Microsoft Security Essentials | The Coffeehouse

stun

I haven't downloaded/used it yet, but I just want to ask some questions about it.

(1) Why isn't it integrated with Windows Defender?

(2) Why use MSE v.s. Avast or AVG or other FREE Anti-Virus utilities? Is it better/faster? Anyone used it yet?

(3) Now what do you think is going to happen to Norton and McAfee flagship product lines?

Thanks,

Soe

spivonious

1. I don't know. The anti-spyware piece is Defender and it disables Defender when you install it. Probably to avoid any antitrust accusations.

2. MSE uses next to no resources. I can't even tell it's running, whereas with avast/avg/etc. the system slowed down a tiny bit.

3. MSE is just anti-virus/anti-spyware. Norton/McAfee make their money selling complete security solutions, which include firewalls, email scanners, etc. I don't think they should be worried, but I do believe they'll start whining about it.

kukla

mmm...interesting...

W3bbo
The Master of Baiters

Windows Defender is disabled because MSE is a superset of Windows Defender (because from this perspective there's no difference between regular malware like viruses vs. the things Windows Defender protected against: only spyware). Windows Defender will probably be removed from Windows 8 and replaced with this AV solution, or maybe it'll be included in Windows 7 SP1.

I don't suppose it's too late to change Win7's image? It hasn't hit retail yet and including MSE in the build that regular joes buy would save a lot of trouble.

As for McAfee/Symmentec: hopefully MSE will force them to improve their products to stop being system resource-hogging scareware applications. I imagine they'll position their products as "value added" or "premium brand" anti-malware solutions (like how Firefox compares itself to IE).

AV is something that should be provided as part of the OS itself. Microsoft used to include MSAV with various builds of DOS years ago, and included McAfee AV in Plus!98, I'm surprised they stopped. They might use that in their adverts against Apple: Apple's strategy now is to posit Windows PCs as being more suspectible to viruses: this may be true, but MS can counter that their OS comes with AV, whereas OS X doesn't.

figuerres
???

In reply to W3bbo

#Sep 30th @ 5:18 AM

I think that one of the problems with the old MSFT AV packages was that folks often never updated them.

they got the av with the system and then just forgot about it and assumed it was all good.

i also seem to recall it was written by another company ... and you had to get updates from them... at least thats what i seem to recall.

today with the updating tech like windows update we have a better chance to keep them updated.

but still if folks disable updates and or do not connect and let it update then they may think they are covered but are not.

now thats a thorny patch of ground ... how to get everyone to update ...

Sven Groot
My name has 9 letters. Coincidence? I think not...

In reply to figuerres

#Sep 30th @ 5:30 AM

they may think they are covered but are not

Both MSE itself and the Action Center (or Security Center pre-Win7) will tell you when it's out of date and will flag you as being at risk, so I don't think there's much chance of a false sense of security in that scenario.

Having used OneCare, this is really just OneCare with all the extra stuff taken out. The low level of performace impact is also something it inhereted from OneCare, which is good.

I agree that AV should be part of the OS, but considering all the flak MS gets for bundling stuff, I doubt it'll ever happen. Defender is just barebones enough to stay under the radar for McAfee, Symantec, etc. but I doubt they'd stay silent if MS bundled MSE. And then we'd have yet another special EU version...

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

Looks like a nice product. Smiley

NitzWalsh

In reply to W3bbo

#Sep 30th @ 5:18 AM

MSCE will certainly not be included in Win7SP1, and likely not Win8 either, for the same reason it's not prominently advertised on MS's site and won't be distributed through Windows Update - antitrust concerns.

Bas
It finds lightbulbs.

I installed it and actually forgot that I was running it until I saw this thread again. I suppose that's a good thing, because so far no free antivirus made me not notice it at all.

blowdart
Peek-a-boo

In reply to Bas

#Sep 30th @ 11:42 AM

It's for that reason I sent my nephew off to uninstall AVG free from my parent's computer and put MSE on

RLO

I have been using MSE for about 3 months now, and all I have is praise for the product. It's clean, efficient, and it works. I have been popped 3 times by the "antivirus XP" trojan served up by google adwords and everytime MSE snagged it, popped it, and flushed it away before I could think twice.

As far as Norton and McAffee goes, they will still have their enterprise software solutions which will keep them in business for years. Although Forefront holds promise, it doesn't play well unless you have WSUS and an active directory backbone. Norton and McAfee fills this gap in the enterprise surprisingly well, and unlike their consumer products are not quite as bloaty.

PaoloM
Hypermediocrity

In reply to W3bbo

#Sep 30th @ 5:18 AM

I don't suppose it's too late to change Win7's image?

Win7 image was frozen in late May 2009.

Only absolute showstopper bugs have been considered (not taken) until end of June. After that, the ship had sailed.

JoshRoss
A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent.

If you had a paid subscription to another AV product, I would uninstall it without thinking twice. Yes, it's that good.

magicalclick

In reply to Bas

#Sep 30th @ 11:42 AM

Well, I noticed it when it tells me to upgrade from Beta and blocked scary Java code from a website. Tongue Out I like it, it is FREE and so lite and easy to use. And no stupid expire thing. I am going to uninstall all anti-virus on other computers when I get back home.

contextfree

VIRUS DATABASE HAS BEEN UPDATED

Bas
It finds lightbulbs.

Looks like MSE scored well on av-test.org's preliminary report... And it wasn't even research funded by Microsoft this time! Tongue Out

Edit: this is still pretty insane though:

I managed to download it yesterday, but today it gives me this. I guess all the machines I still have to install it on are *ed now? Why do they keep pulling crap like this?

LeoDavidson

In reply to Bas

#Oct 1st @ 2:58 AM

Maybe the New World Order won't be so bad. At least we'll be rid of this regional bollox under a single global government. We'll have boots stamping on our human faces forever, on the one hand, but we won't be locked out of any online goods or services, on the other.

Dodo
I'm your creativity creator™ :)

In reply to LeoDavidson

#Oct 1st @ 3:40 AM

Actually, a global government wouldn't rule out location specific content restrictions. A global language on the other hand might.

LeoDavidson

In reply to Dodo

#Oct 1st @ 7:02 AM

Language can't be the deciding factor unless the US / Canada / UK / Australia / etc. disparities with so many products/services are just to avoid subjecting people to minor spelling differences. Smiley

You're right, though. A global government might still impose regional variations on us for whatever arbitrary reasons it chooses.

Need another plan, then. What if we all moved to the same region?

Dodo
I'm your creativity creator™ :)

In reply to LeoDavidson

#Oct 1st @ 7:20 AM

I was actually refering to the language differences between English speaking and non-English speaking countries. Moving to the same region? You mean by living in the average space of a sewer pipe?

LeoDavidson

In reply to Dodo

#Oct 1st @ 7:53 AM

Ah, but those differences can't explain stuff like the Zune HD being available in the USA but no other English regions, or DVD regional encoding between two English countires (and where the regions are partitioned across langauges rather than around them).

Not sure what the reason is for MSE being restricted to regions. Maybe that is a localisation issue. I hope not, though, as I'm sure there are many computer users in most regions who would happily use an English version over nothing at all. Smiley

Those tiny houses: I'd feel bad about putting my cat in one, let alone a human. hehe. That rules that out. Need a plan C!

blowdart
Peek-a-boo

In reply to LeoDavidson

#Oct 1st @ 8:06 AM

Well that and the HD radio "standard" is US only

Bas
It finds lightbulbs.

In reply to blowdart

#Oct 1st @ 8:09 AM

So, anyone who can download the installer and put it up on Skydrive for me or something? Or better yet, some Softie who can go over and slap some sense into whoever decided to block this after a day?