Microsoft Security Essentials

[camdave]

I/we have been using MS Security Essentials for some time along with Malwarebytes and by practicing 'safe surfing', regular clearing of internet history, monthly manual scans etc. have encountered no problems on any of our three computers.

My concern relates to the latest reports that SE is slipping down the table in terms of effectiveness compared with other AV products, paid or free. Is it time to ditch the product and move to software such as Avast which in tests and reviews seems to be (one of) the best free products.

What do other users of Security Essentials plan to do - if anything?

[Gary]

I/we have been using MS Security Essentials for some time along with Malwarebytes and by practicing 'safe surfing', regular clearing of internet history, monthly manual scans etc. have encountered no problems on any of our three computers.

My concern relates to the latest reports that SE is slipping down the table in terms of effectiveness compared with other AV products, paid or free. Is it time to ditch the product and move to software such as Avast which in tests and reviews seems to be (one of) the best free products.

What do other users of Security Essentials plan to do - if anything?

Which site are you using for comparatives? All AV's go though times of being excellent, then lapsing, Eset used to be atop performer, now maybe not so much. If it works for you keep it, with Malwarebytes as a secondary scanner you should be fine. swapping about with AV products in the end can cause system instability as they have thier hooks very far into Windows. My Wifes Laptop uses Essentials and tbh I'm going to keep using it, next month the numbers could change, and it may go up, you can never keep on top of the game so to speak. If you look on the web you will see posts like "how did this slip past Avast" No product is 100% I would not worry.

Edit Looking on AV Comparatives Microsoft Essentials is in the advanced or Advanced+ area which is fine.

[Simon]

I would agree.  Practising safe surfing is a good defence to start with, and if your current solution works for you, then I see no reason to change it. 

[Lance]

[zappaDPJ]

I mostly agree although I don't think MSE is as good as it used to be. I do still use it myself and I still recommended it because it's free which means users are more likely to have up to date definitions but I wouldn't rule out switching to another product soon.

[camdave]

Thanks for all the replies, I am inclined to stay with MS but keep it under review.

If I can hijack my own thread - I still can't decide if we should go with Windows 8.1 or 7 for my wife's new desktop. I feel we should move on but still have reservations regarding 8's possible compatibility issues. She is happy with the concept of Windows 8 and loves her Nokia Windows 'phone. 

[Simon]

I think most of the compatibility issues will probably have been ironed out by now. Is there anything in particular that you / she are concerned about?

[Technical Ben]

If it's a new PC, nothing wrong with Windows 8. It's broken by design, but just like Digital TV* it's inevitable, so best to get the "new" equipment and just move on as the market changes. :/




*(not broken by design, but broken by cost cutting and poor transmission quality from some stations)

[camdave]

Thanks for feedback on Windows 8/8.1 - I will probably stick to 'Plan A' and see what JL have to offer in a couple of months. At the moment the choice seems to be between HP and Lenovo at around £400.00 but that could change. I will have fun getting rid of the 'bonus' software!

[camdave]

An update on Security Essentials;

I decided (reluctantly) to change from SE and tried Avast which I understand to be one of the better free programs. Immediately I had problems receiving and sending emails. A quick 'google' suggested this had been an issue with Avast over a number of years.

Rather than spend a lot of time trying to sort out this problem I have gone back to Norton which I used years ago. So far, on 8.1 and Vista machines all appears OK. At £25.00 p.a. for three PCs it is a reasonable deal.

I will continue to make regular scans with Malwarebytes as an additional line of defence.

[zappaDPJ]

The last time I looked, which admittedly was a while ago, Norton was looking pretty good.

[Technical Ben]

[edit] Reply fail. Replied to an old post instead of a new one. gah.

[Simon]

That was one of Rik's tricks! 

[Technical Ben]

I blame the forum for loading page 1 on occasion. On topic, I actually turned down a copy of a paid scanner last week. I'd not risk the fumes in the house from me burning it...

Me, bad experiences in the past? No no no no... just a few broken boot tables and 20 min load times for programs back in the Win 200/XP days.

[Simon]

That's not really a fair judgement.  Most paid AV products have improved considerably since those days, but I certainly remember the resource hog Norton became in around 2004/5.  I run F-Secure now and hardly know it's there. 

[john]

I've been using MSE for some time now and it seems to be working okay but I've not compared it recently to other alternatives. As Gary said no AV is 100% and I'll stick with MSE until I find there is a serious shortcoming.

I regularly clean things with Malware Bytes too.

Recently I came across 'Glary Utilities'. It appears to be effective but I'm hesitant to recommend it because I've only used it for a week and also it leaves a couple of processes running even when its been closed and I have to use the task manager to kill them.

[Technical Ben]

That's not really a fair judgement.  Most paid AV products have improved considerably since those days, but I certainly remember the resource hog Norton became in around 2004/5.  I run F-Secure now and hardly know it's there. 

Most people who ask me though still have an XP machine. Those going over to Windows 8 get Virus protection included, and why should I suggest spending £50 a year, and having to remember to update codes? It would be different if Norton etc went to a free mode and just charged for extras. But I cannot risk someone not having such protection.

For myself, I don't see any difference between the free and paid for in most instances for home use. For professional, well I've seen what happens to Small Businesses too, with the wrong client/server version on the opposite machine, so nonfunctional, and poor customer service offered, then when the entire system is brought to a end through a PDF virus, they just say "Buy this larger package to help". :/

[wecpcs]

I run F-Secure now and hardly know it's there. 

The same applies to Norton now and has been for the past few years, since the resource hog it used to be.

Colin

[Simon]

Yes, I'd heard it is much improved.