It comes with nearly every new Microsoft-based computer. So in a world teaming with the likes of Netsky, MyDoom and Sasser, why isn’t everybody protected?

Virus scanner refuseniks complain the software is too hard to install and update. Slows down their systems. Interferes with other software. Impossible to remove. And comes with rotten tech support.

When you think about it, their opinions of the software giants, Norton Antivirus and McAfee VirusScan, are understandable. Antivirus software must dive to the belly of the beast, picking apart each packet, snooping every byte, forever sorting out new combinations of previously unknown software and hardware.

These nightmares aren’t limited to antivirus vendors. It’s a rare network administrator who has never seen a bluescreen after patching a Windows machine. Rarer still is an admin who would blindly expose production servers to the tender mercies of Windows AutoUpdates.

But that’s life on a multi-function computer. Screw-ups aren’t simply a probability. They’re a promise.

See for yourself at Epinions.