Microsoft Security Essentials

I recently installed Microsoft Security Essentials on my computer and wanted to know your opinions and experiences with it.

Also, it requires that you have no other anti-spyware or anti-malware program installed on your computer because it could conflict with MSE. But what I wanted to know is: Is MSE worth that? I mean, I'm used to having Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware on my computer, but with MSE, it sounds like you're not even suppose to have them on your computer.

Also, I had Facebook Prevx SafeOnline on my computer because I liked the extra security that it gave HTTPS sites(even if you were infected), but it sounds like MSE doesn't even want you to have that on your computer.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

You'll find a few threads about MSE in the "other anti-virus software" forum.

 

It doesn't do well in the MRG flash test. I personally would use something like Avast.

 

I agree with this. Avast is much better than MSE. Lighter as well.

 

Functionally this is a glaring untruth!

When run with MBAM PRO, entries may be made in each other's exclusionary lists, when needed. That is why the exclusion lists exist.

On a test XP system of mine, where I occasionally take intentional Internet risks, I run both MSE & MBAM PRO with other layered system security precautions.

MSE is only there as a test, not by desire. Avira AntiVir Personal is my AV choice for better protection.

HTH

 

Exactly, as detailed here.

 

AFAIK MSE can run perfectly well with another on-demand scanner, like the freeware SAS. I use this set-up on my notebook. I don't know about other realtime programs. They are probably superfluous anyway.

 

+1

I use MSE at work, together with MBAM free on-demand. it let trough viruses (adware) and 5 minutes later it blocked one of it. after a full scan with MSE, MBAM found many items to be cleaned. avast is much better, and also free.

 

High RAM usage, poor detection rate.

 

That's simply not true, even if they repeat that to exhaustion at MSE's forums ("MSE is all you need" is their favorite song).

I've used MSE for close to two years and I never found anything imcompatible.
Programs I had along with it at one time or another:
Comodo (no AV)
Online Armor
Outpost free suite (with AV enabled)
MBAM Pro
SAS Pro
Immunet Free
ThreatFire
Mamutu
Bitdefender TrafficLight

I would be very surprised if there were problems with Prevx SafeOnline.

 

Actually, they state that when the program is being installed. But that sure is a lousy "untruth" that they tell for unsuspecting people such as myself.

But anyway, on my computer, I found that I experienced the same thing that Francis93 experienced. Therefore, I uninstalled it.

 

I never had that experience.
In fact, MSE always was the most user friendly AV (both to me and to the machine) I ever tryed.

Even if I'm using something else (whatever) at the time, the one I'll always go back to is Microsoft's own.

 

Francis93:- "poor detection rate."

The VB100 comparative testing would appear to disagree with you on that one.
In fact they've achieved the VB100 award in their last 3 testings.

I like avast but cant help thinking sometimes that by providing all the 'guff' features its masking other short comings, but each to their own.

 

Oh well, let's just say MSE is good at known trojans and worms but horrible at zero-day attacks or new viruses in the wild.

And also, MSE's on-demand scan and update is so slow and heavy (heavy like RAM usage).

 

...and at about 67% proactive detection and 81% reactive detection, MSE probably shouldn't have earned what it did from VB100.

BTW, MSE did not earn a VB100 award for Windows XP when tested last. However MSE was at version 1 and the test was April 2010. Of course we all hope this will change for the better.

My 2 cents...

 

It was pretty good, except for resource usage with default settings. Too much I/O activity, unless you change it to Incoming only (just new files monitored). Also, there's the detection rate, which is a little low.