Microsoft to deny Security Essentials to pirates

Microsoft has said that its free security software will only be available to users who are running legitimate copies of Windows.

Released yesterday the Security Essentials software is a free antivirus product that Microsoft is hoping will be used by people who haven't previously had security software on their PCs.

But in a blog posting Alex Kochis, director of Microsoft's Genuine Windows team, said it would only work with legitimate copies of Windows.

If a user has a pirated copy of Windows the software will not run but will instead offer the chance to buy a legitimate copy of Windows online.

Microsoft has a mixed relationships with the large number of people who pirate its operating system. It blocks many of its applications with working with illegal copies of Windows and has tried to sue pirates.

However it does allow security updates to be sent to pirated copies of Windows, as well as the Internet Explorer 8 browser. The company has said that it doesn't want unprotected PCs to host viruses and make the work of computer criminals easier.