Microsoft Security Essentials Released; Rivals Mock It

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."

Comments

Re:I like it and will recommend it to anyone.

[tokul]

If I do have a quibble, it's that it requires a validated Windows. If I were Microsoft I'd throw this on automatic Windows Update and push it out to everyone not already running an anti-virus.

1. Does it detect Microsoft's spyware called WGA?
2. Pushing new products with software updates is very Microsoft style. They can't compete other way.

Price

[mebrahim]

Your Freedom

Wow....

[Jager Dave]

I'm sitting here wondering how many people are on Microsoft's payroll and/or getting kickbacks or some various other form of compensation, for giving this "new" product such rave reviews.... I've been using AVG (both free and purchased) for YEARS, and have had NO issues and NO viruses/trojans/malware.... Sorry to be skeptical about a Microsoft product, but I DO still use Windows, so I know full well of what kind of bad programming they're capable of releasing.... d.

Re:Symantec is a bunch of crap

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey, that's the theory behind the modern medicine. Also the medical insurance.

Re:It's working great for me

[cenc]

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.