Microsoft Security Essentials may not be as extensive or powerful as the paid alternatives, as the vendors of those suites were quick to point out, but it’s a good first-line defense against a range of malware. Microsoft has now released preliminary figures showing its usage and it seems to show a successful launch which quickly proved the time and effort in developing the MSE software.

Morro, Microsoft’s new free antivirus software is on its way sometime in the second half of 2009, but some screen shots of it in action have already leaked. They may not exactly be awe-inspiring but they do at least prove the existence of Microsoft Morro.

The popular AVG anti-virus program has wreaked havoc for some XP users by leading them to mistakenly delete a core system file. It’s left some people unable to start Windows at all.

Symantec the software security firm has publicly expressed disappointment over Vista’s lackluster sales this Monday. It’s really not all that surprising because if Microsoft doesn’t make money neither does Symantec.

Windows Vista is more susceptible to malware vulnerabilities than its eight-year-old predecessor Windows 2000, according to a recent independent study conducted by PC Tools.

The much-anticipated 8th version of Microsoft Internet Explorer has finally been released in Beta to the public.  Internet Explorer 8 comes with quite a few new and nifty features that all Vista and XP users should look forward to.

Previously we reported on a similar tool that would bypass Vista’s kernel protection to allow the installation of unsigned drivers that could possibly contain a rootkit.  Microsoft has now released Windows defender updates to remove and block the threat.

A test conducted by Virus Bulletin security certification body on anti-virus products using the 64-bit Microsoft Vista version finds that 30% of the popular anti-virus programs generate false positive results which could harm computer systems and files.

Those with Windows XP have the option to install Windows Defender; those that have Vista installed already have Windows Defender. The short history of Windows Defender goes back a few years when Microsoft decided to acquire Giant AntiSpyware. Beta 1 and Beta 2 of Windows Defender were just rehashes of Giant AntiSpyware.