14 DAY TRIAL // The latest security solution released for end-users from Microsoft comes in the form of a free anti-virus / anti-spyware / anti-malware software, called Microsoft Security Essentials. The solution is aimed at those users who either cannot afford to purchase paid anti-virus software or do not want to do so and owners of any Windows XP (SP2 and SP3), Windows Vista or Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit) can enjoy the application for free. With great emphasis on owners, as those who run pirated versions of these platforms will not have access to the MSE.
“During installation, you’ll be asked to validate Windows running on your PC to make sure that it’s genuine. As with all of our validation technology Microsoft doesn’t use any information collected during validation about the copy of Windows that is installed or the PC it is installed on to identify or contact the owner or user. If a copy of Windows fails validation during setup then [...] the user will be offered an easy way to purchase genuine Windows directly from Microsoft,”Microsoft's Alex Kochis notes on the Genuine Windows Blog. Take a look at the screens attached to this article to make an idea of what that means.
The software giant is known to block pirates from downloading certain software solutions it makes available for users, yet there are some exceptions to this rule, and Internet Explorer 8 is one example in this direction. Moreover, it should also be noted that even those who run counterfeit copies of Microsoft’s Windows client are able to update their platforms through Windows Update. The move might be driven by the fact that Microsoft Security Essentials is not the only choice end-users have when it comes to a security software solution, suggests John Pescatore, a Gartner analyst, who also argues that, in comparison, all Windows updates come from Microsoft alone.
However, the Redmond-based company hasn't stated anything on why it decided to make the software available only to the owners of a genuine Windows client. As many of you might already know, the Microsoft Security Essentials is available in eight languages in 19 countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Those of you who purchased their Windows copy legally can download MSE for free via this link.
