1st Looks: Microsoft Security Essentials

I realize that there are a lot of users out there who have no access to the MSE beta.  I uninstalled NOD32 from my x64 Win 7 RC workstation to try out the new MS offering, and I thought I would go through the install with anyone who is interested and give you my first impressions.

The install file is about 3.8MB in size for an x64 Vista/Win 7 machine.

The install process:

MSE immediately launches and updates it’s definition files.  I’m not sure why, but it seemed to take quite awhile to do this.  Rather strange that the program requires updates on it’s first day of release, but it is possible that it does not come with any definition files inside the install program.

The tray icon for MSE is the one on the right.  Very “reassuring” looking fortress!

The initial scan starts after the definition update, and seemed to take less time then the update.  Of course, it was set to do a “quick” scan, however.

Just a couple of shots of the other program tabs.

That’s it!  The install/update/scan went without a hitch.  The system has not slowed down in the least.  My WHS does not give me any warnings that my workstation is not protected.  Life is good, especially when something is free.  Of course, the question that I cannot answer is how effective is MSE?  We will have to wait for the malware test labs to provide those answers.

And, of course, it would be nice to have a WHS version of MSE.  I would not hold my breath on that, however.  Why?

Well, WHS is based on Server 2003.  WHS v2 will be based of the Server 2008 R2 kernal.  Solutions that are designed for workstations may not work very well on servers, whether that server is based on 2003, 2008 R2 or WHS.  And, if I remember correctly, Microsoft has a product in place for servers in the form of Forefront.  WHS may be a home solution, but it is still a server.  Which I guess is the category that Microsoft classifies it to be in.

But, let’s get back to MSE for my last comment.  MSE is a lean/mean malware protection “machine”.  Anti-virus and anti-spyware.  Which is just the way I like it.  I ban just about any anti-malware software from my home that does much more than that.  Let’s hope that it scores well in the test labs and that those who currently do not have protection might actually make use of this free Microsoft solution.