Microsoft Security Essentials Version 2.0 now Availiable

It seems version 2 of MSE is now available.

http://dottech.org/freeware-reviews/19752

I tried this version out a while back, and it created my first (and only BSOD) on this year old computer. Microsoft Update shows MSE, Silverlight & Windows Live Services as options, I'll wait until it shows on the updating system, before I try to install again.

PS: I double checked Windows update to make sure whether it showed or not, it doesn't. Last night, I installed a VM of XP Pro to run Folding@Home on, one of the final updates was MSE, along with Windows Live. So it's not there yet.

Cat

MSE hosed my system a few weeks ago to the extent that I couldn't boot even Safe Mode without BSODs. Now, in the interest of fairness, many AV solutions can cause BSODs. But they have never disabled my computer the way this update to MSE did, and this is not the first time MSE has failed me miserably this fall.

I can't in good conscience recommend this piece of crap to anyone, and quite frankly I will likely continue to recommend its prompt removal. MSE has a lot of potential, but as it stands it's just another butcher shop experiment from the Redmond boys.

Actually, I forgot to mention something. That install of MSE last night missed (during it's first full scan) an infection (Win32/SweetIM). So did the latest install of MBAM (they had to update their latest version, 1.50, to 1.50.1).

The ESET Online Scanner found and removed the infection. It came from an alternative PDF reader (PDF Creator 1.1.0) that I was trying out to replace Adobe X with. Just an experiment on a VM, but it could easily be anyone's main computer.

I strongly encourage users to avoid PDF Creator, and encourage users who insists on using MSE to at least use a second scanner, such as the ESET Online Scanner as a backup.

Not to be picking on MSE at all, but it has gained popularity so fast (too fast, IMOP),and is MS's first attempt at a real AV (Windows Defender is for spyware removal), and is attracting hackers like a turd does flies. I've already been hit at least five times now by a virus or malware (one very severe).

Probably tomorrow, on my evaluation version of Windows 7, I'll reinstall Avast, I used them for two years prior to MSE, had very few problems, mainly false alerts from having the security jacked up so high. What infections I did catch with Avast was on XP Pro, not Win 7.

Like Core, I cannot any longer recommend MSE to anyone, five infections within a year is too many for my comfort zone. I will make a change, but will evaluate first.

Cat

This is why I am running it on my Virtual XP, I do run the previous version of MSE on my main computer and have never had a problem with it. I have had only 3 i attempts at my maschine being infected since I bought my first computer in 1993, I use MSE Super anti spyware, spyware blaster and Maleware bytes

Can the new version of MSE be run on XP now? When it first came out, it couldn't, you had to have Vista SP1 or above. At that time, you had to register for the the download, it was a few months back.

I guess MS had to pacify the XP crowd, after all. I use it, but only for folding, I wouldn't dare to conduct business or check my email with it. Too insecure for that kind of use.

Cat

I did a clean install of XP Pro for a friend the other day on their totally infected 5 year old system and now MSE is included in the XP Optional Updates section.

XP isn't that insecure or it wouldn't have lasted or be so popular for these past 9 years. It's how you configure it and the AV or IS or firewall software used that makes a huge difference. Remember, hundreds of millions of users DID check their emails and DID conduct business with XP and nearly all had no issues at all.

I tried it Staurdy for a few hours. Ran a full scan with it on a clean install of Windows 7 and it didn't find any threats. I then installed Malwarebytes 1.50 and let it update itself. I then restarted my pc into Safe Mode and ran MSE 2.0 again. Again nothing found. I then ran a full scan with Malwarebytes in Safe Mode and it found alot of Adware that MSE missed. I then uninstalled MSE and went back to using Kaspersky Internet Security 2011. KIS 2011 wasn't installed while MSE 2.0 was.

Yes, MSE is now an available update for XP SP3 & above, but not the newer version of it. I just last night installed XP to fold with inside of Linux Mint.

XP has been very popular these past 9 years, I can't argue that. But the main reason that XP still has over 50% usage is due to the economy. For many, it's either stick with XP, or go to Linux. Many computer users aren't fortunate enough to have Windows 7, or a computer modern enough for it to operate properly on.

And MSE is a worthy AV, but there are more and more reports of attacks against it. If you're going to run MSE, a second scanner should be used. The ESET Online Scanner is an excellent one to use for that purpose.

But as far as I know, MSE version 2 is not available for XP. It was meant to be for Vista and Win 7 users only. In less than two months, XP will be 10 years old. It can't be catered to forever.

Cat

My results were with Windows 7 Professional x64. I haven't used Windows XP since January 31, 2007 on my old computer when Windows Vista came out.