Microsoft Security Essentials free antivirus/antispyware

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

 

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

 

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.

 

Warning re SE

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

 

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.

 

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?

 

Thanks folks for your help.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

mattman
i thought i was only person that love 98se defrag,i still wish i could get it for my xp pro hey microsoft you listening.
on topic: had onecare free liked it,bought it,now get it free,oh yeah ill keep it,it doesnt nag. after the 6mos free, i dont know. the manufacturers need to have a nag factor for their products.

 

I have been using Avast for a long time with no problems. This new PC that I bought came with a Norton trial. It lived on my system two days. I installed Avast along with Ad Aware. However, on both of my XP based laptops, I installed MSE to give it a shot, and so far, so good. It has an interface similar to Windows Defender. I'll want to review it at least a year before installing it on a new PC. AVG (free) is off of my list, as it offers no "real time" protection. But with these two choices, you should not have to pay a cent for quality protection (as long as it's for personal use only).

 

Since AVG has included antispyware it has turned Windows Defender off on my machine, before that, Windows Defender had never "warned" me about anything. Maybe I don't attract anything worth warning about, actually I have never run an antivirus or antisypware (apart from Windows Defender) in the background. "Real time ", I only run a scan every odd month or so, but then again, I have taught myself about where malware comes from.

If my system gets hacked (although my firewall should be secure), I don't expect they will be ecstatic.

I ran a scan yesterday after about 3 months, it came up with some tracking cookies.

Matt

 

Yes, Windows Defender doesn't warn you about anything. As I remember, it "asked" you if you really wanted to install a program. But it did nothing but slow my XP based laptops. When I discovered it was on this new PC, I turned it off.