MS Security Essentials Vs. AVG 9.0

[Dinesh]

I hate MSE because of its weak antispyware protection. No wonder its a strong antivirus, but it lacks better detection of SPYWARE. Also, 45-55 MB RAM usage. :shock: It needs some maturity. Its an infant IMO

Just over 7MB of RAM usage on my system - and that's while it's scanning! It doesn't seem to change whether it is just monitoring or actively scanning disks, and 7MB of RAM is not much of a load.

LOL at the bottom of the task manager, click Show Processes from All Users.
Then post a screen shot. You are showing only 1 process(msseces.exe) which is using 7 MB RAM. Where's MsMpEng.exe ? So again post a screenshot after clicking the box beside Show Processes from All Users.

 

[jimbo45]

My testing with MSE has been real promising so I now load it on all new builds. I don't run it myself as it's lack of basic features is a problem for me. I have a few apps that all virus programs mis-identify and a Trojan and immediately delete the exe so have to be able to easily disable auto-protect prior to running them.

Otherwise it works very well,

That's why I like the Server version Forefront Client security - MSE based but has more features - you can get a Free 180 day trial -- also works well on "Stand alone" computers and you don't have to run a Server OS either.

I really like the "Software explorer" tool -- pic enc

shows you at a glance all sorts of decent info over "start up programs" running programs. services etc etc.


Incidentally whether a program uses 50 MB / 100MB RAM in W7 is actually TOTALLY IRRELEVANT to how the OS performs / works.

"Real RAM" allocation as opposed to Virtual storage and paging is quite a complex matter -- just looking at the "Base use" numbers won't tell you anything anyway.

On most home computers -- even with a smallish amount of RAM (but not too small) the major bottleneck is in 99.99999% of the cases the appallingly slow I/O subsystems that are usually used on "non self build" machines - so don't get confused by misleading posts like "RAM Usage".

Poor graphic cards are another problem but usually unless you are a gamer this won't have major performance slowdowns except when using graphic processing programs like Photoshop. Even here the poor I/O will mask bad performance by the graphics card.

Your computer can be using 95% of available RAM and still run like greased lightning -- depends on what the computer is actually doing.

To slightly diagress - W7 uses a "Pre-fetch" algorithm -- knows after a while what type of apps you are using and often has the necessary pieces pre-loaded so that when you need them they are already in RAM and don't need to be loaded again.

This is often why when you first install and boot an OS you see Disk activity without knowing what it's doing -- the algorithm is trying to "learn" what you typically use.

Be VERY CAREFUL of statements like Huge RAM useage - not always a bad thing actually.


Of course poor applications will cause a "drain" on your system but that's another issue

Cheers
jimbo
.

 

[Martee]

Hi Dinesh,

Is it what you wanted to see?

 

[Dinesh]

This is where most of the users make mistake. People simply open up taskmgr and then look at the Process and assume that its using a low amount of memory. They often forget to check Show Processes from All Users.
That's when they realize how much RAM is being used by the anti virus.

So my humble request to all the people here; Always check Show Processes from All Users under Processes tab and then look at all the processes used by your AV and then calculate the amount of RAM.

 

[Dinesh]

Hi Dinesh,

Is it what you wanted to see?

View attachment 41696

Exactly. See how much RAM is used by MSE - 70Mb.

 

[clunkfish]

Yep - you're right. Didn't show processes from all users, and it's actually using about 70MB - my apologies

Mind you, that is only 1.1% of what's installed

 

[Tews]

My thoughts are that if you're that low on memory that 50mb of used memory is a concern, then its time to upgrade your memory...

 

[Dinesh]

Yep - you're right. Didn't show processes from all users, and it's actually using about 70MB - my apologies

Mind you, that is only 1.1% of what's installed

 

[Martee]

Dinesh, 70MB or 80MB is nothing, I don't feel it. I can't remember how much of ram the McAfee Total Security used, but everything was so slow. Now, it's the rocket.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
C'mon Guys

This whole RAM business is irrelevant to the issue -- I've posted about 3 or 4 back in the thread a little about RAM allocation in W7.

Don't confuse people with misleading info -- if you like or dislike a particular product fine then by all means go for the juggler and state why it's no good / or is good with evidence to back up your case

-- but confusing people with TOTALLY IRRELEVANT stuff like "70 / 100MB" RAM usage which doesn't make a single €.01's worth of difference to anybody doesn't actually lead to a proper and intelligent discussion.

Note a BAD app is a BAD app - whatever the amount of RAM it uses

I could easily get your computer to almost seize up with a TINY program (probably using less than 1 MB of RAM, and less than 2% of the CPU) so let's forget the whole RAM issue and concentrate on REAL issues like does the AV software do it's job, is it badly written etc etc.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Martee]

Jimbo,

You are absolutely right.

 

[jimbo45]

Jimbo,

You are absolutely right.

Hi Martee

While I Love these Forums like anything else on the Internet you have to be careful with not only what you READ but also what you write -- we all make mistakes - hopefully not too many - but sometimes I see the most glaring elementary errors being written with the Authority of the Bible (or whatever other "authority" you wish to name).

Always double check first before taking action based on what you find on the Forums -- some people post useful stuff - but there is also a lot of "Hot Air" around or as a Friend of mine from Yorkshire in North England says "All Wind and P--s").

The W7 Forum is pretty good however in general -- you get to know the reliable posters after a while.

Have a good weekend. - Will be Off to Old Trafford -- Man Utd V A.Villa in English Premier League - however for "Round Ball Topics" that's another place.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Martee]

Yep, second time I do agree with you. Thanks and have a nice day. See you around.

Martee

 

[TheIgster]

Sure, but I don't use Avast anymore, I stopped using it three years ago. I use MSE right now. I even don't know that I'm using it, it's so light on the system. For me, it's a winner.

Fair enough. One thing though, I used to use Avast quite some time ago and was never really a fan. Especially the old interface, but also the way it seemed to slow down the system quite a bit.

The new Beta 5 is amazing compared to v4 of Avast. This v5 is going to be a very good product and I'm not sure why anyone would pay for anti virus anymore with something this good out there as well as the also very good MSE that you are using.

I tried MSE and didn't mind it, but I prefer Avast. Nicer interface, more configurable, more protection IMO and even better virus/malware prompts. Just like it better overall.

 

[sygnus21]

Both sucks.

I agree, both suck

Very informative responses you got there.

Agree

 

[The Apathetic]

Well, since my rig has been at maintenance for 2 weeks now I have been using my sister's ancient travelmate laptop, KIS 2010 was just too heavy on this poor thing so I removed it and installed MSE, now the system is like x5 faster than it was with KIS or BtD which I used previously on it.

I don't even feel like there is an antivirus installed.

Microsoft has managed to make an antivirus that not only is it simple, but also so unnoticeable that sometimes you would think your machine doesn't even have App installed.

 

[sygnus21]

Microsoft has managed to make an antivirus that not only is it simple, but also so unnoticeable that sometimes you would think your machine doesn't even have App installed.

I have to agree here. Somtimes I too wonder if it's working. Great program, and light.

 

[pezzonovante]

MSE is by far the best antivirus for Windows 7. I have been loving it since the beta days. Microsoft has a real winner at their hands.

 

[Nikolay]

I had AVG installed on my school laptop and it failed to remove any threats. I uninstalled that, got MSE, it finds 5 threats, and they're removed.

 

[jav]

Seems I am the only one who didn't like it much.

It didn't give me enough settings and preference to adjust.

It's nice, but will not be my favourite.