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back to article MSE releases revamped freebie malware scanner

Microsoft has released a new version of its freebie security scanner tool last week, following the conclusion of a five-month beta testing program. Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) 2.0 features a revamped heuristic (automatic malware detection) engine as well as the addition of network intrusion detection technology. Less …

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  1. Neal 5

    lol.. small foortrprint.

    Care to share the glue you're sniffing.

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  2. Anonymous Coward
    Thumb Up

    I switched last week...

    MSE also detected two nasties that AVG did not detect.... which I was not happy to discover! password changes alround... don't think I'll be recomending AVG again. its insessant nagging to upgrade made me switch and I'm damn glad I did.

    MSE has a few issues like not being able to opt out of sending data to MS (who thought google was evil! MS are the worst!) and not being able to specify a schedule for updates, but its less hassle than AVG's spamming and adverts.

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    1. OffBeatMammal
      Reply Icon

      settings

      there's a settings tab that allows you to say when you want it to run and what sort of scan (quick or full)

      There's also an opt-in for "spynet" (no, not skynet) that determins how much information you want to share. When it finds a new program that's not been classified it asks me if I want to report details before doing anything (Google don't make anti-virus s/w but I wonder what they'd choose to report to the mothership!)

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    2. mechBgon
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      Schedule updates as you please

      You can set up a scheduled task to run MpCmdRun.exe -SignatureUpdate to update the definitions at startup (or whenever you like). Use the SYSTEM account (blank password).

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  3. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    obviously not going to be deployed to the people that need it most

    If the OS has to pas the license validation first.

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    1. OffBeatMammal
      Reply Icon

      wow, thieves get no love

      so... they stole a copy of the OS and then expect to get free protection from their fellow muppets?

      Not sure why MS should give a rats arse about them until they buy a license?

      Surprisingly my car insurance seem to consider it important that I have the paperwork to prove I bought the car they're insuring...

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      1. Anonymous Coward
        Reply Icon
        Anonymous Coward

        re: wow, thieves get no love

        "Not sure why MS should give a rats arse about them"

        Maybe because the more unlicensed Windows machines get infected the more licensed machines are at risk. Maybe because it would make them appear a little more socially responsible all round (like their work to shut down botnets) and Windows appear less vulnerable to malware.

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  4. Graham Wood
    Thumb Down

    Not another one.

    I've changed AV software (free) multiple times now to get away from bloat.

    I want my anti-virus to sit there quietly, and just stop me running any "bad code". I don't want it to take over my firewall (since I use an external linux one), I don't want it to prescan websites (since I'm unlikely to click on them, and it should protect me if I do anyway), and I certainly don't want it to require me to upgrade my hardware to keep the same performance.

    Anyone know of a windows AV package that ISN'T going to go bloatware? :(

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    1. mechBgon
      Reply Icon

      Try SRP

      Software Restriction Policy would make an excellent first (or last) line of defense. I have some info on that at mechbgon.com/srp showing how you'd set up the Catch-22 of SRP + LUA.

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    2. Ammaross Danan
      Reply Icon
      FAIL

      Sorry, FAIL

      "I don't want it to prescan websites (since I'm unlikely to click on them, and it should protect me if I do anyway)"

      While it's true it should protect you from "install this!" type websites, it won't however, protect you from true exploit pages that cram code down a buffer-overflow. This is why "pre-scanning" is important.

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  5. Ted Treen
    Thumb Up

    Credit where credit's due

    I'm certainly no fan of Microsoft - being sometimes slated as a Mac fanboi - but I honestly can't see what there is to moan aboat:

    1) They're doing something about security

    2) They're not charging for it

    OK, so they're restricting it to legit installations - can't say I really blame them for that, but anything that helps to thwart the ungodly malware/virus producers has to be a good thing.

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Flame

      As a fellow Cultist....

      Perhaps 'cos they should have written the O/S properly in the first place?

      ( Lights fuse and runs for cover!!! )

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  6. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Worried

    I just posted elsewhere about how good MSE is compared to the heavy-weight Zone Alarm, which I have ejected from my low-spec laptop as being unrunable.

    I just hope that this is not going to be heading the same way.

    As to license validation, it doesn't bother me, I'm registered and legal, but if MS *really* wanted to do something about the entire world of virus, malware, etc, which *their* systems have nurtured and made possible, they wouldn't be making that check.

    So it's a fail --- on the basis of responsibility to the world.

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  7. Anonymous Coward
    Grenade

    After the last AVG update fiasco

    I decided to go with no anti-virus at all on my own computer. I understand the risks but last time my computer was ruined by some software vendor who was supposed to protect me. I trust malware writers will take better care of my PC since they need a running bot in a stable, healthy condition.

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  8. LinkOfHyrule
    Thumb Up

    Bloody hell!

    Bloody hell - a Microsoft product that gets good word of mouth that isn't that stupid xbox Kinect thingy! Whatever next!

    Also every-time I see "MSE antivirus" mentioned anywhere I always think "What, has Martian Lewis the tight fisted expert released his own free-ware antivirus or something" until I remember what MSE actually stands for!

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  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Accuracy in reporting.

    "the slightly redesigned dashboard allows users to manage Microsoft's firewall from inside MSE" - er, not that I can see. It did ask if it could turn on Windows Firewall if one wasn't detected, but that's all.

    In addition: it didn't need a validation, but that might be because I was upgrading rather than installing fresh.

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  10. Anonymous Coward
    Coat

    Thieves get love too...

    A friend of mine has a number of Windows 7 installs ( 5 of them - all from a BT download) now have MSE 2.0 AND pass microsoft product validation.

    So yes! Some thieves get love too.

    Mine's not mine, it's a friends!!

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  11. Neal 5

    where does all this thieves stuff come from.

    I only borrow mine, and when the next one comes out in 2012, I'll only borrow that.

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  12. Alan Brown Silver badge

    MS products with good word of mouth...

    Their mice and keyboards have always been fairly well executed. :)

    Pity about the software though.

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  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Automtic upgrade?

    Does anyone know if this will automatically upgrade itself from a 1.x install to 2.0, or will we need to actively download & install the new version?

    Can't see it on the MSE website, apologies if it's stated in big red flashing letters on the front screen ...

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  14. Anonymous Coward
    Gates Halo

    Re: Automatic upgrade?

    Ah, OK, answered my own question - if you do the download and run the installer on a machine that's got 1.x it does an upgrade.

    I'll stop talking to myself now ...

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