How good is Microsoft Security Essentials?

[palswim]

Avast>MSSE

My gripe with Avast is that it doesn't let you do an on-demand scan without its tray application running (and I only have the tray application run for administrative users). How does MSSE handle this?

 

[destrekor]

I love it. Never had a problem with it, and ultimately it is a last line of defense with multiple layers above it. Firefox does a terrific job of keeping bad sites at bay, noscript helps even more, ABP as well, hardware firewall on the router does something I think (far more minimal than anything), and MSSE is there to catch the chaff that makes it through all those layers and nets.
And it does it without requiring a hefty portion of valuable resources, so system performance is never degraded. I've never said that about a free malware package, so that alone is nice. It's really effective to boot, and stays out of my face unless it actually has something really important to say.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

I tried it, but switched to Avira

I'm also using Avira, which works well, but I haven't tried MSSE. What made you decide to switch?

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I've used them all.

MSSE>all (Avast!, Symantec, AVG, Avira, Antivirus Free, Trend Micro, Kapersky, McAfee).

Windows Defender is also better than all the competition.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I actually prefer NOD or their more advanced Smart Security which is a firewall too, but I switched to MS because it's a free solution and AV Comparatives had it eating less system resources.

I do notice it eats a constant 70mb or so, so on my slower systems I don't know if I should keep it as I have a mere 1.5gb in my old laptop.

 

[KeithTalent]

I quite like it compared to all of the other ones I have used over the years.

KT

 

[TheStu]

I will have to check this out. Since I dualboot, every time I fire up Windows AVG insists on running a scan, and since I am just booting up Windows to play a game, it really grinds my gears. If MSE is more unobtrusive I may give it a go.

 

[soulcougher73]

I use it on all 3 computers. Works great. Never had anything happen and its light on resources and doesnt pop up and spam me with crap. Just sits there and does its thing. Changes color when i need to update. Thats about it.

 

[Riceninja]

i recently switched to mse from avg, because i mistakenly upgraded to their new version and its bloated as fuck

loving it so far. since resource hogging has less meaning when everyone's got 6gb ram, mse's greatest advantage for me is the lack of annoying upgrade prompts

 

[MrMatt]

honestly I'm starting to think they're all the same. Don't visit retarded websites, don't download retarded shit, and you'll never need the program. I've had Avast! for 6 years now, and I can count on one hand the times it's had to save my ass. Every time I was being retarded.

 

[oogabooga]

I've been recommending it, works pretty well - on my slower laptop and netbook I haven't noticed any slow down at all, on my desktop I've had avast installed.

I imagine the most valuable thing in my arsenal of tools is still common sense, but I haven't had any issues with MSSE.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

It's the best AV for techy users.

There is no hope for the people who click on love.jpg.exe.vbs despite UAC prompts.

 

[Brainonska511]

I'm also using Avira, which works well, but I haven't tried MSSE. What made you decide to switch?

Yeah, I'm using Avira right now, but I'd be open to switching to MSSE if it was just as good. Can't seem to keep the update popup at bay for Avira with W7 HP (but it's not a big deal).

 

[spacelord]

I like MSSE. I was a converted Avast and AVG user.

My only issue is that it freezes Firefox when it scans my downloads. Does anyone else have this issue? Maybe it has something to do with threads and multiple cores? not sure.

 

[Zebo]

Linux is better.

 

[rockyct]

Well, what are they considering malware? Adobe Reader?

The actual tests show that's it's pretty good at detecting viruses and uses minimal resources.

 

[Dominato3r]

Yup, I like that you dont even notice it's there.

 

[secretanchitman]

its great. i personally wouldnt even consider anything else. who can complain about free definitions/updates? low memory footprint, unobtrusive, and best of all, its free.

 

[punjabiplaya]

I like it so much more than any of the other free AVs (avira, avast, AVG, etc...) Now, out of those 27 million, how many infections stayed and weren't caught? That stat is so worthless.

 

[JJChicken]

Endpoint can suck a fat one. I'd rather have malware.

so true lol

 

[Schadenfroh]

Linux is better.

OpenSolaris is the best, legit programs do not even work, let alone viruses.

 

[Ricemarine]

I went from Norton -> McAfee -> Avast -> MSEE.
I definitely like MSEE over Avast. The whole "you have updates" with Avast drove me nuts.

 

[Ben90]

i heard it's good but i also heard it requires a legit copy of windows.

If you don't have a "legit" copy of windows, your torrent sucks. I got mine within a week of win7 coming out and it still passes validation.



This is the rules on piracy here.

1) Talking about piracy is OK

2) Telling people how to pirate or how to get around copy protection is not OK.

3) One can talk about having pirated and it's impact on their opinions about issues or the affect it had on your life or things in this sort of line of discussion. You can't talk about what you pirated (unless there is a specific reason that it was necessary other than bragging) and you can't talk about ongoing pirating activities.


You cannot talk about how you just pirated Windows 7 That's bragging, and it will get you bounced. You have been warned and the next time you do this flat out bragging of specific pirating without any reason for discussion, you will get a vacation.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=27076922&postcount=30


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[ViRGE]

MSE is the first AV scanner I don't hate. That should say a lot right there.

OpenSolaris is the best, legit programs do not even work, let alone viruses.

:biggrin:

 

[JEDIYoda]

I'm a little curious about what they mean by " have been infected with malware" and how they got this data. Because if they just surveyed users and the user was asked if they "had been infected by malware" the user could easily take this to mean "did Microsoft Security Essentials give you a warning". In which case, it did exactly what it was supposed to do. Or do they mean that 27 out of the 31 million computers with MSE have malware running on it undetected. Because I'd find that number highly suspect, as that's 90% of the computers...

I find your logic highly suspect.......or your lack of understanding...