OK I did it NOW! 100% MS Security Essentials Test

[bloke]

BUT the question still remains..... can we get access to the files it quarantines or "deletes"???? is there a cloud 9 safe house file somewhere within our tiny 3.5" or 2.5" drives hidden away in a tiny black box in the middle of the Bermuda triangle???

Oh yeh the sand box thing was a joke

 

[D3ftOn3Z]

After doing some reading,i've decided to dump my AVG & install MSE.
It's great,user friendly interface,takes less ram...
As of now my security setup consists of MSE,Malwarebytes,Spybot,Trojan remover and Panda UsbVaccine.And yeah with Windows Firewall ON.Uac off...

 

[pillainp]

MSE only.

UAC at default.

No hassles at all, I don't even know that MSE is running in the background, and its caught everything that's been thrown at it so far.

Pretty happy with performance, and I have decided to remain MSE-only, with Avast Home on standby.

 

[IggyAZ]

Since i've been using MSE (the new beta program) 100% and i stay away from those seedy sites, i never know it's there except when a new update comes in from MS. The last update put me at version 1901 and i think the public version was 1611.

Smitty

Thanks 1Bowie.
I have to ask you that is MSE beta? I have 1611 running but unaware of the 1901 you mentioned. Is their another retail version?


Thanks

 

[IggyAZ]

Nice Overview of MSE (Tutorial)

I just ran across this nice overview of MSE from the MSE site forum.
MSE: Introducing Microsoft Security Essentials

It helped explain more about MSE for me.

 

[Zidane24]

I just ran across this nice overview of MSE from the MSE site forum.
MSE: Introducing Microsoft Security Essentials

It helped explain more about MSE for me.

Regarding that version number above...1901 is an invite only-series of "BETA" builds offered through connect...

 

[IggyAZ]

This is a review that another guy did and thought it was interesting enought with details that most don't have time to check.

START OF ORIGINAL MESSAGE

First and foremost, a disclaimer for the trolls. I AM NOT NOR HAVE EVER WORKED FOR MICROSOFT nor accept gratuities for endorsing their products, PERIOD.

I am a SYSADMIN, I am in charge of a lot of KOMputez where I work, so I spend lots of my free time working with hardware and software to find the best and LEAST expensive variations to make my life easier. I've been testing MSE for a couple of weeks now. Here's what I've found.

First it is 100% FREE! PREVX, AVG, and AVAST also have free scanners, but they limit their functionality and WANT you to purchase the enhanced versions for $29 and up. Kaspersky is excessively expensive and I have refused to even use their 'free' trial. PREVX is cunning. While it may detect an infection, purchasing a license key exposes your credit card to thieves who may have access to the infection;

It is FULLY compatible with OTHER anti-virus software running concurrently (AVG, AVIRA, ALWIL/AVAST,Norton 2009 on four systems I tested it on) BUT because of each program scanning your system in the background, it may slow down without a minimum of a dual core processor and AT LEAST 2 GB of memory IF you choose to run MSE and another anti-vir program. MSE uses about 13 MB running in the background, AVG 8.5/9.0 (my recent AV of choice) surprisingly about 26MB total when all of the scanners are running in the background. Norton 2009/10 is a dramatic improvement is cpu/memory loads along with scanning speed over previous versions, but it still is costly on an annual basis. Avast is very slow in scanning and loading (from tests I have run previously) and appears to be losing popularity.

AVG when doing a full system scan, ramps up an additional 44MB of memory usage during the system scan in addition to the 26MB in the background but CPU usAGE averages between 8-13%. MSE increases memory usage to 90MB and CPU usage jumps to over 20%. AVG takes a very long time in full system scan mode. Depending on the size of the hard drive and number of files you have. On the four test systems with drives of 40GB (purpose built for these tests), 80GB, 200GB and 250GB, all sizes that most of us have with 12-86GB of space used, it took from 11-198 minutes in full scan mode. MSE took from 2-7 in quick mode, 11-189 in full scan mode including scanning the restore volumes.

MSE also had the advantage NOT ONLY IN SCAN MODE but in background scanning where it scans your RESTORE VOLUMES. This means that novice users don't have to worry about tweaking the settings to scan (if applicable) the restore volumes on their computers. (I ALWAYS recommend creating a NEW restore point and deleting old volumes at least once a month via the system tools links).

During testing, MSE found the Browser Modifier Win32/Zwangi (that nasty fake anti-virus program going around) in a restore volume while Norton, AVG, and AVAST had ALL missed it during full and background scans and ALL of the anti-malware/spyware programs I use also missed it.

Additionally, MSE found THREE trojans and one worm I had planted on three of the computers while AVG, AVAST and Norton missed Trojan.Whitewell and Infostealer.Banker.F completely (since the tests the others have added those to their database). Malwarebytes found one of the three trojans and missed the worm, XoftspySE found two and the worm, and The Cleaner, a trojan specific cleaner, found only one trojan.

END OF MESSAGE

Informative

 

[1Bowtie]

I just ran across this nice overview of MSE from the MSE site forum.
MSE: Introducing Microsoft Security Essentials

It helped explain more about MSE for me.

Regarding that version number above...1901 is an invite only-series of "BETA" builds offered through connect...

That is absolutely right Zindane24

Smitty

 

[jtrag]

Here's a good review by PC Magazine. It seems that MSE isn't as good as some of you may think.

Here's the link:

Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 - Full Review - Reviews by PC Magazine

 

[noobvious]

Here's a good review by PC Magazine. It seems that MSE isn't as good as some of you may think.

Here's the link:

Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 - Full Review - Reviews by PC Magazine

That review dates back to September, and there are constant security definition updates coming from MS. So I am not ready to doubt MSE quite yet.

 

[1Bowtie]

Here's a good review by PC Magazine. It seems that MSE isn't as good as some of you may think.

Here's the link:

Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 - Full Review - Reviews by PC Magazine

I don't know where he came up with 170mb either, because mine is 13.9mb, nothing is 100% but if you use good common sense, uac at default, and for my money (free) MSE for me.

Smitty

 

[pillainp]

This is a review that another guy did and thought it was interesting enought with details that most don't have time to check.

START OF ORIGINAL MESSAGE

....MSE uses about 13 MB running in the background...

END OF MESSAGE

Informative

Here's MSE in the background, using just about 5 MB of RAM. This is about the lightest I've seen any AV run, including Avast.

 

[TheIgster]

This is a review that another guy did and thought it was interesting enought with details that most don't have time to check.

START OF ORIGINAL MESSAGE

....MSE uses about 13 MB running in the background...

END OF MESSAGE

Informative

Here's MSE in the background, using just about 5 MB of RAM. This is about the lightest I've seen any AV run, including Avast.

Actually, Avast is lighter. You need to show processes from ALL users in order to see all processes as well.

 

[pillainp]

My mistake....

But what I am getting at is that it is so light I can barely even tell it's running, even when I do a targeted scan.

It's pretty good package for a first effort.

 

[TheIgster]

It's pretty good package for a first effort.

Agreed.

Between Avast, Avira and MSE, there are some excellent options out there that are completely free. Just depends on wants and needs I guess, as well as preference. If I wasn't using Avast 5 (which I like very much), I would most likely choose MSE as a free option.

 

[pillainp]

Haven't tried Avast 5 yet. 4.8 was and is really good. Its what I install on any new setup (for everyone except me)....

I think I will stay with MSE for the foreseeable future though.

 

[jtrag]

Here's a good review by PC Magazine. It seems that MSE isn't as good as some of you may think.

Here's the link:

Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 - Full Review - Reviews by PC Magazine

That review dates back to September, and there are constant security definition updates coming from MS. So I am not ready to doubt MSE quite yet.

I hadn't realized that it was from back in September. I apologize. I'm sure they have made some major improvements to MSE since then. I might just install MSE on one of my computers and see what I think. It sounds like a pretty good suite from what everyone here is saying.

 

[Droid]

MSE & ThreatFire on Win7 x64?

I'm running ThreatFire and MSE, with UAC disabled. I run Malwarebytes weekly, and Adblock Plus and NoScript on Firefox, and this thing is pretty darned secure*knock wood*.

Anyone else running MSE with ThreatFire on Win7 x64? I love ThreatFire and usually run it with Comodo Internet Security. But Comodo is a little too informative and naggy for a novice PC user and I need a simpler setup for my wife's PC.

It currently has MSE and UAC set to default (Win7 x64). I am thinking about adding ThreatFire as well. I need a good, hassle free, secure combo for her machine that asks little to nothing from the user and can manage itself.

 

[manchot]

PCmag review of Avast! 5.0

this thread really got me wanting to try out MSE or at least see what it is all about.

Interesting review of Avast! 5.0 came out a few days ago. From the results I'm going stick with Avast! 5.0, UAE default and Windows 7 Firewall with Sphinx Windows 7 Firewall Control over switching to MSE for now.

But I'll definitely be keeping my eye on MSE and even more promising Panda Cloud Antivirus.

avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 - Full Review - Reviews by PC Magazine

 

[TheIgster]

manchot, where is that chart from that you have included? It's not in the review link you provided. Just curious because it rates PC Tools Internet Security quite high and it has me interested. Thanks.