We’ve been recommending and using Microsoft Security Essentials for a long time. And we’re still recommending it, but we’re getting a bit concerned. The last data available from AV Comparatives (a trusted, independent shows Microsoft Security Essentials with a detection rate of 90.4% in the real-world antivirus test. This is not very good when compared to others. And the numbers keep falling. At what point should we pull our recommendation? Is Microsoft still serious about MSE or have they started letting us all down — AGAIN?
We want you to know that we are keeping an eye on this for you. The last time Microsoft won a 3-star award (the highest award AV comparatives gives) was July 2012. It’s now August 2013, so that’s more than a year ago. It has won no awards in 2013.
No antivirus consistently scores 100% but many come close. And we’re concerned that MSE is going to soon slip below 90% and that is just plain not acceptable. With the number of good, free antivirus programs declining, and the best of the other free ones turning into mini-Nortons, we’re very concerned about the disturbing now year-long continuous decline in MSE’s effectiveness.
We just checked AV Comparatives July 2013 one, two and three star awards, and MSE wasn’t even able to garner one star.
For your information, here are the one, two and three star award antivirus award winners from AV Comparatives for July 2013 (the most recent awards):
Note: The Avast and AVG programs tested were not the free versions but the commercial (paid) versions.
So where’s MSE? And, why is Norton consistently missing? Because they don’t want to participate, that’s why. And why don’t they want to participate? We don’t know. Do you want to guess?
We are following MSE very closely, and if it comes time to pull our recommendation, we will do so. Your safety is our concern and we’ll be watching this situation for you. If MSE doesn’t show an improvement in August 2013 we’ll drop our recommendation and advise you to switch antivirus programs. In the meantime we’ll be testing free anti-virus programs for you to see which offers you the best protection with the least amount of interference.
Again, Emsisoft was a 3-star winner — so it’s not only the best anti-malware available, it’s also one of the best antivirus programs available. We’re committed to keeping safe and separating facts from all the detritus out there. You can see with your own eyes, which antivirus programs make the cut and which don’t.
For now, those of you using MSE who want to keep using it, should do so, keeping in mind when the first of September rolls around, you might have to make a change.
(This article applies to Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 with MSE installed.)
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The new version MSE does not work on two of my Windows XP computers. I could not update it. Or run a scan. It did not work any more. On one of the computers I put AVAST on it. I did not know which anti-virus to use, I just choose the it. The other XP was a virtual one. I just deleted it. I had an older backup of it. I am using that one. The older version of MSE is working fine on it. It is still version 4. The one that caused the problems was from July’s security updates. It was a new version of it.
I tried to use Microsoft Security Essentials when CloudEight first recommended it, but found it bulky, balky and prone to conflicts with other programs on my system. So, I went back (renewed) my paid version of AVAST and find it still does the best job for me.
Hmmm everything must be relative — MSE is about a 10MB download, Avast (free) is over 100MB. Seems like a lot of bulk to me.
Thanks for the latest report on Microsoft’s poor performance–in yet another area! This just confirms that we don’t need MSE (or any other of a long list of programs) on our computer for security–as long as we have Emsisoft installed. It seems each day that passes only reinforces this thinking.
Have MSE on 2 laptops,don’t care for them much I have always felt like I wasn’t protected now I know why..thanks
Linda
A question.. did I miss something along the way ? I don’t see SuperantySpywear listed in the list of recommend security programs,
Could you please clarify this.
Thank you very much,
Ingo
SuperAntiSpyware is not an anti-virus.
I emailed you maybe 2years or more ago about Microsoft Security Essentials that it didn’t work right for me on XP
and even got me into trouble. You said NOTHING. Now I see you are concerned with it. About time. Will be watching for further comments from you Cloud Eight. Microsoft is doing lots of things I suspect to make people give up XP. Seems like not a day goes by when I turn on my computer that something else doesn’t work right. Really makes me wonder about them. I know they could program bad things into their windows, I would hope they don’t but I am wondering.
Last July (July 2012) MSE was awarded three stars..and it’s not been in steady decline since then. In fact in April it was comparable to many other antivirus programs in the 95-96% range. So I’m not sure if you think we should be able to look into the future and predict things like this …but that’s what you seem to be asking.
We have not seen them rated at the top in a long time but McAfee and Norton charge $60 a year ad I’ve never seen them at the top. AVG is not rated highly AVAST is up and down. We’re not going to start making statements about a product unless we’re fairly certain it’s not working right. That’s why we are giving MSE another month — it it hasn’t improved in another month – we are not going to recommend it.
And you’re using XP…you have about 8 more months to use it before no security program in the world is going to keep it safe. And fewer and fewer and fewer programs are going to make versions for XP simply because the number of users is rapidly declining now. You should keep that in mind too. No developer is going to waste time or money on an operating system whose lifespan is down to 8 months or less. It’s not how we made things — it’s just the way things are.
Don’t shoot the messenger.
Thank you for keeping us informed. I really appreciate the fact that you keep us safe on our
super highway of information and technology. I myself appreciate the both of you for what you do. Thank you so much TC and EB and have a blessed cloud day and enjoy life, you both deserve that.
I quit using avast a couple years ago when they changed their program and started to intimidate everyone to buy the paid version.
I have been using MSE ever since , but I would not be surprised if Microsoft let us down once again, it’s all about money. Also, I was wondering, do you still Recomend
Super Antispyware ? I have the paid version.
SuperAntiSpyware is still a good program and we still recommend it. However, spyware is now included in the more general category of malware, and using Emsisoft and SuperAntiSpyware isn’t necessary, but certainly won’t hurt anything. We have not, nor do we plan to discontinue our recommendation of SuperAntiSpyware.
Thanks for the “heads-up” concerning Microsoft Security Essentials. I’ve used other antivirus programs but MSE has been my favorite.
I am now using Windows 8 which came with Defender. Is Defender and MSE actually the same program with different names? If not, how well is Defender performing in the testing?
I want to join Ramona in thanking you for all you’ve done for us throughout the years. You are my “go-to” people that have kept me safe and informed on the Internet. I don’t know what I would have done without you!
God bless you TC and EB,
Sondra
I would like to join Sondra with her question about Defender on W8. At the same time I want to thank you TC and EB for your help throughout those years. I am sure that a lot of people have learned a lot from you and through your guidance in this Cyberworld. You guys “Rock” and God bless you.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Isabelle