MSE vs Avast Free?

how do they compare? and hows Avira?

what would be the deciding factor

 

Avira is much better

 

Well, Avira and Avast have a slightly higher % of detection rates than current MSE version, however, MSE only has 1 false positive whereas the other two have about 11.
I would have to say that MSE has a lower detection threshold because of the low false positive rate.

Alternatively, Panda has high detection threshold like Avira and Avast and only 1 false positive like MSE... so theoretically, it would beat them all, but it's cloud based, and it only benefits from a constant internet connection.

I'm using MSE and hadn't had any issues.

Avast prompts you after each year to renew the free license (though they are also insisting on upgrading to the paid versions in the process), and Avira to my knowledge has a lot of ads that have a tendency to jump out.

MSE has none of those (and I think Panda is the same).

Ultimately, whichever you end up choosing, you can't go wrong.

 

I'm using both Avast and MSE so I don't have to pick

 

Not on the same computer (OS) I hope.

 

I am. Is that bad? It doesn't cause any conflicts and the computer runs great

 

^^^^ Running MSE together with Avast! Anti Virus - Microsoft Answers
westCoastgeekbaby2 If you want to have both installed that is fine but I would recommend turning off real time protection on either one.

 

Thanks for the link, Gt500! That's a great suggestion. I'll probably leave AVast on and MSE real time off. Anything has to be better than a Microsoft product

 

MSE is lean and works very well. Don't discount it because it is MS. This works very well. I would also use Malwarebytes and just common sense computing, along with restore points and backups. You should be very pleased with the results.

 

As mentioned above, there is no need to disregard MSE, it's really not a bad program.
Avast offers more options though if you like to use them.
Even when disabling large parts of a second AV, I still don't recommend having installed a second AV if it's not a dedicated on-demand/second opinion program.
Either choose a program like MBAM or HitmanPro3 for a second opinion or use a multiscanner website like VirusTotal or MetaScan.
I recommend using an AV and Sandboxie or an AV and a HIPS (like Online Armor or Comodo offers) for better protection.
Also, LUA/SUA and backups/images are golden.

 

Antivirus Security Shootout: Microsoft Vs. Symantec Vs. McAfee Vs. Kaspersky

This is a comparison between MSE and Symantec, McAfee and Kaspersky. No Avast, but against these three paid solutions, MSE holds its own. I use it on all personal computers I own and support. Haven't used Avast for anything other than older servers in awhile.

 

I have been using MSE on all six computers in the house. My sons are notorious for going to gaming site after gaming site and downloading everything under the son and MSE has never let us down. I have a brand new Dell XPS and really just want to remove Mcafee and put MSE on it as well, but I got a 15 month subscription with the unit. What would you guys do? Use it until it expires or remove it now and use MSE?

 

^^^ Not to speak for the group, but I believe the consensus here would be to remove McAfee. you may want to check this link before removal. How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee consumer products using the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR.exe)
MSE has saved me numerous times, I have been know to frequent 'shady' sites LOL

 

Is there a way to make MSE download optional updates automatically?

Whenever i open Windows Update, there is usually a MSE update in the 'optional' section, and if i dont tell it to download, it will sit there until i tell it to. I dont want to check Windows Update all the time to make sure there are no updates, i want them to download and install automatically and silently if possible.
Windows Update is set to download and install automatically, but it doesnt..

any ideas?

 

See the first sticky post of this forum:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/security-anti-virus-software/190538-best-free-security-software.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/5668264-post8.html
Microsoft Security Essentials Automatic Virus Signature Updates

 

It is the worst idea. I found the solution to make automatic updates several times per day, up to 24 times, but have changed something in a book (registri) I do change from Windows to automatically update MSE is nonsense and stupidity. Better install Avast. However, detection is much better.
AVG Free detection 2012 is better than Avast and MSE. Do not consume resources elsewhere., Is much higher and top rated.

 

MSE installs the updates automatically once every 24 hours. You might need to re-install MSE.

 

MSE automatically updates for me as well.

Try reinstalling it like coolguy said.

 

I reinstalled, to see if tomorrow is updated automatically. Should be amended to make daily scan? In order to make update every day? If I want to do daily scanning, do not update daily.

 

I don't run daily scans.. I make it run every sunday, like it is defaulted to.

 

MSE auto-updates for me as well once per day.
No issues on my end.
It might be a problem for some people if they set the updating inside MSE in intervals when the computer is not activated or doesn't have access to the Internet.
This would obviously skip the updating and MSE would do it the next day at the same time... and if that window is missed, then it will skip to the day after that.

If large amounts of update skipping happens, then it might be prudent to force more frequent update intervals in the day via registry mod to make sure you get the updates.

 

Avast free is better. 3 times updating every day. Antivirus without update = 0.