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Microsoft Security Essentials
Topic Started: Nov 8 2009, 04:19 PM (394 Views)
John
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Started using this after Druid mentioned it was ok on Diplocks and i have to say i am converted, it seems to be great.

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/
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Gina
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That's interesting - thank you John :) :) I think I'll give it a try on my XP :)
Edited by Gina, Nov 8 2009, 07:47 PM.
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Phaedrus
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I really don`t like the way Microsoft do business.
It may well be an ok product, (although with their track record, I have my doubts) but its going to be the main target for future malware and I am not happy about their monopoly. People will see this as just another part of Windows and will feel it unnecessary to use a 3rd party anti malware product. Its unfair.

I am using Linux for the majority of my computing. There is just one music app (Guitar Rig) that I have to use Windows for, but I use that app every day. Its annoying coz the Guitar Rigs software runs ok in linux, but the hardware control pedal driver won`t install under wine.
I have to confess I have been seriously considering going over to the light side (Apple) for my non-Linux computing.
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John
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It is only another part of windows if you seek it out and install it, it doesn't come with any versions of Windows due to anti trust laws, lets be honest you would rather have this installed protecting Mr and Mrs A N Other against viruses, spyware, rootkits, and trojans than nothing at all and therefore effectively letting them play a part in spreading such infections.

I don't see how Microsoft is any different to Apple ill be honest and as the Mac becomes more mainstream you know exactly what is going to happen :)
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Gina
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Thanks for your opinion Trev :) I'll reconsider and since what I'm using seems fine I think I'll stick with that.

As for Microsoft... I bought a wireless keyboard/mouse in a sale - it's a Microsoft Wireless Keyboard / Laser Mouse 3000. I looked on the M$ website and others for reviews etc. and it seemed OK so I got it :( :( Absolute cr*p!!! I've totally given up on the mouse and using my ancient Logitech Trakball plugged into the PS2 port, instead! The mouse is ultra sensitive - you only have to breathe on it and the pointer moves half an inch on the screen, even with the software mouse control turned right down. Actual movement of it is fairly slow but it won't hold position - hopeless for drawing diagrams!! And it's not software/OS - it's the same in Win XP on another machine.

As for the keyboard... that works for the most part. The curved layout and key feel is actually quite nice. BUT it sometimes fails to send a keystroke and you then need to go back and edit the text (no, I don't touch type). The multi-media keys don't work with Ubuntu - my old Logitech ones did, when the keyboard was working.

The latter was the reason to get a new "desktop unit" - both my Logitech wireless kb/mouse systems have "fallen off their perches" :( So rather stupidly it seems, I though I'd try a change of make and save a bit of money. I feel an absolute idiot :( :rolleyes
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John
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I have a Microsoft Wireless Laser 5000 mouse and comfort curve 2000 keyboard and they have been great (bought August 2006 according to my Ebuyer account) The mouse is uber accurate for photo editing etc. as well and the batteries last about 6 months at a time which is good.
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Phaedrus
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I`ve had a good MS mouse. Can`t remember the model, but it was good.

The thing with MS....The anti trust laws are too little too late. MS`s unfair position is too well established. They say they are stopping the spread of malware by offering their free product to everyone, but by killing off their competition they are actually limiting malware defence to just their product, and when that product fails (and theirs will be the number one target) there won`t be alternative products.

I can`t see apple getting any where near the same situation as MS. Like I said, its way too late. Sadly the MS monopoly has gone way too far.
Still Apple will increase their user base a little I guess, and there will probably be some mac malware too :shrug

I like my `buntu for the most part, but I would feel happier if I didn`t have to use a MS product. I would like to get a Macbook next year if I can save up for one.

The new iMacs are very nice too. Shame they are so expensive.
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John
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Phaedrus
Nov 8 2009, 09:33 PM
They say they are stopping the spread of malware by offering their free product to everyone, but by killing off their competition they are actually limiting malware defence to just their product, and when that product fails (and theirs will be the number one target) there won`t be alternative products.

I can`t see apple getting any where near the same situation as MS. Like I said, its way too late. Sadly the MS monopoly has gone way too far.
Still Apple will increase their user base a little I guess, and there will probably be some mac malware too :shrug

I like my `buntu for the most part, but I would feel happier if I didn`t have to use a MS product. I would like to get a Macbook next year if I can save up for one.

The new iMacs are very nice too. Shame they are so expensive.
I don't see how that makes sense Trev, i have used AVG free since 1999 and there are other free alternatives and that hasn't knocked the pay for scanners on the head, people such as you with a non too favourable view of M$ will never use something like MSE so there isn't a cat in hells chance its ever going to become the one that everyone uses simply because there will always be people that refuse to recommend it.

As for Apple, well its a closed source OS that contains a browser and a media player etc. just like Windows and no matter what anyone says they still crash. As they gain a larger share of the market they also start to gain a larger share of the "knockers" and the more it will become a target for viruses etc. I was reading the other day that the iPhone is opening the doors for the nasties to start arriving on the mac, mass market equals mass appeal for everyone it would seem.
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Gina
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Yes, I like the look of Macs too but the price is way out of my reach!

The only thing I'm using Windows for ATM is weather station software. I don't really want a PC tied up for that or at least not one running XP/WS and another (this AMD64) running Weathercam in Ubuntu and also 24/7. OK, so maybe I could run the weathercam in XP and free up the AMD64 for development work but that seems a retrograde step! What I'd rather do is write a weather station app in Linux but, although I think I could probably do it, it would take a lot of time.

Alternatives are WINE (problem with USB support for getting the data from my weather station) or VirtualBox (or similar) which will provide USB support but needs XP installing into it (messy and time consuming).

Then again, I want to check out Ubuntu 9.10 - without buying another PC! I've been putting out feelers for unwanted PCs where people have upgraded but no luck so far. There are too many computer savvy people out there now who know how to set their old ones up for children or whoever! :lol

But lack of time is my main problem :(
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Phaedrus
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John
Nov 8 2009, 09:51 PM
I don't see how that makes sense Trev, i have used AVG free since 1999 and there are other free alternatives and that hasn't knocked the pay for scanners on the head, people such as you with a non too favourable view of M$ will never use something like MSE so there isn't a cat in hells chance its ever going to become the one that everyone uses simply because there will always be people that refuse to recommend it.

As for Apple, well its a closed source OS that contains a browser and a media player etc. just like Windows and no matter what anyone says they still crash. As they gain a larger share of the market they also start to gain a larger share of the "knockers" and the more it will become a target for viruses etc. I was reading the other day that the iPhone is opening the doors for the nasties to start arriving on the mac, mass market equals mass appeal for everyone it would seem.
I think people like me are an insignificant minority. Most Windows users will use IE, Outlook Express and MSN. Why? because they are the best browser, email client and Instant Messaging client? No. Because they are "just the Windows ones". The same will happen with a MS anti virus.
Microsoft are experts at stifling the competition and that`s a bad thing, especially when it comes to something like malware. It will be interesting to see how they push MSE. If it will be offered with normal updates or peddled via messenger etc?
Another aspect is I`m sure the spyware owned by MS will not be flagged as malware by MSE. (ie gator).

I don`t think its necessarily bad that Apples OS is closed source. Or that they include their own software, because they are not doing it out of a position of monopoly. Thats what bugs me about MS in this regard. They act out of their dominance and I think its unhealthy. I dont like it.

Macs may well crash. Ubuntu has crashed on me few times over the years. :) I think OSx is based on BSD which is a unix derivative so I would expect it to be more robust and efficient that Windows. Apple would have had to use BSD rather than Linux as the basis for their OS because under the GPL they wouldn`t be allowed to sell it if it was based on Linux.
Using BSD they are allowed to repackage and develop and sell it.
I think Macs have a tiny share of the market. 5% or something. Not exactly mass market yet. Their market share would increase if they could make em a bit cheaper :rofl
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John
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LOL thats a belter, its ok for Apple to do it but not M$! My mate was the same, he started defending Apple before he bought his as well, it must be some thing Foxxcon use in the glue when they assemble them. When i told him W7 was great he told me in no uncertain terms it was wank, when i asked why the reply was "well Microsoft made it".

Like i said AVG, Avira, Avast have done nothing to dent the likes of Norton etc. so MSE will be no different, Windows defender didn't kill the use of Spybot, Malwarebytes, superantispy etc. and Windows Defender is integrated in the the OS.

I think it is brill you expect unix to be more robust then windows, XP its rock solid these days and Windows 7 has yet to crash since i started using the Beta version months ago, i suspect the problem these days is more liable to be sat between the keyboard and the monitor regardless of OS.
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Phaedrus
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Do Apple need defending? Well maybe their prices do eh? LOL

I hope you`re right about MSE not affecting the AV business. After all its Windows users that are going to suffer if MSE becomes the only real line of defence :rofl

I agree XP is the most solid Windows OS I have used. It is still cumbersome and awkward (not to mention boring) compared to Linux. I always have eye rolling and head shaking moments when I switch into Windows :rofl

Just you wait...If I win the lottery I will get an iMac and I will tell you how brill it is at every opportunity. :rofl
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John
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The way you navigate in W7 is one thing that makes it soooooooooo much better than XP, the library's are ace and windows snap is great if you have a big monitor.

FWIW i posted on a forum that MSE and AVG9 were out, i even recommended MSE over AVG9 and not a single person replied, however about 10 people said thanks for the AVG link.
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Phaedrus
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You should have recommended a mac :)
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John
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No chance LOL with the constant ear bashing i get off my mate about how sexy his is i will never cross over :D
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John
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:) http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1567019/microsoft-makes-free-anti-virus-software
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Phaedrus
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That`s a good result for Microsoft.
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Gina
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It it's real and no bribery involved :lol
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Phaedrus
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AV Comparatives do have a reputation for being fair and unbiased.
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John
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I took Kasperksy off my youngest laptop today as i was 100% sick of its paranoia, i put MSE on and it found (and cleaned) a Trojan within 2 minutes of the first scan. Well done Kaspersky on proving that a paid for solutions isnt always the best one.
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