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Over 1.5 Million Microsoft Security Essentials Downloads in One Week

Oct. 16, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

And I have to admit, I'm surprised it's not higher. Here's the word, from the Microsoft Malware Protection Center blog:

Now that Microsoft Security Essentials is generally available to consumers in 19 countries, we've had a chance to go over the data, and there are some very interesting results. Just in the first week we saw well over 1.5 million downloads of Microsoft Security Essentials, but the price (free to Windows users) is hard to beat!

Computers reporting detections up to October 6: almost four million detections on 535,752 distinct machines. The detections are eight times the machine count because many computers are infected with multiple threats.

Microsoft Security Essentials is available in 8 languages and 19 markets at RTM, which covers a lot of the PC using world. The geographic distribution of detections so far still closely follows the Microsoft Security Essentials Beta countries, and is ramping up in other countries that use the 8 languages.

The most astonishing statistic: Fully 44 percent of all MSE downloads are happening in Windows 7. That's amazing, given that Windows 7 isn't even broadly available yet. And one third of those installs are 64-bit.

Discuss this Article 95

SnakeDoctor
on Oct 16, 2009
I have no doubt it will continue to be high with Windows 7. Most people wont remove what they have to install this on current machines. This will be the choice of free AV solutions going forward which will mean rebuilds or new PC's will get it. I think its great because I think AV software is such BS in the first order. It wont stop anything these days. A stupid user will click OK to whatever and no malware protection will help it that I know of.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
Well, so much for "Security Essentials won't change anything," said Jens Meggers, Symantec's vice president of engineering. (from Paul's earlier blog post at http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/09/30/as-expec...)
WebGuy3000
on Oct 16, 2009
"The most astonishing statistic: Fully 44 percent of all MSE downloads are happening in Windows 7. That's amazing, given that Windows 7 isn't even broadly available yet. " Not really that astonishing, if you ask me. It just means that the people who are aware of and are downloading MSE are pretty much the same tech-savvy, leading edge types who would be running an unreleased operating system. Most ordinary folks like, say my Uncle Bud with his 6 year old XP machine, don't know what Windows 7 is, much less Microsoft Security Essentials. I installed MSE on 2 machines, by the way, replacing AVG Free. So far so good.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
WebGuy, On the other hand, you have my cousin who hasn't switched to MSE because she won't give up here OneCare until they finally shut down the service and pry the green oval off her notification area.
tayme
on Oct 16, 2009
You guys and your sappy, family related, emotional anecdotes. They are meaningless. I was once told something to that effect on this very site. --tayme
Logjamming
on Oct 16, 2009
Sure, it's hard to beat. But let's not forget that Windows-users got f-ed in the a big time with Vista prices, new hardware prices and phone bills for numerous calls to customer support because 'my windows isn't working'. @ Tayme Don't spoil the Windows 7 launch party feeling in here! These nitwits here are more hilarious than religious fanatics awaiting the return of Jesus. Oh, and OSX SL beats W7 in most tasks: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31012_7-10319612-10355804.html Oh, and Windows Mobile 6.5 sucks big time: http://gizmodo.com/5374876/windows-mobile-65-review-theres-no-excuse-for... You don't read these posts here, because....well, the spoil the Launch party!
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
tayme Feel free to only talk about the 1,500,000 downloads in 1 week or the 44% that were for an unreleased version of Windows or th 1/3rd of those that were for 64-bit. All of which are good, useful facts. (The anecdotes here didn't reinforce or contradict the facts, they were just enhancement)
Ocean
on Oct 16, 2009
Betcha this comes true... "Windows 7’s primary competition is XP. Microsoft really does worry first about raw market share, and XP is the market leader by a long shot. Such comparisons against the Mac are apples-vs.-oranges, though, because Apple isn’t concerned about overall market share. They’re concerned about sales only in the middle-to-high end of the market, and hardware profit share. Apple sells computers, not OS licenses, and their share of the profits in the U.S. computer market is somewhere north of 25 percent. -- if the idea spreads that Windows 7 is a good release it’ll trigger an avalanche of upgrades from XP. That’s really the best case situation for Microsoft, and I think it’s entirely plausible. -- Microsoft is selling licenses to an OS, the majority of them for low-end PC hardware. Apple is selling computer hardware, none of which is in the low-end market. So it’s entirely possible that Windows 7 will be good for both Microsoft and Apple. The Mac can continue to gain a few percentage points per year in the higher-profit premium range of the market, while at the same time Windows 7 could grab a majority share of the overall market, mainly at the low-cost high-unit-sale end of the market." http://daringfireball.net/2009/10/microsofts_competition_for_windows_7
tayme
on Oct 16, 2009
@mikegalos - I find it awesome that MSE is successful. It should be, it is a great product, though I prefer Live OneCare, myself. I have installed MSE on 2 rebuilds that I have done in the last week and it is all it is advertised to be...lightweight and efficient. I do, however, find it odd that you seem to have a double standard when it comes to people posting things here. You have criticized them for some of the same things that you then go on to do yourself...much like the current U.S. President does. It must be a liberal thing to be that smug. --tayme
tayme
on Oct 16, 2009
Oh, and mikegalos - Why do you seem to be compelled to tell me what I should talk *only* about, anyway? Another trait that you liberals seem to hold dear. --tayme
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
tayme Since you seem to have a reading comprehension problem the difference is this: BAD ----------- can't be true because I know somebody that... must be true because I know somebody that... GOOD ----------- As an example of when is true, I know somebody that... As an example of when isn't true, I know somebody that... You see, the difference is that you don't get that anecdotes can provide examples but not guarantee the truth or fallacy of a fact. "Another trait that you liberals seem to hold dear." Here are a couple of examples for you: GOOD I know a conservative idiot whose posts demonstrate he can't follow a logical discussion and so the claim that some conservatives are idiots seems to have some merit BAD I know a conservative idiot whose posts demonstrate he can't follow a logical discussion therefore all conservatives are idiots. The latter uses an anecdote to "prove" an assertion that it can't make based on just the anecdote. It doesn't mean the assertion is true or false, just that claiming the anecdote offers proof is incorrect.
Balthazar9
on Oct 16, 2009
Bloomberg reviews win7 “How good is Windows 7? It still isn’t nearly as elegant or intuitive as Snow Leopard, the current version of Apple Inc.’s Mac operating system. The upgrade path for XP users is ugly, and any endorsement must be tempered by the knowledge that even Vista didn’t seem so bad when it was first released.” http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601093&sid=aOPDkFraCDYY [Quote] tayme: Oh, and mikegalos - Why do you seem to be compelled to tell me what I should talk *only* about, anyway? Another trait that you liberals seem to hold dear. [Quote] Liberal??? http://is.gd/4mQwl Mike is a corporate radical right wing propagandist.
tayme
on Oct 16, 2009
Very good, migegalos. You have impressed many with your logic today. Now, can you tell me how the anecdote that I was speaking of was an attempt by me to show that was guaranteed to be true or false? If not, then your anecdotal rambling is another example of not only what you call BAD, but also a lie, since I am guessing that you, in fact, do not *know* this *conservative idiot* at all. --tayme
Dipsh t Admin
on Oct 16, 2009
"Mike is a corporate radical right wing propagandist" You obviously haven't been here very long to make that statement. However, it just enforces that you don't have any clue as to what you are talking about. Liberal or conservative, one thing we can all agree on is that RJ, Balthazar9 and Logjamming are trolls of the highest order.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
Wow. I guess after all these years I must be a moderate. The Mac people think I'm too liberal and the Linux person thinks I'm a radical right-winger. I guess that means: Mac users are on the far right Windows users are in the middle Linux users are on the far left Not what I'd have guessed but that's what happens when you trust anecdotal info rather than getting the facts.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
tayme Feel free to point out the discussion from months ago that you're talking about.
tayme
on Oct 16, 2009
Oops..."migegalos" = "mikegalos"...pardon the typo on this *conservative idiot's* part. Lots of punctuation errors, too. Good thing it's Friday! Happy weekend, everybody! --tayme
tayme
on Oct 16, 2009
I am not a Windows, Mac, or Linux *person*. I am not blinded by brand loyalty, like mikegalos seems to be. I use what gets the job done for me...or what I prefer to use to get the job done for me. --tayme
tayme
on Oct 16, 2009
@mikegalos - No thanks. I just happened to remember the discussion and don't feel compelled to go back and dig it up. You are free to do so, if you feel it is important. I have better things to do this weekend...real life things...with my real life family. But, I guess that emotion driven things like that mean nothing to you...which is fine. Be who you want. --tayme
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
tayme And likewise I'm the one who keeps wishing Apple would be innovative again as they were in 1982-3 or so and that the people wasting time and brains pasting bags on an ancient *ix architecture would step up and push technology forward rather than cloning yet another feature they didn't create. Guess that makes me an Apple and *ix fan since both of those could be read as wanting them to push harder against Microsoft. The reality is that I'm a big advocate of innovation no matter who does it. (It just seems painfully rare from Apple and *ix these days)
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
tayme I'm not the one who brought it up. I think I summarized my views on facts versus anecdotal stories well enough on this thread.
Balthazar9
on Oct 16, 2009
"Linux person" I use all three platforms. In fact I have far more M$ machines in my house than any other. Largely due to Win7’s complexity it took me one weekend to crack. I needed a week to crack win-xp. Ironic, the more elaborate and entangled the code; the easier it is to break. Separately, what is it with Micro$haft and ALL their kiddy commercials. Are there a bevy of pedophiles at M$?
crankenstein
on Oct 16, 2009
Microsoft should make a version of MSE for Mac :) That way those stupid Mac fanboys will have some protection when someone decides to create a virus for the whole 9% of Mac users.
rr0de74@live.com
on Oct 16, 2009
I just want to know if Mike's cousin will admit that she is his cousin in public? I am going to say NOPE.
rr0de74@live.com
on Oct 16, 2009
Mike you pedal that "Unix is old" crap so much, hoping people will believe it. No one does. As far as innovation, the vast majority of tech news coverage would disagree with you especially when it comes to Apple vs Microsoft. I would say Microsoft copies 80% of the time, and Apple innovates 80% of the time. Is Balmer your cousin as well? He was the one that said no one would buy the iPhone....hahahaha that was funny.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
crankenstein "Microsoft should make a version of MSE for Mac " No need. Apple isn't stupid enough to think Mac viruses aren't possible so they bundled an AntiVirus with Snow Leopard.
rr0de74@live.com
on Oct 16, 2009
MSE would be great for a Mac. That way when Mac users could not pass along to an infected Word file or whatever to PC users. It has happened in the past. Mac users were not hurt but the PC users were.
tayme
on Oct 16, 2009
@mikegalos - "I'm not the one who brought it up." Yet, you assumed that what I was speaking of involved you and that I was incorrectly using an anecdote to guarantee that something was true or false? Then, went on to have the peanuts to tell me to *only* talk about something? Wow...just wow! Do you not see the problem with your pompousness? I truly hope that in real life you are different. --tayme
Balthazar9
on Oct 16, 2009
"Apple isn't stupid enough to think Mac viruses aren't possible so they bundled an AntiVirus with Snow Leopard." Incorrect. This is a common courtesy to Win user as more Mac/Win machines are networked. This weeks Leo/Steve Gibson podcast discuss all them there patches for blindows. Including breaking of hosts files while installing security essentials. For the ignorant the best way to block all ads is through a custom hosts files. Additionaly, David Perry of Trendmicro discusses why you should NEVER do online banking on a blindows machine. http://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/091014_200001pcs.MP3
beaker
on Oct 16, 2009
MSE is working for me so far on XP. I hope they build this in to Windows 7 SP1.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
"For the ignorant the best way to block all ads is through a custom hosts files." That should read, "For those who don't love constantly tweaking Unixoid TCP/IP management text files the best way to break your network is through a custom hosts files." The rest of have used modern protocols (like DHCP) for years now and ignore tweaking the annoyingly cryptic and fragile "hosts" text file. But, hey, have fun twiddling your insecure, fragile, network setup.
panache1023
on Oct 16, 2009
MikeGalos, Just curious... Which company was able to take multi-touch and put it in the hands of millions of consumers? Microsoft or Apple? I think everyone here knows the answer.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
rr0de "I would say Microsoft copies 80% of the time, and Apple innovates 80% of the time. " Yes. You would say that. And only in your mind does that have any bearing on it being true. But, feel free to tell us all those great OS innovations Apple has given the industry in, say, the last 20 years, (I'll grant that there were some real innovations in Lisa and the Laserwriter printer) It shouldn't be hard since you're effectively saying that 80% of the difference between System 7 and OS X 10.6 were "Apple innovations" and not copied from other places.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
panache So you're saying that marketing and sales are what constitute innovation? It's odd that the one item that came to mind for you was: * Not in a personal computer but in a consumer device * Shown by many other groups for longer than Apple has been in existance and released by other long before iPhone * An example of technology that Apple bought and didn't actually invent
EricoF3
on Oct 16, 2009
panache1023 said: "Just curious... Which company was able to take multi-touch and put it in the hands of millions of consumers? Microsoft or Apple? I think everyone here knows the answer." hmmm ... Lets see... this sentence is not exactly formulated ... We should read : "Which company was able to *steal* multi-touch and put it in the hands of millions of consumers?
EricoF3
on Oct 16, 2009
mikegalos@msn.com said:"Yes. You would say that. And only in your mind does that have any bearing on it being true. But, feel free to tell us all those great OS innovations Apple has given the industry in, say, the last 20 years, (I'll grant that there were some real innovations in Lisa and the Laserwriter printer) It shouldn't be hard since you're effectively saying that 80% of the difference between System 7 and OS X 10.6 were "Apple innovations" and not copied from other places." Mike, you are so damn right!!!
panache1023
on Oct 16, 2009
See Mike, now you are changing the topic, You said INNOVATE. you didn't say OS innovation until after my remark. And now you want to downplay it because they didn't INVENT it. What did MS invent that was so innovative that you keep referring to? Inventing != innovating.
panache1023
on Oct 16, 2009
EricoF3, Inventing != Innovating The innovation was taking a technology that not a lot of people were aware of, and putting it into a device that people wanted and actually made using that device easier. The fact that you guys now argue that Apple didn't INVENT it so it was INNOVATIVE is just proof that you can't stand the fact that Apple has innovated in areas MS hasn't. And why does this even bother you is a bigger question
panache1023
on Oct 16, 2009
Mike, You claim that multi-touch iphone doesn't count as innovation because Apple didn't invent multi-touch, but then say there were real innovations in the Lisa...when the primary appeal of the Lisa was its GUI, which also was not invented by Apple.
gfryesc1
on Oct 16, 2009
hey, I love the trolls that call out the other trolls for trolling out here... but no one should feel entitled to righteous indignation here. I mean, look at what Thurrott himself does. He's King Troll.
EricoF3
on Oct 16, 2009
panache1023 said: "Inventing != Innovating" Yes you are right... So stop telling that Microsoft always steal idees of others (*Apple*) ... They only talk idees that don't work an they do something usfull so they Inovate... Isn't it?
panache1023
on Oct 16, 2009
EricoF3, I never said that MS steals ideas from others. I said that Mike's proclamation (and your too since you said you agree) is that Apple doesn't innovate. I am showing examples otherwise. I also didn't say that MS does not innovate. You are attributing comments others made to me, and then arguing that I am wrong.....even though I never said those things. Once again, you have nothing to back up the accusation so you argue against a strawman... well done
EricoF3
on Oct 16, 2009
@gfryesc1: please... Go play in traffic...
mikegalos@msn.com
on Oct 16, 2009
panache You are right that Apple DIDN'T invent the GUI. Of course I also didn't claim that they did. That honor goes to a combination of people including Doug Engelbart and the Xerox PARC team going back over a decade before Lisa. But Lisa had a lot of innovations in GUI design. Including some that, unfortunately, didn't make it over to the "do it on the cheap" version of Lisa called Macintosh.
EricoF3
on Oct 16, 2009
@panache1023: Another thing that explain why Apple des not inovate buy introducing multi-touch in the IPhone and ITouch it is because Microsoft present this technology in Surface first... So this is an inovation from Microsoft not Apple...
panache1023
on Oct 16, 2009
FYI.. a definition of "Innovate" –verb (used without object) 1. to introduce something new; make changes in anything established. –verb (used with object) 2. to introduce (something new) for or as if for the first time: to innovate a computer operating system. 3. Archaic. to alter. Clearly, bringing multi-touch to the masses was innovative. Clearly, bring an OS that most people find too "techno-geeky" to millions of people is innovative. Notice that no where does it say that INVENTING is part of innovating.
beaker
on Oct 16, 2009
galos - is there anything that Apple does well? The love of everything Microsoft is odd. I can and do appreciate several platforms (Windows, Mac, *BSD, etc.). You act like Microsoft is the answer for everything. It isn't - seriously. Sure, Apple f*cks up.. Microsoft does too. Everyone does. But, they both have their good points. Ask - Paul. He tried to get rid of his iPhone MONTHS ago but wasn't able to.. he is still using it. He is the "King of All" Microsoft fans.
panache1023
on Oct 16, 2009
EricoF3, Once again...how many people here own a Surface? (probalby zero since it is not targeted at consumers) How many Surface units have been sold vs iphone / ipod touch? How many people in the world have actually *used* a Surface vs ipod touch / iphone? I have used Surface at a Casino in Atlantic City....it has potential, but to compare its use to ipod touch / iphone is a joke
CompactDstrxion
on Oct 16, 2009
I think Microsoft have the right strategy, keeping services like this out of the Windows installation but freely available. Means no one can accuse them of pushing anything onto users. By the way MSE is the best personal PC security tool I have ever used. Fantastic job Microsoft. I'm going to recommend it to everyone I know, and see the smiles on their faces when they get rid of Crapton Crappyvirus and realise their PC boots twice as fast.
beaker
on Oct 16, 2009
CompactDS - I hope they include this in WIN7 SP1. It is good stuff. Screw Symantec, McAfee, etc. They've been overcharging us for years. I just hope MSE stays free and is a step ahead of the competition ( as far as detection/removal).

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