Microsoft Security Essentials Now Free For Businesses (kind of)
In early October, Microsoft will be making the Microsoft Security Essentials suite free for small businesses (i.e., fewer than 10 computers) in addition to home users. This is a good thing – MSSE is a good suite of security tools, and the price tag is just right for individual and small business users.
However, has anyone ever read the language in the EULA for the tool? The installer itself only checks that you have a genuine copy of Microsoft Windows before allowing the installation to proceed; there are no license keys or anything to deal with. The source article indicates that the types of business that will now be allowed to use MSSE for free already were using it anyway. This may be true, but the speculated reason in the article (“Businesses of this size don’t purchase software when they don’t have to”), implies a knowing disregard for the rules. Personally, I had no idea that businesses couldn’t use MSE. I thought that any licensed copy of Windows was eligible.
Still, I’m unsure why the small business allowance is so limited…10 computers is really small for any business doing IT work, although I suppose it would be more than enough for something on the order of an auto mechanic or doctor’s office.