MSE worries

[urbanspaceman1]

I was using KAS13 until I began having Sandbox issues that Kas didn't/couldn't/wouldn't resolve, and during my pleas for help on this forum I was told MSE would be a far better option. I took the advice and have been using all MS security products most of this year without incident. I was advised to rum MBAM on a regular basis, which I do (I have the free version) and nothing has ever been found (this may be a good thing or a bad thing).Now, due to some mischievous, and malicious even, reports recently, I have had to question my security. I am certain it is unnecessary but anyone out there who feels able to reassure me should speak now or forever hold their piece (sic)... please!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Based on my own experiences with MSE and the poor reviews it has been receiving by independent raters, I can't in good conscience reassure you. There are free AVs out there that leave MSE in the dust. I personally prefer Avast free.

 

[whs]

KAS is a very good AV program and so is NIS which I prefer. But MSE (which I use since a while) seems to do the job too. I do, however, most of my internet work from a virtual partition with Linux Mint because Linux is a lot less exposed to malware attacks. And even if my virtual Linux system comes down, I can reestablish it in no time from a backup.

Here is a little tutorial I made on how to go about that. I have more tutorials along the same line in case you want to persue it.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/288105-safe-internet-browsing.html

But if you want to remain with Windows for all your internet work, I highly recommend you make frequent images so that you can recover your system in no time (typically within 20 minutes).

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[Layback Bear]

What kind of mischievous and malicious reports are you referring to?

I use Microsoft Security Essential with no problems.

Avast, KIS and NIS have been mentioned and as far as I know are still quality products.
I have used KIS AND NIS without getting infected.

 

[Bongo]

I have been using MSE and MBAM pro for quite a while now and have no problems at all.

You are going to get all kinds of people saying good and bad it will simply be your choice.

It's kind of like a broken record but have a look at this thread.
http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/307516-anti-virus-protection-mse.html

Jerry

 

[urbanspaceman1]

What kind of mischievous and malicious reports are you referring to?
I read a UK periodical called 'Computer Active' that just this week opened the mag with an article quoting Holly Stewart (out of context, it appears) on how MS didn't stand behind it's security products.

 

[Layback Bear]

This should help you understand. From Microsoft not hearsay.

Our commitment to Microsoft antimalware - Microsoft Malware Protection Center - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

 

[urbanspaceman1]

Yes. Thank-you. I've heard folk exclaiming that the report was misconstrued and should be given no credence.
It's a seemingly wonderful way to drum-up business for third party suppliers; although Avast and AVG are free so it doesn't apply there.
As I claimed earlier, I've been using MS security products most of this year without incident so I shall continue to do so.
A healthy dose of paranoia never hurt anyone though.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Holly Stewart may have been misquoted or quoted out context but that doesn't change the numerous independent tests that consistently rank MSE near the bottom.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

This should help you understand. From Microsoft not hearsay.

Our commitment to Microsoft antimalware - Microsoft Malware Protection Center - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

This from the company that gave us Win 8 and the faulty updates recently.

 

[Jacee]

You can always run a 'free on-line' scanner, such as ESET:

1. Hold down Control and click on the following link to open ESET OnlineScan in a new window.
   ESET OnlineScan
2. Click the
   
   button.
3. For alternate browsers only: (Microsoft Internet Explorer users can skip these steps)
   1. Click on
      
      to download the ESET Smart Installer. Save it to your desktop.
   2. Double click on the
      
      icon on your desktop.
4. Check
   
5. Click the
   
   button.
6. Accept any security warnings from your browser.
7. Check
   
8. Push the Start button.
9. ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
10. When the scan completes, push
    
11. Push
    
    , and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
12. Push the
    
    button.
13. Push
    

 

[urbanspaceman1]

Thank-you Jacee; I have used ESET before and found it most satisfactory.
Actually, it may well have been you that suggested it!

 

[Layback Bear]

I have used Eset on line scanners also and I'm well pleased with it.

 

[urbanspaceman1]

I originally chose KAS because it allowed everything to be turned on or, more particularly, off: so reducing the footprint on an old W98 machine. I stayed with it because it was the devil I knew but in truth I spent so much time learning how to drive the beast I was becoming obsessed. I asked for suggestions for a security system I could simply activate and forget. There was obviously no such thing but MSE kept getting recommended and I must agree, it was an activate and forget affair that, to date, has never presented me with any problems. Maybe I am fortunate, or maybe others are unfortunate; either way there are certainly some impassioned arguments out there (not just on this forum, I mean) when it comes to MSE.

 

[Layback Bear]

Just some suggestions.
1. Use security programs that you feel safe with.
2. Use security programs that you don't have to spend all your time fiddling with.
3. Use security programs that work well with Windows 7 and other security programs that you choose to use.
**************
I personally don't believe in all the test reports because in my opinion they are designed to sell anti virus programs.
I personally go by my own experiences and reading Forms like this one and watching what people use and don't have problems with. I have use many store bought anti virus programs through the years. Microsoft Security Essential is the first free anti virus program I have ever used. I started using Microsoft Security Essentials on two computers 5/16/2011 and have had no problems.
About a year later I added Malwarebytes Anti Malware Professional which runs at boot active also. This set up works for me.
Is Microsoft Security Essential the best anti virus out there? I can't tell which security programs are the best because I really don't know. I just know it works for me and it works well with Windows 7.

 

[marsmimar]

I'm another who uses MSE. If memory serves, Microsoft released the MSE beta (originally code named Morro) in June 2009 with a final version to the general public in September 2009. That's when I started using MSE and I've been using it ever since. I also regularly use 3 on-demand scanners to check my computers (Malwarebytes, SupeAntispyware and Hitman Pro.) And I occasionally throw in ESET Online Scanner. No malware has ever been detected so either MSE is doing its job or every other product in my arsenal has equally failed.

Some people will bad mouth MSE just as some will bad mouth AVG, or Norton, or Kaspersky, or Avast, or Avira, or any of the other products out there. It's called personal preference. I believe that using some kind of anti-malware is better than using nothing at all. No anti-malware will be 100% effective 100% of the time. If there was such a thing we'd all be using it. I'm going to continue to use MSE because I believe it has worked for me. You might find this article an interesting read.

Do I Need to Stop Using Microsoft Security Essentials? ? Ask Leo!

 

[urbanspaceman1]

Hello Layback Bear. Sounds like considered and sensible advice to me and is thoroughly re-assuring to boot, although I was looking for re-assurance anyway having been startled by the broo-ha-ha.
I have (as have you I see) made a mental note regarding the popularity of Avast and its future potential should MSE misbehave.
Equally, Marsmimar, sound advice, thank-you; and thank-you for the article.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...I personally don't believe in all the test reports because in my opinion they are designed to sell anti virus programs...

Most (if not all) of the test reports I've seen are NOT affiliated with any AV companies.

 

[glassofwater]

MSE offers very basic protection, if you have a low chance to expose to virus and malware, MSE would be just fine.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I'm not a fan of MSE - but I still install it on most every computer that I support (and that is quite a few). MSE is easy on the resources and it gets along with other software. In particular, software that installs low level file filters like online backup apps.

What I really do not like about MSE is its heuristics. It lets stuff happen that should never happen. It should at least ask the user if it is okay to add a shell app to this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

I've been playing with a ransomware file for about a week now. I used Process Monitor to watch it infect an isolated virtual machine. MSE was fine with the download and the infection process. Uploading that tiny infected file to Google's Virustotal showed AVAST was okay with it, as was Malwarebytes. [A scan via Virustotal does not have any heuristics involved - so it is not a way to rate antivirus tools.]

I've been playing with malware like this for many years now and I have a feel for how the major AV tools work. AVAST flagged the ransomware file during the infection process (based on heuristics). As of this post, MSE is still fine with me installing this ransomware on a computer that it is "protecting".

Before MSE was around, I installed AVAST and AVG on lots of computers that I support. I stopped using AVG when they started loading their signature list into the SYSTEM process. This was crippling weaker hardware.

If AVAST would stop requiring repeated registration, I might use them for most of those that I support. My elderly users have incorrectly blamed that registration process for an uptick in SPAM and/or they call me to help them complete the annual reregistration :-(