The First Installation on Your Bright New Shiny Netbook? Microsoft Security Essentials

Are you getting a netbook running Microsoft Windows 7 or, perhaps, giving one this holiday season? Do you know the very first piece of software you should install? If you said anything other than “security software”, go stand in the corner and contemplate your response for a few minutes. Then, wander back here and visit the…

Microsoft Security Essentials

…website where you can learn about and, more importantly, download a free copy of Microsoft’s all-in-one anti-malware software for your shiny new and, presumably, still malware-free netbook.

To be perfectly honest, here’s what I actually do with a new netbook (or notebook or desktop):

1. Turn it on behind a secure router (wired or wireless) that protects it from the outside world (network).

2. After going through the initial setup process, run Windows Update to download and install all current patches

3. Install Microsoft Security Essentials

You might want to add a step 4: Backup this pristine but otherwise fully configured and secure Windows 7 setup before installing third party applications.

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