Microsoft Security Essentials - Would you use this antivirus?
- Thread starter Paul.R
- Start date
- Status
- Mar 16, 2013
- 582
Littlebits
Retired Staff
- May 3, 2011
- 3,893
RE: Microsoft Security Essential
MSE is an excellent product. Too many advanced users don't see its full potential because they go by how AV testing sites rates it very low and it lacks a lot of features that can be tweaked.
MSE will detect just about all malware that is live (current within 90 days) and widespread. Many AV testing sites will use malware samples that are not live and widespread which makes MSE look bad.
Of coarse it will not detect most zero-day malware but most of the other AV's also do a poor job at detecting them.
The zero-day malware that infects most users can easily be avoided by watching what you download, use browser add-ons like WOT and keep UAC on default settings and pay attention to its prompts. Don't click links on fake alert websites offering fake AV's, flash player updates, codec packs, etc.
I have several customers that use MSE and never get infections, of coarse they watch their actions.
MSE is a simple light AV that will protect you if you watch your own actions.
Thanks.
MSE is an excellent product. Too many advanced users don't see its full potential because they go by how AV testing sites rates it very low and it lacks a lot of features that can be tweaked.
MSE will detect just about all malware that is live (current within 90 days) and widespread. Many AV testing sites will use malware samples that are not live and widespread which makes MSE look bad.
Of coarse it will not detect most zero-day malware but most of the other AV's also do a poor job at detecting them.
The zero-day malware that infects most users can easily be avoided by watching what you download, use browser add-ons like WOT and keep UAC on default settings and pay attention to its prompts. Don't click links on fake alert websites offering fake AV's, flash player updates, codec packs, etc.
I have several customers that use MSE and never get infections, of coarse they watch their actions.
MSE is a simple light AV that will protect you if you watch your own actions.
Thanks.
- Jan 8, 2011
- 22,361
RE: Microsoft Security Essential
Got MSE 4.2 running on 2 PCs and they both receive daily updates via Windows Updates. Runs well and lightly on CPU resources, zero FPs (at this point), ability to throttle CPU usage for scheduled scans, minimal user interaction. Checks Windows Firewall is turned on, for better security.
Great little program by Microsoft.
Littlebits,
Advanced users or users who think they're advanced? :angel:
Got MSE 4.2 running on 2 PCs and they both receive daily updates via Windows Updates. Runs well and lightly on CPU resources, zero FPs (at this point), ability to throttle CPU usage for scheduled scans, minimal user interaction. Checks Windows Firewall is turned on, for better security.
Great little program by Microsoft.
Littlebits,
Advanced users or users who think they're advanced? :angel:
Littlebits said:
- Jan 8, 2011
- 22,361
A point worth mentioning is to un-check 'MS AntiMalware' from CCleaner, as deleting these logs will make Microsoft Security Essentials produce a notification that your PC is unprotected.
http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?&showtopic=32981&#entry196229
http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?&showtopic=32981&#entry196229
- Jan 31, 2013
- 25
I get machines in day-after-day with MSE installed. The machines are constantly overrun with rogue antivirus and rootkit infections. The major problem with MSE is its absolutely horrible Heuristic scanning/zero-day detection. It has its benefits in being lightweight, integrating into Windows and being able to remove a lot of what it detects. It's detection rates however have been a glaring issue for some time.
I'm sure there's plenty of people who swear by it, because they've used it for a little while, and its prevented a few infections for them. Even the worst of antiviruses will have about a 50% detection rate. So that along with a little common sense, and MSE will likely work fine for you, but definitely no better than any other established AntiVirus. See review below.
The recent MRG-Effitas real-world scan did MSE a favor, by downloading the recently acquired infections and using IE to download them for the test. During this test, the antivirus being tested had 3 different chances to detect the infection... During the download, when download completed, and when opening the file. Again MSE failed horribly. This was a simple test, seeing how antivirus software performed when an infectious file was downloaded while browsing using internet explorer.
See report below.
MRG-Effitas Real-World AV Test - 1st-Quarter 2013
I'm sure there's plenty of people who swear by it, because they've used it for a little while, and its prevented a few infections for them. Even the worst of antiviruses will have about a 50% detection rate. So that along with a little common sense, and MSE will likely work fine for you, but definitely no better than any other established AntiVirus. See review below.
The recent MRG-Effitas real-world scan did MSE a favor, by downloading the recently acquired infections and using IE to download them for the test. During this test, the antivirus being tested had 3 different chances to detect the infection... During the download, when download completed, and when opening the file. Again MSE failed horribly. This was a simple test, seeing how antivirus software performed when an infectious file was downloaded while browsing using internet explorer.
See report below.
MRG-Effitas Real-World AV Test - 1st-Quarter 2013
Littlebits
Retired Staff
- May 3, 2011
- 3,893
Gorilla P said:
Really I clean up my customers system which has AV's from BitDefender, Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Avast, AVG and you name it full of rogue fake AV's. This has nothing to do with MSE, all AV's fail to detect fake AV's and many zero day malware. It is up to the user to know how to safely download files and not to completely rely on their AV to do all the work.
I just recently cleanup a system with BitDefender Internet Security 2013 fully updated and functioning properly with over 30 malicious processes running. Most were fake alert Trojans and other rogueware.
So not only does MSE have bad zero-day detection that applies to all.
However most zero-day malware are very easy to spot by a trained user and much easier to avoid if you always download files from only safe sources.
Thanks.
thecombo101
Level 1
- Mar 24, 2012
- 74
I think MSE is one if the best antiviruses out thanks to being install-and-forget. People tend to appreciate not being bothered by multiple alerts. MSE just sits there and does its thing. It's also light on resources, so people don't have to be worried about it causing major slowdowns. It detects the common malware very well. Best of all, you get all of these wonderful things for free.
When windows 8.1 is released I'm seriously considering switching my whole setup to all things Microsoft. Lua, Uac, smart screen, mse, windows firewall and ie
I have a friend who purchased a new laptop with Windows 8. He is so lost regarding the changes in usability compared to previous systems that he gave it to me so I can figure it out for him on how to use it. For security, as in the past, I installed Sandboxie and I want him to use Windows defender for antivirus. In his Vista, he used MSE along SBIE. That combo proved to work well for him as he never got infected using it.
I got a couple a questions about Windows defender in W8, perhaps Earth, Littlebits or someone else that is using WD in W8 can help me out. Even though WD is enabled and updated, I do not see an icon by the clock. Even when is open, I don't see anything related to WD by the clock. I cant figure how to get the icon by the clock, is that how it is in W8? I tried the Eicar test so I know WD is working but I like to place an icon by the clock to let my buddy know if WD is disabled. Another question. Even though I know WD is working when Windows starts, why is it that WD is not shown as starting with Windows by CCleaner: Tools>Startup>Windows.
Bo
I got a couple a questions about Windows defender in W8, perhaps Earth, Littlebits or someone else that is using WD in W8 can help me out. Even though WD is enabled and updated, I do not see an icon by the clock. Even when is open, I don't see anything related to WD by the clock. I cant figure how to get the icon by the clock, is that how it is in W8? I tried the Eicar test so I know WD is working but I like to place an icon by the clock to let my buddy know if WD is disabled. Another question. Even though I know WD is working when Windows starts, why is it that WD is not shown as starting with Windows by CCleaner: Tools>Startup>Windows.
Bo
@ bo.elam : you can add the icon in the taskbar as following : search for windows defender , once found right click on the icon and pin it into the taskbar.
Hi Starchild, I know that can be done but the shortcut is just a shortcut. It doesnt show if protection is enabled or disabled (changing colors like in MSE). Thanks anyway.
Bo
Bo
Nedim said:ZeroDay said:When windows 8.1 is released I'm seriously considering switching my whole setup to all things Microsoft. Lua, Uac, smart screen, mse, windows firewall and ie
I'm thinking the same.
Should be a solid setup.
- Status
Similar threads
