Windows Essentials Security.

[MikeK]

Someone told me about a free anti-virus program called Windows Essentials which is a Microsoft creation and is supposedly as good if not better than any of the commercially available security programs.

Opinions?

 

[Ringel05]

Looks like their security software is improving but still not as good as most of the more well known ones.

Microsoft Security Essentials review (2013) | Expert Reviews

The only free security product we've tested this year, Microsoft's Security Essentials, is our default recommendation of what to install to provide your PC with a bare minimum of protection against malware. It's only available for Windows 7 and below. Windows 8 has its own integrated Windows Defender, which looks just like Microsoft Security Essentials in terms of its interface, but which appears, in preliminary tests, to behave differently when confronted with malicious software.

Microsoft Security Essentials - CNET Download.com

The bottom line: Microsoft Security Essentials 2 will protect you, and it will generally do it well. However, its impact on system performance could be improved, and it's still a bit light in the tool belt.

Review:
Now in its second iteration, Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) debuted as the lightweight, cloud-based successor to the paid security suite Live OneCare in 2009. Version 2 introduces deeper hooks into Internet Explorer and the default firewall in Vista and Windows 7. Security Essentials has begun to mature, although it's still rough at the edges

It only works on XP, Vista and Win7

 

[Bleipriester]

The Microsoft solution does not appear to be very good at this point but is of course better than the other free solutions, because it does not include ads and and saves hardware resources. MSE 2 is outdated, MSE 4 is the newest version.

 

[waltky]

XP users to get IE security patch...

Windows XP Gets Security Patch for Internet Explorer
May 02, 2014 ~ Microsoft has announced that its latest security update for Internet Explorer is being made available for users of Windows XP, even though the software firm stopped supporting that version of its operating system in favor of the newer versions, Windows 7 or 8.1.

Microsoft ended technical support, including automatic security updates, for Windows XP on April 8, saying it wants to use its resources for supporting newer technologies.

However, last week a security flaw was discovered in Internet Explorer, versions 9 through 11, which enabled hackers to gain access to computers using Windows XP.

The new security patch will be installed automatically on most computers using Windows XP. Users who opted to use the manual update are being encouraged to do it as soon as possible.

Microsoft is calling on users of Windows XP to upgrade their operating system and install the latest version of Internet Explorer 11.

Windows XP Gets Security Patch for Internet Explorer

 

[Darkwind]

Always add layers on top of Windows. The same with their security. Use it because it is native to the O/S, but add additional layers of security on top of that. The better ones won't slow you down to the point you will notice. But they aren't free. You'll have to make a choice on how secure you want to be.

 

[NLT]

What is the best free anti virus and anti malware? I am using Avast.

 

[Darkwind]

What is the best free anti virus and anti malware? I am using Avast.

Depends on who you ask.

For malware, I use malware bytes. Its relatively inexpensive (I would recommend going beyond the free version) and for antivirus, I use Norton 360. Some say that it slows the system, but I've never noticed it and it works really well.

A google search can prove helpful though.

The Top 10 Antivirus Software of 2014

 

[NLT]

I quit paying for protection after paying for McAfee and getting all kinds of malware.

 

[Darkwind]

I quit paying for protection after paying for McAfee and getting all kinds of malware.

Well, I quite paying for protection after Charles Bronson took the bastards out....but that isn't really Germane...lol

As I said before, you have to rely upon layers of protection. I use Norton, but they're a symantec product and there are those who say they suck. Even though I have never picked up a virus using it.

My advice is to research it the best you can and then exercise care when you visit the porn sites.

 

[Harry Dresden]

What is the best free anti virus and anti malware? I am using Avast.

Depends on who you ask.

For malware, I use malware bytes. Its relatively inexpensive (I would recommend going beyond the free version) and for antivirus, I use Norton 360. Some say that it slows the system, but I've never noticed it and it works really well.

A google search can prove helpful though.

The Top 10 Antivirus Software of 2014

i use Eset Nod32.....so far has caught everything that i know off....have been using for 5-6 years.....i had been using Macafee before that....caught a few things with them....

 

[Harry Dresden]

What is the best free anti virus and anti malware? I am using Avast.

Depends on who you ask.

For malware, I use malware bytes. Its relatively inexpensive (I would recommend going beyond the free version) and for antivirus, I use Norton 360. Some say that it slows the system, but I've never noticed it and it works really well.

A google search can prove helpful though.

The Top 10 Antivirus Software of 2014

i use Eset Nod32.....so far has prevented any infestations as far as i know....have been using for 5-6 years.....i had been using Macafee before that....caught a few viruses with them....the geeks at Blizzard Entertainment told me to dumb Mac and get Eset....

 

[Harry Dresden]

I quit paying for protection after paying for McAfee and getting all kinds of malware.

same here....

 

[Moonglow]

The Security Essentials I started using is good, and I have not had any problems since I started..

 

[Politico]

Essentials is mediocre. It misses all kinds of stuff. But it is a decent addition to existing software.

 

[derk]

I tried installing it again. I get an error message. I tried uninstalling it and now I cant get fully rid of windows updates so I can re-install it.

 

[Uncensored2008]

i use Eset Nod32.....so far has prevented any infestations as far as i know....have been using for 5-6 years.....i had been using Macafee before that....caught a few viruses with them....the geeks at Blizzard Entertainment told me to dumb Mac and get Eset....

I used Security Essentials for years - with no outbreaks across 432 machines. SOX came in and demanded a centrally managed system, so I put in Eset (NOD). Within days I had outbreaks all over the place. Eset is significantly inferior protection to Security Essentials. Security Essentials has zero tools, no management, no logging, but for protection, it's top notch. Microsoft has a vested interest in keeping marlware out - the rest have a vested interest in keeping malware going. Remember, Symantec got caught writing and releasing viruses in the early 2000's. In many ways, anti-virus is an extortion racket, you buy it to protect yourself from viruses written by the AV makers.