Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is a free, comprehensive anti-malware solution provided by Microsoft for all supported versions of the Windows operating system. It is designed to protect the user’s computer from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, and can be installed on both personal and business computers.
For many users, MSE works out of the box and requires no additional configuration. However, in some cases, users may need to configure MSE to work properly in their network environment. This is especially true for users who are behind a proxy server. By default, MSE does not recognize proxy settings and will fail to perform virus scans and update definitions.
Fortunately, MSE can be configured to work with a proxy server. To do this, the user must first open the MSE user interface. This is done by clicking on the Start button, then typing “Microsoft Security Essentials” into the search box and pressing Enter. Once the MSE user interface is open, the user should click on the Settings tab.
In the Settings window, the user should select the “Proxy Settings” tab. Here, the user can enter the proxy server address and port number if they are known. If the proxy server requires authentication, the user can also enter their username and password here.
Once the proxy server information is entered, the user should click on the “Advanced Settings” tab. Here, the user should check the box labeled “Use proxy server for local addresses” and check the box labeled “Bypass proxy server for local addresses”. These two settings will ensure that MSE can properly access the internet while still being able to access the local network.
Once the proxy server settings are configured, the user should click the “OK” button to save the changes. This will enable MSE to properly access the internet and update virus definitions.
In some cases, a user may encounter an error message when attempting to update virus definitions. This is usually due to a misconfigured firewall or proxy server. To fix this, the user should open the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window, which can be accessed by typing “firewall” into the search box and pressing Enter.
Once the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window is open, the user should select the “Outbound Rules” tab. Here, the user should right-click and select “New Rule”. In the New Outbound Rule window, the user should select “Program” and then click “Next”.
In the Program window, the user should select “Microsoft Security Essentials” from the drop-down list and then click “Next”. In the Action window, the user should select “Allow the connection” and then click “Next”. In the Profile window, the user should select “All” and then click “Next”.
In the Name window, the user should enter a name for the rule and then click “Finish”. This will allow MSE to access the internet and update virus definitions, even if the user is behind a proxy server.
In summary, MSE can be configured to work with a proxy server by entering the proxy server information into the MSE user interface. The user should also ensure that their firewall is properly configured to allow MSE to access the internet. With these steps, MSE should be able to properly update virus definitions and perform scans on the user’s computer.
