We have been expecting it for some time but it looks like it is finally here.  Available for free download to validated genuine Windows users is Microsoft’s free anti-malware package Microsoft Security Essentials.

From Microsoft “Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft 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.”

The package is suitable for Windows XP (1GB RAM and >500Mhz) and Windows Vista and Windows 7 (1GHz and 1GB RAM). You can get the full system requirements from the resource section.

From the Microsoft Press Release:

Microsoft Security Essentials is designed to run quietly in the background alerting users only when there is an action for them to take. It also limits CPU and memory usage, resulting in less impact on the tasks consumers perform every day such as opening documents or browser windows or loading search results, even on older or less powerful PCs. Microsoft Security Essentials uses real-time protection to help prevent PCs from becoming infected, and it is the first Microsoft security product to make use of the company’s new Dynamic Signature Service, a technology that helps ensure users stay protected by the most current virus definitions available without having to wait for the next scheduled download.

Head on over to Microsoft and download Microsoft Security Essentials.

Image Credit: Microsoft