Microsoft Security Essentials is the name of Microsoft’s latest Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware software for Windows operating system. It is already being tested internally at Microsoft and is rumored to launch in September of this year. We were lucky to gets hands on the pre-beta build version of Security Essentials. I tested it on Windows Vista and was quite impressed with it. Below is the complete review along with some interesting findings.
Update: Microsoft Security Essentials has finally been released to the public, check it out here.
Note: Click the images below to enlarge.
Installation
Installation was a breeze, here are the step-by-step procedure for installation. When you run the installer for the first time, you are shown the welcome screen, click Next.
Read the License Agreement and click I accept.
Here is the real bummer for those who are using non-genuine versions of Windows. This step will validate whether your Windows is genuine or not. Click Validate to check, if your Windows is validated you will be moved to next step, otherwise installation will fail.
Now once your Windows has been validated, Security Essentials will now get ready to be installed. Click Install to begin installation.
Installing…
Once installation is complete, check the Scan My Computer checkbox and click Finish.
Using Security Essentials
Once installation is complete, you will be redirected to automatic virus & spyware definition updates.
Now go to Home tab where you will be notified that everything is running smoothly.
To perform a System Scan, you can select from any one of the three options, Quick, Full, or Custom. First, I performed a quick scan to see how well it goes. The Quick scan was not so quick as the name suggests, it took several minutes(10 minutes to be exact on my system) to complete.
I did not perform a Full Scan since it would have taken more than 20 minutes 2-3 hours easily. So I went straight ahead with Custom Scan. You have to choose the exact drive or destination that you would like to scan and click OK.
Update: For those thinking why I did not perform a full scan, the problem was not about time(although I did perform it later). There was no need to review the Full Scan option, because it is just similar to Quick Scan but instead scanned all locations of hard disk.
This is how the Home window looks like when a threat is detected.
To remove this threat, click Clean Computer button. It seems like a Trojan was sitting on my computer which NOD32 failed to detect.
I have to commend Security Essentials for finding and removing this stupid Trojan.
To schedule a scan you can either click Change My Scan Schedule link on the Home window or go straight to Settings.
Below are some additional screenshots of Default action, Real-time protection, and Advanced settings.
In History tab you can see all Detected Items, Quarantined Items, and Allowed Items. To remove all history, click Delete History button.
Conclusion
Since I tested the pre-beta build, it is quite difficult to draw the final verdict. But one thing that held out is it’s ease-of-use and small memory footprint. The overall size of the software installer is only 4.8MB and takes around 6.6MB + 36MB(runs two different processes) when running on my system. Which is quite impressive if you look at the fact that it detected and removed a Trojan downloader that NOD32 even failed to detect in the first place. Just for the sake of comparison ESET NOD32 takes 35MB of system memory, which means approx 28.4MB more than Security Essentials. 
Enjoy!
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146 Comments
One thing that I've noticed, while Nod32 interacts with Google Chrome browser (somehow, it doesn't affect IE8 or FF3.6), MSE does not. So I'm using MSE for everyday/real time use and am very happy with it. I do a full scan with both Nod32 and MSE once a week, and both seem about equal there.
Can I just say ignore the comments below this is a cool review and I like it. I was cuirous about the install and generaqlly dont use av programs I just dont download viruses lol.
You need help badly. If you do not use Antivirus. Sick.
very very VERY bad anti virus progamm
my other anti spyware progamm already deleted 4 virusses, while microsoft security didnt even find one
this is by far the suckiest anti virus i had
I love ignorant posts like this. It means nothing.
hahaha
if you use microsoft windows then only use microsoft security because only microsoft knows there windows better then other heavy antivirus which actually updates viruses to ur computer microsoft is best!
people are facing few errors and problems in Microsoft Security Essentials, like updating error; I got the solutions shared at under given URL for Microsoft Security Essentials. I like to share with others, perhaps this can help someone came to this website for Microsoft Security Essentials; PLease allow me to share with others
http://www.itoperationz.com/2010/03/microsoft-s...
http://www.itoperationz.com/2010/03/microsoft-s...
I like the new MSE but miss and need the options in windows defender, like to disable programs that start up with windows. I hope they stil provide a way to access the startup folder.
msconfig… type it in “start” search bar?
MSE was the first thing I installed on a new computer I just received after deleting all the bloatware programs that originally came on with the computer (Gateway FX6831-03). Then the tedious process of moving over all my files began. MSE detected and removed a Trojan called JS/Kak.gen. It was hiding in one of the many e-mail folders I brought over to the new computer via a flash drive. So tip of the hat to MSE for detecting a Trojan that had been sitting on my old computer, probably for years (was using McAffe on that one).
I have been using the MSE for a few weeks now & I found it extremely good in detection of spyware & Trojans & viruses..(this is subjected to the frequency on which the program is updated of course!!).. If you are updating with latest definitions per 2-4 days its the best AV program I have encountered yet ..
As a certified engineer for a Manage Server Provider I have extensive experience in all leading AV products. Over the years I have proved that the Mcafee, Trend and Symantec are popular because of their marketting machine and at the end of the day they all have there strengths and weaknesses and they cost more than they’re worth. In all the complex trials that I have conducted MSE is on par with the others yet it’s free. For any home\business to spend $XX/pc/year on SAV or Trend is outrageous. If you get viruses then your doing something you’re not supposed to be doing!. My first MSE deployment to a 30desktop network last year has been extremely successfull, no outbreaks, or killed PC. Forefront For Exchange complimented the desktop solution. F4E is so cheap. I have no intentions of recommending SAV\TRend\ CA ever again. I have saved companies thousand of $ since by recommending MSE. As if trend, Mcafee, SAV are going to reimeburse you if a definition screws up or a virus gets through. Microsoft are getting their act together.. lookout vendors.
MSE is the best av i have ever had its stronger than bit defender and than kaspersky !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FYI: Windows Defender is primarily a Spyware/Adware remover. MSE is an actual AV program, although I noticed that my MS |Defender was “upgraded” at some point to detect and remove viruses as MSE does. MSE seems to work efficiently for me.
i have just installed MSE. it asked for update n im shocked to find that http://www.microsoft.com is unavailable to solve my problem… im using windows xp servicepack 2 .. kindly help me out from this..
SP2 is dead you should be on SP3. Upgrade at Microsoft. They wont service SP2 anymore. Look at your automatic updates. You missed the boat.
THE SITE IS DOWN FOR NOW!!!!DONT KNOW FOR HOW LONG, BUT MAYBE THEIR ON VACATION!!!
i need more powerfull anti virus because some virus delete my very important files . infact i was tottly depended on the microsoft security essentialls
Install PC Tools ThreatFire along with MSE. They work excellent together. Google it if in doubt.
mse is the best anti virus of microsoft because it need no licence key
This worked better than any other commertial AV.
I’ve used former antivirus programs such as Avast, McAfee, Norman and SuperAntispyware. That didn’t stop me from getting a virus. Then I installed MSE (and Malwarebytes as an extra) and have had no problems whatsoever. I’m on a site that apparently has had a lot of viruses running around and infecting a lot of computers and making them run more slowly. Not mine.
mse is the best antivirus
it does not even slow down your computer
and microsofts thing are always reliable but it does not detect spyware
there is a microsoft tool for this named microsoft malicious software removal tool
download it here
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.aspx
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