Greetings and salutations!  I have been asked quite bit lately regarding a good "FREE" Antivirus program.  I have in the past used AVG a lot but then switched to AVAST.  AVG is on  a campaign to have people buy there program and therefore have you re-new your free subscription each year all the while being bombarded to buy it.  AVAST does not do this.  So AVAST has been my antivirus of choice and that which I have (and still do) recommend.

However- Microsoft has come out with a new program of there own that is little known and not advertized- Microsoft Security Essentials.  So I have taken to test it my self.  I have it installed on several computers and am liking it a great deal.  Why?  First of it is less of a resourse hog than most programs.  That simply means that it does not slow down my computer while it is doing its job.  Second is that it is really streamlined.  It will scan your computer and simply take care of what it finds- little to no prompts.  You see if you are there infront of the computer when it finds someting it will bring up a window to ask you "what do you want to do?"  But if you are not there- it will simply (after a period of time) settle on the recommended default action which it recommended to you in the first place.

On top of all this- it is also a Spyware detector.  So in this one product you get both a Antivirus and Spyware program.

You can get MS Security Essentials - here.  Simply click on the Download Now and then click on Run when asked.  If you are unsure or want more info- click on the installation window to the left of the Download Now button.  One thing I recommend- once installed, click on the MS Security Essentials Icon in the lower right side of the compuer (task bar) and open Security Essentials.  Click on the Settings tab and choose the date and time that it will download updates and do a system scan.  If your computer is left on all the time- choose Daily and a time of 2:00 AM.  If it is a laptop that is not on all the time choose Daily and then a time when you know the computer will be on or that you usually are using it.  That way- you will be sure to get your udates and a scan of your computer.

Cheers- Keith