Filed under: Security, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware, Beta, Windows x64
Microsoft Security Essentials tested, passes with flying colors
by Lee Mathews Jun 26th 2009 at 11:00AM
Regular Download Squad readers already know that I've been testing Microsoft's new Security Essentials since it first appeared in the wild last week and that I've been quite impressed with it so far. Some commenters weren't impressed, however, waving the NOD32 flag even though SE removed threats from my machine that NOD had missed.
AV-Test Labs has now put SE through a slightly more grueling test than scanning my piddly PC. They threw 3,200 different bots, trojans, and viruses along with a slew of items designed to trigger false positives and Security Essentials was up for the task.
In an email to Computerworld, Andreas Marx of AV-Test reported "All files were properly detected and treated by the product," said Marx in an e-mail. "That's good, as several other [antivirus] scanners are still not able to detect and kill all of these critters yet. None of the clean files were noted as malicious." The program was also able to tackle rootkits, though AV-Test will put it through more comprehensive testing before making a verdict on that particular ability.
Marx also addressed the concerns that SE was using Microsoft's own servers for cloud-based scanning. "The scanner works with the locally-installed anti-virus and anti-spyware databases -- it doesn't appear to use 'in-the-cloud scanning' methods," he stated.
If you missed out on the original download from Microsoft, don't fret. The nice folks at Softpedia have mirrored the SE files for you.
AV-Test Labs has now put SE through a slightly more grueling test than scanning my piddly PC. They threw 3,200 different bots, trojans, and viruses along with a slew of items designed to trigger false positives and Security Essentials was up for the task.
In an email to Computerworld, Andreas Marx of AV-Test reported "All files were properly detected and treated by the product," said Marx in an e-mail. "That's good, as several other [antivirus] scanners are still not able to detect and kill all of these critters yet. None of the clean files were noted as malicious." The program was also able to tackle rootkits, though AV-Test will put it through more comprehensive testing before making a verdict on that particular ability.
Marx also addressed the concerns that SE was using Microsoft's own servers for cloud-based scanning. "The scanner works with the locally-installed anti-virus and anti-spyware databases -- it doesn't appear to use 'in-the-cloud scanning' methods," he stated.
If you missed out on the original download from Microsoft, don't fret. The nice folks at Softpedia have mirrored the SE files for you.
With Halloween fast approaching, it's a great time to get in some practice defending your territory against zombies. In Graveyard Shift, you take aim at zombies and other creepy-crawlies, blasting them into splatters of cartoony green guts. It's a casual first-person shooter, and it's very easy to get the hang of - use the mouse to aim, click to fire. Graveyard Shift has at least 15 levels, and it might even have some secret stages I haven't unlocked yet.
They key to getting good at Graveyard Shift is learning to use ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan said 11:18AM on 6-26-2009
Wait, I thought the whole point of this was to do cloud AV? So is it or isn't it?
Hopefully it is, 'cause I look at products like HitMan Pro & Panda Cloud Antivirus, who've done very well at detecting/removing malware while keeping the CPU utilization down, and hope Microsoft would follow suit.
Reply
216 said 11:20AM on 6-26-2009
its not cloud based, but it still manages very low CPU usage, great program tho
Dan said 11:27AM on 6-26-2009
Interface looks good but I look at the history of Microsoft's malware protection (Live OneCare, Defender, etc.) and just imagine that it can't be much better than that. LOL
Has it found anything on anyone's systems that their other AV didn't pick up? I realize I can easily read the report from AV-Test but I'd like real-world stores. Specifics on what you used to use and what it (MSE) detected, including false positives. Just curious. Thanks!
typoink said 5:48PM on 6-26-2009
Dan, I don't think that's really the test any more. If it picked up things others don't, I'd be inclined to think they're false positives.
What this is saying is that SE detected enough. In tests, it performed as good as the competition. I don't think it needs to be BETTER. SE is the best free solution I've seen. Resource usage is par for the course, it's less naggy than others, and it's got a clean, easy interface.
Dan said 5:58PM on 6-26-2009
Typo - I'd be curious to see how it stacks up to services like Avast! which is also low on system resources and gives a ton of extra features. Though I'm not sure on how good rootkit detection is on Avast! or if it's even included, I'd be willing to bet the extras you get with Avast! are far superior than MSE as a whole.
Though it's all about detection rates. Extras don't do squat if they don't pick up on the malicious stuff.
Ji said 1:36PM on 6-26-2009
This program is quite solid, MS have been doing most things right as of late.
Reply
Kenn.keeper said 1:58PM on 6-26-2009
For the few days I've used this program I haven't noted any problems although I do run a secondary malware scan using another program (just in case something was missed), So far it seems that MS has offered something that works with out fixing it. I like the fact that it uses very little resources but still trying to figure out if it's scanning my email and messengers. Anyone know?
Free is Good
Kenn.....
Reply
Alasdair said 4:11PM on 6-26-2009
What a fantastic program! I've been using AVG for ages but got weary of it being such a huge resource hog at times, especially when doing a daily 'quick' scan (which took hours to finish) - then SE came along, scanned in a tiny fraction of the time, AND picked up a trojan that AVG had missed!
5 stars from me *****
Reply
T said 1:03AM on 6-27-2009
Tried it and after three days my cpu went to 100% and I hit Control +Alt+Del to see what was pegging my processor, yep MS Essentials was running full speed ahead and turning my PC in to a microwave. I thought it was doing a scan or updating but no, nothing but cooking. Good by Essentials.
Reply
cubanresourceful said 9:46AM on 6-27-2009
I've been using it, and it's good, I mean, it caught something Eset Smart Security did, but I'm willing to believe it was a false positive lol. It's nice, but unlike Eset, it slowed my computer to a crawl while scanning, maybe it doesn't like computers from 2001? I mean, other anti-virus scanners didn't do that....
Reply
CDN Crockett said 12:59PM on 6-29-2009
I can't wait for this! bitdefender blows!!! I can't link my Window's based PC to my Xbox 360..... Grrrrrr
Reply
CDN Crockett said 1:01PM on 6-29-2009
http://tinyurl.com/n4x6ba
---or---
http://tinyurl.com/2bp9ta
Reply