Microsoft Security Essentials Fails AV-Test Certification

[TheMailMan78]

1) 90-96% isn't the best score many has 99-100% rating
2) It's for general protection against spy/malware. NPE is for special strains. And what rootkits got to do with malware?
3) Really? Actually I was talking about people who try to help less computer savvy folks. Anyone can get infected. If your scans come clean it doesn't really mean that your system is clean. Of course now you will say that you never got infected and blah ... so save it.

1. MSE gets 100% depending on the month. Some of the paid ones get 90% depending on the firm and the month. Anything 90% and above is perfectly acceptable.
2. All Security software have special tools. That's all Malicious Software Removal Tool is. An extra tool for special strains.
3. Boot distros will clean your system better then you think you can personally unless you work for one of the security companies or write the nasty yourself you don't have the experience they do. All day every day and even they screw up the clean up. This is why Malwarebytes is such a legend for cleaning up after a infection. If someone gets infected thats not savvy, best thing you can do is clean it up via distro, back up and reinstall. Unless you think you can walk someone through the regestry and .DLLs.

If you have MSE you don't need there, "Malicious Software Removal Tool" they tell you that during installation. It has it, but I still use Malwarebytes and Spybot when I install it on PC's that I've cleaned. I encourage anyone using a free antivirus to us MSE over other free ones. I like Avast and AVG, but lately I do not like the new features Avast and AVG offer. None of them are bullet proof.

Avast has been kicking a lot of ass in the moble market this past year. Ive been watching them for my PC as of late. If MSE doent get a little better on zero day I might switch over this year some time. Dunno yet.

 

[Mindweaver]

Avast has been kicking a lot of ass in the moble market this past year. Ive been watching them for my PC as of late. If MSE doent get a little better on zero day I might switch over this year some time. Dunno yet.

Yea, that's the way it goes with Free Antivirus it seems. One year 1 of them are great, and the others seem to lag behind. I usually switch yearly. Most of the time when I'm cleaning someones pc I see something I like on the other AV and switch.

 

[rtwjunkie]

It doesn't matter what anti-malware you use, you should always directly scan with 2 of your faves. Not all resident protection will catch everything. For Instance, I use Avast Pro on mine in resident mode, context scan downloads with it, and once a week fire up malwarebytes just to scan the hard drives.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Main differences:

Windows 8 Defender:

Has built-in antivirus
Doesn't have "Scan this file" feature (not a big deal, all new files get scanned automatically anyway so ...)
Has Anti-malware software (users no longer need to download and install it manually)
Can't be uninstalled, only disabled


MSE

Has built-in antivirus
Can't be installed in Widows 8
Has "Scan this file" context menu
Doesn't have Anti-malware software (users need to download and install it manually)
Can be uninstalled
Users who upgrade from Win7 to 8 need to uninstall MSE first

OK, I'm confused royally. Either youre saying MS decided to confuse all of us and change the neames and roles for Windows 8, or your confused. Reason I say this is this:

If you look back a few years, MS only had Defender as an anti-spyware. It has no context menu, and never has. Then they bought Giant anti-virus, and re-engineered the program to include Windows Defender, so that it could now be an anti-malware, with virus, spyware, and rootkit protection. MSE was born! (I'll let you all be the judge of how effective, I'm merely giving you the history)

Anyway, windows Defender in Windows 7 comes automatically in Windows 7, and it's on by default. Yes, MS continued to put out there it's sad little minimal antispyware. So, in Windows 7, and in WHS 2011, it is there and ON by default. You cannot uninstall it, only disable it. OR, it will automatically disable itself if the user installs MSE, because Defender is INCLUDED in MSE.

Now, I seriously think even MS would not attempt to confuse people and rename and re-define the roles for Windows 8. What do I think? I think the same sad little Windows Defender which has been around since 2003 or so, is the same automatic protection you get in Windows 8, same as they did in 7, and XP, SP3. They would not purposely try to confuse anyone and reverse the names.

The fact that they made it LOOK like MSE in it's design, but behaves like the previous Windows Defender (in that user doesn't have much control), has me seriously wondering if this thing is even half as effective as MSE! I plain don't trust them. This is on top of them cramming a touchscreen, mobile phone and tablet operating system down the throats of PC users, when Windows 7 was perfectly fine, best they ever made, and pretty light on resources. So, NO, I do not trust their renaming of MSE to Windows Defender for Windows 8. Seems rather minimalist to me, like the previous Windows Defender.

 

[TheMailMan78]

OK, I'm confused royally. Either youre saying MS decided to confuse all of us and change the neames and roles for Windows 8, or your confused. Reason I say this is this:

If you look back a few years, MS only had Defender as an anti-spyware. It has no context menu, and never has. Then they bought Giant anti-virus, and re-engineered the program to include Windows Defender, so that it could now be an anti-malware, with virus, spyware, and rootkit protection. MSE was born! (I'll let you all be the judge of how effective, I'm merely giving you the history)

Anyway, windows Defender in Windows 7 comes automatically in Windows 7, and it's on by default. Yes, MS continued to put out there it's sad little minimal antispyware. So, in Windows 7, and in WHS 2011, it is there and ON by default. You cannot uninstall it, only disable it. OR, it will automatically disable itself if the user installs MSE, because Defender is INCLUDED in MSE.

Now, I seriously think even MS would not attempt to confuse people and rename and re-define the roles for Windows 8. What do I think? I think the same sad little Windows Defender which has been around since 2003 or so, is the same automatic protection you get in Windows 8, same as they did in 7, and XP, SP3. They would not purposely try to confuse anyone and reverse the names.

Bottom line....anyone that thinks that Windows Defender is all you need in Windows 8, is very likely being exposed to alot.

MSE was renamed to Windows Defender in Windows 8. They also expanded "Smart Screen" to the entire OS and not just IE. Windows Defender in Windows 8 isnt the same Windows Defender as in 2003. You are confused.

 

[cadaveca]

Bottom line....anyone that thinks that Windows Defender is all you need in Windows 8, is very likely being exposed to alot.

That's assuming that all people go to sites that might have malicious data. Personally, I do not, and antivirus software is the last consideration EVER I will make.

I'm pretty open about myself on the internet. Any of my personal data can be retrieved wit ha bit of work, and not hard work either, since I've spent many years spreading my "cadaveca" username all over the internet. If you see a user "cadaveca", chances are, that's me.


Online security and privacy aren't something I concern myself with, and for me, Windows Defender in Windows8 (which used to be MSE in Win7) is more than I need. Should I get an infection, I'll scan again with MalwareBytes.

I DO NOT need anything more than that, and I AM NOT exposing myself to bigger problems.

 

[happita]

I'm more like if Alex Jones and Ron Paul had a mentally challenged child.

Alex Jones is the man. The MAN!


On topic, I think I agree with some of the comments made about NEEDING an anti-virus. If you don't recklessly click whatever catches your eye on the interwebz, there's no need to become baffled as to which one is "better" for any 1 person's needs. Whatever gives you piece of mind is what you should use.

 

[rtwjunkie]

MSE was renamed to Windows Defender in Windows 8. They also expanded "Smart Screen" to the entire OS and not just IE. Windows Defender in Windows 8 isnt the same Windows Defender as in 2003. You are confused.

Thanks Mailman. Noted!

 

[Drone]

Bottom line....anyone that thinks that Windows Defender is all you need in Windows 8, is very likely being exposed to alot.

Built in antivirus doesn't mean being exposed to something. If one installs only legal software and don't click every single unsavory link they're basically ok. But when one is a main target to someone then no protection is perfect.

Bottom line: common sense and responsibility + good antivirus = win

 

[rtwjunkie]

So...why did they decide to confuse everyone and essentially rename MSE? That's a bonehead move. Because all most people who know the history are gonna think is what I thought: Defender is a sad little anti-spyware. Why not just make a new version of MSE like they did going from XP to windows 7? And why take away what are essential features of legitimate antisviruses? Has anyone actually tested this new "Defender" to see if it is on par with the basically good program that MSE is, or are we all taking MS word for it?

 

[rtwjunkie]

Bottom line: common sense and responsibility good antivirus = win

I agree, Drone!!

 

[TheMailMan78]

So...why did they decide to confuse everyone and essentially rename MSE? That's a bonehead move. Because all most people who know the history are gonna think is what I thought: Defender is a sad little anti-spyware. Why not just make a new version of MSE like they did going from XP to windows 7? And why take away what are essential features of legitimate antisviruses? Has anyone actually tested this new "Defender" to see if it is on par with the basically good program that MSE is, or are we all taking MS word for it?

MSE and Defender are the same thing. MSE has awesome passive detection and horrible zero day detection. Always has. Always will. Great thing about Windows 8 is it also uses secure boot and smart screen for the whole OS. Bottom line is Windows 8 currently is far more secure then Windows 7. Sprinkle Malwarebytes on top and you are good to go.

You dont even need a Anti-Virus if you don't DL torrents or visit porn sites and keep everything legit and are not a retard when it comes to opening mail.

 

[Drone]

So...why did they decide to confuse everyone and essentially rename MSE? That's a bonehead move.

That's confusing indeed but what's done is done. At least when you try to install MSE in Windows 8 it won't let you do so.

From MSE Site:

Windows Defender for Windows 8 and Windows RT provides the same level of protection against malware as Microsoft Security Essentials. You can't use Microsoft Security Essentials with Windows 8, but you don't need to — Windows Defender is already included and ready to go.

Has anyone actually tested this new "Defender" to see if it is on par with the basically good program that MSE is, or are we all taking MS word for it?

I've read W8 defender reviews by PCMAG and Techlogon and maybe someone else they all say that Win8 defender and MSE are almost equal. Defender is more robust though.
Neither is perfect against zero days but neither is the worst.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I've read W8 defender reviews by PCMAG and Techlogon and maybe someone else they all say that Win8 defender and MSE are almost equal. Defender is more robust though.
Neither is perfect against zero days but neither is the worst.

OK! Thanks for the info. Every day is a learning experience.

@TheMailMan78: I mostly agree with you about not needing AV, but you can get a drive-by from even legitimate sites sometimes, which is mostly why my son has MSE and I have Avast Pro. It's like having a few extra airbags in the car...just in case.

 

[TheMailMan78]

OK! Thanks for the info. Every day is a learning experience.

You need to learn how to use the edit button so you don't double post.

 

[3870x2]

He can still use both the edit and delete button to fix his mistake.

 

[rtwjunkie]

You need to learn how to use the edit button so you don't double post.

??? I almost always edit, sometimes 4 and 5 times, kind sir.

 

[brandonwh64]

??? I almost always edit, sometimes 4 and 5 times, kind sir.

You must have forgotten there...

 

[rtwjunkie]

@brandonwh64: Oops, my bad, but apparently we have a misunderstanding of semantics. I agree I could have combined the two posts, but in all my years of posting on forums, I have always understood a double-posting to be two postings of the same thing.

I shall go and attempt to combine and correct.

 

[brandonwh64]

@brandonwh64: Oops, my bad, but apparently we have a misunderstanding of semantics. I agree I could have combined the two posts, but in all my years of posting on forums, I have always understood a double-posting to be two postings of the same thing.

I shall go and attempt to combine and correct.

Answering multiple questing in one post is less clutter to look through than you posting 2-3 post to different people. This is why multiqoute works so well.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

meh i still use MSE i tested AVG awhile back on their newest version it wasnt bad but the built in firewall was nothing but a nightmare, Free version not an issue but if you pay for AVG the firewall tends to cock block ALOT of games. namely BF3.... and that was a pain in the ass. even disabled it didnt want to work untill i up and uninstalled it.

for the cheap and easy since i dont get infections MSE serves its purpose for full scans and check individual files which is all i need it for.

AVAST has been solid in the past but if i remember right for awhile they had a media player type interface that was god fucking awful.

overall doesnt matter much, people will use what they want, just like we pick and choose hardware, clothes and toilet paper and beer. honestly who gives a crap. virus and malware creators are focusing more and more on the mobile market so i dont see a reason to get all paranoid.

 

[TheMailMan78]

meh i still use MSE i tested AVG awhile back on their newest version it wasnt bad but the built in firewall was nothing but a nightmare, Free version not an issue but if you pay for AVG the firewall tends to cock block ALOT of games. namely BF3.... and that was a pain in the ass. even disabled it didnt want to work untill i up and uninstalled it.

for the cheap and easy since i dont get infections MSE serves its purpose for full scans and check individual files which is all i need it for.

AVAST has been solid in the past but if i remember right for awhile they had a media player type interface that was god fucking awful.

overall doesnt matter much, people will use what they want, just like we pick and choose hardware, clothes and toilet paper and beer. honestly who gives a crap. virus and malware creators are focusing more and more on the mobile market so i dont see a reason to get all paranoid.

As I said before Avast on Android is the best on the market this quarter. Its a BEAST. Catches damn near 99% zero day on the mobile. On the PC as you said........it can be.......not so great. That's why Ive been hesitant to make any jump right now if at all.

 

[crazyeyesreaper]

PC wise its fine, AVG Free is fine they all serve the damn purpose they were ment for.

If i was paranoid id just buy Kaspersky and be done with it lol
however im not paranoid, and MSE with Malwarebytes on those fuck it i dont care run a full scan days is all anyone really needs unless of course they roam the back alleys of the internet without there full body condom.

if you cant practice safe surfing habits then you probably should shell out for protection

 

[rtwjunkie]

right for awhile they had a media player type interface that was god fucking awful.

Very true! No more media player interface. Avast now is incredibly well laid out. It has more options, all cleanly laid out than most people will know what to do with. It has a good detection rate, is updated numerous times during the day, and has good sandboxing that it will do automatically (you can tell it to continue sandboxing, tell it the site or download is trusted, or turn it off and not use it, etc). Definately worth a look see.

But MSE is also very good. I actually reccomend it to all my friends!

 

[Drone]

The Best Antivirus for 2013
by PCMAG. If it's tl; dr for you then:

AVG, AVAST, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes and Kaspersky is their choice.

MSE didn't make it.