If you don’t run an anti-virus software program on your computer (like McAfee, Trend, AVG or Norton/Symantec), Microsoft has released a free AV program that is available for download today.

As a disclaimer, I haven’t used this yet. My understanding is that it’s not as full featured as some of the other more professional (read “not free”) AV programs, but it’s targeted towards those who aren’t currently running any AV program at all (like, say, ME!).

Here’s the link: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

If you install it, be sure to stop back and let me know how you like it.

One other thing: MS claims that this will NOT slow down your computer – and we all know that everything that Microsoft promises is true! (Yes, that is extremely facetious!)