Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), also known as Windows Defender, is a free malware protection tool. Unlike its paid and more famous competitors, this application has in its composition only basic security tools.
Nevertheless, the program is quite worthy of close attention, therefore this article is dedicated to it. Below you will find a brief history of MSE antivirus, get acquainted with its features and advantages. Based on this information, you will decide if you have enough basic protection or whether you should pay attention to paid utilities.
History
MSE Antivirus was announced in 2008 and caused considerable stir. It is understandable, because the program was positioned as a reliable and free means of protection against most threats. However, Microsoft employees openly stated that their product will not be a panacea and will be inferior to its paid counterparts. So it happened in the end.
In June 2009, a limited beta version of the program was released, available to residents of several Western countries, and in September its full release took place. It is noteworthy that users from Russia could not download the antivirus on time due to a technical error that delayed the release of the Russian version of the application until December 2009.
Of course, a great interest arose in the new security tool developed by the notorious Microsoft company. Popular publications and laboratories began to test the program in every possible way and actively publish the results of their checks. And I must say that reviews about the MSE antivirus were mostly positive.
Release 2.0
Time passed, malware became more sophisticated. In turn, MSE antivirus began to slowly give up its positions, which forced its developers to reconsider their approach to security. For this purpose, version 2.0 of the application was released, which had a number of significant differences.
The new version of the program implemented integration with a firewall, more advanced protection mechanisms against Internet threats appeared (integration into a browser), the methodology for searching for malware and vulnerabilities improved, and a network monitoring system was added. In addition, the developers have built into the utility several means for authenticating a copy of Windows, and improved its overall performance.
These major changes have allowed MSE antivirus to become relevant again. That is why all subsequent editions of the program are based on version 2.0 to this day.
Installation
Starting with the G8, Microsoft Security Essentials is part of the operating system, but in Windows 7 you need to install MSE antivirus manually, so consider this procedure:
- So, first you need to download the distribution package of the program. It is recommended to download it exclusively from the official site, as otherwise you risk catching malware.
- Run the installation file and read the license agreement. Accept it.
- Now you need to agree (or disagree) to participate in the program to improve the quality of protection. Having done this, click "Next."
- The program will prompt you to enable the built-in Firewall. It is recommended to do this.
- You will see a message about MSE compatibility with other antivirus applications. If no problems arise, you can safely click "Next".
After that, you just have to wait for the installation process to complete, and then restart the computer.
Interface
The MSE antivirus interface is divided into four tabs:
- Home. From here you can start the process of checking the computer and monitor its progress.
- Updates. Information on the release date of anti-virus databases and the availability of fresh updates is placed here.
- Magazines. In this tab you can see the history of detection of threats and actions that have been performed in relation to them.
- Parameters. This tab is responsible for the program settings. You can configure the degree of protection, add exceptions, set a scan schedule, and so on.
As you can see, the Windows Defender interface is designed in a minimalist style. However, all important functions are easy to find if necessary.
Protection
Unfortunately, current realities are such that MSE antivirus cannot adequately compete with products from other developers. According to last year’s tests, Windows Defender is in the mid-to-late rating. This does not mean that the antivirus is bad, there are simply solutions that can provide a much greater level of security.
Should I use MSE Antivirus? This question cannot be answered unequivocally. First of all, this antivirus is suitable for those users who rarely install new programs and do not visit dubious resources.
Features in Windows XP
Microsoft, as you know, has stopped supporting older operating systems. Because of this, in Windows XP, MSE antivirus no longer works, but fortunately, this problem can be solved. To do this, you must manually add the key to the registry:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Microsoft Antimalware \ Signature Updates] "ExpiryNotificationIntervalDays" = dword: ffffffff
Restarting the computer, you will see that the antivirus has returned to working condition, and you can continue to use it calmly.