Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0

Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 Part One: A detailed look at UI.

For years Microsoft has been releasing different iterations of their Windows OS and people have been using it pleasantly. But none of the OS till the date, even Windows 7 latest in Windows Family, don’t have any anti-virus solution built directly inside them. Though Microsoft made Windows Defender, which comes integrated in Windows Vista and Windows 7 and freely available for Windows XP was a merely a anti-spyware solution that was not strong too. So users had to rely on 3rd party anti-virus solutions for years. It seems Microsoft has finally heard the critics and users feedbacks. Now they have come with their own anti-virus solution for Windows, christened as Microsoft Security Essentials. Yeah, there was another solution was available for Windows known as Windows Live OneCare from Microsoft, but it was subscription based service and users would have to buy it. This was disappointing given the fact users had already paid enough for Windows license and it’s MSs responsibility to provide users with anti-virus solution for their OS since Windows Operating Systems are favorite among hackers too. But MS-SE (Microsoft Security Essentials) is totally free for Windows users given that they are running genuine copies of Windows OS. That doesn’t mean user of pirated copies can buy it.

(Click to Enlarge)

The home screen of MS-SE isn’t much to talk about. It’s very simple but not exciting and intuitive as I was expecting it to be. On top of this screen, you can see computer status. It turns red if your computer has un-attended infected item or update is not latest, otherwise it’ll be green. Just below that you’ll find status of real time protection and virus definition. On right side you can get three scan options Quick, Full and Custom. If you’re expecting ‘Custom’ scan to be really custom scan then you’ll be disappointed. ‘Custom’ scan doesn’t have any option to select ‘Scan Intensity’ or any other special ‘action’ for RAR files. It just have list of locations to scan as you can see in screenshot below. And on the bottom you’ll see scan details like schedule of scan and when last scan was performed.

Next tab in the UI is ‘Update’ tab.

As in every antivirus solution you will definition download date and time, definition version of both virus and spyware definition. Later is not usually seen in others softwares. And one usual thing you’ll get is button to update definitions. So here ends this second tab.

MS-SE History click to see Image
The History tab in MS-SE is same as ‘Quarantine Items’ page found in other anti-virus solutions. As usual you can see list of detected infected items/files. Here you get three views for your convenience. You can choose to see all detected items, quarantined and allowed, in one list or you can see them in individual lists. Allowed items are those which are detected as malware or PUPS (potentially unwanted programs). Sometimes anti-virus detects harmless items as malware. So if user trusts those items and allows them to stay on computer then such items will be displayed in detected items list.




In my honest opinion, in any anti-virus ‘Settings’ page is the most interesting thing rather it must be. But as with rest of the UI even this part of the MS-SE continues to disappoint.



MS-SE Settings click to see image


Under ‘Settings’ tab you’ll find another eight pages starting with schedule page. Schedule page as the name suggests you’ll get option to schedule computer scan. You can enable or disable schedule scan. Other options are date, time, type of scan like quick scan, when it should run on your computer like when your computer is idle.

MS-SE Settings – Default Actions click to see Image
Next page is ‘Default Actions’ page. Here you get to choose action for detected items at different intensity levels. You get four actions to choose from for all levels except for ‘Severe’ and ‘High’ level alert where you don’t get ‘Allow’ option.



MS-SE Real Time Protection Click to see Image

‘Real Time Protection’ page has very little to offer. An option to turn on or off Real time protection, whether or not MS-SE monitor file and programs on your PC, and option to keep eye on file downloads.



MS-SE Exclusions Lists
Next three pages under ‘Settings’ tab are almost similar except that they are used to exclude different kind of items. First is to exclude specific files and locations, second is to exclude specific file types and third is to exclude specific processes.



MS-SE Settings – Advanced
‘Advanced’ page, but even there I didn’t find ant ‘wow’ thing. I was expecting some really advanced settings here but was disappointed again. It has option to include compressed files in scan. USB drives and other removable media to be included in full scan, option to create restore point. The last option when unchecked, limits the view of history page for non-admin accounts on system.

MS-SE Settings-Microsoft SpyNet


On this page you get two options, Basic membership and Advanced membership. When I first saw these options I thought Microsoft has paid version too. But when I read the description it turned out to be something different and unexpected. Even at early stage this anti-virus system has facility to send suspected files to Microsoft automatically. This was something which I had seen in some other mature anti-virus systems like ESET NOD32. Beware this can sometimes send personal information to MS, mostly unintentionally (that’s what MS says, unintentionally!). There’s no way you can disable this.

To Download This Free program Click HERE

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/