I think MS Security Essentials is good

[T_M_D]

I think the free Microsoft Security Essentials is the best anti-virus software I have used, I find it so unobtrusive - do others agree or are there problems with it that I am unaware of? Tina.

[Simon]

I'd actually be interested to try it one day.

[Sebby]

One big problem... It's Microsoft.

[T_M_D]

I'd actually be interested to try it one day.

Go for it - it is great from what I can see. 

[T_M_D]

One big problem... It's Microsoft.

True, knock them freely, but the resources, help, tutorials and downloads on their site are in my view pretty good. The talented individuals they must have working for them is phenomenal. I am in the process of setting up my web site with their free business web tool.

I was setting up my friend's new HP laptop for her today, £469 from Play.com. It has Windows 7 Home Premium on it and I was telling her how I bought my first computer in the 80s and how I went all the way to London to buy it in an auction - it cost me £800 for a 386SX! I remember me and my brother marvelling over the oversized analogue clock display that was in that Windows version, then, I think it was around one up from the first version of Windows - 3.1 I think. My first computer was an Amstrad 1512k twin floppy disk drive.  

PS - Play.com (Jersey-based company for those who don't know - free delivery on everything) very good - ordered laptop online Tuesday afternoon arrived today (Thursday). Tried getting it from Tesco Direct as they had it £20 cheaper, but they let me go through the whole blooming ordering process before informing me they were out of stock.

[zappaDPJ]

I've been using Security Essentials since day one on two PCs. In my view it's one of the best free AV software packages there is and it's better than many you have to pay for. It is as you say Tina unobtrusive and it does work. So far I've had it detect one confirmed virus and possibly one false positive.

It may well have the Microsoft name but credit where credit is due, it's good and it's free to legitimate Windows users

[Den]

After running it for a while I changed over to Kaspersky (because I had 100days left on my license). After a couple of weeks I had so much trouble with Windows 7 (running slow, crashing and program freezing) I was considering re-installing Windows. I switched off Kaspersky and switched on MSE and everything ran as it should, plus I have not had any problems for three or four days now. Last night I took kaspersky off my laptop and it will not be going back on.   Long live Microsoft and Microsoft Security Esentials. 

[Steve]

You could Den try removing KIS completely and then  re installing ,see following there's a removal tool
http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208279463

You may have used it before ? I had to use it before I upgraded the laptop to Windows 7 and I also had to delete directories containg an older version.

[Den]

To be honest Steve the computer is running so much better now, I can't imagine any reason to go back to Kaspersky so I will stick with MSE  But I will most likely use the removal tool to get rid of it completely 

[T_M_D]

I've been using Security Essentials since day one on two PCs. In my view it's one of the best free AV software packages there is and it's better than many you have to pay for. It is as you say Tina unobtrusive and it does work. So far I've had it detect one confirmed virus and possibly one false positive.

It may well have the Microsoft name but credit where credit is due, it's good and it's free to legitimate Windows users

Here, here   Tina


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[T_M_D]

After running it for a while I changed over to Kaspersky (because I had 100days left on my license). After a couple of weeks I had so much trouble with Windows 7 (running slow, crashing and program freezing) I was considering re-installing Windows. I switched off Kaspersky and switched on MSE and everything ran as it should, plus I have not had any problems for three or four days now. Last night I took kaspersky off my laptop and it will not be going back on.  Long live Microsoft and Microsoft Security Esentials.  

Yeah!



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[Den]

Three or four days now and no problems at all, not a single crash or freeze 

[Steve]

Perhaps because its not really doing anything Seriously though the test will come in the way it deals with any threats.

[Den]

It has all ready handled a dodgy email and flagged up the update for Adobe Reader.  I have every faith in it and only switched back to Kaspersky because I had paid for it but I must admit I am so pleased how my computer is running now. 

[john]

I downloaded it a couple of days ago and it actually flagged up a threat and removed it a few minutes ago. I'm still running Avast but MSE caught it first and removed it with less fuss.

Although I've always found Avast to be good I did install it on a friends machine and he telephoned me last night to say he had a message that it had detected a virus but he was not able to follow the instructions on how to deal with it. Avast did recommend that it should be quarantined but it required that this was done several times before it stopped reporting there was a virus.

[Den]

When running MSE and windows + router firewall is there anything else that should be run at the same time or is that enough?

[Steve]

I would have thought you've got sufficient security in place Den .Someone my suggest on demand Spyware scanner as well . For mischief I bet their are many individuals trying to beat MSE AV just because its made by MS.

[Simon]

It's good to have something like SuperAntiSpyware on board, just for the occasional on-demand scan. 

[Inkblot]

I switched from the commercial version of AVG to MS Security Essentials and immediately found out that one of the silly problems I had been having (EMail rules not working) was being caused by AVG so it gets my vote.

As for antispyware, I have Spybot running all the time. I try and remember to update it and do a scan once a week and so far, so good there have been no problems.

[zappaDPJ]

Just so that all you doubters are aware that MS Security Essentials is both lightweight and actually capable of doing something useful it just picked up JS/Renos and removed it for me  

[Steve]

I had Avast trial on the Macbook about to expire so I've swapped to MSE.

[zappaDPJ]

I'll be interested to know what you think of it Steve.

[vitriol]

I've just installed this but all looks decent so far.  Doesn't seem to be impacting performance much either, which is always good.

[Steve]

I wonder what the AV software vendors feel about this?

[Rik]

I'd imagine it won't be long before there's a complaint made somewhere of abuse of market dominance.