Microsoft Security Essentials

[Cobster]

After reading a few reviews and how a lot of people have liked it, thought I'd give it a try on my fresh bi-yearly reinstall of my system.
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Caught a few things Avira didn't (uninstalled that beforehand).
It's light, runs fast, seems pretty good.

Just a warning to those of you who don't have a legit copy of Windows OS on your system, MSE needs to validate your OS before installing.

 

[danmand]

I have been using AVG, seems to work well. Would you recommend SE over AVG or AVAST?

 

[Cobster]

I'd definitely recommend Avast over AVG. AVG's only benefit is Outlooks scanning (if you used that as your email).
You may also want to try Avira - been using that for awhile, very solid as well.
But the MSE has gotten great reviews after a few fixes with their BETA versions.
MSE is powered by "the same core malware protection engine that drives Microsoft’s enterprise solutions.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mssmallbiz/...able-free-to-small-businesses-in-october.aspx
In the above link, read the 3 bullet point style points, that made me a bit less skeptical in trying it out and actually more confident.

I'm pretty picky about what I use as protection and after all the reviews I've read, glad I tried it, it's not a resource hog at all.

IMO AVG WAS good a few years ago, but not so much anymore.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I have been using AVG, seems to work well. Would you recommend SE over AVG or AVAST?

I've been using Avast since 2006 with no problems whatsoever and still use it on my laptop and other desktop. Was using Norton before switching to Avast which I like better than Norton.

I put Microsoft Security Essentials on my new desktop last Nov and like Microsoft Security Essentials better than Avast. Microsoft Security Essentials gets great reviews that I agree with.

That said, these are all dual boot PC systems that also run Linux which is my main OS now. I'm careful where I surf when using Windows to minimize any problems and because of this have total confidence in both Avast and Microsoft Security Essentials.

With Linux however I go anywhere and everywhere with total impunity and reckless abandon and have never had any issues whatsoever as yet for over the past 4 years now......knock on wood.

Linux just has superior security over Windows which is one of the main reasons I prefer Linux now over M$. The other bonus is Linux is FREE....

 

[nova5]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials on my desktop and find it to be a very good product because it provides protection against viruses and spyware, including Trojans, worms and other malicious software. Furthermore, there are no costs or annoying subscriptions to keep track of.

 

[danmand]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[jwmorrice]

Thanks for the responses.

I too use MSE (with Windows 7) and I'm quite happy with it. However, keep in mind that with respect to malware, there's a problem with personal testimonials, i.e. we sometimes don't hear the one that gets us.

Like woody, I also dual-boot the safer Linux and I use that for my normal web surfing. From a security point of view, I think it's best to only use Windows when you have to.

jwm