Microsoft Security Essentials offers free PC protection

FOLLOWING a move to France many people end up using their computer a lot more for keeping in touch with friends and family, online banking and maybe running a small business.

With this increased use comes the risk of your machine being hit by a virus or similar, especially if you are not completely aware of the threats out there.

The recently launched Microsoft Security Essentials offers simple protection against viruses, trojans, rootkits, and spyware.

It is free to use and doesn't require any registration procedures or usage restrictions, and works on Windows XP, Vista and will also be available for Windows 7 when it is released in late October.

I am running it on my own PC at the moment and it runs quietly in the background without slowing the computer down, and will most probably offer to install it on friends' PCs when I next see them.

If you have installed the Microsoft Security Essentials software recently what are your own thoughts on how it works? Please feel free to leave a comment below.