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Microsoft Security Essentials Loses AV-Test Certificate

Posted by samzenpus on from the is-there-extra-credit? dept.

helix2301 writes "Every two months, AV-Test takes a look at popular antivirus software and security suites and tests them in several ways. In their latest test which was performed on Windows 7 during September and October, Microsoft Security Essentials didn't pass the test to achieve certification. Although that may not sound that impressive, Microsoft's program was the only one which didn't receive AV-Test's certificate. For comparison, the other free antivirus software, including Avast, AVG and Panda Cloud did."

4 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Now for the rest of them... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Last time I saw a test like this it was from a Symantec paid shill. Don't expect this to be any different.

    Probably Microsoft doesn't pay AV-Test

  2. Missing Piece from Test by Eskarel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The main reason I use MSE is that it does an adequate job and unlike every one of the competitors free or otherwise, installing it isn't worse than getting infected with Malware. Last time I used either AVG or Avast it was like infecting my PC on purpose. I'll pass up some protection against zero days(which is spotty at best anyway) in exchange for not installing crap.

  3. Re:This is a surprise? by mister_playboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    By running Windows, you are already placing trust in Microsoft. Using MSE seems like a entirely logical extension of that.

    That is to say, why bother yourself about one program from MS when you are using an entire OS made by them?

    --
    Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law ::: Love is the law, love under will
  4. Re:This is a surprise? by stewartjm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    RL Vaccinations are an example of human intelligence triumphing over at least semi-stupid self replicating DNA chunks.

    AV software is developed by humans trying to stop other humans, a much much more intractable problem, especially when the Virus developers always have the first move. The Virus developers can trivially test their software against the AV, with almost no effort. The AV developers have to expend tremendous effort to even try to catalog the threats, let alone combat them.

    Most likely the very fact that Security Essentials is faring so badly, is due to the fact that the Virus writers are being especially sure to find ways around it before launching new malware.