Microsoft Security Essentials icon
Microsoft Security Essentials icon

Microsoft Security Essentials

 586 likes

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is an antivirus software product that provides real-time protection against different types of malicious software such as viruses, spyware, rootkits and Trojan horses.

Computer Status - Protected

License model

  • FreeProprietary

Application type

Country of Origin

  • US flagUnited States

Platforms

  • Windows  For Windows Vista and Windows 7 only
Discontinued

MSE is available for Windows Vista and Windows 7 only and it's no longer actively supported and developed. Microsoft Defender icon Microsoft Defender is for Windows 8, 8.1 and 10

3.5 / 5 Avg rating (6)
586likes
9comments
0news articles

Features

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Properties

  1.  Lightweight
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 Tags

  • anti-spyware

Microsoft Security Essentials News & Activities

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Recent activities

  • vitaprimo reviewed Microsoft Security Essentials  
    2 months ago

    Back in the early 2000s when there was some sort of war of Norton vs McAfee, or something like that, when Windows machines were compromised by just being powered on. Back when antivirus software received definitions only, when samples weren't retrieved, I may be would've given this a little bit of time.

    But now, these companies collect information live, then sell what they learn from you. You might thing but it's for the greater good and all that, but for instance, Windows Defender has paid...

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Comments and Reviews

   
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Top Positive Comment
realnabarl
Nov 16, 2012
0

I don't want to config an anti-virus application a lot to make it work well so MSE is my choice.

Weltall
Dec 23, 2015

The best antivirus that does not need configuration is Bitdefender. More like it has no options for the user to config. It kills anything dangerous and it's paid version has the best database.

I am not replying by the way to a 3 year old comment. I am saying this for people that might see this nad think MSE is good for such a reason.

Top Negative Comment
Gustavo D
May 9, 2025
0

Back in the early 2000s when there was some sort of war of Norton vs McAfee, or something like that, when Windows machines were compromised by just being powered on. Back when antivirus software received definitions only, when samples weren't retrieved, I may be would've given this a little bit of time.

But now, these companies collect information live, then sell what they learn from you. You might thing but it's for the greater good and all that, but for instance, Windows Defender has paid version for Windows Server, it's the result of all the data collected by millions, repacked and sold as a service, without compensation for those who would want it. Microsoft profits, directly from your data, from everything you do on your system. So, today, I'm not so keen to go check this thing out that Microsoft made.

You don't need any antivirus if you use common sense. Besides, Windows itself is malware; collects your data (like a keylogger or ransomware), allows remote access with administrative rights so foreign entities install stuff you don't want (i.e a trojan) via Windows Update, and delivers ads within your UI (as adware did, though not that effectively), among other things. What are you trying to get protection from?

It's like getting protection from your molester, I mean... they might protect (they won't) but only so they have you for themselves.

I'm not just speculating it's bad BTW, I couldn't resist and I tried it on a VM; At free, it's not worth it.

em4020
Jul 23, 2011
0

Microsoft Security Essentials needs only 17.6 MB on harddisk, Avast Free Antivirus 149 MB.

If you have a virtual machine, which you will keep small in order to copy or backup it on small USB-disks Microsoft Security Essentials is a very good solution because of its very low space demand.

joshas
Jul 14, 2011
0

I've tested MSE on several computers for over two months - is seems to be a bit lighter on resources and interface is decent (why does every antivirus MUST have some custom interface with ludicrous colors and interface styling?). On the other hand, to complete removing a virus from USB flash drive - you have to reboot (this is not very convenient). And finally, one of the computers caught some bogus fake antivirus malware, which somehow bypassed MSE and removed it from startup.

bjornhallberg
Mar 15, 2011
0

Real-time protection seemed to hog a lot of CPU for me (up to 20-25% on a Q6600) while scanning. RAM usage was also high (70-80 MB).

JonM33
Jul 21, 2010
0

By far the best free anti-malware program available. It's easy to use, a single interface, virus signatures updated daily and very light weight on system resources. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Better than AVG, Avast and Avira. Also, this software wasn't made by Microsoft. It was made by some security software companies that Microsoft acquired.

Furgelnod
Apr 16, 2010
0

Lightweight, ad-free, free, and easy to manage oh, and it has rootkit protection. Frankly, Security Essentials beats AVG and Avira in my opinion, despite it being created by Microsoft (possibly the only drawback).

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7 of 9 comments

What is Microsoft Security Essentials?

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is an antivirus software product that provides real-time protection against different types of malicious software such as viruses, spyware, rootkits and Trojan horses.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download from Microsoft (Space demand: only 17.63 MB.) that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology.

It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple. Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.

Microsoft Security Essentials information

  • Developed by

    US flagMicrosoft
  • Licensing

    Proprietary and Free product.
  • Rating

    Average rating of 3.5
  • Alternatives

    43 alternatives listed
  • Supported Languages

    • English

Our users have written 9 comments and reviews about Microsoft Security Essentials, and it has gotten 586 likes

Microsoft Security Essentials was added to AlternativeTo by Ola Johansson on Sep 29, 2009 and this page was last updated Nov 2, 2017. Microsoft Security Essentials is sometimes referred to as Security Essentials, MSE.