[RESOLVED] Microsoft Security Essentials

[gep13]

Has anyone used this:

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

I only heard about it today, and at first I thought it was a joke!!

Comments/Feedback?

Gary

[JuggaloBrotha]

I heard about it a couple of years ago, but hadn't used it till a month ago after reading some high recommendations for it.

It's actually a pretty nice program and if it really is more secure than 99% of the other AV programs out there, then I'm all for it. The only cost is you have to pass WGA to use it, of which is never a problem for me.

[gep13]

That wouldn't be a problem for me either, and I am thinking about giving it a try.

I currently use a combination of:

AVG Free
MalwareBytes
Zone Alarm
SpyBot Search and Destroy
Spyware Blaster

(Call me paranoid )

Do you use anything else in addition to the Essentials?

Gary

[JuggaloBrotha]

Just AVG Free and MSE (MS Security Essentials), but next time I wipe and re-install windows I might not install AVG and just use MSE.

[gep13]

Interesting.

And you have never had any issues with viruses etc?

I think I will have to take a closer look at this offering.

Thanks

Gary

[JuggaloBrotha]

Only once, about 10 years ago back when I use using McAfee

[gep13]

Cool.

Thanks for the feedback, I will wait and see if anyone else is using it, but I think the next time I rebuild my machine (due quite soon) I might give this a try.

Thanks

Gary

[techgnome]

I use it... in fact it's all I use... I've dumped all the other firewalls and virii scanners ... I've been using it exclusively on almost all of my machines for the last 3 years... so far no complaints.

-tg

[gep13]

Noice. Good to know.

How often do the virus definitions etc get updated?

[JuggaloBrotha]

Noice. Good to know.

How often do the virus definitions etc get updated?

All the time, had 3 of them last week. Windows Updates will even tell you when there's an update for it.

[namrekka]

I use it too. It saved me from a disaster a few times. I used McAfee before. But had troubles 2 times with an update of McAfee that the system wend down and hard to recover. Windows and "Microsoft Security Essentials" are working much better with each other ( I wonder why ;-). But I can't say which antivirus system is better. Its just as with cars I guess, some swear by brand A and others by brand B.

[gep13]

Yeah, that is a good point.

The combination of packages that I use has stopped me from having any problems at all, but it is just that, I am using a combination of packages. If I can remove them, in favour of one, then I think I would be much better off. I am already thinking about not using Zone Alarm, in favour of the firewall in Win 7, which I understand is much improved over XP.

Gary

[techgnome]

That's why I dumped my combination too.... plus I found that some of them were sucking up my cpu. With MSE, I haven't had any issues.

-tg

[gep13]

Hmm, it is sounding more and more like I need to get this installed and give it a try...

Think I might get everything ready for a clean install of Win 7, and just bite the bullet!!

Thanks for all the comments!

Gary

[techgnome]

FYI - I've run it on Xp, Vista and Win7.... never had any issues with it on any platform.

Good luck!

-tg

[JuggaloBrotha]

Yeah, that is a good point.

The combination of packages that I use has stopped me from having any problems at all, but it is just that, I am using a combination of packages. If I can remove them, in favour of one, then I think I would be much better off. I am already thinking about not using Zone Alarm, in favour of the firewall in Win 7, which I understand is much improved over XP.

Gary

I have Win7 and all I use for a firewall (other than the router) is the built in windows one, no problems yet

[gep13]

I have Win7 and all I use for a firewall (other than the router) is the built in windows one, no problems yet

Yeah, I have heard it is very good. I just haven't given it a chance, I have always just installed Zone Alarm by default. Will definitely give this a try on the next rebuild.

Gary

[jmcilhinney]

Just thought I'd add my two cents. I have a multi-user license for Avira so I use that on my Desktop and two laptops but I tend to use Security Essentials on all my VMs. I have a dedicated VM for BitComet because I figure that downloading torrents is one potential avenue for malware to get in. I haven't really had any issues until about 10 minutes ago, when Security Essentials detected a trojan and cleaned the offending file. I guess it could have been a false positive and I guess other packages could have picked it up too, but I'll accept it as evidence that Security Essentials is doing its job.

[gep13]

Hey John,

Thanks for the two cents

Yip, I don't know why, I just historically would trust other 3rd Party companies to do a better job and securing your computer (i.e. not to put too fine a point on it, it was Microsoft that introduced those vulnerabilities in the first place) but it looks like they might be getting their act together, but in terms of a securer OS (Windows 7) and an application (WSE) to deal with any problems.

Gary

[dee-u]

I was using Avast for years but since it is heavy so I tried Avira, then I have heard about Microsoft Essential so I removed Avira and installed it, and it picked something which Avira missed. I think it is good, it is light on resources.

[gep13]

Good to know dee-u, thanks!!

Gary