Microsoft Security Essentials Question

Im using W7 and during an W7 update, I selected to install Microsoft Security Essentials. But now I don't see it anywhere or even know if it's running. How can I tell?

 

there should be an icon in the right hand corner which looks like a house. you will need to click on the little arrow to see it since all tray icons are hidden by default in windows 7.

 

Ahh yeah, there it is, hiding from me I am new to W7, been using Vista.

Is it any good to keep running in ram? Does it slow down my laptop? Is it accurate and good finding threats?

 

MSE provides reliable protection. not sure how heavy it is.
av test

 

How do I tell MSE to check for updates every day and automatically install definition updates? I have to keep doing it manually.

 

here you go

 

Hi:

Searh youtube on MSE tests and see how effective it is. Generaly its good at detection (proactive) but soso at on-demand detection (not effective enough) but its realtime detection is relatively good.

 

If by "on-demand" you mean those YouTube punks that open a folder full of "malware" and do what they call "zero day" tests, I wouldn't place that much trust in those results.

Why not, you say? Simple: You know as well as I do some of the crap in there is broken and not actually malware; they are not bothering to pre-screen them like a major testing laboratory would. Take those results with a grain of salt.

Microsoft Security Essentials is generally very good and when I factor in the fact that's it's 1st party software, has decent footprint (which is to get better in the beta I am testing by the way), and is being very proactively developed by Microsoft for inclusion into Windows 8, I make it my personal favorite choice of free AV.

Use what you will. I do recommend MSE. And it isn't a house icon, it's a cute little castle!

EDIT: I should state that I am not a fan boy. If you see me on Microsoft Answers I am giving them plenty of negative feedback, so I am fair.

 

I find that MSE RAM-spikes a bit after an update on my Vista notebook, so it isn't wise to initiate a scan immediately after an update on it. It is quite light though & was a revelation after using the heavy Norton & McAfee AVs. On my Win 7 64 bit desktop MSE is almost like not having an AV it's so light. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone, & the price is right too.