Microsoft Security Essentials

jgallcash

I have been using Avira (free) with Malwarebytes for a couple of years on my laptop running vista. Generally I have been happy with it but have started to get recommendations from friends to get Microsoft Security Essentials.

I’m updating to windows 7 in a couple of weeks and wondered what you guys thought about MSE and if possible any comparatives to Avira.

JasX

I believe the latest consensus is they're both good and reliable, personally I prefer Microsoft Security Essentials but thats largly down to previous problems accessing Avira update servers which I'm told they've now fixed.

Pick either its up to you

aliEnRIK

According to the 'av comparitives' site, MSE is 'ok' but not upto AVIRA standards

JasX

aliEnRIK wrote: »

According to the 'av comparitives' site, MSE is 'ok' but not upto AVIRA standards

but annecdotially we don't tend to get many (any?) people on this forum who've gotten a virus using either.....


....not like that AVG / McAfee / Norton junk some people use

[Deleted User]

I like it because it is simple, lightweight and doesn't bombard me with dialogue boxes whenever it does anything or to try and get me to upgrade to a paid for version.

There's no one anti virus program that is better than any other in every aspect, therefore you've got to take in the available information about them all and make your decision on what is more important to you and how you use your computer.

Gillor

I have used Avira and Microsoft Security Essentials (not together) and both are fine so it is really down to a matter of preference and if you are happy with Avira stick with it.

Personally I went for Microsoft Security Essentials as it is extremely light on resources, works unobtrusively in the background and has a preferable User Interface (IMHO). The trouble is that it so unobtrusive I am never sure if the automatic updates are working or not as apparently unless you leave your computer running all day you can miss them. But it's a simple and quick process to manually update the programme which, being paranoid, I have always done several times a day anyway with any anti-virus programme I have been running.

However no signature based anti-virus programme is 100 % safe as there are supposed to be around a thousand new pieces malware released every day and therefore most AV programmes are always playing catch-up. Which is why I run all my web browsing activities Sandboxed and, to be doubly sure, never visit sites which are not rated as safe by WOT (Web of Trust) - as the old saying goes "if you roll around in the mud you'll get dirty".

Alternatively try Avira with PC Tools ThreatFire which is also free. Then you've then got the security of a signature based AV programme to guard against known malware, with the extra back-up of a behavioural blocker that takes care of newly released threats not yet recognised by conventional AV programmes.

jgallcash

I'm currently scanning weekly with Avira, Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware.

When using MSE would this just replace Avira? ie should I continue with Malwarebytes and SAS?

aliEnRIK

Gillor wrote: »

Alternatively try Avira with PC Tools ThreatFire which is also free. Then you've then got the security of a signature based AV programme to guard against known malware, with the extra back-up of a behavioural blocker that takes care of newly released threats not yet recognised by conventional AV programmes.

Threatfires utter garbage. I certainly wouldnt use that with anything

Gillor

Use MSE as a direct replacement for Avira,don't run the two together.

By all means carry on with Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpy, they are both excellent and will not conflict with your main anti virus programme.

Gillor

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Threatfires utter garbage. I certainly wouldnt use that with anything

Speak as you find.

Richie-from-the-Boro

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Threatfires utter garbage. I certainly wouldnt use that with anything

- used to be Cyberhawk Rik