14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft’s free security solution designed to run on genuine Windows platforms worldwide is truly an international product. At this point in time, the Redmond-based company is offering Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0, formerly codenamed Morro, in no less than 25 localized versions. In total, the basic antivirus designed to integrate seamlessly with Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP can be accessed by customers in 74 countries around the world.
In an interview with Softpedia, Theresa Burch, director of product management for Microsoft Security Essentials, revealed that the software giant is focusing on hardening the security level of the whole Windows ecosystem. In this regard, Burch made it clear that with MSE, Microsoft isn’t playing the market share race.
“Our focus is not on the size of the free AV market, but on making high quality AV protection accessible even for those who are unwilling or unable to pay. We believe the availability of quality free AV solutions will increase the number of PCs actively protected which in turn will increase the security level of the entire Windows ecosystem,” she stated.
Obviously, increasing the Windows ecosystem security is a task that requires internationalization for MSE. “Our strategy is to make Microsoft Security Essentials broadly available to help protect consumers around the world,” Burch said.
She even went on to enumerate the countries in which MSE is available for download, including: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Chile, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
You will be able to read the entire interview with Burch via this link.
Microsoft Security Essentials is available for download here.