Will Microsoft's Free Antivirus App be Worth the Price?

[RejZoR]

No internet connection, almost no way of new malware going your way either.

[Marc57]

No internet connection, almost no way of new malware going your way either.

But, what if malware is able to stop your connection? Will this A/V still work? Will you still be able to scan your system?

[Lisandro]

No internet connection, almost no way of new malware going your way either.

Except for USB drivers

[Go Pack Go]

So if this is like a cloud AV, will it work alongside avast!?  And will it be slow on dial up if all the traffic has to be re-routed?

[Go Pack Go]

More details: http://blogs.zdnet.com/igeneration/?p=1832

So I would think it would be slow on dial up right?  I also would imagine that it would be fine to run this side by side with avast!.

[RejZoR]

This guy doesn't even understand cloud based technology. It's not like you upload every file it's scheduled for scan to Microsoft.
That would be uber slow and completelly useless. Also the first antivirus to use cloud technology was McAfee with its Artemis system, not Panda or Morro. And of course PrevX which not many really know.

[Marc57]

Here's a review by Ed Bott, This guy knows Microsoft.


http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1067&tag=nl.e539


From page two:  "New signatures are published three times a day"

This sounds good.

And this answered my questions:

"Like most modern antivirus software, MSE relies on up-to-date signatures, but adds its own cloud-based twists. Contrary to some recent reports, this isn’t a cloud-based service. Instead, it offers a dynamic signature service that pushes signatures on a daily basis, but adds the ability to query the signature service when need to reduce the window of exposure to new malware. By monitoring for suspicious behavior,  the service can query for a sample when necessary. Rootkit detection features target kernel-mode malware and can detect the sort of tampering in the kernel that is typical of rootkits."

The new name: Microsoft Security Essentials


Here's another review by Paul Thurrott, Someone who also knows Microsoft inside and out.

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/mse_beta.asp


"The Microsoft Security Essentials public beta will be made available in the US, Israel, and Brazil on June 23, 2009."

[mkis]

Secondly, Microsoft can use Morro as an avenue to force users to patch their systems -- quickly eliminating security flaws that are regularly discovered.

Since last November and their late entry once again into protecting their own consumers from their own product range, Microsoft continues to ply their 'Can't live with us, Can't live without us' trade practice. I'm afraid I'm all but locked up in Microsoft - after all we can only be human - and almost given up wondering where it will all end this time round. 

I just thanks to them each time they patch, keep protects in place, and hope for best. 

[sded]

Lots of interesting positive reviews.  If a much larger class of users can be started on the Windows Firewall, Morro AV, and getting their automatic updates, that should help a lot.  And getting users to just "turn on the Microsoft stuff" sure seems easier than getting them to chase down and install (maybe pay for) competing third party products, at least until they have a little more familiarity with their needs.

[YoKenny]

Another thing I don't have to worry about

This beta is available only to customers in the United States, Israel (English only), People's Republic of China (Simplified Chinese only) and Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese only).

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

[sded]

Saw notes on Wilders today from users everywhere from Canada to Saudi Arabia who downloaded and installed with no problems.    I haven't tried it, but initial feedback looks good.

[Lisandro]

Another thing I don't have to worry about

This beta is available only to customers in the United States, Israel (English only), People's Republic of China (Simplified Chinese only) and Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese only).

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

I'll test it on XP... let's see how it is.

[Marc57]

Testing it now, Install was fast and hassle free, Low memory use, Tested with Eicar, No problems even if zipped, It stopped the connection very quick. It really is install and forget. The only thing I changed was the day of the week to do a Scheduled scan. So far, I like it.

[Lisandro]

Well, the update, at least the first one, it taking molasses to go... 
Does anybody know anything about detection rates?

[Lisandro]

Seems simple... set and forget... Some users will like it, others, like me, will fell it boring