Microsoft's free anti-virus and anti-malware tool, Security
Essentials, will be available to download in the UK from 5pm today
at theMicrosoft
security site.
The 5Mbyte download runs on any Windows PC from Windows XP SP2
onwards, including Windows Vista and the forthcoming Windows 7.
Cliff Evans, head of security and privacy at Microsoft, said the
product has been designed to be quick to install and is able to run
on relatively low-powered PCs.
The product is supported by the Microsoft Malware Protection
Center, which updates AV signature files every four hours. It also
provides a heuristics function, which analyses malware-like
behaviour and sends information back to the Microsoft Security
Response Center for further analysis.
Security Essentials will not be bundled in Windows 7 when it
ships on 22 October. Julia Owens, Windows consumer product manager
at Microsoft, said. Updates will be issues through Windows Update,
the Microsoft online patching service, or using Microsoft's dynamic
signature service.
"Consumers have told us that they want the protection of
real-time security software, but that they are confused by trials
and renewals and concerned about performance and, as a result, too
many are unprotected," said Amy Barzdukas, general manager for
consumer security at Microsoft. "With Microsoft Security
Essentials, consumers can have high-quality protection that is
easy-to-get, easy-to-use, and won't get in their way."
Microsoft said the product has been certified by independent
testing labs, including AV Comparatives, West Coast Labs and ICSA
Labs.
System requirements
Operating system: Windows XP Service Pack 2 or 3, Windows Vista,
Windows 7 including XP mode; x32 and x64
For Windows XP:
- CPU: 500MHz or higher
- Memory: 256Mbyte Ram or higher
For Windows Vista, Windows 7:
- CPU: 1.0GHz or higher
- Memory: 1Gbyte RAM or higher
- VGA display: 800x600 or higher
- Disc space: 140Myte available hard-disc space
Internet browser: Windows Internet Explorer 6 or later