# Inexpensive virus checker redux

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-virus-checker-redux/512921>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 7, 2009, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-virus-checker-redux/512921 "2009-10-07T12:02:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 7

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**Author:** ![the\_first\_supraliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@the\_first\_supraliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_first_supraliminal)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-virus-checker-redux/512921/7 "2009-10-08T17:46:35Z")

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I like the linked-to closed thread. Since that thread was disparaged for being “zombie” perhaps people will have missed this excellent suggestion there:

> [@Inexpensive virus checker](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-virus-checker/463940/27):
>
> I’ve heard good things about Microsoft’s free Security Essentials. It’s available at [Experience the Power of AI with Windows 11 OS, Computers, & Apps | Microsoft Windows](http://www.microsoft.com/SECURITY_ESSENTIALS/)
> 
> So long as you have a “Genuine” Windows installation, it’s free. I’m trying it out now on one of my virtual machines. Doesn’t appear to be a huge resource hog, and the installation was painless - took about five minutes to install, update itself and start a basic scan.

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