In the real world, common sense can make a big difference in
your general well-being. For instance, a defensive driver can expect to go
years without an altercation before the law of averages crumples her fender. In
the computing world, however, leaving your PC, notebook, or Mac unprotected
from malware is like driving into oncoming traffic without your seatbelt fastened.
Sooner rather than later, you will get hit with viruses, spyware, and other
malicious software.
Step 1
Anti-Malware To The Rescue
Microsoft Security Essentials is an anti-malware utility that
delivers comprehensive protection against spyware, viruses, worms, Trojans,
adware, and rootkits.
You can download and install it on any Windows XP SP3
(Service Pack 3) and higher, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 computer, free of
charge. Microsoft Security Essentials only performs its scans in the
background, and you can configure it to run when you’re away from your
computer. In this article, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions for how to
install and run Microsoft
Security Essentials, so you can browse and download with
confidence.
Step 1
Visit microsoft.com and click the Free Download
button. As long as you’re running Genuine Windows software, validated by
Microsoft, the download will begin immediately after you click Run on the
browser’s download notification.
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| Click Run to download and then launch the Microsoft Security Essentials installation wizard. |
Step 2
Click Next on the Microsoft Security Essentials Wizard to
initiate the installation. On the following screen, you have the opportunity to
read the Microsoft Security Essentials license terms. When you’re finished,
click I Accept to proceed.
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You
can click the hyperlink on the first page of the wizard to view the Privacy
Statement.
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Step 3
Click the appropriate radio button to join the Customer
Experience Improvement Program (CEIP; lets Microsoft gather statistics about
your system and usage) or to opt out. If you want to learn more about the CEIP,
click the hyperlink on this page. Click Next when you’re ready to proceed.
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To
accept the Software License Terms, scroll down to read the document and then
click I Accept.
|
Step 4
On the subsequent screen, the installation wizard informs
you that if the Windows Firewall is not on, the installation process will turn
it on for added protection. Although running more than one antivirus or anti-malware
utility can cause software conflicts, a firewall is designed to work with your
antivirus software, as a means of stopping threats before they appear on the
system. If you are using a third-party firewall, or do not want the Windows
Firewall enabled, then uncheck the box on this screen. Otherwise, leave this
box checked and click Next to proceed.
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It’s
important to only run a single antivirus application at once, so if you’re already
running one, uninstall it now.
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Step 5
The next screen warns that running another antivirus and
anti spyware application can cause conflicts with Microsoft Security
Essentials, so now would be a good time to uninstall any of those you might
have previously installed. There’s a hyperlink here to help you uninstall your old
antivirus utility if you need help.
Click Install to continue.
Step 6
After a few minutes, the wizard will complete the
installation. By default, Microsoft Security Essentials updates itself and runs
a scan when you click Finish. If you don’t want to run the utility immediately,
then uncheck the box. Click Finish to complete the installation. If you left
the box checked, Microsoft Security Essentials will automatically download the
latest update and run a scan of your system.
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The
initial scan may take several minutes to more than an hour depending on the
number of files your system needs to scan.
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Step 7
To perform a manual scan, click the up arrow in the
notification area in the lower-right corner of your screen. Click the Microsoft
Security Essentials icon and then click Open to display the interface. On the
Home tab, you can click the Quick, Full, and Custom radio buttons and the Scan
Now button to perform the designated operation. Click the Update tab and then the
Update button to download the latest virus and spyware definitions.
The History tab shows you the results of past scans, and the
Settings tab lets you perform various functions, including scheduling the scans,
enabling/disabling real-time protection, and excluding certain file types from
the scan.
Safe At Last
Microsoft Security Essentials is just one of several
anti-malware utilities from which you can choose. It’s fast, unobtrusive, and
free. Don’t jeopardize your computing experience—get protected now.
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