Microsoft Security Essentials (XP Version)

Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free antivirus product that provides protection against different types of malware such as computer virus, spyware, rootkits and trojan horses. It uses the same antivirus engine as that of the other Microsoft antivirus products, but unlike the Microsoft Forefront family of enterprise-oriented security products, Microsoft Security Essentials is geared for consumer use. Its license agreement allows home users and small businesses to deploy it free of charge. It is supported on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 but not on Windows 8 that comes with built-in antivirus component of its own.
The announcement of Microsoft Security Essentials elicited mixed response from the antivirus industry, with some predicting its failure, some condemning it and some appreciating its potential for expanding users' choice of antivirus. Despite this, Microsoft Security Essentials has received generally positive reviews. In September 2011, it was the most popular antivirus software product in North America and the second most popular in the world. Its popularity has given ground to the appearance of various rogue antivirus programs that imitate