There's a new (Fall '09) FREE antivirus from a source we should be able to trust - Microsoft. They have released for consumer use a version of the program they sell to big businesses. It's called
Microsoft Security Essentials
and it is getting positive
first reviews from some independent commentators, although I have not seen rigorous test results yet. Another good thing about it is that it is managed with all your other Windows Updates so you'll never be out of date (it's expected that you are getting your updates every other week or every month). Watch for a program on free antivirus programs, including MSE, early in 2010.
Before you install this program, be sure you first disconnect from the internet and uninstall your existing antivirus with the expired subscription. Then reboot and verify that Windows Firewall is already turned on (you
should be behind a router, too, for better protection). Then connect to the internet and
go directly to Microsoft to download and install Security Essentials. Don't do anything else before you reinstall some antivirus.
How do you find Microsoft Security Essentials? I assumed I'd just go to Microsoft.com and there it would be. No. Maybe on the top of their Download site. No. Search the site? No.
I went out to the internet and put "microsoft security essentials" in my favorite search engine - Google - and went right there. I went back and searched with Bing. Guess what? No links to Microsoft's download on the first page!
As of today, get it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials
