Microsoft Security Essentials free antivirus/antispyware

**TonyT** · 2nd October 2009

Microsoft Security Essentials has come out of beta and has been released officially. I have it running on my Windows7 desktop. It's pretty fast and very low on resources, unlike most other antivirus software.
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_essentials/

bcdgn · 2nd October 2009

Hi Tony,
I suppose its effectiveness will prove itself over time. Im running Avira free on windows XP along with CCleaner and Malwarebytes. Avira seems to be lower on resources compared to my previous antvirus which was AVG free. Let us know how the new antivirus is coping.
Barbara

James · 2nd October 2009

From all reports, it's a real winner. Thanks for the information.

**Whiskeyman** · 2nd October 2009

I would have to wait for one of the malware crew to install it on one of their test PCs then visit known infected sites. If they give a good report I would try it.

**jorjab** · 3 Weeks Ago

When you install, it automatically turns on Automatic updates. If that is not the setting you want - be careful what you will get.

I caught it just in time as it was downloading all the updates for my PC. Windows XP SP2

**mopar** · 3 Weeks Ago

Am I safe to assume that Microsoft Security Essentials only does an automatic update once a month?
Other wise you have to update it manually?

If this is true once a month is to long for me.

**TonyT** · 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by mopar

Am I safe to assume that Microsoft Security Essentials only does an automatic update once a month?
Other wise you have to update it manually?

If this is true once a month is to long for me.

every day, several times/day.

NowhereMan · 1 Week Ago

Microsoft Security Essentials is very low on resource consumption.

I'm running a 256MB RAM PC and it only adds, what, 1 or 2 seconds to startup time?

**mopar** · 1 Week Ago

Thanks folks for your help.

**mattman** · 6 Days Ago

If anyone has any comparisons to other freeware AV's I would be grateful.

I just upgraded my AVG Free to version 9 and find that apparently, the AV and Antispyware cannot be turned off (I prefer to run it manually). I also seem to notice my internet is slower than usual. When I get time I might uninstall AVG and try this one, but if it cannot be run manually, I might look for another.

Thanks for the info.

Matt

**TonyT** · 6 Days Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattman

If anyone has any comparisons to other freeware AV's I would be grateful.

I just upgraded my AVG Free to version 9 and find that apparently, the AV and Antispyware cannot be turned off (I prefer to run it manually). I also seem to notice my internet is slower than usual. When I get time I might uninstall AVG and try this one, but if it cannot be run manually, I might look for another.

Thanks for the info.

Matt

AVG has gone downhill since its version 7s.

You can delete the AVG startup in registry at HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current version/Run

You can set all AVG Services to manual via Control Panel/Admin Tools/Services.

You should still be able to do scans via rt click context menus but you'll have to start the service to use the AVG control center (update service too must be started in order to update).

Your Internet will be slower if AVG installed its Link Checker stuff. All www requests get routed via AVG which checks addresses against its list of "bad" addresses. Since a Web page can contain content from multiple urls, they all must get "OKd" by AVG prior to loading in the browser. Slows it down.

Dump AVG and use a better product or at least uninstall it and then do a custom install and uncheck all the browser stuff it wants to install.

jan roberts · 6 Days Ago

got a question. is it replacing onecare? will it back up? and most importantly, is it going to annoy me?

**TonyT** · 5 Days Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by jan roberts

got a question. is it replacing onecare? will it back up? and most importantly, is it going to annoy me?

onecare is a separate package.
backup what?
annoyance is relative, but it offers no nags.

jan roberts · 5 Days Ago

tony i love no nags. that will do. back up files like onecare does/did. dont really know how to back files w/o one care,last time i tried little pop up pops up with insert floppy!unless they make floppies compatable with dvds im lost.
my onecare expires 12/2/09 got email from microsoft saying i would get something free for 6 months(have to look at email to see what that is).
totally off topic but i missed the 98se defrag, not possible to put on xp pro i suppose? i would love it,give me something to watch.
thank you

**mattman** · 4 Days Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by jan roberts

my onecare expires 12/2/09 got email from microsoft saying i would get something free for 6 months(have to look at email to see what that is).

Check it out Jan, take it for 6 months if it is free, then if you are really wrapped with it, consider paying for it.

Nags, pop-ups, reminders, etc, you need to see how much you can cope with them. If you want a something-for-nothing antivirus, expect that they will press you to sign up for a paid-for version. Paid-for programs want you to renew your subscription (without investigating what is offered by their opposition).

Off topic... I really liked Win 98's defrag visuals as well. I could have it run for hours

Matt