MS Security Essentials--My experience

Shortly after I got my new PC in February, I uninstalled Norton AV 2010 and ZoneAlarm Free and installed MS Security Essentials and let Windows Firewall take over those duties.
Over the next four months I seemed to have no problems. MSSE reported no malware on the many scans and did most everything very quietly in the background. It was an easy program to live with.
Then last week I was unable to get to Desktop. Progress stopped at the Starting Windows screen (black screen with small pulsing MS logo). I could not reach Safe Mode. I could not run Repair Install or Clean Install (both stopped at the Setup window.
I took the PC to a local computer store. After a week they decided I had viruses and cleaned them off.
I guess I should go back to Norton. Over at least ten years I never had an infection while using Norton. Maybe I was getting too adventuresome lately.

Comments would be welcome.

I would use Norton 2009 or 2010 rather than a Microsoft anti-malware product. I have not seen a M$ antimalware product yet that I would trust, and their support for their own products of this type has been less than confidence inspiring.

I've been using MS Security Essentials for several months now. I haven't had any problems what so ever. But your post got me thinking so I performed an online scan with Panda. Panda's scan lasted about 4 hours or so and found 11 cookies, but gave me no way to delete the cookies, just an add page saying "BUY NOW". In addition Panda placed adware on my computer that MS SE prompted me to remove, which I did. I'm very disappointed with Panda, and would never buy their products. I suspect the guys over at the computer store might have been feeding you a line so they could charge you an arm and a leg to disinfect your computer. I haven't heard of any other cases where MS SE wasn't doing it's job.

I agree with jmtjet. I've installed it on multiple machines and it hasn't let anything at all through - even on a virtual machine that is used purely for visiting those parts of the web where I have my doubts about whether they can be trusted. And it has a good rep. I have to confess that I still use NOD32 on my main rigs though.

What malware did they claim that Security Essentials had let through?

I was using it on two computers, until Kaspersky online scan turned up five java exploits which ms completely missed. I immediately uninstalled it and installed Avira, which found and removed the exploits on the first scan. I then told my friend who recommended MSSE to me, he did the same, and Avira also found problems on his machine. I don't recommend it. Avira also uses less than one 3rd the resources.

thought i might check this out, installed avira and ran scan found 3 trojan downloaders wonder how those got by microsoft or did they not see them as a threat

this is what avira found that essentials missed although they are rated low Attachment 9580

No matter what AV you use, after a few months change to another AV and chances are the new product will find a few "threats". No product is perfect and none agree on what constitutes a threat.

Six months from now switch back to MS from Avira. I'll be very surprised if MS doesn't detect some infections.

I don't doubt what any of you are reporting and to think I considered using the MS app when Symantec was being sold by Newegg for a net $10.99 after discount and rebate for Nortons Internet Security. I bought one and installed it on my machine and have had no problems. The irony of this was a promise I made to myself to never use Nortons again; not after the most difficult time I had of removing Nortons from one of my machines some time back. I had used NIS-different versions-for several years. Hope I don't jinx my machine. Good luck to all who may be searching for new AV software.

Of course they'll miss something, that's why I always double check and sometimes triple check using Kaspersky, and sometimes panda (it missed the same thing ms did) and trend micro. But Kaspersky is generally the high water mark of recognition. So far it hasn't caught anything that Avira hasn't.

I was reading about this so since I have MSE on here, I ran an online scan with Housecall. It didn't find anything. Maybe I'm just a cautious surfer, or maybe MSE is doing its job.

I would give a try at Kaspersky. That's the benchmark.

I think MSE is ok but I didn't care for it long term because updates were large (bad on dialup) and it lack of detailed settings. Plus, it appeared that it may have been interfering with Copernic Desktop Search by doing background scans quite a bit of the time.

Debating the "best" AV is an exercise in futility. However, I can't resist pointing out that NOD32 is generally rated highest in comparisons. Kasperskey is no longer highly regarded (although that could change with the next test).

I don't think either is worth the cost for personal use. I use MS and practice safe surf which is more effective than any AV.

I used to use nod 32, but they went from a very complicated interface to one that is so dumbed down that I couldn't cope with it. Also had more than their fair share of false positives. I would prefer that to missing viruses but neither is ideal.

I agree there is no best. Over the last 3 to 5 years, I have tried most of the more popular AV's out. Most will stop much of the nasty garbage out there but not all. One thing I have decided is that black listing (which is mostly what AV's do) is ultimately the wrong approach. White listing/HIPS/software restriction policies/sand boxing, along with clean system images to restore back to are, IMO, the best ways to keep a Windows box clean. I still keep an AV on board but it's mostly out of habit, not for the core of my protection.

JPnyc: I'm surprised you didn't notice that new Eset NOD32 has both a dumbed down interface (the default) and a highly, more detailed than ever interface (that must be invoked by the user to see. And FWIW, I don't think KAV/KIS is the benchmark anymore. In fact, I don't think there is a benchmark anymore. Just a group of a half dozen or so that is decent protection.

Well there are a few that are continually rated in the 98% detection rate, those being Kaspersky, Eset, and bit defender, most of the time.

Anyone wanting Nortons Internet Security 2010 can pick up at Staples this week for $20 net after a $30 rebate. Incidentally, I received my cash rebate check from Nortons last week.