Microsoft Security Essentials

Kerodo,

Thx. It makes sense when you look at the old intrusion agents of Windows Defender. It basically puts guards at vulnarabke OS spots. MS gets a lot of info with their malware removal tool. Combine the two and you get some form of behavior patterns, and you have your dynamic signatures.

When PC's with MSE are triggered by these dynamic signatures, send the info of the offending process to the cloud for analysis and you can generate black list fingerprints.

Let's see how they score in tests.

Regards Kees

 

My thoughts exactly

 

I should also add that beyond my personal experience, Microsoft products always score top 3 in proactive detection tests.

 

I guess this is the heuristics in action?

Edit: Nah, it doesn't seem to be. MSE is identifying the malware, but it's asking for it to be sent in anyway.

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1200/capturemy.png

 

Would be interested to know what supplemental security programs MSE users have running. Also, which programs (or combo of programs) seem to conflict or cause negative issues when ran with MSE.

I have Prevx free running fine along with MSE. When I tried the combo of MSE/Prevx free/Defensewall I had problems- programs hanging at start up or when running, etc. I also have PC Tools firewall version 6.

I guess I would be most interested to know which sandbox, HIPS, behavior monitors/blockers, antispyware are running with MSE without any problems.

Thanks

 

I can't answer most of your question but the computer I'm using right now is a Vista desktop (2GB memory, not very fast CPU) running the free Prevx and MSE plus the built-in Windows firewall with default protections. No conflicts or oddness.

No attacks of any kind either but it's only been two days.

Then again I never had NIS 2009 report any attacks in the year it was on this computer. I just lead a boring, safe life apparently.

 

That reminds me, I should have posted I have Vista as well, 32 bit.

 

I previously ran Prevx Free (popular choice here) alongside MSE Beta but got tired of Prevx's FP rate and left MSE to hold it's ground alone which it does well.

 

Prevx free is too much of a tease for me. They give off false positives, and then you need to pay them to remove anything. I dont like the way they go about business. I think their paid program is solid, but I would need a life time license or something before I purchase. Too many good freeware choices at this time.

 

Updated one computer to Microsoft Security Essentials AV, working well and good. Light on resources.

 

I've been running MSE in a Win7 VM for a while and I quite like the user interface and integration with the OS.

I'm still not convinced about detection rates though. It needs to be at least very close to Avira and Avast before I'd consider changing to MSE on my main system.

 

Maybe I was wrong.

I just have a hard time trusting Microsoft with 'security'.

 

The Dynamic Signature Service sounds like Behavior Inspection,a HIPS's job.
But it seem to be difficult to be used properly.

 

no, its more of a cloud thing.

 

Microsoft Security Essentials! Have to admit, with all the positive reviews I'm

Have to admit, with all the positive reviews I'm finding, I'll probably not renew NOD come November. Likewise, in a few months, after MSSE has its feet on solid ground, I'll probably replace Avira Free with SE on my laptop. What effect do you think this is going to have on the commercial anti-malware companies?

 

Re: Microsoft Security Essentials! Have to admit, with all the positive reviews I'm

IMO - The effect will be good for End users Competition is good.

 

Re: Microsoft Security Essentials! Have to admit, with all the positive reviews I'm

I think MSE is a good product, I trialled it in beta stage and had no problems.

But when people speak of ditching a free AV, such as Avira, or Avast, where the user hasn't experienced any problems with the free AV, I wonder why someone would replace it? Just out of trying something new? But if you haven't had a virus, why change from companies who have provided a free AV for many years?

As I said, MSE is good, but is it lighter than Avira, Avast, or even Nod? I don't think there is much of a difference.

Do you feel safer with MSE? If you do, then it's best to have it on your machine.

But to 'ditch' companies like Avira, and Avast, (and AVG) who have helped users out for years, saved users many $ from rebuilds and lost software and personal info etc, when the new product isn't much difference (well to me anyway), where I'm going with this, why the rush to replace Avira and Avast when there is nothing wrong with these? If it aint broke, why fix it?

Honestly, what I think, many people will rush to use MSE and many people have. But, there will be a day the updates don't arrive, a glitch, or some server downtime. Some people will complain about this. It will happen again, and more will complain. Others will get bored with the same old interface and demand an update. Others will complain a 'virus' got through. Others will complain the forum or support didn't help them. End result, some people will change back to Avira and Avast, just as they are changing to MSE right now.

The 'new' product can't stay new forever. But if MSE pushes the established companies into providing an even better product, then it is a 'win' for all users.

 

Re: Microsoft Security Essentials! Have to admit, with all the positive reviews I'm

Although I agree with the things you're saying in general, I just cannot agree with this. You don't owe them ANYTHING. It is a product, everybody switches and tries new products all the time, whether it's price, improvement, or just curiosity. It's a product.

If you think the company cares you changed, or are somehow going to be hurt, you're solely mistaken. Lot's of people get stuck up in this illusion that you somehow owe a product company something.

 

Re: Microsoft Security Essentials! Have to admit, with all the positive reviews I'm

I agree, you don't owe a company anything. I was meaning more along the lines, if person A has Avast running, they don't need to suddenly panic thinking MSE will protect them any better than Avast.

So wasn't really targeting the regular users, or anyone here, more those who seem to post the A v B topics and won't be able to sleep at night until they know the result.

And I agree, I'll use what's best for me. I'm just recognising and respecting that these other AV companies are still going strong and by the release of a new product, it doesn't make the other products worthless.

Edit - I'd like to point out, if a company gives exceptional service in times of trouble, then some average joe users might need a product that comes with a high level of service (eg. paid product ABC). To call or email when things go wrong. There will always be those users around - so one AV, or a specific free AV, won't always suit everyone. All depends on the user and their requirements.

 

Re: Microsoft Security Essentials! Have to admit, with all the positive reviews I'm

Yep

 

Despite the above, just shifted a 2nd computer to MSE and running great....so far.

I see MSE as an integral part of Windows and something that Microsoft should have provided long ago. Glad that it's now fulfilled.

 

That's been my attitude the whole time. It's limited to just some basic AV functionality, it probably isn't as good as the very best AV software on the market and it doesn't do the whole-kitchen-sink thing. In other words, it's about what ought to be built in to the O/S, just like the Windows Firewall they finally added. Unobtrusive, close to foolproof, free, decent, automatic protection. Now they just need to start shipping it with Windows.

Fortunately, for my needs it is likely to be good enough. AVG Free might be better (or might not) but it's too naggingly visible and as such inferior to protection provided as a nigh-invisible part of the O/S. I've never had any virus/malware/whatever damage even when running absolutely nothing so the advantages of expensive pay-ware are mostly hypothetical for my purposes.

 

My Nod expires in Feb, but I am trying out MSE right now. I really like Nod32, but have been pondering switching to a free solution just because I don't think I personally need a paid solution. I'll see how MSE works out for me over the next 4 months. It seems to use more ram if you have it available (At least on my x64 machine it does). Scanning performance seemed good. It took it about 5 more min to scan my main c drive (40G) than Nod took. I am running MSE and Winfirewall so I expect everything to be stable and hassle free. I'll see if that continues to be the case in the coming months.

 

I to, noticed after a few days that is seems to run, and run and run. Not that it is bad but it is a active little bugger.

 

Need to add that MSE should preferably not be left on its own. I've added another layer of security in Sandboxie especially when browsing the net.

Prudency pays !