Microsoft releases free computer security software

From now on people I guess should stop worrying about their computer safety as Microsoft has released free software that people can use to protect computers against viruses, spyware and other malicious code of cyber criminals.

Microsoft Security Essentials is available for download at microsoft.com/security_essentials and is built on technology that the global software giant uses in computer security programs it designs for businesses.  With Microsoft Security Essentials, consumers can get high-quality protection that is easy to get and easy to use.

Consumers were having problem and they wanted the protection of real-time security software but we know that too many are either unwilling or unable to pay for it, and so end up unprotected.

Microsoft hopes that the free software will be broadly adopted, particularly by those who have not been vigilant about protecting computers from hackers, and thereby increase security across the entire Windows ecosystem. because more than 90% of computers in the world run on windows operating system.

Microsoft is helping to reduce some of the barriers that constrain consumers from running anti virus software. Microsoft is focused on the challenges that prevent consumers from running up-to-date anti-virus software today, particularly in emerging markets where there is a growing prevalence of malware."

Security Essentials is designed to run behind the scenes, defending machines against infection by malicious computer codes.
The real-time nature of the software means it is automatically kept up-to-date regarding viruses.

But then Computer security specialty firm Symantec downplayed the Microsoft offering, saying it is lightweight and isn't tuned for new forms of attack being used by hackers.  Symantec referred to Security Essentials as a stripped-down version of an old Microsoft OneCare product that got poor ratings.

From a security perspective, this Microsoft tool offers reduced defenses at a critical point in the battle against cyber crime, Symantec said of the free offering that competes with Norton products sold by the firm.

Unique malware and social engineering tricks fly under the radar of traditional signature-based technology alone -- which is what is employed by free security tools such as Microsoft's.

So will this Microsoft's security essentials has enough to protect our computers, should we go for this product?