Microsoft is recommending that users of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) (called Windows Defender on Windows 8) look elsewhere for their future antivirus needs.

Originally, it was a top-tier antivirus product, but over time, Microsoft has reduced support for it and have said that they are providing all the virus information they find to 3rd-party antivirus software makers and are no longer seeking to be at the top of the heap.

In fact, a Microsoft spokesperson, Holly Stewart, says it’s normal for MSE to be one of the least effective solutions, since by definition other vendors would take what Microsoft gives them and add additional function themselves.

Microsoft is still maintaining MSE, but don’t expect top results from it anymore.

For more information about Microsoft’s MSE strategy, see this article on the How to Geek website.

Goodbye Microsoft Security Essentials: Microsoft Now Recommends You Use a Third-Party Antivirus.

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