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Windows Defender (also Microsoft Security Essentials MSE) - Mini-Review
IainB:
Originally posted:2012-12-05Last updated2017-02-02
Basic Info
App NameWindows Defender (also Microsoft Security Essentials MSE)
(Anti-virus, spyware, and other malicious software detection/protection)Thumbs-Up Rating :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup: :Thmbsup:App URLhttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/security-essentials-downloadApp Version ReviewedAll $FREE versions and beta releases since Oct. 2010, including the current latest version:
User System SpecsWin 7-64 HP, Win8/8.1-64 and PRO, Win10-64 and PROSupported OSesBundled as "Defender" within Win8/8.1, and can be installed as "MSE" in Windows 7,Vista, and XP (64-bit/32-bit)Support Methodsmicrosoft.com (link is to the download site).
Updates to software and virus signature files are automatic, and can also be triggered via the Start menu to check for updates via Windows Update (in the Control Panel).
Virus signature file updates can also be forced instantaneously from the application GUI.
Help: is via links from the software GUI.Upgrade PolicyUpgrades/updates are $FREE and loaded as above.Trial Version Available?For personal and small business use: $FREE Trial and Production version (they are one and the same).
There is no PAID version.Pricing SchemeDefender is now bundled in Win8 and up, and MSE is $FREE For personal and small business use.
Intro and Overview:
Update 2015-05-14:
Protection for your PC
Windows Defender is now built-in to the Windows OS and helps guard your PC against viruses and other malware.
For a PC running an older version of Windows, you can download Microsoft Security Essentials.
______________________
--- End quote ---
Windows Defender Help quote:
Windows Defender is included with Windows and helps keep malware from infecting your PC in two ways:
* Providing real-time protection. Windows Defender notifies you when malware tries to install itself or run on your PC. It also notifies you when applications try to change important settings.
* Providing anytime scanning options. Windows Defender automatically scans your PC for installed malware on a regular basis, but you can also start a scan whenever you want. Windows Defender automatically removes (or temporarily quarantines) anything that's detected during a scan.
--- End quote ---
_______________________________________
This review follows on from a separate discussion thread in the DC Forum: Microsoft Security Essentials - new Beta out 2011-11-30 (updated 2012-07-11)
The virus-checking engine used by MSE used to be only available for businesses, and at a cost. It was regarded as being one of the best AV (Anti-Virus) tools available for business servers.
In October 2010 it was released for free for personal and small business users. I started using it as soon as the release was available, and it has been through several upgrades since then.
You can either use the released versions of MSE, or get on the beta or "pre-release" channel. (I have used both channels with no real problems.)
You can fit-and-forget MSE. The installation is straightforward. Once installed, everything is automatic, and seems to have been rock-solid stable (for me, at any rate). There are regular automatic virus signature file updates.
The user control is mainly around the setting of the default actions that are to be taken in the event of a malware detection at different threat levels - the actions are remove or quarantine. In the event, you can always tell MSE to ignore a given threat detection, thus it does not need to be blindly automatic or divorced from user control.
Over the time I have been using MSE on my PCs, it has detected several malwares, but my PCs have so far not been attacked by any really nasty viruses.
Description:
From the website:
Use Microsoft Security Essentials to help guard against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It provides real-time protection for your home or small business PCs.
Microsoft Security Essentials is free* and we designed it to be simple to install and easy to use. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you don't have to worry about interruptions or making updates.
--- End quote ---
* Here is an example of the main GUI tab:
* Here is an example of a threat (OpenCandy) quarantine:
* Here is an example of a threat (Worm) quarantine:
Who this software is designed for:
Personal and small business users.
The Good:
* Does exactly what it was designed to so, and very simply and effectively.
* Also detects and treats the noxious OpenCandy adware
The needs improvement section:
(Nothing to comment on here.)
Why I think you should use this product:
Having used several other AV software applications, I would recommend MSE as the "no-brainer" default industry standard to go for.
I would also recommend that you use it together with MBAM (Malwarebytes Anti-Malware PRO).
How it compares to similar products:
Very favourably. I prefer a belts-and-braces approach and I use MSE in tandem with MBAM PRO, and the two seem to work happily together with no apparent conflict.
There are various reviews and comments regarding MSE/MBAM in the DC Forum and elsewhere on the Internet.
Some DC Forum examples re MSE:
* Microsoft finally allows small business use of Security Essentials for free
* Microsoft Security Essentials - new Beta out 2011-11-30 (updated 2012-07-11)
* Windows Security Essentials
* free antivirus
* Is Antivirus Software a Waste of Money?
Conclusions:
Windows Defender aka MSE is an excellent AV tool. Performs as designed, and very well.
There are other AV tools, but to a large extent they would seem to have been eclipsed or made redundant by Defender/MSE, as the latter would now seem to be the de facto anti-virus application and virtually a no-brainer for the majority of PC users.
cyberdiva:
Thanks, Iain, for posting this. It told me some things I didn't know and made me feel good about my decision to use MSE as my AV, along with MBAM Pro. (I confess that the DC thread not long ago about MSE losing some German lab's endorsement after poor zero-day detections shook my confidence a little bit.)
IainB:
...(I confess that the DC thread not long ago about MSE losing some German lab's endorsement after poor zero-day detections shook my confidence a little bit.)
-cyberdiva (December 04, 2012, 08:32 PM)
--- End quote ---
Yes, I think that you may be referring to this discussion in DCF on 2012-11-30: Microsoft Security Essentials loses AV-TEST certification
I don't think that it was necessarily anything to panic about though.
Carol Haynes:
Just to add - Windows 8 includes MSE as standard, there is no download. Really annoying that new machines come with it turned off and some adware (McAfee, Norton, Trend, Kaspersky) installed as a replacement.
Given the number of people I have seen ripped off by McAfee and Norton and their shoddy business practices (in particular ignoring auto renewal opt out) I would argue that they are fast becoming malware themselves.
f0dder:
I don't think that it was necessarily anything to panic about though.-IainB (December 04, 2012, 10:22 PM)
--- End quote ---
Me neither.
I wonder how much the extortion gang established antivirus companies paid for the Pretty Funky Weighting required for the low MSE rating?
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