The simple truth of the matter is that if you have a computer, you need to keep it protected. You need a security software solution that can keep malware, security threats and the people with malicious intent that lurk around the internet at bay. You need a security software solution that can keep viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, and other malware at bay.

To ensure you have a pleasurable and most of all SAFE user experience, Microsoft has a free, properly good security software solution to offer – Microsoft Security Essentials (or MSE for short). The application has been around for a year now. The first MSE Beta version, as you may recall, was released back in June 2009. The application graduated out of Beta on the 29th of September, 2009 and has been installed on more than 31 million machines in 74 different countries since then.

The big news is that Microsoft Security Essentials is now being offered via Windows Update as an optional install. Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 users who subscribe to Microsoft Windows Update are offered MSE as an optional update.

“If you are not currently running anti-malware software on your computer then you may be vulnerable to spyware, viruses, and other malicious software. Microsoft Security Essentials is free anti-malware software and it is strongly recommended that you download and install it,” says Microsoft in KB Article 2267621.

As a little side note, it must be said that as of October 7, 2010, MSE is available to small business on up to 10 PCS.

I mentioned above that MSE is a properly good security software solution. On MSE’s first anniversary, Microsoft rolled out some interesting MSE usage statistics. Here are the ones that showcase just how good MSE is:

• Microsoft Security Essentials detected nearly 400 million threats in its first year on the market.
• Virus Bulletin (highly reputable testing organization in the industry whose goal is to measure the detection effectiveness and quality of antivirus products) gave MSE a VB100 award this August.
• AV-TEST (an independent antivirus research and data security organization) said that MSE passed its test and received an AV-Test certificate – also this August.
• Microsoft Security Essentials is certified by International Computer Security Association Labs (ICSA) and West Coast Labs, two of the industry’s leading independent certification authorities.
• Microsoft Security Essentials received the PC Advisor Awards 2010 - Best Free Software award and is rated by Consumer Reports as a “Best Buy”.

If you would like to learn more about Microsoft Security Essentials or download the application, please click here.