Will Microsoft Security Essentials Take Over the World?

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.

how to fix acrobat: the computer must be restarted before the updating may continue

Here's an oddity.
I've used MSE ever since you first reviewed it and have found it light and effective.
Now however it refuses to start when I reboot and simply states that it cannot be found as an installed service.
It does however appear in the add/remove programs window. The error message associated with this failure is 0x80070424.
I can uninstall and reinstall and it will run quite happily until I shut down, at which point the fun starts all over again. I don't find the MS help pages at all helpful.
For added information I've had the same problem with Panda free cloud antivirus.
A scan with Malwarebytes shows nothing suspicious.
Since you offer the most down to earth and easy to understand tech. advice on the web I thought you may have some idea what the problem is.

EDITOR'S NOTE: That is very odd, and not something I've heard of before. The fact that it affects more than one A/V program makes me think there is some hidden malware. Have you tried using System Restore to return to a point prior to when this started happening?

Hi Bob. Thanks for your swift response.
I have tried system restore without success.
It could be that I didn't go back far enough. When I get some more free time I'll go back further and let you know the outcome.

I've been using MSE for about 2 years, it results are most satisfactory. I don't much about others AVPs but as for as MSE is free viruses/worms solution for your PC. For those opt for free AVPs MSE is the "YES". However, it doesn't operate unless your OS is validated first by MS.

Thanks a million Bob!

I've had MSE since its' beginning ad now, through Auto updates fo course, have the latest version. I do a QuickScan" every day which generally covers about 150,000 items and takes about 8 minutes. A full scan takes several hours, but I've got a rather large system, and the scans don't interfere at all with overall compouter operations. I'm quite pleased with it. I run W7 Ultimate x64bit with 12 GB of RAM and a bit over 3TB of HD capacity. Now if M/S wold jsut remove its' head from its' rear orifice and render W8 useable I'd be pleased, though my W7 is very hard to fault.