MS Security Essential + Windows Firewall enough?

hi guys, i'm currently using this on my notebook pc (windows vista business 32-bit) thinkpad x300.

ZoneAlarm 7.1
Windows Defender (can't disable, or microsoft security center will nag)
Spybot Search & Destroy
SpywareBlaster

currently i'm thinking of ditching all of the above and go the simple life option.

Microsoft Security Essential.
Windows Firewall.

is both of the above will be enough or better than my current one?

the one problem i had with my current suite of software is that it is too complex to my liking and is hard to keep up to date, and the machine being a notebook and all, i'm hoping the battery life will improve.

so is Security Essential adequate?
is windows firewall good enough to protect me? even when i'm out and about?

any comment? anything at all?

 

Try free Agnitum Outpost firewall (strong, light and easy) instead of ZoneAlarm, combine it with MSE and use a LUA or at least use it when surfing/using internet facing apps.
Installing MSE will disable Defender automatically (an improved version is incorporated in MSE).
I'd use Firefox with AdblockPlus and Noscript add-on's also (Noscript can be a bit bothersome though tbh)
Combined with sufficient reason, you're good to go.

 

Microsoft themselves said that MSE is /not/ an all in one solution and you should still protect yourself with a separate antivirus.

 

Do you have a source for this? Because the Microsoft page I found says the opposite:

I tried to link to the page, but it makes this forum software barf. But... Go here: http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/default.aspx and click "Help and Support" > "Help and How-to" > Uninstalling existing antivirus...

However, it doesn't seem to offer a replacement for a third-party firewall, so if you use that already, I'd consider trying to keep it. Also, I can't see the harm of having other virus/spyware scanners around, as long as they're not real-time scanners.

 

i really don't think that this is true. you're not suppose to run 2 or more antivirus.

which reminds me;

why is that i already got Zonealarm anti-spyware, but microsoft security center doesn't list it in the security center, and it also activate the windows defender. which is weird. coz, as of now, i have 2 antispyware running/scanning/updating.

 

so now i'm confused with that said...
if i am fixing someone's pc....and i load micsoroft security essentials, is it as good as having a fully blown AV?

 

i think MSE + Windows Firewall is good enough. unless you're gonna do bank transactions and you're really paranoid.

 

I doubt it!

 

I've been running MSE for a few days in a virtual pc that is really infected with viruses. I use this VM for testing av software for work. So far, it found and fixed all of them, Nod32 was the only other one that could do the same. McAffee, Norton, AVG, Avira, Avast, and Panda all missed at least one virus. MSE real time protection does seem a bit slow at finding them, run the app thats infected and it finds it straight away, but just copying an infected file doesn't jump up immediately. If your really paranoid, pay for nod32, if not MSE seems to be good, time will obviously be the test. As a free AV solution, it's great.

 

As andy said, MSE is a great standalone AV. I'd suggest you try it for sometime and see for yourself. As for a firewall, if your behind a hardened router, there's no need really for a software firewall. But if you access the internet at public places its def a must have. So i'd suggest Outpost Free. Its simple, light and does its job.

Cheers.

 

NOD32 FTW man asking about an AV???

 

so, windows built-in firewall is not enough protection for accessing internet at public places.

also, do i really need spybot S&D and SpywareBlaster?
^so if i uninstalls both of these, will i be seeing adware on my computer? or is windows defender is more than sufficient in blocking adware?

 

Wobble, I work for IT at a University and I've been using Security Essentials lately, more-so than our Enterprise McAfee Anti-Virus.

This is all you need to do:
1. Turn on Windows Firewall (clean out or inspect exceptions tab if you want)
2. Uninstall ALL other Security Software (except Defender).
3. Install Microsoft Security Essentials.
4. Make sure Windows Automatic Updates are turned on.
5. Run Windows Update a few times a month.

That is ALL you need for complete protection. There are 3rd party options for security, but if you want the simplified experience, follow those steps.

I've been running at least 60 systems on the above model for several weeks now (previously used Beta Security Essentials) and everything is running properly. Compared to our Enterprise solution, Security Essentials also shortens boot time and does a good job getting underneath infections on systems that don't have security software installed.

If you need additional information, feel free to reply.

 

I agree with Storm on this. The ONLY reason I'm still using Norton and not MSE or MS Forefront (vis MSDNAA) is because I have a license with about 10 months left.

Now that's not to say Norton 2010 is bad (it's actually very, very good), but if I can get something like MSE or Forefront for free, I'm all for it.

 

I'll wait for av-comparatives to make a new report and include MSE in the list. One Care had a pretty low detection rate (92% vs 98-99% of Avira & Avast?).

I'll play it safe and stick with the best.

 

What do you you guys need all this security for jeez.. What kind of things do you download lol

 

I'd install common sense 2009.

 

MSSE is based on ForeFront Anti-Virus Engine NOT One Care.
I am using ForeFront atm.

 

Best program ever. Liked 2008 also...
Unfortunately most people assume it's real-time on-access.
Well, real-time maybe but often only on-demand

 

The problem is unlike anti-virus software Common Sense 2008/2009 is very rare, strangely it doesn't allow system to system copy and installation.

 

well, there are viruses everywhere, not necessarily from the net, but just few months ago, my college has this superbad virus infection, pluggin my thumbdrive there and plugging it in my computer causes the AV to springs up few alerts telling me that it founds couple of viruses. i needed to reformat the thumbdrive in order to be able to access it back, i lost the data there, but meh, i keep backups.

at the internet, there are heaps of adware, tracking cookies, etc. i rarely got em, after i use spybot and spyware blaster. now, i'm not too sure what will happen if i take them off, has the problem is gone (through windows security patch or something) or not.

to the update of this. apparently i did some research on the net for a bit, and found that apparently, windows firewall is not really good in leak test, and that it does not stand well to hacker.

anyone ever get their pc hacked? how to know if its hacked?

 

i suppose its when programs start of their own accord, and your cd drives start opening

probably also when you find your internet speeds start decreasing, and settings changed.

 

Windows firewall by default doesn't have outbound protection. You'd have to set it up manually. But it is a pretty solid firewall. If u feel that strongly abt it, try COMODO (just the firewall), or Outpost or Online Armor; 3 of the best free firewalls out there.

Spybot is really out-dated (...i think, coz i haven't used it in ages!). You should try MBAM (Malwarebytes Antimalware) as ur on-demand malware scanner. I haven't used spywareblaster either, in recent times.

I also want to say that you should just try running MSE and Outpost Free for now and see how they are, how they run and whether ur experiencing any problems with the combo. You can keep asking wat i should and wat i should install, and u'll a get a thousand different answers. Test out a couple of softwares u think u want to stay with and see how they suit u best.

Cheers.

 

This is all I have, and I'm good:
Windows Firewall
AV
MalwareBytes
SuperAntiSpyware

 

Anyone notice that NOD32 x64 (newest 4.x version) on Windows 7 x64 just about ALWAYS uses ~50% CPU? (The kernel, not the GUI.) I noticed this yesterday, as I've had it running for quite sometime. I've monitored it at MANY different times, and it's always there, regardless of file activity on my computer. I've switched to MSE currently due to significantly lower (i.e. "normal") CPU utilization.

 

no one wants to hack you lol... hacking individuals pc's sounds so 90's...
if you have a router i really think thats enough..

trojans (keyloggers ect) are the only enemy.

 

Really if you are careful enough, I know people that use the basics and no extra AV or anything and they have no problems ever, that being said, these people know a great deal about the internet and what is safe and what is potentially dangerous.

I don't recommend it but it isn't to far out there.

I use avira free version and SUPERantispyware,
never gotten a virus
never gotten a trojan
just adware which SUPERantispyware easily removes.

I may update to Kaspersky 2010 soon just because I can and because it's safer than avira.

 

I am moving from Avira Antivir Personal 9 to MSE now.
I have some problems with Avira Antivir Personal 9 on Windows 7 which annoys me and caused crash.
So, now, my I am using MSE, Windows Firewall and SpywareBlaster.
MSE detection rate and data base good or bad? I might switch back to Avira if I found the fix. LOL.

EDIT: I found MMSE is very heavy. It uses about 60-65MB of RAM while Avira only used 15-20MB of RAM if not mistaken.

 

Windows XP's firewall is what this statement applies to. Vista and 7's firewall protect both ways.

 

I'm running avira free version and superantispyware

 

If you enable outbound blocking in Vista...
The default setting for outbound filtering is ' off' which means only some Windows services are checked for unexpected 'behaviour'.