Will Microsoft Security Essentials Take Over the World? - Comments Page 1

I use Trend Micro pc-cillin. Can I also use MSE or will they conflict? Windows Defender is turned off on my PC.

Bob,

Appreciate this article especially in that it points to a site that tests and rates the software.

After looking at the test report I got to thinking that as far as it goes it is helpful and informative, but there is one thing missing.

And that is: How do the same companies rate in terms of customer support when a breach does occur? Such things as: how many incidents are successfully and not successfully resolved? How long are the hold times? How professional, both in knowledge and courtesy, is the support? etc.

Such data would be a big complement to the test report. Are you aware of any?

Jim

No offense intended, but it seems like everything depends on which company is doing the testing and which operating system is being used in the tests. Just as an example, the Jan/Feb 2012 AV-Test results gave MSE 2.1 a 2.5 score for protection. Only one other product scored lower ... AhnLab V3 Internet Security 8.0 scored 2.0. The OS used was XP. And according to Virus Bulletin's tests in Dec 2011 and Apr 2012, MSE did well enough to get the VB100 award.

Considering that most "experts" believe Windows 7 with IE9 is much better than XP with IE8 when it comes to online safety issues, there seems to be a bit of disparity in the testing process. Why are these testing companies so determined to use XP and IE8 rather than Windows 7 and IE9? I wonder if the testing results aren't just a little skewed?

I'd like to see a comparison between MSE and Immunet. I've never seen Immunet tested, so I don't know how well it performs, but it would be interesting to find out. I don't use either, FYI, I use Avast!.

I use Avast! and like it quite well. While it is not the top rated by AV-TEST it is in the top few. I chose it after reading your Free Anti-Virus Programs article because it includes e-mail scanning, which I consider essential since I use Outlook for email. It was interesting to see that worldwide Avast! has the greatest market share.
I went to the link that you provided for MSE and was disappointed that the pages there did not provide more information about just what its capabilities are. I definitely did not see any mention of email scanning. For now I think that I will stick with Avast! I agree that until MSE's AV-TEST numbers put it at or near the top of the pack there is no need to change. I also want to see its capabilities compared in a side-by-side table on the AV-Test site.

I tried MSE about a year ago and found it to be terrible. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone. AVG FREE blew it away, even with AVG's somewhat large footprint and slow update installs. I'll give the new one a try, but if it's only a "modest" improvement, I don't hold out a lot of hope for it. By the way, love your articles. I find them very informative and interesting. Keep up the good work.

I've used Microsoft Security Essentials since 2009, and we now have it in 4 computers. It works well, updates with Windows update and, most important isn't a resource hog. We back it up with a weekly scan by Malwarebytes and so far we have had no problems.
Another benefit we have found is that it hasn't glitched with other software; we have had 2 instances where paid for AV programs have glitched with other software and caused horrendous slow downs in processing.

One thing you didn't address in the above article. Does installing MSE on a system with a commercial antivirus suite pose the usual problem of turning the computer into a glacier, or worse, a brick?

Bob:
Have been using the MSE for a couple of years now, on the home desktop. It does a fine job, since I'm the primary user. For the laptop I use a different program, as it has more features and the kids use it for Skype and I just feel better.
Regards, Michael

I use MSE 2.0 with Malwarebytes Pro which I just started using about a week ago. I has caused me a problem with Save As applications.

I had used Avast with the MSE for over a year with no Save As problems. Which troubles me as I have not found a cure for a Paid program problem. I may be going back to Avast.

In reading your article I think I will wait a while until MSE 4.0 has been user approved. You have not steered me wrong since the Tour Bus days:)

I currently use MSE. I will load up the new version. I have used almost everything else previously, Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky, Vipre, etc. Latest was Vipre because they had a "home site" license where one license covers all computers at one home address and we have 6 computers, so it was a great option. The license expires soon, but I wanted to get something else. When MSE came out, I got it. It was so low profiled but had a big name behind it, so I'd thought about it. So far all the publicized viruses have been caught. Many of the package ones also include "backup up" as part of the security profile. I find those backup solutions are not really good and some are really hard to (re)configure.

I have been using MSSE for quit awhile now and I like it a lot. Because it's lightweight and it doesn't bug me. I also install it on all the computers that I reformat for customers. Before that I was installing Avira on everybody's systems. Well Avira blew it, because they started doing some nag screen insisting that I install the super horrible ASK Toolbar. And I couldn't get it to stop, it was acting like IT was malware by trying to get me to install malware on my system. Because of that I will never install Avira on another computer. I have run my computer for months at a time without getting a virus. I have also seen other people do it. I know quite a few people who can not be stopped from getting malware. I put "Kaspersky Internet Security" on one of the worst offenders computers and she still managed to get her system infected, more than once! I told her to just run the free stuff because nothing can save her so why spend the money. Odly enough she hasn't messed up either of her systems in quite awhile.

Most microsoft programs are useless, generic rubbish.

For years I had from 6-10 computers on my home net and none have an anti-virus program. We also have 4 years old and her cousins (4 & 5yr old) playing online games. We all understand not to download from anyone they don't know and only go to safe web sites. Anti-virus programs tend to slow computers.

I use Qucikheal Antivirus.It is a paid one,popular in India at least. Of course if somebody will test it ,all users will get a better idea

I was told that AVG free was the best so I have used it but am very happy with Micro Essentials and also have Malware that has detected many suspicious threats and deleted them.

I can't speak for Windows 7 users, but I have XP and have been using AVG and MSSE simultaneously for years. They do not conflict. I figure I'm getting a little extra protection when both are monitoring my PC. My computer almost never has issues virus or malware issues. I keep it clean with ASC and Glary Utilities when needed and always keep Malwarebytes handy. That's my elixir for extending the life span of my XP.

Currently using Bitdefender after having read various articles and reviews. Have previously used Norton, Webroot and McAfee. Bitdefender never bothers me with popups; it takes care of business and they have great online support.

I switched to MSE from AVG + ZoneAlarm about 2 years ago. I also kept Malwarebytes (with real-time disabled) and Spyware Blaster. I have enjoyed not having the constant prompts from ZoneAlarm and the fact that MSE takes care of updates and scans automatically. I manually run a "quick scan" with MSE and MWB about once a week; and a "Complete scan" about once a month. I haven't run into anything that MSE couldn't handle in that time.

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