It is critical to make sure that your computer is running software that protects against malicious software. Malicious software, which includes viruses, spyware, or other potentially unwanted software can try to install itself on your computer any time you connect to the Internet. It can also infect your computer when you install a program using a CD, DVD, or other removable media. Malicious software, can also be programmed to run at unexpected times, not just when it is installed.
Microsoft Security Essentials offers three ways to help keep malicious software from infecting your computer:
- Using real-time protection—Real-time
protection enables Security Essentials to monitor your computer all
the time and alert you when malicious software, including viruses,
spyware, or other potentially unwanted software attempts to install
itself or run on your computer. Security Essentials then suspends
the software and enables you to you to follow its recommendation on
the software or take an alternative action.
- Scanning options—You can use Security
Essentials to scan for potential threats, such as viruses, spyware,
and other malicious software that might put your computer at risk.
You can also use it to schedule scans on a regular basis and to
remove malicious software that is detected during a scan.
- Microsoft SpyNet® community—The online
Microsoft
SpyNet community helps you see how other people respond to
software that has not yet been classified for risks. You can use
this information to help you choose whether to allow this software
on your computer. In turn, if you participate, your choices are
added to the community ratings to help other people decide what to
do.