Free Antivirus software not provided?

NAVDEEPRATHORE7254,

Just a note, I have tested all of the free antivirus software out there. The free Microsoft Security Essentials is the easiest and best I have found.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/mse.aspx

Hi NAVDEEPRATHORE7254,

Thanks for reaching out to us with your query. It depends on the Retailer/Stores what they want to offer with the system. McAfee is not shipped free on all systems. If you are buying the system online, then you will get McAfee free antivirus on few of the systems.

NAVDEEPRATHORE7254, Just a note, I have tested all of the free antivirus software out there. The free Microsoft Security Essentials is the easiest and best I have found. http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/mse.aspx

I agree with Chris M. In fact, even when I buy a new computer, I uninstall McAfee or whatever subscription- based anti-virus comes with it, and simply use free Microsoft Security Essentials. If your new computer is running Windows 8, MSE is already on there and is probably enabled, but it might be good to check.

As far as the list of subscription paid products provided by onesusans, the only one I would not recommend is the first one on her list.

Microsoft Security Essentials Does not install onto windows 8 or 8.1 and is not compatible with windows 8.

In Windows 8, Windows Defender replaces Microsoft Security Essentials.

windows.microsoft.com/.../windows-defender

Windows Defender and Windows Smart Screen are built into Windows 8 and Windows RT and help guard your PC against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software in real time. Windows Defender uses green, yellow, and red color codes to show your PC’s security status.

Windows 8 upgrades will tell you to first remove MSE from Windows 7 BEFORE upgrading to Windows 8.

support.microsoft.com/.../2483120

Microsoft Security Essentials Does not install onto windows 8 or 8.1 and is not compatible with windows 8.

Just to clarify so that people do not become confused, Windows Defender on Windows 8 and 8.1 is a full-featured AV that uses the same definition source as MSE (the MMPC) and provides equivalent protection. Much of the interface is the same as well with only a few different settings.  However, it is unlike the Windows Defender in XP/Vista/W7 that only covered Spyware.  In a way, we can look at it as simply a renamed MSE combined with the Windows Defender that we had for XP/Vista/W7.