Comments on: Symantec & AVG – Microsoft Security Essentials Is Not Enough

By: Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Minecraft has an unusual release system. There are beta releases prior to official updates leading up to what’s considered an official release. If I’m mistaken, thanks for pointing that out. Still, there’s something strange about calling a program unofficially released when more people are playing it (and paying money for it) than most major brand releases.

By: Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:59:00 +0000

Full releases, yes. Thanks for pointing that out. The overprices expansion packs and other extras are what they expect people to spend more money on every 3-6 months.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:16:00 +0000

Call of duty comes out every 12 months, not 6.

By: Shaun Zhang

Shaun Zhang — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:16:14 +0000

The reason why Microsoft Security Essentials does not include web protection like malicious website blocking, is that Internet Explorer 8 has already got that, SmartScreen Filter, it protects users from malicious downloads, and malicious websites, plus phishing websites, while Microsoft Security Essentials itself protects users from malicious downloads, Microsoft cannot afford to add another layer of web protection to Security Essentials since IE8 has already provided it, Microsoft also offer an inbound firewall for home network, and a two way firewall for public network in windows 7.
I would encourage customers who use Microsoft Security Essentials to upgrade to Internet Explorer 8, and if they use windows 7, they already got that.
If you think there is anything else that Microsoft Security Essentials should have, you are welcome to share your experience.

By: Ron Schenone

Ron Schenone — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:46:38 +0000

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Akay –
“as long as you don’t do anything silly online then most free anti virus programs are adequate”

Exactly. This is basically all you need to do.

“In terms of ID protection, its simple, just use your brain”

This is where most people get themselves into trouble. They don’t use their brain. LOL

Regards, Ron

By: AKAY

AKAY — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:51:57 +0000

Its just typical scare tactics by these companies, as long as you don’t do anything silly online then most free anti virus programs are adequate. I’ve not bothered renewing my Zonealarm subscription, as the newer version was just a bloated mess and really bogged my system down. I’ve switched to MSE and I use Outpost Firewall 2009 free, and I’ve got the free version of Malwarebytes which I use as an on demand scanner, just in case, and my laptop runs like a dream now. I’ve always been pretty careful, I’ve probably had one infection in 5 years, and that was last year, funny thing is my paid version of ZA missed the trojan, but Malwarebytes free got it, so why bother giving them money again?

Whenever I’m online I’m generally behind a router, which provides great protection, and as I mentioned I back it up with a software firewall. In terms of ID protection, its simple, just use your brain for chrissakes, Im pretty sure I’m not related to a Nigerian prince lol, you don’t need any symantec garbage.

By: D.P.

D.P. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:43:54 +0000

Versus Norton? Probably anything is better than Norton. I wouldn’t listen to anything they have to say. As far as how it would compare to AVG, McAfee, etc., I’m not really sure. Have only ever used Norton, Webroot, Malwarebytes, and AVG. Webroot and Malwarebytes have been good so far, AVG was alright, but Norton was terrible. Absolute crap. Waste of time, money, and your computer’s resources. ABN = Anything But Norton. I don’t know how much I trust Microsoft either when it comes to their record on internet security, heh, but I’m sure it couldn’t be any worse than Norton.

By: Neil Katz

Neil Katz — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:46:07 +0000

Nice try Symantec. Regarding anti-span, I use NIS 2009 and turn this off. I have anti-spam in MS Outlook 2007, and thru my ISP (Verizon.net). Only a small number get ID’d as junk by Outlook, and none are true spam. Verizon gets all of the junk, and rarely makes a mistake. As far as a firewall is concerned, my router has one, and Vista/Win 7 have another – using Vista Firewall Control to configure the Windows firewall completes that requirement (for fee too). Internet Explorer and Firefox provide the web security. Regarding Identity Protection, a little common sense goes a long way – don’t give out confidential info unless you are initiating the process (such as a online purchase).

I will probably continue NIS for my wife’s and son’s PC’s, as they do not want to be bothered configuring the Windows Firewall, even with the above front end app, but do not plan to install it on my Win 7 PC.

By: Ron Schenone

Ron Schenone — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:01:32 +0000

Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the link.

By: Ryan Farmer

Ryan Farmer — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:43:51 +0000

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=knowledge_center&articleId=9134753&taxonomyId=1&intsrc=kc_top

According to GmbH antivirus comparisons, Security essentials is not only far more effective than Norton at discovering in-the-wild threats, but also had no false positives .

No wonder the people that make Norton are scared.