Microsoft Essentials

[Pepi]

What's you guys take on Microsoft Essentials antivirus software? It seem pretty solid to me

[JiveTurkey]

Most AV software is decent as long as the person using the computer isn't a fucking dumb ass. No amount of software can stop an idiot from being an idiot.

[JiveTurkey]

To answer your question now that my rant is over, I like SE as well as AVG free as the no cost alternatives.

[PurpleTrails]

Not nearly as good as the paid stuff like Kaspersky or Norton. It doesn't test as well as the top free stuff like AVG in independent testing, though it does better than some of the bad free stuff. At least you get a decent firewall and it doesn't take much resources to run it.

[marshallnoise]

I switched to Avast. But, MSE worked fine for me.

There is no replacement for "knowing" where your next click will take you. If it looks like a dark alley in Compton, it just might be a dark alley in Compton.

[Pepi]

Most AV software is decent as long as the person using the computer isn't a fucking dumb ass. No amount of software can stop an idiot from being an idiot.

Damn ... I'm fucked

[RustyMetal]

I'm using MSE also and like it as a 'just AV'. It's easy on system resources. I have also used AVG a lot. IMO it's the best, Norton/McAfee included. Although it is more feature filled and kind of a memory hog, it does really good. I would be using it now if I wasn't wanting to keep my system slim and trim this time around. I'm re-running Windows 7 x64, but I've used it on XP and others.

[JiveTurkey]

Most AV software is decent as long as the person using the computer isn't a fucking dumb ass. No amount of software can stop an idiot from being an idiot.

Damn ... I'm fucked

No offense intended towards you Pepi

A little common sense used when web browsing is the best preventative measure you can take.

[racerevlon]

Buy Norton 360 for $59.99. Licensed to run on three computers and provides comprehensive coverage (A/V, Malware, Identity Safe, Computer optimization) and on-line backup if desired. I've been using it pretty much since launch and have found it to be the most comprehensive, least resource-hogging, and they were the first to realize most households are multi-computer and licensed the product for use on 3 separate computers (the desktop, your laptop, and the family laptop, e.g.).

[Steveijobzz]

I like it. It's almost invisible and its real simple and effective.

I would HIGHLY suggest against AVG. that fucking AV program stuck my PC in an infinite reboot loop TWICE.

[KCTigerChief]

I switched from Avast to MSE a few years ago, for no reason other than people were high on MSE so I thought I'd give it a try. I ended up going back to Avast because MSE let the "Windows 7 Anti-Virus" virus through 2 times, and I haven't had a problem before, or since...Cliff notes: don't fix what's not broken.

[clipless bumper]

I'm using free avast - haven't had any problems - is it worth it to pay?

[Elessar [Sly]]

It is good. I find it much better than anything like Norton... I know quite a few large companies that use it as well - and a few IT guys that swear by it (which seemed odd at first). I now use it for my windows laptop, and it has been great so far.

[KCTigerChief]

I'm using free avast - haven't had any problems - is it worth it to pay?

I've only used the free version and haven't had any viruses the whole time I've used it...Couldn't say the same for MSE, but that doesn't mean it wasn't just a weird coincidence or something.

[JiveTurkey]

I'm using free avast - haven't had any problems - is it worth it to pay?

I've only used the free version and haven't had any viruses the whole time I've used it...Couldn't say the same for MSE, but that doesn't mean it wasn't just a weird coincidence or something.

We use corporate version of SE. My experience with Avast is a little tainted, tbh. I came into an environment where previous IT "team" left a Novell to AD migration in our laps. Network full of infected systems with 256m running Avast and ClamWin with no working reimaging system. I had to manually remove Avast off a metric ton of crap hardware because there was no other immediate alternative. Avast could be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but due to that experience, I cringe whenever I see the name lol

On one computer I worked on, here was the list of security software installed on it:
avast
clamwin
forefront
clamav
spybot
cyberdefender
malware bytes

It's not Avast's fault; but I hate it just the same

[RustyMetal]

There are other things that go along with anti-virus similar to 'use common sense when you click'. Don't use Internet Explorer. It's embedded in Windows and has waaay to many system privileges. Therefore it is the main target for malicious code on the web. Use Firefox. Adding the NoScript addon is very important. It is more trouble because you often have to manually allow this site's scripts and that site's external scripts, but not allowing scripts by default cuts off the malicious scripts no matter which anti-virus you use. No anti-virus can prevent a zero-day virus that just came out, and the anti-virus programs haven't had time make a patch and roll it up into an update for their anti-virus program. NoScript can be a real pain in the butt sometimes - having to temporarily allow this and that to view some random website - but I'm not about to disable or uninstall it! It's the best anti-virus/anti-phish I have!

And of course the AdBlockplus addon for Firefox kills 99% of the ads. I couldn't live without that one either.

HTH