Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Security Essentials Released; Rivals Mock It

Posted by kdawson on from the free-but-is-it-worth-it dept.

Bimal writes "After a short three-month beta program, Microsoft is officially releasing Microsoft Security Essentials, its free, real-time consumer anti-malware solution for fighting viruses, spyware, rootkits, and Trojans. MSE is available for Windows XP 32-bit, Windows Vista/7 32-bit, and Windows Vista/7 64-bit. 'Ars puts MSE through its paces and finds an unobtrusive app with a clean interface that protected us in the dark corners of the Internet.' The software received positive notes when in beta, including a nod from the independent testing group AV-Test." But reader CWmike notes that Symantec is trash-talking Microsoft's free offering. Jens Meggers, Symantec's vice president of engineering, dismissed MSE as a "poor product" that will "never be up to snuff." Meggers added, "Microsoft has a really bad track record in security." The GM of Trend Micro's consumer division sniffed, "It's better to use something than to use nothing, but you get what you pay for."

2 of 465 comments (clear)

  1. Price by mebrahim · · Score: 0, Troll

    Your Freedom

    --
    Persian Project Management Software as a Service
  2. Re:It's working great for me by cenc · · Score: 0, Troll

    My "Microsoft Security Essentials" include a wire cutter as in NEVER CONNECT A WINDOWS COMPUTER TO ANYTHING TO BE SECURE!!!

    I just got off the phone with a client that was being forced to run accounting software on windows desktops by a vendor as a server (long story). Being sensitive data and mission critical, I had to tell them not to plug the windows computers in to the rest of the network. They have to be standalone systems.

    Now is that fair?

    No, but that is the only way I can give a client 100% assurance of security, given their long bad track record and current state of windows security. My client does not give a shit that security is improving in windows, or they are now stopping 90% of whatever, or the windows vs linux debate. They give a shit about protecting their data, and doing it as cheaply as possible (small company, tight budget).

    Before anyone starts this "well any operating system is vulnerable" shit, I am not interested.

    --
    Living in Chile