One thumb up for MS Security Essentials in early tests
Detection fair but clean-up lacking, reports AV-Test.org
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/01/ms_security_essentials_review/
There’s a blog post now:
avast! blog >> And what about Microsoft Security Essentials—MSE?
The R50 always work normal when left on internet for period of time - I think this time more than 8 hours. When unhooked from internet but left turned on, the laptop will periodically still attempt to update. This will return a error message in the event logs - a ‘soft’ error message, there is no error message returned to the screen (‘hard’ error message, I gather how it is termed). Also the connector to laptop on the power cord only fits loosely, so if it catches anywhere the cord slips out and once the battery runs down a bit MSE turns itself off and I have to restart it. This hasn’t helped things much. I try to keep an eye on it.
The ID 5007 events were happening on a different computer that I was working on. I did have some problems with download of programs - firstly mbam (which downloaded ok now), then OpenOffice (which I still havent loaded as yet), and lately with avast when I attempted to uninstall and re-install (initial problem was a red ring around ‘a’ icon in system tray). Install of a version of avast saved on another computer went okay but no avast icons in sys tray - after appearing initially but no bubble message. I think saved version about 3-4 weeks old. I downloaded and saved latest version to a good computer and installed that successfully (so far). In the meantime I had installed MSE as a stop measure and I think I will leave it installed. The computer has avast, OA firewall (paid), mvps with Hostman, and runs the Firefox 3.5.3 browser, which I always like to have running on at least one computer. The computer seems okay now but I aim to still troubleshoot when I have time - unsure as yet about downloads issue.
Because I have a few computers that are left turned off for periods of time, especially when I am busy, I often need to bring everything up to date when I do turn them on. Looks to me as if I occasionally run into problems during these update procedures. I cannot say for sure, but my gut feeling is that there are likely to be problems with MS updates that carry through to other apps and programs. MS auto updates can sometimes but not always run erratically. I’m still working on this issue when I have time. Sometimes the computers have not been run for 4-6 weeks or more, but will now change with this computer as I want to run the default Firefox browser more consistently from now on. And looks like MSE will be staying onboard as well.
That’s because it’s a zip file. MSE detects such type of archive files in real time but when it comes to cleaning, it says “not found” on the removal window and the window becomes green (it should emphasize more on the “not found” note, IMO). Some browsers create extensionless temp files but it doesn’t matter, the file still is a zip file. As I’ve said, MSE detects malicious things inside the archive, and at cleaning stage it just doesn’t reach inside of it but seeing the archive file as a single file. That may be the cause why it says “not found”. So the archive file is still there. Other than that no problems with non-archived files. Actually archive files are totally harmless and I prefer the way MSE does rather than deletion of the whole archive.
yeah, not such a big deal as like you said archives unless extracted are harmless; and any AV would trigger alerts and actions if the user extracted them while they contain malicious stuff. Remain the rare cases where an archive has the ability to extract itself without any user intervention. AV should still work but I’d rather be warned before any extraction to HDD happens.
Actually I don’t know what archive types it does scan in real time before extraction, I can be certain about more known types like zip, rar, 7zip, etc. Yes there are self-extractors but I don’t know how MSE reacts, also installers have many archived files and as far as I know MSE doesn’t scan them until they are run, for the sake of system resources of course. avast! has the ability to scan all archive file types (can be set via the enhanced user interface), but for the standard shield that would be a big system hog.
As a result MSE warns us about common archive types that contain malicious items, that’s OK. 
Have a nice day.
Mevlüt.
i removed avst home 
to give MSE a try to see if its really that good. first it started to load spywareblaster real late so i had to remove that too and now all i am using for my laptop acer with 3gb ddr3 ram is this product. to see how it works i surf the darkest side of the net 
so far no problem. i am not using any other firewall or security relate product real time only malwarebytes free its vista32bit. on my desk top i still use avast with other security related software like iobit 360, winpatrol,spywareblaster etc. i hope avast5 is really good or they might loose some loyal friends. i have been using avast home for years. iam waiting for avast5 MSE also loads programs real fast …and i do use sandboxie when ever i feel like.
@ tkrbrian, If you add spywareblaster to MSE’s exclusion list it will load just fine.
thanks dude can i do the same with vista firewall control and other real time protection software too??? although vista firewall control works the startup sucks…
This has probably been answered, but do I have to disable Avast in order to use MSE? It sounds as if there would be a conflict with both running. If Avast is disabled will my email not be scanned by MSE?
I have used Avast for years and want to stick with it if possible.
RoRo ???
I don’t use VFC but I would guess it would work as well.
@roro, There are some forum members using the two together W/O problems.
I did download MSE and when I started to install, it wanted me to uninstall Avast. I hate to do that, so I cancelled the installation. I was going to try it on my XP machine.
Who has installed this and had or didn’t have problems running it along side Avast?
RoRo
@Roro
I have it on my XP Pro system and it works well and I did not disable avast! to install it.
@tkrbrian
I gave up on Vista Firewall Control a while back.
Its now available as Windows 7 Firewall Control.
what other security related free software do you guys use with MSE or do i need a free firewall or is vista firewall good enough? i use opera10 sandboxed sometimes or should i go back to avasthome???
what other free security related software do you guys use with MSE. is vista firewall ok or should i get other free firewall to go. i do use sandboxie with opera10
…double post …Seven and Vista Firewall are OK, but they don’t give you much control about what’s going on with your connections, even if outbound filtering is there now. You could still mess around with the advanced interface, but I haven’t seen anyone yet using it. I’d like to actually, anyone here?
Other than this I use Comodo firewall. Works fine with either MSE or Avast.
edit: performance monitor gives more details, but it’s not interactive enough.
i found sphinx which controls the windows vista / 7 firewall, as they boast. i see even kenny has used it. have you?
@ tkrbrian
MSE should be used with avast! Home as it provides Layered Defence for the system.
I use:
anti virus avast! + MSE
anti malware Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (MBAM)
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
Security System Monitor WinPatrol
http://www.winpatrol.com
The use of a software firewall is good as long as you know how to use it and exile360 on MBAM forum is a user of Vista Firewall Control.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showuser=2103
I don’t use it anymore.
no I’ve never used this; I might have heard of it not sure, will take a look at your link.
Yokenny,
Do you think it is necessary to install MSE when I already have Avast. I don’t go to dodgy sites or open foreign attachments etc. I haven’t had a virus in years with Avast. I know it is great to try a new product, but do I really need it?
I just read your response to tkrbrian, and it has answered my question. Thank you.
I have installed MSE on XP and no conflicts so far. ;D
Anyone have any problems with it, Avast and Windows Vista?
RoRo