Free Antivirus - Microsoft Security Essentials

[Fernbay]

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.

Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.

[Garglo]

Yes I have found it very good and its FREE. Disconnected the Windows Firewall and I installed the FREE Zone Alarm firewall and this allows me to stop /control the programs that want to call home on the internet.

[seren one]

Using MSE on home desktop & laptop. Seems to work and no problems with slowing down either pc.
And it is free!

[mickstv]

Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0. Beta

The key new features are: Updated protection engine, protection against web-based threats and a network intrusion detection system that works on Windows Vista and Windows 7.


I'm currently running the beta on a Vmware XP to see how it performs against some other packages.



Mickstv

[admin]

I reckon its by far the best of the freebies out there.Hopefully those that use nothing at all consider installing it.

[mickstv]

People that have windows based computers and are connected to the internet with no Anti-malware software are part of the cause of malware propagation. Maybe people who don't wan't protection should be running Linux.



The next thing to happen will be if you don't have anti-malware package running you'll be denied access to the internet.




Mickstv

[mickstv]

I did a test comparing MSE 2 beta and Avira Premium Suite. I went through various websites until I found one that tried to install a fake security tool.



With Avira the website loaded and did a fake scan the told me to download a removal tool called "inst.exe" so I installed it and Avira still didn't detect anything. I even did a full scan and Avira still didn't detect anything.



On my second Vm XP running MSE 2 beta I went to the same site and MSE 2 detected it and stopped the page from loading I turned off auto protect so I could get the "inst.exe" file then ran a scan of it with MSE 2 and it detected it as "Win32/Winwebsec" and went through the delete procedure and removed it.



I know this is only one test of a suspect file but considering I was using Avira on one of my PC's i've decided it's going to be removed and MSC 2 beta will be put on it.




Mickstv

[z1gg33]

mickstv,
what were the websites ?

[mickstv]

mickstv,
what were the websites ?

I sent a PM of the website bit it looks like it's already down ?




Mickstv

[mickstv]

I normally find these dodgy sites than looking for information like service manuals. You know how you'll look at a site listing and it looks bad but you enter it anyway well thats what I do. I normally save the links to a notepad but they seem to disapear very quickly. Here's some screen pix of the running software.




Uploaded with



You can see Avira just sitting running as happy as a pig in Sh*t.




Mickstv

[z1gg33]

i get this?

[mickstv]

i get this?

Is that with Avira ? Because I can't get the page to load anymore on any computer. Even tried with a computer with no antivirus installed yet.



Mickstv

[z1gg33]

no thats a ...

will be testing avira from the List. I had that installed @ the FW level, but Malwarebytes detected them first so I switch malware patrol off, but since your saying Avira does not appear to block dodgy web's might have to put it to the test myself...

currently avira reports 11 websites ignored???? edit: urls ignored 11

[mickstv]

Yeah at my end the website will no longer respond. Strange ? I've even tried just running the Ip address but no good.


The other strange thing is Avira didn't detect any problem with the installer that originally downloaded. But MSE flagged it strange also.



Mickstv

[mickstv]

I couldn't see any problem with Avira it was all updated etc




Mickstv

[mickstv]

I did a scan with Jotti's malware site and this is the result. Notice how Avira is now detecting the suspect file.





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I then did another scan with Avira and it detected the suspect file this time whereas any other time it wouldn't detect any problem ?

Also notice some of the other scanners didn't detect any problem.





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And Microsoft Security Essentials detection which detected the suspect file straight away.



Uploaded with



Mickstv

[admin]

Some interesting stuff there mick, thanks for posting it up. After reading your posts and a lot of other info about MSE, I have decided to uninstall Kaspersky on my netbook and run MSE instead.

I am more than happy with Kaspersky, but its coming up for renewal on this PC so I'll give MSE a go on it.

[mickstv]

Some interesting stuff there mick, thanks for posting it up. After reading your posts and a lot of other info about MSE, I have decided to uninstall Kaspersky on my netbook and run MSE instead.



I am more than happy with Kaspersky, but its coming up for renewal on this PC so I'll give MSE a go on it.

I would be running Microsoft Security Essentials 1 on the netbook for now.



But if you want to try it beta 2, I think MSE beta 2 is still avaiable from Microsofts beta site.

But I would say at this stage Microsoft Security Essentials 1 which is avaiable from Microsofts normal site would be the way to go because beta software can sometimes be a bit dodgy and MSE 1 would be the more secure package because it's been the final version for a fair while now.


Also you might have to look at a firewall otherwise you'll be stuck with Windows Firewall when you remove Kaspersky.



Mickstv

[admin]

Running v1, will wait for 2's non beta release. I am going to use Windows Firewall with it.

[ssrattus]

Some interesting stuff there mick, thanks for posting it up. After reading your posts and a lot of other info about MSE, I have decided to uninstall Kaspersky on my netbook and run MSE instead.

I am more than happy with Kaspersky, but its coming up for renewal on this PC so I'll give MSE a go on it.

I just did the same thing last night and for the same reason.

Have been running MSE on the "main" computer for several months as well.