MS Security Essentials - My Findings

Quite a long time ago I remember somebody asking if the MSSE protection had been tested, so maybe now this little report may be of interest to some.

After trying out several beta releases of Windows 7, and also the betas of the Microsoft Security Essentials add-on, when I installed the 7 64 bit RC I decided to live dangerously on one machine and installed none of the usual anti-spywares or anti viruses.

Since installing the RC, and then a copy of Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium, I have been running this machine daily for more than four months in what many would think was a totally unprotected fashion. I use the latest Firefox beta exclusively, with WOT and Adblock Plus as add-ons, the 7 firewall, and MS Security Essentials. I do not knowingly visit dangerous sites, and do not use torrents or Limewire type programmes.

I do a thorough scan of the machine once a week using the MSSE, and do a back-up image of the OS after the scan. The scan is very thorough, the scan of my 'C' partition takes over 1 hour, and so far has only found some harmless cookies.

As a check I downloaded Super-Antispyware last week, installed it, and ran a complete scan which found only four tracking cookies which were from sites I visit regularly.

So far I am completely pleased with MSSE, it is discrete, updates are automatic and unnoticed. Scans can be scheduled, and can be limited to chosen partitions or folders. For me it has done a good job, and I recommend it.

Roger

 

Roger,

Thanks for the analysis. I have MSE installed on my laptop similar to the setup you describe and haven't noted any problems. I have also installed it on the machines for a couple of friends and haven't heard of any problems from them.

My only criticism is that that there is no easy way to see what the application has done as far as scans and updates. You have to go into Windows Event Viewer to look at that - but I read somewhere that a history/event listing may be added.

Later Addition - I should have pointed out that I am running XP Home, SP3.

 

Boy is this INTERESTING! I would be eager for others to weigh in on this very important topic!

And Virginia.....why on God's earth you list your skills as "beginner" boggles.

 

Fiollow up question, given I am now thinking of testing this on my cloned backup drive.

Oly thing, given, while I do incremental increments to it every week. i almost never boot into it....not sure if that would end up being a viable test.

I Googled and it appears MSSE uses the W firewall. Is this true? I find it wanting. It only does one direction protection. Could I install MSSE and retain my Comodo firewall?

I also came upon some very impressive positive reviews!

This thread bears the only account of people, now 2, running this I have been privy to!

Another reason I would so appreciate others weighing in on this issue.

I have never been moved to any kind of en suite protection.....forget not entirely trusting MS.

 

Hi Jilly,

I got fed up with other firewalls quite a long time ago, too complicated, too intrusive, and the suites too expensive. Since Vista I have relied entirely on the Windows firewall, about two years I think, and have had no cause for complaint so far.

Maybe I've just been lucky, and one day I will pay, but for now I'll stick with the two apparently effective tools from Microsoft, and do random downloads of scanners, root kit finders etc just to check the results of trusting MS.

 

Thanks so much for this! Not until minutes ago, did I even consider going in this direction!

Course, I also might end up resenting the money I’ve paid for the pro versions of my two main antimalware apps. But that is petty & niggardly and shortsighted….. if there is a better, and more time efficient solution from Bill & Melinda!

Yet another example fo why all bigotry--i confess to mine in this-- is the Enemy.

 

On my XP machine, I use the Windows Firewall and my ISP has a Firewall, too. And, I'm running ¡Avast! and it's very protective — as well as SBS&D.

However, I have 127ed a lot of Ads and I get kind of a perverse joy seeing a blank area on a website that says ". . . Could not load . . . ".

 

And The Chris settles for this???? But seriously, I would like yr differential take on the real subject of this thread, given, as I posted, I followed up and am now cautiously inspired to go there.

I would like the input of others who HAVE gone there to refine and inform MY journey in this.

 

Wow. Thanks. So what i read, it demands the resident firewall...WRONG. I have never used the resident firewall, I now use Comodo on all my systems. I have also disabled security warnings, cause i know what's going on and they do not.

I too have disabled autoupdates. I just visit each Tuesday and see what they think I can not live without.

I usually do get everything "critical. "

I will try it on Piggy...my backup drive, but I am not liking it feels entitled to trump our choice to not be on autoupdates.

When I decided I no longer wanted to see any little gold shields appear, I felt sprung from some slammer.

All of the above most fabulous info....cause I can tell, all accurate.

Also interesting, there you are a Team Member-ROLE MODEL....living on the edge, lol....but maybe not so much! I maybe living in the quicksand of total paranoia!!

Thanks much!

 

Hi again,

While I found what r.leale originally posted fascinating, I am grateful to him for this..and it opened me up to considering things I would not have otherwise, given the info that has come in, I have now decided not to go there, but rather to retain my current protection apps as they are.

Mainly cause I do not want MS to feel entitled to trump what I have chosen carefully over time is right for me. i.e., no autoupdates.

But this does sound way better than I ever thought it was.

 

I have been using MSE since October 1, 2009. I don't generally visit sites which may be harmful so I cannot comment on it's detection abilities. I do run MBAM twice a month as a check on MSE and haven't had anything to worry about.