Microsoft has opened public access to its brand new security product Microsoft Security Essentials Beta. It protects home users from viruses and spyware. Free of charge.

Beta version is available initially only to 75,000 customers in the United States, Israel, China and Brazil through Microsoft Connect service. Nevertheless, I have successfully registered and downloaded it from Ukraine. The license agreement does not contain any specific geographic restrictions. Though you should note that “you may not disclose the results of any benchmark tests of the software to any third party without Microsoft’s prior written approval” (cited from the license agreement).

Security Essentials Beta works under Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. Microsoft is planning to release a second public build in the summer and the final product is expected in the fall.

Tags: antivirus, microsoft