Microsoft Security Essentials

Freeze after freeze after freeze with MSE. I was running the latest ZA 2010 Pro. Installed MS security essentials and computer froze almost as soon as the desktop appeared. Went to safe mode, but security essentials won't uninstall in safe mode. So, removed ZA Pro. Computer problem cleared up.

I downloaded PCTools firewall. Same thing. Computer locked up tight, requiring another hard boot. Removed PCTools firewall and all okay.

Then, I tried Outpost free. Another freeze.

Finally, I got smart and got rid of MS Security Essentials. I'm running Online Armor free now, and it's great. Along with Shadow Defender, which I use whenever I'm online, I'm not sure I need anything else.

I kind of liked security essentials but it appears that on this laptop, Dell Inspiron 1525, 2G RAM and 1.86 Intel Dual Core, Vista Home Premium SP1 and all current updates about the only thing security essentials is compatible with is Windows Firewall. I prefer something that tells me what's leaving my computer, so MS security essentials is gone - forever.

 

I read the link but I have to think back to posts by experts in the field in other threads I've seen over the years who have advanced reasons as to why email scanning can be a benefit.

 

I'm running MSE (since beta) on my three main computers, all of which have been upgraded to Windows 7. No problems with updating or anything else.

At least with the Windows 7 machines, I no longer see MSE updates available in Windows / Microsoft update when I do a manual check. I take that to mean MSE is properly handling the updates on it's own.

I'm still installing MSE on all client computers I work on. This is a combination of mainly XP and Vista machines. I am not noticing any updating issues there either.

BTW, I am now installing Immunet as the second line of protection on all computers that I get my hands on. Immunet recognizes that MSE is installed and no issues there either.

 

Interesting article about MSE beeing enough to protect you:
http://lifehacker.com/5401453/stop-...ity-microsofts-security-tools-are-good-enough

I agree with this article. Keep your system up to date, be careful what you download and you should be on the safe side most of the times. Don't get too paranoid

 

DITTO!! With all the Adobe exploits, SECUNIA is a great tool to keep you informed about what needs to be updated.

 

While the article is basically OK the author obviously didn'T understand the idea behind UAC...

 

MSE Definitions/Signatures Update FAQ:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...e/thread/74e507b8-f6da-4eca-8ce7-d1aca7d3f1ba

 

Excellent post, thanks for linking it, it explains everything perfectly.

I really do hope they fix the hibernating/sleep update issue soon though.

 

I changed 2 home pc's ( a desktop and a laptop) from AVG 9 to MSE this week and I a pleased with the results so far. My boot and shut-down times have significantly improved and I have had no problems on either pc.

AVG 9 (paid version) really slowed down the pc's and had conflict with Windows Defender and Malwarebytes, so I looked around and decided to try MSE. I am pleased with the results and would recommend it, particularly for users who are not "technically proficient". That is not a put-down - there are such users in my family......and they are not "bad" people - just not interested in being involved in the techincal part of their pc use.

I did uninstall WD, since it is not needed with MSE, which I guess is what AVG was trying to tell me. However, Malwarebytes (not realtime) scans now run fine, along with Spybot S&D, SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard. I am a happy camper so far. I know there are many Microsoft-haters out there, and I am a skeptic of MS sometimes, but I like to give credit when credit is due.

 

Not any surprise with your reported positive experience with MSE and thank you for giving credit when due.

What can we expect when we use MSE with Windows ? Both are softwares developed by Microsoft.

Despite what many others are trying to mislead here, I think it is a no brainer to convert to use MSE. Just do it and I did.

 

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If this has already been addressed my apologies, but what about updating? When I used the MSE beta it seemed like automatic updating was not reliable. Also, I've read that Windows Update has to be set to fully automatic for MSE to update properly. Is that correct? Most of the time it's not a problem but occasionally it's a good idea to hold some updates back.

 

I don't know about others but the updating is crap for me. I wish that I could disable the auto update and only update manually. In XP and 7, after boot up I get about 3 to 5 minutes of 100 percent CPU and yes it is related to MSE. I have Windows Update set to download/notify and MSE will update kinda sorta. It seems that it will not update(auto) during a normal 3 or 4 days of uptime. If I reboot, it will update. All in all, I'm happy with it except for the updating and high CPU at boot time.

 

See: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1574739&postcount=612

 

For many of my systems, I do not see the 3-5 mins of 100% CPU and do not disable the auto updates ?

Everything is working well and updating properly as they should.

 

I think there is a need to point out here that Microsoft has provided the free MSE which is highly recommended for the average mass users, ie. install and forget.

For many of the other users here who have many demands and requirements of their anti-virus software, eg disabling updates, manual updates, exclusions, flexibility, scheduling, unique features, etc., these users are better served with paid anti-virus softwares that are around.

MSE will not meet all your needs and requirements of your desired anti-virus protection. MSE has met my basic needs and requirements of providing a decent level of protection for my many computers.

 

The 4th post above yours has the explanation.

 

Wow, I thought the 32bit version was fast, 64bit version is even faster! Loving it.

 

Do you fell Windows 7 64bits faster than 32bits?

 

Windows 7 64bit is Faster then Windows 7 32bit if the program is
1. Memory Intensive
2. Designed for 64bit (No 32bit Emulation)

 

Can you install MSSE without an internet connection?

 

Yes, you can

 

Should MSE check a file online when no local signature for it exist?

I downloaded a file, which is supposed to be a crack of one of my own developed applications, to investigate, but figured out it was a fake with a setup.exe.

This setup.exe was a trojan, confirmed also via VT, and MSE did not pickup the trojan, and tells me all the time that the file is ok.
I thought it would access the internet when no local signature exist, so I monitored the connections etc., and MSE did not even try to open a connection to their server.

Even 2 days after submitting the file to M$, it is still not detected, and MSE is still not checking in in their "cloud".

 

MSE will identify if your computer has legal copyright during it sets up,won't it?That needs to connect with the Internet.

 

Thank, but this is not I wanted to know... I have no issue with updates.

The issue I have is this:
When a suspicious file is checked by MSE, and no signature exist in the local database, I assumed that MSE would connect to their server for the analysis.
My MSE does not not that at all. It never tries to connect to their server to check a file (how do they call that? Dynamic Signatures? Cloud? Whatever).