Microsoft Security Essentials v2
This is neither new news (it was released last week) nor HTPC news but I thought it was worth mentioning nonetheless that “Microsoft Security Essentials v2” is available for download.
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) v1 was my preferred anti-virus application and v2 makes significant improvements without adding bloat. I know many HTPC enthusiasts prefer to ignore anti-virus protection on their HTPC. I can’t blame them, I’ve never had a virus and typically smart computing practices negate many of the risks but with Microsoft Security Essential there really is no reason NOT to run it.
Without going into too much detail, Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background with no bloat. It may not be the highest rank virus protection on the market but I prefer something lightweight and performs well over competing products that may block more but are bloated. With the v2 release there are also significant enhancements to its predecessor:
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Windows Firewall Integration
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A New Protection Engine that includes Heuristic Scanning
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Network Inspection System
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Behavior Monitoring
It also offers more configuration options such as the ability to control CPU usage during scans. Similar to v2, virus definition updates are delivered via Microsoft Updates so make sure to enable and configure Microsoft Updates within Windows Updates.
For Ceton InfiniTV4 owners (and even ATI DCT owners), an extra benefit of using MCE is that the firewall rules will be created for you by the driver install package since it integrates with the native Windows Firewall. Many other firewall products will you require that you manually create exceptions for OCUR\MOCUR tuners to work.
You can download v2 directly using the below links or from the Security Essentials product page.
If you don’t run Microsoft Security Essentials, what do you run and why? Let us know in the comments
Note: I ran both alpha and beta builds on several of my home PCs. On two of them I was not able to upgrade without first uninstalling the beta\alpha and rebooting. Your mileage may vary.
I am also a big fan of
I am also a big fan of Microsoft’s Security Essentials. I think they should just make it part of Windows 8. I install it on all of my PCs, even my HTPC. It is so lightweight and unobtrusive, I see no reason to tempt fate. With v2, it seems like there’s even less reason not to run it.
swoon wrote:I am also a big
[quote=swoon]
I am also a big fan of Microsoft’s Security Essentials. I think they should just make it part of Windows 8. I install it on all of my PCs, even my HTPC. It is so lightweight and unobtrusive, I see no reason to tempt fate. With v2, it seems like there’s even less reason not to run it.
[/quote]
Completely agree, except that bundling it w/ Windows would probably get MS in trouble.
I’ve thought of this as well,
I’ve thought of this as well, though I think that ship has already sailed. MS has a wonderful case to make it a part of Windows.
“I know many HTPC enthusiasts
“I know many HTPC enthusiasts prefer to ignore anti-virus protection on their HTPC. I can’t blame them, I’ve never had a virus and typically smart computing practices negate many of the risks but with Microsoft Security Essential there really is no reason NOT to run it.”
This is exactly how it is for me, even on my desktop. The most powerful tool you have to protect yourself sits between the seat and the keyboard. But MSE was so lightweight and unobtrusive in the v1 beta I was testing, I just never took it off.
Agreed on all points
Agreed on all points mentioned above but when dealing with family, clients, etc. who do not have the same hyperlink sensibilities, I would recommend complimenting MSE with the paid version of MalwareByes Anti-Malware which provides additional real-time protection at just a one-time fee of $25. Totally worth the prevention of headaches.
I run MSE on all three of my
I run MSE on all three of my home PCs but on the laptop I run a combination of Avast, Spyware Blaster, Super Antispyware and Malwarebytes.
It just seems to me that with all of the stuff that a travelling laptop can be exposed to that something a little stronger than MSE alone is warranted.
I’ve been running Avast on my
I’ve been running Avast on my HTPCs. I’ve never tried MSE. Should I dump Avast to have just one less thing my HTPCs need to load on boot??
phoneguyinpgh wrote:I’ve been
[quote=phoneguyinpgh]
I’ve been running Avast on my HTPCs. I’ve never tried MSE. Should I dump Avast to have just one less thing my HTPCs need to load on boot??
[/quote]
Well it won’t be one less thing since MCE will need to be loaded but I have found MCE to be more lightweight than Avast. I wasn’t a fan of Avast’s re-registering and a few other oddities.
I run MSE on the HTPC, due to
I run MSE on the HTPC, due to “public” access, but nothing on my personal computer. I had one virus back in my early AOL days (i.e. when the internet was “new”… damn, I’m getting old!) and learned my lesson well. MSE is definitely one of the finer AV products out there.
I went for a couple of years
I went for a couple of years without an A/V on my HTPC. I recently loaded MSE on my HTPC when it started to show up in the regular Windows Updates.
In the past I have used Avast and AVG (free version of each). I have Comdo Internet Security on my laptop (also free).
I pulled Avast off of both of
I pulled Avast off of both of my HTPCs and installed MSE, all seems to be well. We’ll see how it goes.
I’ve been running MSE for
I’ve been running MSE for about 4 months now. Much better than Norton that I was using because it’s free with Comcast.
It appears Microsoft Security
It appears Microsoft Security Essentials v2 doesn’t like Windows Media Center. And no, none of my files have had resource editing against them. It is an information notification only and I normally would not have even seen it since I’m rarely outside of Media Center on my HTPC. Just funny to me.
Note: This does NOT change my opinion of Microsoft Security Essentials v2 (or Windows Media Center).
I have been getting a ton of
I have been getting a ton of these ever since upgrading. It is almost like they are rebuilding the list of files that are ok from scratch. I think I got it for Steam the other day.
Glad I use SageTV.
Glad I use SageTV. Apparently, MS trusts it more than MC.
j/k all you MC fans.