Microsoft Security Essentials

[Npl]

I tried to install the beta a few days ago. I kept getting an error that said it was an invalid Win32 program, but I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. I tried both the 64bit and 32bit installs, and both gave me the same message.

I had the same problems with installing other software, turns out that my "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wups.dll" got somehow corrupted (empty file). Overwriting it with the intact file (~27KB) from another Win64 installation fixed it, but it was a pain finding out how to do that (you need to set yourself as owner of the file, then you can write enable it).

"Using" MSE aswell, definitions are over 3 months old. I killed every background checking and just run it when I come across suspicious files, I surely like it more than "AVG Free" which I previously used.

 

[Scott_Arm]

I had the same problems with installing other software, turns out that my "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wups.dll" got somehow corrupted (empty file). Overwriting it with the intact file (~27KB) from another Win64 installation fixed it, but it was a pain finding out how to do that (you need to set yourself as owner of the file, then you can write enable it).

"Using" MSE aswell, definitions are over 3 months old. I killed every background checking and just run it when I come across suspicious files, I surely like it more than "AVG Free" which I previously used.

Thanks. I'll take a look at that file when I get home and see if I have the same problem. No idea where I'd get a replacement file.

 

[hoom]

I've been using MSE, previously used free Avast!.
Quite like MSE for sitting in the background not using much resources.
Also it saved me from Conficker twice.

 

[Scott_Arm]

Seems the file was corrupted unless I downloaded with IE. Go figure. I'm just installing now.

 

[Squilliam]

I use it for all of my machines. It works really well, doesn't get in the way and doesn't bother me to register or pay after 12 months or whatever.

 

[RudeCurve]

Do you guys think MSE is a good substitute for Malwarebytes?

 

[Davros]

If you are talking about the free version which doesn't run in real time only on demand, then i'd say keep both

 

[ShaidarHaran]

Do you guys think MSE is a good substitute for Malwarebytes?

MBAM doesn't have real-time protection, MSSE does. One prevents infections, the other cleans them. I don't think you can really compare the two or say one should replace the other, but rather, they compliment each other. I use both on most every system I repair.

 

[Davros]

the full version does apparently

 

[dskneo]

I tested MSE in about 100 computers. I can say it works very well with dual core machines.

With single core machines many day to day tasks are absolutely killed by MSE. Opening a EXE. copying network files etc. MSE CPU usage = 100%
The usability difference is night and day with and without MSE. So, its so bad on slow machines I had to remove it.

I have no complaints with more up to date Pc's. Except that it wont integrate with SteadyState, a wonderful tool that was removed from Windows 7 (god knows why).

 

[PeterAce]

MSE is looking to get more network protection features....

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...sentials-released-with-network-protection.ars

 

[Grall]

The new version of Security Essentials is supposedly now live, and available for download.

I installed it today, and the visible changes are minimal to say the least. I'm in fact not totally sure it's actually the new version lol - it doesn't say anywhere either on MS's website for the thing or in the program itself that it's all new and improved, however the previously advertised network inspection and heuristics options are available as checkboxes in the configuration screen, so I assume it's the new version.

The "About" window also says this:

Security Essentials Version: 2.0.657.0
Antimalware Client Version: 3.0.8107.0
Engine Version: 1.1.6402.0
Antivirus definition: 1.95.2237.0
Antispyware definition: 1.95.2237.0
Network Inspection System Engine Version: 2.0.5854.0
Network Inspection System Definition Version: 9.1.0.0

...So I guess I did pull down the new version after all. And it still works fine. I've not had any issues with it (and it hasn't found any infections either...) It also didn't stealth-change my windows update settings this time when I installed it. Thankyou Bill Gates.

 

[Squilliam]

I use that program it works really well and it seems better supported than a lot of the free versions.

 

[corduroygt]

I switched from NOD to MSE and I like it. Nothing from Symantec or McAfee is allowed to be on my computers, I HATE them.

 

[hoom]

The webmaster of the MSE site/version manager needs to get fired for incompetence.
No mention at all of the new version & no mention of what the latest version is or how to tell if you've got it.

Also Windows update thinks this is fully up to date:

Microsoft Security Essentials Version: 1.0.2498.0
Antimalware Client Version: 2.1.6805.0
Engine Version: 1.1.6402.0
Antivirus definitions: 1.95.2458.0
Antispyware definitions: 1.95.2458.0

Edit: After download from MSE site

Security Essentials Version: 2.0.657.0
Antimalware Client Version: 3.0.8107.0
Engine Version: 1.1.5902.0
Antivirus definition: 1.85.1018.0
Antispyware definition: 1.85.1018.0

Edit2: Then an update in MSE

Security Essentials Version: 2.0.657.0
Antimalware Client Version: 3.0.8107.0
Engine Version: 1.1.6402.0
Antivirus definition: 1.95.2458.0
Antispyware definition: 1.95.2458.0
Network Inspection System Engine Version: 2.0.5854.0
Network Inspection System Definition Version: 9.1.0.0

 

[Frank]

I have been using this for about a year now, and noticed yesterday that my internet was very slow and the connection kept being dropped.

After investigation, my computer seemed to be used for a DOS attack. It turned out that there was a trojan, a keylogger and 2 other nasties (didn't look them up). I scanned all of them with MSE, and it told me that those files were clean, so I had to use something else to get rid of them.

So, either there are some pretty big holes in it's security offered, it only scans for specific threats and ignores the rest, or it drops all threats from its database as soon as there's a Windows Update fix for them (possible, I didn't investigate, but I only update windows by hand sporadically, because it irritates me extremely if my PC reboots while I'm playing a game).

 

[Silent_Buddha]

How did you find out what was on your computer? And what did you use to get rid of them?

Regards,
SB

 

[Grall]

So, either there are some pretty big holes in it's security offered

There's big holes in all of the available antivirus programs, even the best ones only catch about 70-80%-ish of all of the stuff out there.

Any idea how you came to be affected by so much crap? I've never had a single virus ever on my PC, I got that ancient Melissa worm mailed to me to my hotmail address a couple times way back when, but since you can't get infected through a webmail address accessed via a browser, nothing happened...

 

[Frank]

How did you find out what was on your computer? And what did you use to get rid of them?

Regards,
SB

I used my brain and google to figure out what was happening and what was causing it ( ), and combofix and hijackthis to get rid of them.

 

[Frank]

Any idea how you came to be affected by so much crap? I've never had a single virus ever on my PC, I got that ancient Melissa worm mailed to me to my hotmail address a couple times way back when, but since you can't get infected through a webmail address accessed via a browser, nothing happened...

Well, when the first trojan is inside, it is most often used (automatically) as a backdoor to install more crap. And it most likely entered from something that I downloaded and started, because it was reported as being clean (I always scan things by hand before I do as well, just to make sure).

And according to the stats I found on the internet, it has been reported in the wild for more than half a year, mostly in Europe and Asia.