It’s not hard to understand Windows users, myself included, still run paid subscription antivirus (AV) software (i.e. Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, etc.) that can cost from $40 to upwards of $80 per year for a security suite. Until recently, when it came to computer protection I, like many of you, took on the old adage “you get what you pay for“. Two years ago I’d still stand by that; although two years of steady progression has proven that phrase doesn’t apply here anymore.
Microsoft to the rescue?
So what new open source security suite has freed us from McAfee’s bondage? Actually, this time it isn’t open source. Believe it or not it’s actually Microsoft who’s stepped up on this one; with their free antivirus program, Windows Security Essentials. Security Essentials has been available for a couple of years, but in the beginning it was terribly buggy and unreliable. Yet, since that time, Security Essentials has seemingly hit its stride.
If it’s been steadily progressing, why is the first time I have posted anything about it? To tell the truth, it has taken me nearly 2 years to warm up to it. My initial opinion of SE back in 2009 was,
“Microsoft’s offering, what they’re claiming is, a legit security suite? Umm…yeah…right…and it’s free?! You must be huffing paint! Microsoft isn’t capable of producing both a free and a legit product, so this has to be complete crap. If they didn’t offer that retarded iPod they called a Zune for free, the thought of a free – and legit – AV solution from Microsoft is just plain nutty!”
Let’s face it, quality AVs, and/or any other security suite that’s offered for free by Microsoft was a pretty far-fetched concept. Until they showed me proof, I wasn’t biting. Now, as we head into 2012, Microsoft has proven itself to be a legit AV contender (not to mention a nightmare to McAfee and its bloated cousin Norton). Unlike the bloated paid subscription AVs, Windows Security Essentials is extremely lightweight, easy to install, and even easier to use.
It takes about a minute from the time you launch the install file until you’re literally scanning your system. It runs silently in the background, giving you the ability to continue working on your PC while Security Essentials is scanning. That is something I would always try and avoid when I ran McAfee, because everything became very sluggish if I tried to work on my PC while McAfee was scanning. I wouldn’t even attempt working on a PC while Norton was lumbering along with its, bovine like agility, scanning for the viruses it, most likely, put on the system to begin with!
Still not without flaws
If Security Essentials’s greatest strength, besides being free and very light, is its ability to run quietly in the background without disrupting what’s going on in the foreground, then its weakness would be its lengthy full system scan time. Security Essentials’s full system scans take a bit longer to complete than some of the AVs I’ve seen. Although, when you hardly even know its running and can continue working, it’s not that big of a deal. Plus, I have heard tales that this “weakness” will be remedied in the newly released beta version of Security Essentials. I am hearing a 20% speed increase in scan time.
The appearance of the beta version and the current version are virtually the same, although the site lists several functionality improvements; such as, automatic malware remediation, new protection engine, and many performance tweaks. Besides it’s the functionality that protects your PC from an infection, not its stunning good looks. I’m not nearly as concerned with Security Essentials’s appearance as I am its functionality. This isn’t exactly a beauty contest; computer infections are nasty and sometimes require getting some dirt on you.
So, what is your AV setup and are you planning to download and install Security Essentials? Tell us your thoughts about Security Essentials or any other anti-virus software in the comments section.
(Photo Credit: Stylized computer virus via Shutterstock)
Microsoft Security Essentials is has come a long way and is a lot better than many of us would expect from Microsoft much less free, but it is still far from the best protection you can put on your system. With how rampant and dangerous malware is, I would not sacrificing security to save a few bucks a year. Anti-Virus is dirt cheap and frequently can be found for even cheaper during sales and rebates.
Yes MS actually impressed me (a very rare occurrence) with that one.However, I would like to attempt to clarify what appears may be a slight misunderstanding of the article’s content. I agree with you that Security Essentials would not be best “protection” you can have. PC “Protection” comes in different levels Free AV, Paid AV, Paid Security suites and the premium suites. So as it pertains to “Protection” Security Essentials by itself would indeed not be the best option. This article’s point was pointing out that if one was looking only for AV protection then there was no need to purchase AV, as they all default to minimum protection anyway….and Security Essentials runs like it ate less Twinkies than McAfee or Norton.
So, when comes to SE for full system protection? I agree with you…
When it comes to SE as just an AV Protection? I go with SE every time.anks for reading
Awesome comment, Thanks for reading Christopher
I switched over to a Mac about three years ago and each time I go into the Apple store, they still tell me that virus software for Mac users are not required. I run ClamXav every now and then which is a free virus checker. So far, so good.
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I have used Microsoft Security Essentials simultaneously with ClamWin Free Antivirus on my Windows Vista os for nearly two years, and I can say that I feel secure, especially as I now understand how they work and I can see and interact with each. ClamWin is open source and popular, and I rely on MSE because it updates automatically with the Windows Updates security updates. I like this setup much better than my previous technology, Trend Micro.
(as a note I do not use Windows Defender)
I have used Microsoft Security Essentials simultaneously with ClamWin Free Antivirus on my Windows Vista os for nearly two years, and I can say that I feel secure, especially as I now understand how they work and I can see and interact with each. ClamWin is open source and popular, and I rely on MSE because it updates automatically with the Windows Updates security updates. I like this setup much better than my previous technology, Trend Micro.
(as a note I do not use Windows Defender)
I have run ubuntu for 9 months now. I have no AV, probably naive, but untill I experience the need for one I won’t install any.
PS If you are required to use a MS OS at work don’t ever try ubuntu.
I did try MS SE sometime last year (2011) in July and the only thing i liked about it is it’s ability to run along side other AV installations. I’ve been a user of free AV protection since 2007, started out with AVG, but chucked it out less that a week after installation because of HUGE updates which are really inconvenient for dial-up users like me. I switched to Avast and have used this since, and am very happy to say that Avast has never failed me, until Sality came along and it took them about three weeks to come up with a definitions update containing Sality’s sample signature. I had to reinstall almost every program, including an OS repair installation. This however didn’t deter me from using Avast. I frequently search the web for new comers in the free AV category and wasn’t impressed despite the always increasing numbers of entrants such as Comodo AV etc… I am willing to try MSSE again and the above article by Ray is reassuring enough for me. I absolutely agree that u do not need to pay for AV protection because in mist cases, the non-free options usually add unnecessary bloatware to the basic protection. Usually u are only paying for 24hr technical support which never helps more than free user forums do, firewall which you can have for free too, sandbox and other fancily-renamed features that u can actually get from open-source programs.
What's your take on avast? I've been using the free version of this anti-virus since years and its just plain brilliant!