Microsoft Security Essentials Created 15 years ago2009-09-29 13:11:31 UTC by satchmo

Microsoft releases its first security suite today.

This software has been on beta release since June, but the company is releasing it officially, three weeks before Windows 7 hits the stores.

I strongly suspect that it's a strategy to force people buy the MS OS and discourage piracy.

I am sure Bill Gates is desperate for more money.

Has anyone tried this security program?

Interesting. But you know what, after reading the official line from Microsoft on this security suite of theirs, I think I will hold off for now on installing it. I need time to first do a comprehensive "checking up-on" from other independent media sources like PC Magazine, Computer Shopper magazine or any of the ZDNet sites. I just want to see what the word "on the street" is, you know...."the pros and the cons" before I commit to anything. Thanks for your posting on this, satchmo. I always welcome security related info like this, it's always practical.

Windows Defender was rubbish and I have no doubt that this is too. No thanks.

Yes, Windows Defender is kind of weak, I agree with that. Now, saying that the new Microsoft Security Essentials is also going to be bad just because Windows Defender is not good either, is in my view a bit premature and unfair to say the least.

You see, unlike this new Security Essentials which was created completely in house and from the ground up by Microsoft programmers, Windows Defender was not really developed by Microsoft from the get-go, so it was never a true Microsoft product like the way the Windows OS's or Office products are.

To make a long story short, Windows Defender is really a non-Microsoft program called "GIANT AntiSpyware", which was originally developed by a Company called "Giant Company software". This company was later bought out by Microsoft, then soon afterwards Microsoft renamed GIANT AntiSpyware in to "Microsoft AntiSpyware". A little later after that, the Microsoft AntiSpyware program was once again renamed in to Windows Defender, which is what it is now. Windows Defender still remains pretty much the same from the original GIANT AntiSpyware program, very little has changed.

So, if there is a lesson here to be learned, don't put your name on a crappy product made by somebody else, or your reputation will suffer for it. So, with all this said, it will be better to just wait and see how this new, 100% Microsoft made from scratch anti-spyware program compares to not just Windows Defender, but also the rest of the anti-spyware crowd out there. After all, the popular word on the web is, the new Windows 7 is actually a pretty good improvement over Vista, and XP too, so it seems that there might actually be some hope here for the new Microsoft Security Essentials.

It's just an excuse for Microsoft to install more "Genuine Advantage" crap.

Other companies have been doing security for years and obviously have more experience than Microsoft, without the added rubbish that goes along with it.

No offence intended Tito, but you sound like a salesman :/

"Genuine Advantage"...Ha,ha,ha...oh man!

I wonder in who's "advantage" it would be for....?

Well, even if Microsoft Security Essentials turns out to be pretty good, I think I will still keep using what I use now, which is Avast, free edition. It has not fail me yet, the key word here being "yet".

Oh, and as for the salesman comment, no offence taken or perceived for that matter. Actually, I did held a sales job once selling Kirby vacuums, but that was years ago, and I only had it for about 5 months. The only selling I do these days, is on eBay and on my cafe/bar kiosk back home.

Windows Genuine Disadvantage.

It's a seriously funny name, they might as well have called it "Windows Completely Sincerely Advantageous Anti-Piracy Package".

It's like a hopeless last attempt to convince consumers that Microsoft's profit protection schemes are very beneficial for us too.

I still can't understand how they don't realise they're not going anywhere with this. Especially when they don't give you a choice (not in this case... yet)

I won't have anything else Microsoft in my computer, thanks. I have enough with Windows.

I won't have anything else Microsoft in my computer, thanks. I have enough with Windows.

Hey, at least we're not in the same boat as Mac users. All they have is Apple-licensed software.

Anyway, it's free. It's probably crap, or maybe it's awesome, but at least you get to choose to use it or use something else.

Yeah... for now.

I too think I'll keep using Avast. Minimal resource usage and so far hasn't let anything through or had any false detections.

And WC is pretty much right about Macs. Not to mention that if you want to stay ahead, you have to pay $130 every year or so for what is essentially a service pack.

I use NOD32 and haven't had a problem with it yet. So much better than AVG, which has basically gone down the shithole in the last few years.

AVG makes me feel safe, but I don't think it's really doing anything. It just alerts me if it detects a problem, it doesn't actually do anything about it, or say if it's serious, or even give a description of it. I don't use the scanner at all because it's never once come up with any results, even when Spybot finds multiple problems in 1/4 the time.

I guess I'm unprotected, har har har.

I've been using Trend Micro since I switched to Windows 7 Pro (one of the few that actually had dedicated support for Windows 7 at the time I upgraded).

It's actually the most non-intrusive protection program I've used so far, I might even gasp buy a subscription.

I use windows Xp, Avast! Antivirus and Comodo Firewall. I don't have problems.

The answer to all piracy problems is free software. Linux&OpenSource. Free. It's well below a windows platform functionality, but it evolves slowly and and evidence for this is source-forge and the fact that GIMP( and even better, GimpShop) replicates a $699 graphics program ( actual price for ps cs4), for free.
I don't use linux yet, because I have only one computer at my home. But I'm sure I'll try it in the future. Don't tell me it's not useful, OS-es like linux are very used. TWHL uses FreeBSD

Don't tell me it's not useful, OS-es like linux are very used.

AFAIK, the only problem with linux is inexperienced users, and that noone makes games compatible with it.

If you drink WINE, you're problems are over. A quarter of them, at least...

WINE only supports up to DX8. That's balls, and I feel inclinded to WHINE about it.

....Zing ^^

If you drink WINE, you're problems are over. A quarter of them, at least...

Apparently not your problem with possessive pronouns

I'm not running any anti-virus or firewall, and even less Windows Update, at the moment. And if I suddenly got the urge to get anti-viral I certainly would not go to Microsoft for it. I guess you could say it's a trust issue.

Although I must say, Windows Update did let me get SP3 without even trying to install WGA, something I am grateful for.

YOUR, fucks. YOUR YOUR YOUR

Your gay, Striker.

How dare you sign a letter from striker like that!

My apologies. This will not happen again.