Microsoft tried to quietly release a new version of Security Essentials yesterday, then everyone started talking about it. The new version 4.0 claims to be faster and catch more viruses. Of course, that’s everything we want in virus scanning–besides being free.
The most recent data I read stated the old MSE was about 93% effective, so there was some room for improvement there.
The 93% effectiveness disappoints me, but 93% is much better than 0%, and being free and being relatively lightweight means people are more willing to run it. The important thing is that they’re trying to make it better.
If you already have Security Essentials installed, the easiest way to update is by using Windows Update. On my system, it was a 12 MB download and didn’t require a restart.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.