Microsoft offers PC protection for free. I'm Fred Fishkin with technology BootCamp, a report on gadgets and gear. It is called Security Essentials... Microsoft's latest entry into the anti-virus, anti-malware category. What's different...is that it is free, works with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7...as long as you are running legal versions of the operating systems. Other than that verification, Microsoft is promising no hassles. GM for Consumer Security Amy Barzdukas...

"Microsoft Security Essentials was designed to be easy to get. So a quick and painless download, it doesn't require any registration. So it's very easy to get and it's very easy to use. Once you have it, it just works. It continually updates itself."

And there are no worries about having to renew the software from year to year. That's an advantage over other free security programs on the market...although the software may not offer all of the protection Symantec has built into its latest version of Norton Internet Security.. which is not free. You can find us with archives, interviews and more at BootCamp.com. I'm Fred Fishkin.