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Microsoft Security Essentials beta to be capped at 75,000, kicks off today

By | June 23, 2009, 6:31am PDT

Just a quick reminder: Microsoft plans to allow the public to download a beta version of “Morro,” now known as Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) on June 23, starting around 9 a.m. PT.

Update (8 a.m. PT): The beta download is now live. Or maybe not. It was for a minute, there….

MSE is the free antivirus/anti-malware product that is replacing Microsoft’s paid Windows Live OneCare subscription service. It is aimed primarily at users who can’t or won’t pay for security software.

Here are the details about today’s beta kick-off:

Who is eligible: Anyone in the U.S., Israel or Brazil who wants to try MSE on XP SP2, Vista or Windows 7 (Beta or Release Candidate) can grab the beta. Last week, Microsoft officials told me there was no cap planned for the beta, but  shortly thereafter a spokesperson said the beta will be capped at 75,000. “This could change though depending on what the download scenario is,” he added.

Download site: Testers will be able to download MSE beta from Microsoft Connect by going to this page: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Versions: The MSE beta will be available in 32- and 64-bit flavors. It will be available in English and Brazilian Portuguese on June 23 and simplified Chinese some time later this year. Update: The beta is restricted by country. The beta site says: “This beta is available only to customers in the United States, Israel (English only), People’s Republic of China (Simplified Chinese only) and Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese only).”

How long will the beta be available: Microsoft plans to keep the beta open until the cap is reached or the final product is available, whichever comes first.

When is the final MSE release due: Official word is before the end of calendar 2009. I’ve seen several bloggers saying this fall.

If you’re among the testers who grab a copy of today’s beta of MSE, I’d be interested in hearing what you think. How does MSE compare to other free and paid third-party security offerings and Windows Live OneCare?

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Topics

Security, Microsoft Corp., Beta, Microsoft Security Essentials, Mary Jo Foley

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

Disclosure

Mary-Jo Foley

Freelance journalist/blogger Mary Jo Foley has nothing to disclose. WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). I do not own Microsoft stock or stock in any of its partners or competitors. I have no business ventures that are sponsored by/funded by Microsoft or any of its partners or competitors.

Biography

Mary-Jo Foley

Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry for 25 years for a variety of publications, including ZDNet, eWeek and Baseline. She has kept close tabs on Microsoft strategy, products and technologies for the past 10 years. In the late 1990s, she penned the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet, and more recently the Microsoft Watch blog for Ziff Davis.

Got a tip? Send her an email with your rants, rumors, tips and tattles. Confidentiality guaranteed.

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RE: Microsoft Security Essentials beta to be capped at 75,000, kicks off today
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 10th Oct
They're ordinarily excellent nfl jerseys 2012 article content or blog site posts, I truthfully appriciate your labor.
View in thread
0 Votes
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Only 1:46 mins. to go then !
johnfenjackson@... Updated - 23rd Jun 2009
So 5.00PM UK time (GMT and summer time hour).
Might watch a bit of Wimbledon in the meantime.

Maybe MJF should record the next podcast with the guys from El Reg in ... London.

Could check out UK software prices for M$ products at the same time, see whether Foyles has any good publications in stock, scope what computers they have along Tottenham Court Road ... or in Harrods wink

Just a thought.

Ah, champagne and strawberries nearly cool enough now. Gotta go.

HAND (have a nice day/download)
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Simple with substance
Mr. Dee 23rd Jun 2009
What I like most about Microsoft Security Essentials apart from being free is the focus on simplicity with substance. The interface features a clean, well organized design that's easy to work with and maintain. Integration with Windows technologies like Security Center in XP/Vista and Action Center in Windows 7 will provide the cohesive experience that users expect from security utilities such as this. When combined with Windows 7's rich suite of security technologies already built in such as UAC, DEP, Patch Guard, Safe Unlinking and ASLR, users will certainly enjoy an even more complete security experience. Its early days yet, but Microsoft is doing something I believe that's right for both Windows and its user base. Personally, I wouldn't mind if Windows came with a program like Security Essentials already built in. With a strong brand identity behind it and I am sure strong marketing, this will encourage users to ensure that their Windows PC is protected.
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Love, Steve B.
johnfenjackson@... Updated - 23rd Jun 2009
"Strong Brand identity" = the company that brought you Vista Ultimate - remember those extras?

"I am sure strong marketing" = the company that brought you M$ Bob, the WOW that was VISTA and resurrected Seinfeld.

"Personally, I wouldn't mind if Windows came with a program like Security Essentials already built in."
Bloatware, how about 'Windows came with security built in.' Nah, never catch on, no (shareholder) value in that puppy.

Did you swallow a marketing manual, or what?
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In fact ...
de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023 23rd Jun 2009
Microsoft DIDN'T bring you Bob - it was an experiment into alternative user experiences.

You clearly could do with reading a few marketing texts: Microsoft has a VERY strong brand identity ... which has nothing at all to do with Ultimate Extras. Whilst I agree with you that it was a shame that they didn't ship any extras, I am not going to lose any sleep over the fact.

I agree that WinXP is a security disaster. However, Vista and now Win7 have equalled, if not surpassed the level of security enjoyed by *N*X for some time. At least one can't say that MS doesn't learn and adapt.
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I agree, this is a step in the right direction
NonZealot 23rd Jun 2009
Until someone makes a desktop OS that is impervious to malware (and no one has), AV is good for the "Oh... damn... what did I just do?" moments. I would never rely on AV though, far better to run as a restricted rights user (been doing that for 9 years on Windows), make sure you have some form of firewall enabled, and use a browser with some form of protection built into it. IE on Vista / Win 7 is good, Firefox with NoScript is okay, Safari is the worst (security wise).
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RE: Microsoft Security Essentials beta to be capped at 75,000, kicks off today
npiaseck 23rd Jun 2009
I keep getting

The invitation you are using belongs to another registered account. If you believe you received this message in error, please try using another Windows Live ID/Passport account or contact mchelp@microsoft.com for additional assistance.

Anyone else getting that error as soon as you sign into your Live account on Microsoft Connect?
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Never Mind
npiaseck 23rd Jun 2009
Never mind, 10 minutes later and it works--guess it was Stupid User Error. =)
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Perfect timing - just downloaded it on brand new Vaio with Win7 64bit
Martin_Australia Updated - 23rd Jun 2009
Just got it and installed it. Links are live.

Just got my brand new Sony Vaio Z 13" with 6GB RAM, 320 GB HDD today and needed Security Software so perfect timing!

Win7 64bit, now with Morro and Office 2010 Tech Preview on this 1.48kg Vaio just rocks! I am a geek in heaven. happy

See it here - http://www.sony.com.au/product/vgn-z46gd
0 Votes
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That is a beautiful machine, although...
Wintel BSOD 23rd Jun 2009
... I don't like the Apple-like chicklet keyboard.

Take off Viista bloatware, put Linux on it and I'll bet it will really rock...
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Really rock? At doing what?
de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023 23rd Jun 2009
It sounds to me like his machine is already rocking ... he's clearly delighted with running Win7 along with his library of existing software, games, tools and utilities.

And he didn't have to go and jump through hoops to find, compile and install some port of a patch of a driver for something or other that isn't included in the main distro'.

Some of us enjoy getting on with our lives. Others like you enjoy playing with your OS.

Live and let live, I say.
  • Flagged
0 Votes
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Well since it's Win7
Wintel BSOD 23rd Jun 2009
And not Viista, I'll forgive him.

wink
  • Flagged
0 Votes
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That's interesting ...
de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023 23rd Jun 2009
... because I've been running Vista on > 9 machines (work & home) and have been helping various family members get Vista on their machines too.

WITHOUT exception, Vista has been 95% problem free on EVERY one of those machines THAT I INSTALLED. My father in law's Sony laptop was installed with a HORRIBLE Vista image buried under mountains of crapware. Once that was remedied (clean install sans crapware) it was a whole new machine.

The only issues we really saw was when my Mother In Law's favorite writing app wouldn't run without admin rights - the developer was writing app settings to the HKLM portion of the registry. All offending apps were quickly fixed/patched shortly after RTM and even x64 drivers quickly appeared. My biggest gripe was that it took Line6 SO LONG to get their x64 drivers built and released.

So whilst Vista was absolutely fine, Win7 has been nothing but stellar. Light, fast, responsive, it gave a new lease on life to several previously mothballed machines and is a joy to use.

Can't wait for RTM and one last upgrade/install-fest (for a while at least) happy
0 Votes
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I'm willing to give Win7 a fair shake
Wintel BSOD 23rd Jun 2009
I haven't used it yet, so I can't really comment on the user experience part.

However, I will have to find new hacks for it like defeating DRM, WGA (or whatever they call it in Win7) and anything that gets in the way of my fair use rights.

It better run faster than that overweight POS I bought in 2007.
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Why would you need to hack WGA?
NonZealot 23rd Jun 2009
If you purchased Windows 7 there would be no need for you to defeat WGA. Unless you have no plans on actually paying for Windows 7?
  • Flagged
0 Votes
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Because I don't need to prove myself to M$
Wintel BSOD 23rd Jun 2009
...over and over again. I don't need to be pinging their authentication servers constantly.

They're just gonna have to trust me, that's all.
  • Flagged
0 Votes
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Why do they have to trust you?
NonZealot 23rd Jun 2009
You don't trust MS, why should they trust you? Don't pay for their products if you don't agree to their terms. There, that was easy!
  • Flagged
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@AnythingButViista:
de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023 23rd Jun 2009
First, DRM and WGA are two entirely different things:

WGA == Genuine Windows. This is a mechanism that ensures that you're using Windows within the terms of the EULA that you must explicitly accept before you install and use ANY product, be it Windows, OSX or even Linux. EULA's are a fact of life and determine the way in which you can use the product. If you don't agree with the EULA then don't install the product.

FWIW, once you've activated your copy of Windows, it doesn't "phone home". Only if you reinstall or change your motherboard/CPU/network chips etc., will you need to reactivate. That's not much of a burden to help prevent those mooching off your purchase of Windows.

DRM is a mechanism that allows someone who owns the rights to a given piece of content (from a file containing a Word document to a movie to music) to determine how that file can be used/shared, etc. It is a mechanism put in place by the big media companies and MS implemented in Windows to comply with the required laws in order to allow you to watch your media in accordance with the terms specified by the content owner. If you don't like the DRM restrictions, go complain to your government or media owner.
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Well, get ready then...
Cylon Centurion 23rd Jun 2009
Windows 7 requires that you "phone home" daily. Each day that you turn on your PC, you are required to enter in your product activation code.

Don't even get me started on the DRM.... Woooh


[/sarcasm]


Do you even know what is going on with those things? WGA requires that you enter in a product activation code when installing the OS, unless you have some hefty hardware changes, you'll never have to input that code again.


As for the DRM, all that happens, is the computer check to see if the pathway from your video adapter to the screen is protected.

That's really draconian isn't it?
0 Votes
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Vaio FTW, Quality hardware/ super slick design/ stunning display
NeoGeneration Updated - 23rd Jun 2009
..i have a FW series laptop that is running great for over an year and half. And mine is even made in japan (i`ve also seen P series models that are Made in japan).

+ your model is made of carbon fiber, something you don`t see everyday in laptops, most are : plastic or aluminium.

+ they also come with Adobe Premier Elements And Adobe Photoshop Elements, which are better than iLife at video/photo editing.
0 Votes
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Sweet deal
gnesterenko 23rd Jun 2009
I confess myself to be jealous. Can't wait to build a new rig once AMD gives us R890 chipsets and 800 Southbridge motherboards. Throw on a cheap Phen2 955 with unlocked multi and I'll be in overclock heaven with Win 7.

"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
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Nice Vaio
Cylon Centurion 23rd Jun 2009
Bit pricey though
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Public beta earlier build than last week's leak?
Solema Updated - 23rd Jun 2009
Has anyone else downloaded this who already downloaded the leaked version last week? It appears that the build number of this public beta version is EARLIER than the leaked build.

I'm seeing build 1.0.1407.0 for the public beta and build 1.0.2140.0 for the leaked version of last week.

When I try to install the public beta it tells me that a newer version of Security Essentials is already installed.

Is anyone else seeing this? Why is Microsoft giving the public an outdated build?
0 Votes
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Because...
DevStar 23rd Jun 2009
the beta build is probably the one that went through full testing and optimization for a beta release. The leaked build is just probably one that dropped out of the build lab. No additional testing besides nightly tests and such. You don't just build a beta and then ship it the next day. As surprising as it may seem, there is substantial work that goes into insuring that something is beta quality.
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Gotcha
Solema 23rd Jun 2009
I understand that, but it just seems opposite the normal Microsoft trend to release betas that are the latest builds.
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You misunderstand
de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023 Updated - 23rd Jun 2009
No beta published by MS is "the latest build" - it's just the "latest publically available build"

For example. Let's say that MS decided to ship today's build as MS-Foo Beta 1. The source tree for MS-Foo would then be branched allowing any fixes to MS-Foo to be isolated from the main source tree until they could be integrated back into the tree after they've been proven to fix the issue.

A beta build is then created and assaulted by a battery of automated tests - typically numbering in the several 10's of thousands each and every day. The test team will also hammer on the product using coordinated ad-hoc testing.

Bugs are filed and the team triage, postpone/close or assign bugs to developers to fix. Bugs are then fixed, unit tests checking for the specific issue added to the suite and everything is checked into the beta branch.

This continues until a well specified "quality bar" is met. Only THEN is the Beta shipped.

There can be some time between a release phase starting and the build actually being released, depending on many factors.

For example, Vista RTM was built on 2006-11-01 but the branch for Vista RTM was created several weeks before that date.

Releasing a Beta is no different from releasing a product to manufacturing (RTM). All that really changes is the quality bar is lower at Beta and MUCH higher at RTM.
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Contributr
build numbers: MS response
Mary Jo Foley 23rd Jun 2009
Hi. Yes you are right. The leaked build from last week is newer than the "official" beta. Here is what MS is saying about this:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=3147

Thanks. MJ
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Works in Canada too.
TheWerewolf 23rd Jun 2009
Just downloaded the vista and XP 32 bit versions
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Isn't Canada the 51st state?
NonZealot 23rd Jun 2009
Seriously though, I don't know why MS would assume that we would read "Available in the US" and assume it was available here too. I can confirm too that it works here though.
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No - that's the UK!
de-void-21165590650301806002836337787023 23rd Jun 2009
Didn't you see the movie?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/51st-State-DVD-Samuel-Jackson/dp/B00006IXEK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1245778659&sr=8-1
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That movie was released in the US under a different title...
Wolfie2K3 25th Jun 2009
Formual 51... Funny movie... Loved it.
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True
jk_10 23rd Jun 2009
Canadians like the phase: North America, but that is not what they mean, they mean Canada and US, sorry not Mexico. Americans like just US, they automatically include Canada with exception of the some special times. I prefer the later, what's the big deal?

0 Votes
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Perhaps someone at MS is a history buff.
satovey@... 25th Jun 2009
Under the original US constitution, the United States was organized as a confederation. Under that constitution, Canada had a right to join the US. They however chose not to.

When the current US Constitution was written, references to Canada's right to Join the US were removed.

Perhaps someone at Microsoft knows that history and figured it was easier to include Canadians than not.

On a geological note. Mexico is in Central America. Only the United States and Canada comprise North America.
0 Votes
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Where is North America
samirj 25th Jun 2009
On a GEOGRAPHICAL note

Actually North America has traditionally included Mexico (Note that NAFTA includes Mexico) although the United Nations recently geopolitically included Mexico in Central America.
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Looks really good!
NonZealot 23rd Jun 2009
I'm not a fan of AV software but so far, this one looks better than the AVG copy I just uninstalled.
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same
coffeeshark 23rd Jun 2009
Did the same here, uninstalled AVG (which tends to
interfere sometimes), and will evaluate MSE.

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AVG is just dangerous...
Wolfie2K3 25th Jun 2009
Especially when it flags legit, uninfected files as infected so when you reboot from having it remove them - your system is toast.
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Interesting...
ShadowGIATL 25th Jun 2009
I have had AVG installed on all my personal computers, and on over 200 computers on a network at work, and have never had that issue. I have been running AVG since version 7.0, and the only complaint was that they have started pushing the stupid toolbar, but it is easily deselected, so it's not that big a deal.
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I think I'll wait
Michael Kelly 23rd Jun 2009
Beta testing first generation AV software on live systems just doesn't seem like a good idea. I mean if it does have a bug, it doesn't just compromise the software in question, it compromises the whole system. When beta testing other software you at least have the AV to lean on if something goes awry.
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Re: I think I'll wait
Real World 23rd Jun 2009
That's the beauty of virtual machines.
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VM to test AV?
Michael Kelly 23rd Jun 2009
Seems like a waste of time and money to me. Unless the user interface is THAT important to you, and I can't imagine too many people would feel that way.
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couldn't be
gnesterenko 23rd Jun 2009
"Seems like a waste of time and money to me. "

Free product so at worst a waste of time only. Unless of course it fails spectacularly and destroys some really valuable piece of data - then it can cost money too. COnsidering the core has been tested and found to have at least the Advanced rating, the later shouldn't happen.

"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
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The OS isn't free
Michael Kelly 23rd Jun 2009
You do know you need to pay for a license for the OS to install it on a VM, right?
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I'm sure you've never heard of this
gnesterenko 23rd Jun 2009
But you should really look up the definition of "sunken cost" as opposed to "variable cost." You are assuming the cost of the OS is variable, when it is, in fact, sunken. Big difference in how it plays into cost-based decision making. All the difference really.

"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
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But this is America
satovey@... 25th Jun 2009
You wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

But this is America! So I'm going to sue them any ways. happy
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Re
Real World 23rd Jun 2009
http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12558-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=65997&messageID=1239279
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It's not the configuration...
Michael Kelly 23rd Jun 2009
It's the cost of the extra OS. XP and Vista need to be activated, unless I am only doing a 30 day test. And even then, why go to all the trouble just to test a beta product? I still have plenty of time to go before AVG expires and in the meantime AVG works fine. By the time it does expire MSE will have been out a while and we'll have a good idea how well it works.
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True.
Real World 23rd Jun 2009
I'm testing it on Windows 7, so cost is negligible.
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Agreed
gnesterenko 23rd Jun 2009
Going to wait for that independent AV testing company to put out some numbers for this. If it tops Avast! then I'll be making the switch, otherwise won't even bother - both free, both clean and unobtrusive, both effective.

"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
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I got mine
WindowWasher 23rd Jun 2009
Downloaded the 32bit version for XP. Install was quick and easy. Running a full scan right now, and it is not taking up too many resources. System is running fine and responsive as if it were not running.

How does one "test" AV software to prove it's doing what it should be? Is there a test web site for downloading benign patterns? For that matter, since this is a test system, how can one try to download something really bad to see if this sucker is working?

I have little experience with AV software, as I've never used any before (and never caught anything either. I'm careful).
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No offense
gnesterenko 23rd Jun 2009
But you do not seems to be a great beta test candidate for this software. You seem like you need working AV product, period. If I were you, prior to 'testing' the product, make an image backup of your entire drive in case you end up hosing the entire partition.

Other then that, yes, if you google virus testers, there are benign test files, but these are very standard and very few and you can be sure that the program was already tested with those prior to its beta.

If you REALLY want to test it, get yourself to a quality torrent site. THese will have a comment system. Look for the negative comments and ratings - these will have viruses/trojans embedded. Download, install, and hope Morro catches them!


"The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed."
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RE: Microsoft Security Essentials beta to be capped at 75,000, kicks off today
jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 10th Oct
They're ordinarily excellent nfl jerseys 2012 article content or blog site posts, I truthfully appriciate your labor.

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