CNET Editors' review
The successor to Microsoft Live OneCare, Security Essentials (full review here) takes a different approach to securing your computer. The program is free with core security features intact, but abandons the additional heft of a firewall, performance tuning, and backup and restore options. Under a clean and uncluttered interface, Security Essentials wraps antivirus and antispyware engines, rootkit protection, and real-time detection courtesy of Microsoft SpyNet, the unfortunately named cloud-based service that compares file behavior across computers.
There are four tabs, each with a concise, understandable label: Home, Update, History, and Settings. From Home you can run a Quick Scan, Full Scan, or Custom Scan, and a link at the bottom of the pane lets you change the scheduled scan. In the Settings window you can schedule scans, toggle default actions, adjust real-time protection settings, and create whitelists. An Advanced option here is still fairly basic, allowing you to set Security Essentials to scan archives, removable drives, create a system restore point, or allow all users to view the History tab. Security Essentials uses labels imported from OneCare: green for all good, yellow for warning, and red for an at-risk situation.
Independent test numbers for Security Essentials weren't available at the time of writing, although OneCare scored high detection rates. On a real-world machine, the Quick Scan completed in less than 30 seconds. Benchmarking tests from CNET Labs reveal that Security Essentials actually makes starting up and shutting down faster, but the Full Scan is much slower than many competitors. RAM usage was not insignificant, with 85 to 90MB used during a full scan, but it felt lighter. Security Essentials is basically a good set-it-and-forget-it security program, but if you want more options, you should look elsewhere.
Watch the CNET video review of Microsoft Security Essentials:
Publisher's Description
From Microsoft:
With Microsoft Security Essentials Beta, you get high-quality protection against viruses and spyware, including Trojans, worms and other malicious software. And best of all, there are no costs or annoying subscriptions to keep track of.
Security Essentials is easy to install and easy to use. Updates and upgrades are automatic, so there's no need to worry about having the latest protection. It's easy to tell if you're protected - when the Security Essentials icon is green, your status is good. It's as simple as that.
When you're busy using your PC, you don't want to be bothered by needless alerts. Security Essentials runs quietly in the background, only alerting you if there's something you need to do. And it doesn't use a lot of system resources, so it won't get in the way of your work or fun.
What's new in this version: This is the first version on Download.com.
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 546 votes
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Current version:
4.2 starsout of 275 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"wow, this really slows down the computer."
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
caught some trojans
Cons
I restored computer to before security essentials, and it really was a fast computer. With security essentials, the computer speed was unacceptable.
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"Lets in rootkit malware"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
Easy to install, seems to catch a lot of attacks.
Cons
This software failed to detect two different rootkit attacks on two separate occasions. I had to go to very advanced software to do the removals.
Summary
OK, but don't think you can visit every site you want and not worry about attacks.
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"POOR DETECTION"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
GOOD FEATURE
BASIC BABY PROTECITON
USE LOW MEMORYCons
SLOW UPDATE
SLOW REMOVING THREATS...............AND EVEN CRASHED MY COMPUTER!!!!Summary
YOU WILL DISLIKE THIS PRODUCT WHEN YOU SEE YOUTUBE ,( SEARCH :FREE AV COMPARISON), YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS IS SUCK PRODUCT......
it can be improve.
HATE IT!!!!!:(
Updated on Dec 16, 2010 -
"It's not worth the price you pay for it and it's FREE!"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
Free but so is sewage water.
Cons
The fact that it's so vulnerable to a COMPLETE SYSTEM HIJACK. My system was hijacked & I lost complete control of everything. Only thing that saved me was having a secondary windows signin that allowed me to do a System Restore from another account.
Summary
Lots of virus writing Microsoft haters out there. After having my computer turned into a paperweight by some kind of virus on a malicious website. MSSE didn't catch a thing and yielded complete system control to this virus. I couldn't bring up the Task Manager or any other program. All my browsers stopped working too. I've never had a virus on my computer that completely took over until I trusted my system to MSSE. Big mistake that I won't be making again and suggest that you find something not so vulnerable. I'm NOT Microsoft hating here... I'm just talking from experience.
I don't get it. All the reviews that talk bad about this HORRIBLE antivirus program has been given a bunch of thumbs down. Who is so PRO MSSE that they thumbs down those who are telling the truth about how HORRID it truly is?? Microsoft undercover agents? (But it's free and they don't really have anything obvious to gain.)
Updated on Dec 13, 2010 -
"OK antivirus"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
Good compatibility
Cons
Takes more resource than what I expected.
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"Good Product"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
Caught a few bugs
Cons
I think some updates recently slowed my i7 laptop down
Summary
Worked well. Like other products, its hard to know if it's working actively unless it pops out and warns you. In my case, MSE did it's job. I wish future updates will not slow down my system too much.
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"Best Antivirus!!! It's free!!!"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
Realtime Protection!
Low memory usage!
Best Antivirus!!! It's free!!!Cons
None!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Summary
Best Antivirus!!! It's free!!!
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"All you need"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
Hassle free. You won't notice this running.
Cons
They should have come out with this a long time ago.
Summary
This is all you need to protect your computer.
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"VERY BAD SOFTWARE"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
Fast to scan you computer and uses very little memory or CPU usage that is the only thing good that I found with this software.
Cons
Very weak Anti-virus software use at you own risk!!!!!!!
Summary
I just installed this thinking it was good by looking at the reviews and found out I was wrong my computer started running slow about 4 days after installing this so I removed this software and installed AVG Internet Security 2011 and as soon as I restarted my computer AVG found 5 Trojan horse agent 2 viruses and 1 Win32 agent malware that this software didn't pick up or remove. I didn't even do a full system scan yet with AVG so there might be more more this software missed. Microsoft should have better software then this. I am running Windows 7 32 bit with all the updates now I might need to do a fresh install thanks to this software if you want good free anti-virus try AVG anti-virus 2011.
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"Way to go Microsoft!"
Version: Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.1611.0
Pros
1. It doesn't eat up resources like most other anti-virus programs.
2. Free!Cons
1. The first scan is a little slow, but it gets faster.
I will update with more as I come across them.Summary
All in all this is a great anti-virus program, even better that it is free! I installed this as I have had a lot of people recommending it to me in the past month. I have Webroot Anti-Virus with Spy Sweeper installed on here alongside Microsoft Security Essentials and I first did a Scan with Webroot, found 3 Viruses, 1 Trojan, and Key-logger (I deliberately put more than that on here.), and told it to keep them and remove from quarantine. When I scanned with Microsoft Security Essentials I didn't expect for it to do as well, it found all 5 Viruses, all 2 Trojans, and the Key-logger. For me, it does better than most other Anti-Virus programs.
Two more pros I forgot to mention.
I hope this program works as well for you as it did for me.
~ DDjusD
Updated on Nov 28, 2010
3. Doesn't take as much space on the hard drive.
4. Easy to use.
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