security software

Microsoft has now plunged into the free security software business with Microsoft Security Essentials. The company is concerned that not enough people are using protection on their PCs. However much they have tried to tighten security, they have never got the credit.

There is a long list of free antivirus products led by AVG, but their main aim is to make you buy the paid version.

Microsoft is not interested in opening a new revenue stream with Security Essentials. They had tried to sell a security software called One Care, but failed miserably. Now they just don't want Windows to get bad publicity all the time with virus attacks.

Microsoft Security Essentials is already available. It provides real-time protection for your home PC and guards against viruses, spyware and other malicious software.

Microsoft Security Essentials 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 runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you can use your Windows based PC without interruptions.

I would recommend that you download this as quickly as possible because there are reports that only 75,000 downloads will be allowed in the first phase. The link is

www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/default.aspx?mkt=en-us#dlbutton.

The minimum system requirements for Microsoft Security Essentials are: OPERATING SYSTEM: Genuine Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or Service Pack 3); Windows Vista (Gold, Service Pack 1, or Service Pack 2); Windows 7 For Windows XP , a PC with a CPU clock speed of 500MHz or higher, and 256MB RAM or higher For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 1.0 GHz or higher, and 1GB RAM or higher VGA display of 800x600 or higher 140MB of available hard disk space.

An Internet connection is required for installation and to download the latest virus and spyware definitions for Microsoft Security Essentials.

INTERNET BROWSER: Windows Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, Mozilla Firefox 2.0 or later.

Microsoft Security Essentials also supports Windows XP Mode in Windows 7.
This basically means it supports hardware virtualization.

Hardware virtualization allows you to run more than one operating system on the computer, be it a desktop PC or a server that sits in the corner of your office.
For example, if you have an old computer you are holding on to because it runs that very important software package that does not work with the latest Microsoft Windows 7 release, virtualization could be the solution for you, allowing you to run a virtual Windows 95 PC within your Windows 7 environment.

So how do you confirm whether your PC can run on XP mode?

Although the Dells and Acers and HPs have been shipping hardware virtualization in PCs for three years, it is not available in all PCs -- so even if you’re PC is new, it may not have hardware virtualization. Additionally, those PCs with hardware virtualization have it turned off by default, so you will need to turn on the hardware virtualization capability before you can use it.

To determine whether you’re PC works with Windows XP Mode: Step 1: Find out if your PC has a CPU with support for hardware virtualization.

Download and run the Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool from www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0ee2a17f-8538-4619 8d1c05d27e11adb2&displaylang=en.

If you receive the message "This computer does not have hardware-assisted virtualization," then bad luck if

You receive the message "Hardware-assisted virtualization is not enabled on this computer,"

Go on to Step 2

If you get "This computer is configured with hardware-assisted virtualization," download and install Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode from www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx. Step 2. Does my PC BIOS support hardware virtualization, and is it turned on? Instructions to turn on hardware virtualization in your PC BIOS are specific to different computer models. Note that after changing your BIOS settings, the PC should be completely shut before restarting so that the new BIOS settings take over.