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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."

9 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Now for the rest of them... by multiben · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Seriously. Most anti-virus software is worse than getting a virus.

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

      What is strange is MSE is the only one of those products listed I have ever seen effectively block any malware.

    2. 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

    3. Re:Now for the rest of them... by Voyager529 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I know, it's anonymous coward and all...but I had an interesting issue along this vein...

      Two weeks ago, a client called us saying she got some FBI scareware that also tapped into her webcam. I went to investigate. No FBI scareware when I tried it, but I did see security essentials find stuff, and take some time to remove each item...during which it invariably found more.

      So, I tried the usual tools - Fixboot/Fixmbr, Combofix, TDSSKiller, ADWMBR, Malwarebytes, and my trusty ESET NOD32 recovery disc. None of that seemed to stop it. So I tried a repair XP install. I learned that the 'repair' install doesn't do nearly as much as I'd like it to, but whatevs, it was gone. ESET said it was clean, TDSSKiller said it was clean, Combofix said it was clean, and MBAM said it was clean. Security Essentials wouldn't shut up.

      I googled a bit and found out that this client had caught one of the strains from the xpaj family. It does EVERYTHING - MBR rewrite, device driver, etc. Seriously among the nastiest virus infections I've ever come across. Further googling revealed that Kaspersky had an explicitly dedicated removal tool just for xpaj. it took about half an hour to run, and found literally thousands of files infected with it. It must have been file headers or something because they were all ultimately cleaned...but this thing fooled EVERYONE but Security Essentials.

      Now granted MSE didn't completely take care of the issue, and clearly it also didn't stop it from running amuck...but it did find something nothing else I tried did...so I'm not thoroughly convinced that writing it off wholesale isn't entirely warranted either.

  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.

  5. Re:This is a surprise? by phrackthat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I stopped using AVG when they changed their license terms to unilaterally audit the location where the software is being used and gave themselves the right to unilaterally share my information with whomever they choose. - no thanks. See sections 9b and 12 of their license: - http://www.avg.com/us-en/eula-avg-2013-all-1-0

  6. Idiotically ineffective rating system by slashmydots · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'll save you the trouble reading. They're idiots. The winner out of all of them was bitdefender? That slows down your system like a damn boat anchor. I've had customers bring in a computer to my shop claiming it had a horrible problem and the only problem was that it had bitdefender. As soon as it was gone, responsive times dropped 10x lower. It's unbelievable how bad that product is. For them to not consider system performance in any way means they obviously have no idea what they're doing. The same goes for Kaspersky. Their new 2013 version is a nightmare for system performance. Norton Internet Security was third so yep, that's how responsible THESE idiots are.