Microsoft Security Essentials - My New Anti-Virus Program!

[Ken-L]

This post is only about PC's using Windows.
I hope those that use a Mac don't feel they need to tell us that we should switch and how a Mac is better than a Windows PC!!

I'm certain that this will generate some debate! It is not the cost of an anti-virus program that is at issue, but I do like saving $$ where I can. Microsoft Security Essentials is free. So my only concern was how well it would work on my three computers.

I've used several anti-virus programs over these many years and going back some time ago, I used McAfee, found it to be awful so I switched back to Norton which was/became more awful than McAfee so I switched back to McAfee and got a 3-user plan.

I am not at all concerned with outgoing traffic/data so I don't need a special firewall for that which is one of the key reasons for a special firewall. First I replaced McAfee on my laptop with Microsoft and found that I liked it, especially since my laptop is three years old. I use my laptop as a jukebox for playing music on my home stereo. With McAfee I constantly had issues playing either streaming music from the web or my J. River Media Center - stuttering playback was one bothersome issue. Changing to Security Essentials solved that issue! And my laptop now boots faster.....

Then I replaced McAfee on the computer my wife uses (a hand-me-down that is seven years old!) and I liked it there too. Her system is "RAM and CPU CHallenged"....... Security Essentials helped there too, a lot.

So, today after having the usual slowdown during web browsing caused by McAfee doing yet another "update" as I worked, I replaced McAfee on my Dell XPS, and I'm liking it there too.

I will be replacing my laptop and Anne's computer once Windows 7 is shipping on new computers.

Time will tell of course.....

[swampler]

I've been using the MS Security Essentials for a few weeks now without any problems. I was using AVG Free anti-virus and MS Defender, but I like having AV, spyware, etc all in one package.

[Gna]

Originally Posted by Ken-L

This post is only about PC's using Windows.
I hope those that use a Mac don't feel they need to tell us that we should switch and how a Mac is better than a Windows PC!!

I'm certain that this will generate some debate! It is not the cost of an anti-virus program that is at issue, but I do like saving $$ where I can. Microsoft Security Essentials is free. So my only concern was how well it would work on my three computers.

I've used several anti-virus programs over these many years and going back some time ago, I used McAfee, found it to be awful so I switched back to Norton which was/became more awful than McAfee so I switched back to McAfee and got a 3-user plan.

I am not at all concerned with outgoing traffic/data so I don't need a special firewall for that which is one of the key reasons for a special firewall. First I replaced McAfee on my laptop with Microsoft and found that I liked it, especially since my laptop is three years old. I use my laptop as a jukebox for playing music on my home stereo. With McAfee I constantly had issues playing either streaming music from the web or my J. River Media Center - stuttering playback was one bothersome issue. Changing to Security Essentials solved that issue! And my laptop now boots faster.....

Then I replaced McAfee on the computer my wife uses (a hand-me-down that is seven years old!) and I liked it there too. Her system is "RAM and CPU CHallenged"....... Security Essentials helped there too, a lot.

So, today after having the usual slowdown during web browsing caused by McAfee doing yet another "update" as I worked, I replaced McAfee on my Dell XPS, and I'm liking it there too.

I will be replacing my laptop and Anne's computer once Windows 7 is shipping on new computers.

Time will tell of course.....

Yup, that's Windows for ya!

[swampler]

Originally Posted by Gna

Yup, that's Windows for ya!

No, that's shitty software from McAffee. I've had trouble with their software years ago, so never tried it recently. At least Windows doesn't erase all our data when someone logs in as a guest. LMAO!

[aam1234]

I'm sure some will call me stupid or even crazy, but personally, I'm starting to doubt the usefulness of AV software. In all my years in the internet, which goes back to when it was a text-only web, I've never had a virus. Ok, I got one many moons ago but it was so lame and harmless that you can't call it a virus per se. Also, been using anti-spyware for a long time and all they report are cookies, which are useful, for the most part.

I think it all boils down to using common sense. Don't go to bad sites or open a suspect emails. That's it, really, especially emails.

(Putting on a flame-retardant suite now )

[aam1234]

If I may add. I think most PC problems come from little kids using the internet. Parents can only do so much to educate their little ones. I wish if there were computer training courses for little kids. Sure they get educated at school but maybe that's not enough.

[Ken-L]

Originally Posted by swampler

No, that's shitty software from McAffee. I've had trouble with their software years ago, so never tried it recently. At least Windows doesn't erase all our data when someone logs in as a guest. LMAO!

One thing that finally put me over the edge was that at least once a month on all my computers, my McAfee software would warn me my protection was at risk......then when I had to stop what I was doing and look I would only find that McAfee wanted me to "verify my subscription" and when I clicked "verify", it would immediately tell me I was okay!

Originally Posted by aam1234

I'm sure some will call me stupid or even crazy, but personally, I'm starting to doubt the usefulness of AV software. In all my years in the internet, which goes back to when it was a text-only web, I've never had a virus. Ok, I got one many moons ago but it was so lame and harmless that you can't call it a virus per se. Also, been using anti-spyware for a long time and all they report are cookies, which are useful, for the most part.

I think it all boils down to using common sense. Don't go to bad sites or open a suspect email. That's it, really, especially emails.

(Putting on a flame-retardant suite now )

Yes, nothing can stop people from essentially infecting themselves!

As I sat in someone's office one day watching this guy go through his emails I said, "Stop, don't open that attachment", and he said, "I'll open any damn thing I want", and he did, and it gave him malware that stopped his system from getting on the web, etc..... This guy did this constantly and kept sending people email which then infected them and so on..... He refused to learn.

The firewall does prevent most attacks from the web. Unless you open an infected document, rare unless we're talking email, there isn't much that can get to you - usually. It's that "usually" that can be tricky. I'm certainly no longer willing to put up with the usuall commercial suite of protection, nothing I need other than basic good anti-virus protection, and now with Microsoft offering a "public option", and free no less, that is a no-brainer for me. I get email with attachments from people I know that I need to look at whether it is a PPS file, Word or Excel document, etc., and I can't trust that they are practicing "safe computing", so I want to use protection.

[aam1234]

Originally Posted by Ken-L

The firewall does prevent most attacks from the web.

Indeed. I read somewhere that one will get attacked within 30 seconds of going online. So a Firewall is a must.

[ve6raj]

You could try Avast from Alwil Software. It is free for home use. I have been using it for a couple of years now and think it is good.
Raj

[ohenry]

Anytime anyone replaces McAfee or Norton's, it's a good thing. Two poorly coded programs IMHO

[Ken-L]

Originally Posted by ve6raj

You could try Avast from Alwil Software. It is free for home use. I have been using it for a couple of years now and think it is good.
Raj

Thanks ve6raj! I've heard good things about it.

Originally Posted by ohenry

Anytime anyone replaces McAfee or Norton's, it's a good thing. Two poorly coded programs IMHO

Thanks ohenry!

[Killjoy]

I used to run McAfee too. I found it slowed my computer down, and was basically a resource hog.

Got rid of it a couple of years ago.
I'm currently running Panda Anti Virus. It's not free, but it seems to be working well for me.
Maybe at the next renewal time, I'll try the MS option.

[Ken-L]

Originally Posted by Killjoy

I used to run McAfee too. I found it slowed my computer down, and was basically a resource hog.

Got rid of it a couple of years ago.
I'm currently running Panda Anti Virus. It's not free, but it seems to be working well for me.
Maybe at the next renewal time, I'll try the MS option.

Thanks Killjoy!

[acer800]

For me I've been using a Mac for the last two years now with out ANY virus, malaware, trojan, and ect. If your comfortable with the Mac operating system then cost factor is defiantly worth it in my opinion. That's only if your comfortable with using it, some people still prefers PC since it allows the user a much wider range of customization compared to MAC. The only down side I see in MAC is the software range that is available compared to PC, Mac's have much less softwares compared to PC. ALSO another down thing is that PC's is more suitable for the users that likes to tweak settings and "crack" things (If you know what I mean =)).

I agree with aam1234 as well. I also have a HP laptop currently running windows 7 and since the day my dad bought it for me, I've never gotten a virus even without any protection what so ever. IMHO the antivirus softwares are simply the program that is slowing your computer down. Some antivirus softwares even actually put virus into your computer to get you to buy the products (I will not name any softwares).

[ohenry]

I'm very careful with what I download, but still run AV .... and it has caught vicious codes in email. I probably wouldn't have opened the email, but it was there none-the-less.

[Ellbee99]

I'll check it out.

Thanks!

[Killjoy]

By some unlucky fortune for my Niece (lucky for me) I ended up with a laptop, free of charge.
To make a long story short, I went looking for Microsoft Security Essentials today for my new laptop, but ended up only finding a version in a foreign language.
Anybody got a link for an English version?

Want the long story? If not, close the window.
My Niece goes to Cal Berkeley, and we live fairly close, so I am her usual tech support.
A year and a half ago, the UC system told her that her computer was a security risk since she didn't have all the latest Microsoft updates on it, and they were going to cut her off of their wireless network.
So I had to rebuild her operating system since it was all buggered up.
It then ran great for about a year and a half.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago.
She had problems again, with her system bogging down, and doing strange things.
She asked if I could again fix her laptop, and I told her sure.
There were delays in getting it to me, and I kept asking when I could pick it up.
She has a friend who's major was computer science, and he was trying to fix it for her.
Okay.
A week later, I get an e-mail that now the thing won't even boot.
She asked when she could get the laptop to me. I told her to say when, and I would come get it.
Then a friend of hers from the Apple store was going to look at it.

Next thing I know, she now owns a Macbook Pro.

I picked up the pieces of her old laptop yesterday.
The Hard Drive was dead.
A buddy of mine had a drive lying around collecting dust, he told me to take it.
He also had an extra copy of Windows 7 (he had bought a 3 pack license and only needed 2).
So now I just need some virus protection, and thought I'd give this ME a try.

[Killjoy]

Nevermind. I found it. Thanks.

[zemlin]

I've been using AVG for several years. I started with Mcafee, switched to Norton for a few years, then went to AVG and have been happy with it on a number of machines.

[ohenry]

I used to use AVG. My wife still does on her computer. I shifted over to ESET and have been pleased...much smaller footprint than AVG.