Antivirus for Windows

debodun said:

I tried it from the update tab. It took a LONG time. Searching and Download went quickly, but the Installation took about 5 minutes. The HD light has been on since.

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No clue why HD light is on for so long. Can you check for installed updates to see if you have this: Security Intelligence Update for Microsoft Security Essentials - KB2310138 (Version 1.307.2401.0) date: ‎1/‎15/‎2020

Struggling7 said:

Might have to reinstall MSE, there is download for that from MS ….. At least it was before yesterday .

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Not any more, apparently...

Microsoft said:

Microsoft Security Essentials reached end of service on January 14, 2020 and is no longer available as a download...

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Edit: though it's not gone yet, I've just downloaded it from https://support.microsoft.com/help/14210/security-essentials-download

However, better news is that signature and engine updates will continue to be issued for another three years.

Microsoft said:

Microsoft will continue to release signature updates (including engine) to service systems currently running Microsoft Security Essentials untill 2023.

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https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17150/windows-7-what-is-microsoft-security-essentials


Edit: and I've just clicked Update in MSE and got definitions 1.307.2416.0 dated 15 Jan 2020. That's the same version as I have on a W10 machine, so that seems to be working.

Bree said:

Not any more, apparently...

Edit: though it's not gone yet, I've just downloaded it from https://support.microsoft.com/help/14210/security-essentials-download



However, better news is that signature and engine updates will continue to be issues for another three years.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17150/windows-7-what-is-microsoft-security-essentials

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Good info, but I guess if you don’t already have working MSE software, you better get it quick. Had to edit last part of that sentence.

Struggling7 said:

No clue why HD light is on for so long. Can you check for installed updates to see if you have this: Security Intelligence Update for Microsoft Security Essentials - KB2310138 (Version 1.307.2401.0) date: ‎1/‎15/‎2020

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It worked better today. Installed much quicker than yesterday and no HD light on afterwards.

Bree said:

...I've just downloaded it from https://support.microsoft.com/help/14210/security-essentials-download

However, better news is that signature and engine updates will continue to be issued for another three years.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17150/windows-7-what-is-microsoft-security-essentials

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MSE is no longer available to download, but the good news is that if you have it installed it continues to get not only signature updates, but engine updates too.


Today mine updated to engine version 1.1.17200.2, the latest engine and the same one as that used in Windows 10's Defender.

Bree said:

MSE is no longer available to download, but the good news is that if you have it installed it continues to get not only signature updates, but engine updates too.


Today mine updated to engine version 1.1.17200.2, the latest engine and the same one as that used in Windows 10's Defender.

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Just checked my MSE and it’s the same engine version, but I couldn’t tell you when it updated.

So sounds like MS might be running Defender in disguise as MSE on win 7 OS.