The news is not sitting well among users who had been loyal to Microsoft Security Essentials (also known as “Windows Defender” in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1), many people are saying that the firm has stopped trying and it’s abandoning a great product. But in my opinion I think that Microsoft is feeling the pressure of security software companies as they probably has been losing revenue because Microsoft is offering a good antivirus for free for home users. Also it’s possible the company is just playing safe, so this doesn’t become another case of Microsoft blocking third-parties, like it happened with the Internet Explorer back in the day. No doubt that Security Essentials will remain a top choice antivirus for many users, specially for savvy ones. MSE by far is better than other AV software, mostly because it uses less system resources, works quietly in the background without bothering the end-user constantly with every activity, and because pretty much catches all the most common viruses and malware out there. One thing to be clear about is that the software giant won’t stop supporting Security Essentials anytime soon. The company simply won’t recommend the software a full featured solution. Keep in mind that if you’re using Windows 8 or 8.1, you cannot uninstall Windows Defender; you will simply install a new antivirus and the operating system will automatically disable it, because, of course, you don’t want to be running more than one security software in your system. What do you think about Microsoft’s move? Will you be switching to another antivirus? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Update: Setting the record straight, Microsoft decided to defend its position of its antivirus/malware software saying the following in a new article from the company’s Malware Protection Center: So there you go, once again the software giant recommends its own security software. Now there is no need to look for another alternative. All content on this site is provided with no warranties, express or implied. Use any information at your own risk. Always backup of your device and files before making any changes. Privacy policy info.