Need free antivirus for an old Windows 7 PC? Microsoft Security Essentials was Microsoft's free real-time protection for Windows 7 and Vista. Its support ended with Windows 7 in January 2020, and Windows 8, 10 and 11 include its successor, Microsoft Defender, built in.
Scan choices
From the Home tab, start a quick scan of common locations, a full scan of the PC, or a custom scan of selected files and folders. The quick option suits routine checks; a full scan examines more of the computer and takes longer.
The Settings tab includes scheduled scans, so a check can run at a chosen time. Scan settings also let you choose whether to check removable drives and whether a scheduled scan should use the PC’s available processing power.
Real-time protection
Microsoft Security Essentials watches for threats while files are accessed and monitors activity for suspicious behavior. If it detects a threat, it can alert you and take action based on the protection settings. This monitoring works alongside the manual scans, covering everyday file access between scheduled checks.
Updates and threat history
The Update tab provides access to security definition updates. Microsoft kept supplying definition updates for a while after 2020, but the program itself no longer receives fixes, so it protects far less than a current antivirus.
The History tab records detected items and their handling. Review quarantined items there, and use the available actions to remove an item or restore one that should not have been treated as a threat.
Pros
- Real-time monitoring checks files as they are accessed
- Detects viruses and spyware
- Security definitions update automatically
Cons
- Unsupported since January 2020 along with Windows 7
- Not needed on Windows 8 to 11, which include Microsoft Defender
System requirements: Windows 7
Can Microsoft Security Essentials scan just one folder?
Yes. Choose a custom scan and select the files or folders to check.
Does Microsoft Security Essentials provide real-time protection?
Yes. It monitors files as they are accessed and checks for viruses and spyware.
Where can quarantined items be found?
Open the History tab to view detected items, including those in quarantine.