecting their computer with all kinds of viruses. And everything ends up being a problem for Microsoft due to their huge domination of the operating system market.
Microsoft has tried to do something about it by launching the Security Essentials (MSE) security in the summer of 2009. The MSE offered limited options and lacked essential modules. Things seem to be changing at the end of this year with the new beta version of the Microsoft Security Essentials 2.
Heuristic scan
In a period in which antivirus producers hardly manage to face threats that appear daily the existence of a heuristic scan module is essential for such software. This module allows the identifying viruses according to the way they act and not the signature database. It was not present in MSE but is present in MSE2. The only question is how efficient it will be and this can only be determined after a lot of hours of use.
Configuration menu in MSE2
Contextual scan menu
The contextual scan menu has become an extremely useful function allowing the user to scan any file or group of files on the computer. This option has become available for the MSE in its 2nd version as well, which helps the product get closer to classical antiviruses.
Other new options
Since the browser is one of the easiest ways to infect your PC with viruses the MSE2 integrates better with this type of software. In addition to this Microsoft promises a faster and better identification of malware applications.
As expected, Microsoft chose to keep the minimal interface with few configuration options. In fact this is great for inexperienced users who can simply go for the default settings of the software.
Availability and price
Microsoft Security Essentials 2 certainly represents a major progress compared to the first version, even if only by adding the heuristic and contextual scan modules. However antivirus producers should not worry as the MSE2 does not really represent a rival to their products.
The only great advantage of the MSE2 suite is its price. The product remains free and this means many will prefer to bet on Microsoft instead of paying a license every year for dedicated software.
Microsoft Security Essentials 2 video review:
Ionut is Chief Editor. He has a degree in Computer Science BA and worked in IT since 2002. Ionut is now managing several tech sites, including GadgetRoad. Find me on Twitter
I was happy with Microsoft Security Essentials until my computer started acting strange. I suspected malware so I did a full scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and found two low strength trojans. Then I downloaded McAfee’s standalone antivirus scanner and found a total of 12 different viruses and trojans on each of my hard drives. These were of the medium to strong variety. For comparison, I downloaded AnVir, also a free anti-virus program. After running it I discovered a total of 29 viruses, trojans, and assorted malware. I am sad to say that this speaks volumes about Microsoft Security Essentials software. I can no longer support it, nor can I call it the “best antivirus in 2011!” as another reader posted. As they say, “the proof is in the pudding!”