All in one protection ? [Anti Virus,Malware,etc..]

[MitsuMarky]

Microsoft released an all in one protection program not too long ago.
Microsoft Security Essential.
Just wondering, is it good enough to keep your computer protected ?
Heres the link btw,
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_essentials/

I just got my laptop today and want to keep it as protected as it can be.
Im using firefox with add ons such as WOT, ABP, and NoScript.
But will that protect me from all the adware on the web ?

What do you guys use ?

Im thinking of trying Microsoft Security Essential since it is free. But it sounds too good to be true. A free product from MS that does everything? Hmmm.
I wonder.

If anyone has tried this before, please let me know what you think about it.

Thanks

[popcornninja]

I've given it a try. I've left it on a couple machines and so far so good. I've used Avast, AVG, and Antivir in the past and preferred Avast (if we are only comparing free ones).

I've learned over the years, even a good AV or Anti-Spyware program is never going to stop everything. The last line of defense is the user in front of the PC.

I've seen free AVs and paid AVs miss a virus or spyware and a computer get completely screwed up, but a lot of the time it's the user clicking on something or going to bad sites. The different programs all vary on what they are good at detecting.

I don't usually love Microsoft software but as far as free AVs go, this one seems to be pretty good.

[DC_Street]

I'm been using it on my laptop since it came out last week, so far it has been pretty awesome

a lot of the reviews I was reading were saying that it was better than even AVG, and that should say something about it

[PrivatePixel]

Microsoft's offering is capable in its own right (I was a beta user for a while and thought enough of it to have the latest build running on my secondary PC (which handles e-mails exclusively)). For my primary PC though, I'm running Kaspersky Internet Security 2010.

[mikejet]

You want protection?

HiJack This
Spybot Search and Destroy
Startup List

That's all the protection anyone needs and it's all free.

[Uniquely]

Does anyone know how well this handles all those malware programs that present themselves as antivirus programs? You know the ones where someone is surfing the net and they get a pop up telling them that their PC is infected, do they want to take care of it. Then the novice user clicks yes and DL's that crap to their PC... which then proceeds to hijack the browser and put up fake BSOD's in an attempt to get the novice user to "buy" the full version of their program. I've had a huge problem with those things on my PC's at work. Some of them are so bad the only way to clean them is to format. I'd love a good AV, anti-spyware that would prevent those from being installed.

[popcornninja]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

Does anyone know how well this handles all those malware programs that present themselves as antivirus programs? You know the ones where someone is surfing the net and they get a pop up telling them that their PC is infected, do they want to take care of it. Then the novice user clicks yes and DL's that crap to their PC... which then proceeds to hijack the browser and put up fake BSOD's in an attempt to get the novice user to "buy" the full version of their program. I've had a huge problem with those things on my PC's at work. Some of them are so bad the only way to clean them is to format. I'd love a good AV, anti-spyware that would prevent those from being installed.

I worked on a PC yesterday that had Vundo and some other severe threats on it. It basically disabled the desktop and popups were running like crazy. It also had the fake PC Security Tools Scanner (or something along those lines). It was pretty nasty.

Usually I use whatever AV is installed and Malwarebytes to clean machines. Avast was installed on it and it was active but having a hard to controlling the issues. I installed the Security Essentials software and took Avast off. Ran a Full Scan (with new AV) and it took care of most of it.

I have limited experience with it but it seems to handle viruses and spyware very well (for being free).

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

Does anyone know how well this handles all those malware programs that present themselves as antivirus programs? You know the ones where someone is surfing the net and they get a pop up telling them that their PC is infected, do they want to take care of it. Then the novice user clicks yes and DL's that crap to their PC... which then proceeds to hijack the browser and put up fake BSOD's in an attempt to get the novice user to "buy" the full version of their program. I've had a huge problem with those things on my PC's at work. Some of them are so bad the only way to clean them is to format. I'd love a good AV, anti-spyware that would prevent those from being installed.

I think one's browser choice could be a factor in addressing the popups of those pseudo AV scans (based on personal experience, it's more pervasive when using Internet Explorer than with Mozilla Firefox). I think it stems from the fact that these are JavaScript-based popups, which can be disabled quite easily in Firefox by unmarking the 'Enable JavaScript' check box (under the Content tab). I'm not sure if the same can be accomplished in IE if I unchecked the JRE <applet> check box (under the Advanced tab).

On those occasions where IE is running and the popup does appear, I bring up Task Manager immediately, kill the IE process and clear my browser cache with CCleaner. To be on the safe side, I run a full scan with KIS to ensure that no malicious files are still embedded after that incident; in addition to this, I run Spyware Doctor and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware occasionally to be doubly sure.

As popcornninja stated, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is excellent at addressing malware infections (this was used with great success on a co-worker's PC after he incurred a Vundo Trojan while browsing).

The problem with Vundo and its variants is that most AV programs are unable to block them; often times, post-infection cleanup (with Malwarebytes or a similar program) is necessary. Even programs such as TeaTimer.exe (which is bundled with Spybot - Search & Destroy) can be exploited by newer variants of Vundo, therefore reliance on just one anti-malware program is not recommended (keeping multiple anti-malware programs on a USB thumb drive is helpful for such occasions).

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

I think one's browser choice could be a factor in addressing the popups of those pseudo AV scans (based on personal experience, it's more pervasive when using Internet Explorer than with Mozilla Firefox). I think it stems from the fact that these are JavaScript-based popups, which can be disabled quite easily in Firefox by unmarking the 'Enable JavaScript' check box (under the Content tab). I'm not sure if the same can be accomplished in IE if I unchecked the JRE <applet> check box (under the Advanced tab).

Yes.... unfortunately in the work environment you have little choice over choice of browser and the stupid things your tech naive co-workers do on the net. I'm not an IT person by trade... but since I know the most about PC's by far (not hard when compared to the rest of my compadriates) I get stuck fixing their fix-ups. Our corporate tech person is pretty open about what AV I can install... so I may check this out.

[MitsuMarky]

Okay guys so I have Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes installed.
Should I turn off Malwarebytes protection because it may interfere with MSE ?
I heard its not a good idea to run two programs that does the same job at the same time because it can cause conflict. If this is the case, should I just leave MSE running all the time, and use Malwarebytes manually? For example: Perform a manual scan using Malwarebytes every week or so. Would that be a good choice?

[sfmarine]

AVG is great. I have the free version. Avast is another good one.

[DC_Street]

Originally Posted by PR0BLEMZ

Okay guys so I have Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes installed.
Should I turn off Malwarebytes protection because it may interfere with MSE ?
I heard its not a good idea to run two programs that does the same job at the same time because it can cause conflict. If this is the case, should I just leave MSE running all the time, and use Malwarebytes manually? For example: Perform a manual scan using Malwarebytes every week or so. Would that be a good choice?

I have only Security Essentials going and Malwarebytes ready on the side as backup

[Yautja]

This is a great program, I like it cause it bends in with your operating system don't even notice it's there + if it's microsoft the it's OK

[ManUtd]

Okay I just installed this in one of my PCs and did a full scan. Looking good so far.

[DonRSD]

MS has 'one care' before this new AV came out

ONE CARE was the only program i had that removed a 'bagle' worm on my pc (it was sending fake emails with my email address)

avast, avg, malware programs couldnt detect this 'bagle' worm

ive been waiting for MS to come out with this new program as onecare was over on june 30th or so.

good thread

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by PR0BLEMZ

I heard its not a good idea to run two programs that does the same job at the same time because it can cause conflict.

This is sound advice in this instance. The recommendation from most AV publishers is that only one AV program should be used at any given time (to reduce the likelihood of conflict, as well as affecting overall PC performance).

If this is the case, should I just leave MSE running all the time, and use Malwarebytes manually? For example: Perform a manual scan using Malwarebytes every week or so. Would that be a good choice?

Yes: leave MSE as the primary anti-virus program, and run Malwarebytes occasionally. Malwarebytes was never intended to replace full-fledged AV programs or internet security suites, but rather, complement them.

How often you choose to run Malwarebytes is up to you. Taking into account the specs of your PC, as well as the number of files and programs residing on your hard drive(s) currently, you could run it every day if you wanted to, but once a week is fine, e.g. on Tuesdays, after Microsoft releases its patches.

[DonRSD]

thanks for this thread

i downloaded the M$ antivirus program and got rid of AVG FREE (i never really trusted avg)

both home pc's are good to go