Microsoft Security Essentials Help

FairyLunar · 30 Mar 2017

Hello! So, today MSE turned orange and displayed "Potentially unprotected." So I ran a scan.

During this quick scan it made a note at the bottom "May have found potentially unwanted items/threats." Something of that nature.

However when the scan finished MSE turned green, and nothing was found during the search?

Was this a glitch some sort do you think? (False positive?) I'd like to hear thoughts on this matter and if I should be concerned or not. Thanks. :')

NoelDP · 30 Mar 2017

I've seen this behaviour once or twice myself - I suspect that MSE sends details to the servers and gets an all-clear.
It would still be a good idea to run a system scan with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware and see if that finds anything.

ThrashZone · 30 Mar 2017

Hi,
Also run a full scan not the quick scan might be better often mse does not say it but wants a full scan to be run so kick back it might take a while mse and or windows defender has one of the slowest scanning engines I've personally ever seen.

Layback Bear · 30 Mar 2017

Do a full scan with MSE and then look in MSE history. MSE isn't really slow as things being scanner fly by. It will take longer; I believe is because of the methods MSE uses.

Malwarebyte as noted by Noel is a excellent program to run also.

I also use Eset online scan (Free) at times. It's also takes some time.

Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scan from ESET ESET

Jack

RolandJS · 30 Mar 2017

I think if MSE "believes" too much time has passed between scans and/or too much time has passed between MSE updates - you get a potential unprotected yellow alert. And, sometimes but not all the time:
there is one more cause for that alert -- if MSE is not providing real time protection at that moment - an alert may be forthcoming.

Layback Bear · 30 Mar 2017

You are correct Roland. MSE will pop up a warning under those conditions.

Jack

FairyLunar · 30 Mar 2017

Hi! Thank you all for your suggestions, and advice. I will run a full scan just to make sure things are okay. (Even though as most said it can be super slow. Lol.) I might even give ESET a try too. <3

@RolandJS Hopefully, that is just the case. Because I was out most of the day yesterday, and didn't update the daily definition until 12am when I got home. So maybe that triggered it?

ThrashZone · 02 Apr 2017

Hi,
Just about anything is better than MSE :)
If you do try eset/... make sure you disable or make sure windows defender is disabled it is as slow as mse and just about as useless too :)
Windows Defender - Turn On or Off - Windows 7 Help Forums