As every one that uses a Windows based desktop computer, security is an ongoing problem.  Windows has been vulnerable to trojan horses, viruses, hackers and just about any other form of cyber pestilence you can name.

Last week, Microsoft quietly released a software package to address the problem of spyware/malware. The package is Microsoft Security Essentials.  It is a free download for Windows XP and Vista PCs. It provides protection against many of the threats to a computer's well being, such as viruses and spyware and without your having to pay a big price in processor load. It will also work on Windows 7, the new version of Windows scheduled to be released Oct. 22. Security Essentials replaces Windows Live OneCare, a paid program that Microsoft discontinued earlier this year.

True to its name, Security Essentials supplies the basics: It protects desktop computers and laptop computers against spyware and viruses. One caution to users: It is not, a full-featured suite, it doesn't include a software firewall, which can block intruders or alert you to unauthorized outbound connections. It also does not include a module that specifically scans incoming and outgoing e-mail. But since Windows itself comes with a rudimentary firewall, and Security Essentials will scan any e-mail attachments that get saved to your hard drive, you're covered for most of the situations where there is risk.

Microsoft Security Essentials is ubiquitous from the start. The download from Microsoft is tiny — just 8.6 megabytes for the Windows XP version, 4.3 for the 32-bit Vista/Win7 version, and 4.6 for the 64-bit Vista/Win7 version. It requires very little of your computer resources when running — on a 32-bit Windows 7 PC, it uses less than 3 MB of memory when idle.

The Security Essentials program installs quickly and doesn't seem to be a bloated piece of software such as we have experienced from Microsoft in the past. Another thing to note is that it does check to make sure your copy of Windows is “genuine” — i.e., not pirated. As does most other software, it also checks for existing antivirus and anti spyware programs and advises that you remove them before installing Security Essentials. If you are using Vista or Win7, it disables spyware fighter Windows Defender, which is included with those operating systems.

Thus far, independent tests have yet to detect any impact on performance. In fact, in a discussion on one technical blog, several commentators who also have the software wondered whether it's even working at all!

That's because Security Essentials is quiet and unobtrusive. The only time it alerts you is when it needs upgrading, or its anti-malware definitions need to be updated.

The program's design is simple as well. When you open it, you have only four tabs — Home, with program status and a Scan Now button; Update, which lets you manually download new definitions; History, which shows recent actions taken; and Settings.

If your system is connected to a router, and you feel it is getting bogged down due to the security software, I would recommend you deactivate it and give Security Essentials a try, as I am currently doing on both of my Desktop computers as well as my laptop computer.

It can be downloaded from Microsoft Here