MS Security Essentials. Why is it free?

Product FRED said:

Really? Well I value your opinions guys. I was talking about previous versions, especially OEM bundleware. I guess next time I won't overlook it.

I understand.... One of the hardest things to overcome is bad reputation. Norton is getting there though.

I certainly agree. In the past Norton had a horrible rep.

I too was one of the many who would steer clear of the older versions at all costs.

Hi there
Why am I reading the downside of using MSE is that you have to use a Validated copy of Windows --- what's wrong with that. I can't see in ANY WAY WHATSOEVER that having to validate your copy of Windows is a downside.

In fact I'd like to see ALL non validated copies of Windows stop working after warning users they have xxx days or whatever to get a genuine Windows license.

Now as to why MSE is free -- well I'm of the old school who thinks that a basic security package should be an INTEGRAL part of the OS and not an add on. I don't see anything wrong with extra addons but basic decent security should be built into the OS as standard. The OS kernel should always be tamperproof for "normal users".

It's also in MS's interest to ensure its OS is safe -- what business - or casual user for that matter is going to trust an OS that allows unauthorized "3rd parties" to collect and steal private data.

Trojans and Viruses are very much passe these days -- real damage is done now by identy theft and other nasty "Social Engineering" attacks.

You'll only get a trojan these days if you download movies / games / software from "unauthorized" sources like warez / torrents etc.

People --including the hackers themselves -- have moved on to much higher stakes - so I think a lot of the paid for 3rd party security software suppliers won't be in business for too much longer -- they are spending too much time trying to fix YESTERDAY's problems.

A few corporate suppliers will survive - but the whole emphasis on computer protection has changed significantly these days -- and with The Cloud -- real time protection becomes ever more important -- and this really needs to be built into the OS kernel itself -- obviously MS is king here.

Cheers
jimbo