MS no-frills security scanner gets thumbs up in early tests

[Noreen]

Microsoft's limited but free-of-extra-charge anti-malware scanner has performed creditably in early tests.

Independent testing lab AV-test.org put Microsoft Security Essentials through its paces, after downloading a beta version of the software following its limited release on Tuesday.

The application, which lacks personal firewall or spam filtering features, is designed to provide consumers with basic protection against Trojans, computer viruses and rootkits...................

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/24/ms_morro_review/

[Sebby]

That's promising. Okay, I wouldn't use it, but at least it looks like it's going to be a decent free option.

[Simon]

Indeed.  What they need to do, is take it a step further, and disable internet access on machines when the security software is not functioning, not present, or out of date.

[Sebby]

That's against human rights, no doubt. It's our right to expose ourselves to malware, viruses and trojans.

[Simon]

By all means expose yourself, Seb, but not when I'm looking, please. 

[Gary]

By all means expose yourself, Seb, but not when I'm looking, please. 

Thats why he has a Mac Simon, you know these flashers 

[somanyholes]

of interest ....

http://preachsecurity.blogspot.com/2009/06/microsoft-security-essentials-road-test.html

Bottom Line: The verdict, unfortuntaely folks... is that Microsoft's Security Essentials is essentially lacking on the detection front. In a world where Internet-borne threats are polymorphic, stealth, and ever-changing the Security Essentials tool fails to deliver real protection against the nasty things that go bump on the 'net. Even when compared against other freeware detection engines (such as AVG) Microsoft's engine still competes poorly, since every single piece of malware that Security Essentials missed, AVG's scanner caught.

[somanyholes]

for those who still think any av product is good. (this vid shows all engines failing to detect bad code without doing anything amazing)

http://vimeo.com/2308915?pg=embed&sec=&hd=1

[Simon]

I certainly don't think any AV is 100% foolproof, and it's as much about 'safe surfing' as anything else.

[Sebby]

By all means expose yourself, Seb, but not when I'm looking, please. 

Thats why he has a Mac Simon, you know these flashers 

It's more the no anti-virus, no anti-malware and no registry to clog up the machine to be honest.

[Gary]

It's more the no anti-virus, no anti-malware and no registry to clog up the machine to be honest.

No registry no anti malware/virus....you can catch cold down those dark allies at night you know 

[Sebby]

[colonelsun]

It may be free and getting good test results but the Microsoft name still puts me off. And to be honest even if the program offered everything i would get with a paid for version....i'd still be put off by the Microsoft name.