Hi all, I had avast professional for about a year and now the license is expired. I do not have money to pay for another year :P :( but I started using Security Essentials from microsoft (installed on my win 7 64). I want to be sure that this software can be as good as stand alone anti virus softwares like avast, norton and others. Thanks.

On Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:34:47 +0000, Sean_1987 wrote: I had avast professional for about a year and now the license is expired. I do not have money to pay for another year :P :( but I started using Security Essentials from microsoft (installed on my win 7 64). I want to be sure that this software can be as good as stand alone anti virus softwares like avast, norton and others. It's interesting that you mention Norton. Norton, in my view, and that of many others of us here, is, along with McAfee, one of the worst of the anti-virus programs available. I strongly recommend against it. But the free Avast is very good, as is Microsoft Security Essentials, and also Avira. If you are willing to spend a little money, I recommend NOD32, but if you want a free one, the best are Avast, Avira, and Microsoft Security Essentials. So you've already made a good choice. Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

Hello, I would like to mention that I am using Windows 7 with MSE without problems since I bought it. Just a tip: Use the guest account to logon and work on your computer. If you want administrative privileges, use run as an administrator option. Like that, you will reduce the most possible the affect of viruses / spywares / malware programs even if they exist on your computer. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner 2010 / 2011 Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuring Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator

I will tell you though of my experience with MSE. I've discovered that since it has no mechanism to specify which programs that could potentially be used for malicious purposes were intentionally installed by the user, it can get very annoying blocking whenever it wants too, and sometimes beheading software that users need. I discover that it has had more FP's in my time of using than any other AV I've tried. Too simple for the technically oriented in my opinion.

In message <27013bd6-af0e-4112-9772-139c3186728d@communitybridge.codeplex.com> someone claiming to be cron22 typed: I will tell you though of my experience with MSE.  I've discovered that since it has no mechanism to specify which programs that could potentially be used for malicious purposes were intentionally installed by the user, it can get very annoying blocking whenever it wants too, and sometimes beheading software that users need.  Settings --> Excluded files and locations I discover that it has had more FP's in my time of using than any other AV I've tried.  You might want to try McAfee, their false positives tend to disable your system as a whole rather than just pop up with something obnoxious. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9175928/The_McAfee_update_mess_explained That being said, the only times I've seen anything resembling a false positive on MSE were with "hacker tools", and other stuff from the warez community. While these tools do have their legitimate uses, it's generally assumed that they're used for evil rather than good, and you're probably best off manually excluding directories as needed. Too simple for the technically oriented in my opinion.  Unless you look at the Settings tab, this is true.

I know I can get a little bit on the opinionated side of things sometimes, and I'm sorry. I guess there are times when people's preferences get in the way.

In message <b8210dec-6f23-47c5-aca5-e0e747af2f48@communitybridge.codeplex.com> someone claiming to be cron22 typed: I know I can get a little bit on the opinionated side of things sometimes, and I'm sorry.  I guess there are times when people's preferences get in the way.  I didn't have to respond in kind either, just one of those nights. Sorry if I offended :)