Windows 7: MSE - obsoletes other free AV, mal/spyware programs?

I'm running Win 7 64 bit. On my previous systems, I generally rely on the following 3 free utilities for system protection:

- Avira AntiVir
- Spybot Search and Destroy
- Ad-aware

I've heard a lot of good things about Microsoft Security Essentials, and at least as a AV tool it's up there with Avira, Avast, etc. But how about its effectiveness as a malware / spyware blocker, detector, and remover?

Can it safely replace all 3 of the aforementioned products? Or should I use something else in conjunction with MSE?

MSE looks good so far. But I remember Onecare. I am testing MSE but so far I trust nothing as much as I trust ESET.

MSE proves at least "as" effective I will start useing it. Untill I see solid proof I got to stick with the winner.

Use MSE along with SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard! You can eliminate Spybot s&d and Ad-aware.

SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/
Spyware Guard is a real-time malware scanner

Update SpywareBlaster often and be sure that you've checked "Enable all Protection"

Im sure it can replace avira but it cant replace spybot and ad aware. The anti spyware part of MSE is still weak.

That said (above) with my suggestion, you may want to download and run a 'stand alone' free anti-spyware program, to scan periodically ....
either MalwareBytes' AntiSpyware |MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.41 Download
or SuperAntiSpyware SUPERAntiSpyware.com | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!

Hi Dinesh -- this is where the server version Frontside Client Security works really well - even on a stand alone client computer. Spy and MALWARE is where this program excels and will only get better and better.

Virus detection is usually an "after the fact" activity since most viruses don't actually do anything until you execute something -- usually a program downloaded from the web or play music with embedded trojans. On this score MS does at least as well as any other one in detecting bad running programs.

As far as adpopups etc are concerned -- these are --while annoying-- legitimate programs which isn't the job of a "virus" preventer -- and in this case Yes do use a 3rd party ad / popup blocker.

People get confused with what actually infects a machine and what are just irritants. By building in the ad / popup blocker into AV software really just bloats it and introduces errors.

Leave this stuff to proper programs to handle this and concentrate on letting the av software do what it SHOULD be designed to do -- stopping infections on getting on to your machine in the first place.

The Microsoft Database is updated sometimes as much as 4 times in a single day and it has very easy tools for monitoring whats actually running on your machine, Winsock connections - important to see network inflitration attempts - and start up program management.

To load on a stand alone non server (or workstation) machine download the software , get into an elevated DOS prompt and change the directory to the CLIENT and install with /NOMOM parameter. You can also install in this manner on say a HOME server machine too.

Cheers
jimbo

I find that malware bytes never finds anything (except the initial microsoft false positive) whereas other programs do.

I use Avira Premium Suite 2009. No problems yet!

Alright then I'll try it tonight.

Hi dinesh
After it's initially installed do the following or you'll go round in a loop trying to find out what's wrong.

1) shut it down (right mouse click ===> exit).
2) perform a windows update - this will load the latest version of the program plus access to the malware DB for latest definitions.
3) now you can scan again.

The version on technet needs to be updated but if you run the update from within the program itself you'll be logged in to the WINDOWS CATALOG. This is actually reasonable since the program was essentially designed to be run as a server and updates to clients would be deployed from a server. That's why you'll see the Orange ball in the system tray the first time.


So use WINDOWS UPDATE via the normal system start menu.

Once windows update has been run then the program is updated to the latest level and further updates are carried out just like any other windows component using Windows / Microsoft update.

Now just scan (the ball will be green / grey). (should be unless your machine is infected).

you have to install it from a command prompt even though you mount the DVD / CD image

screenshot enc (run the command prompt as an administrator).

Cheers

jimbo