Security Essentials test drive — month 6

Conrad Ware asks a question that's not only worthwhile on its own but also lets me give you a six-month update on my real-life test drive of Microsoft Security Essentials.

    "Over the past 20 years, I have used all the big-brand virus and Internet security software: McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, etc. All of them did a great job doing what they were designed for — and all slowed my computers down to a crawl.

     "I am presently using Windows XP, but I plan to purchase a new laptop with Windows 7 Home Edition and want to use MS Security Essentials on it.

     "Tell me what you can about MS Security Essentials and if it's OK to use as primary protection."

Yes it is, Conrad. After half a year of real-life testing, Microsoft's Security Essentials anti-malware application is batting 1.000. All nine test computers — a mix of Windows 7, Vista and XP systems (including two portables with 20,000 miles of travel) — remain malware- and virus-free.

That's the start of the lead item in my latest Windowssecrets.com column; it went live today.

The rest of that item gives the details of my tests, so you can see if my experiences will reliably translate for your typical uses.

Other items in my column this week:

• Fixing a broken dual-boot
• Best updated-driver source
• Resized XP recycle bin still way too large: 1.45GB!

The full issue lineup: http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/100916

Free-subscription content posted on Sept. 16, 2010:

TOP STORY By Woody Leonhard Coping with Windows Live Hotmail Wave 4 New features make attachments easier than ever Take control of your Inbox — carefully Coping with the inevitable Hotmail gotchas LOUNGE LIFE By Keely Dolan When is a script or batch file copyrighted? WACKY WEB WEEK By Keely Dolan Proper massage techniques for aging opossums

 
  Full-subscription content:

LANGALIST PLUS By Fred Langa Security Essentials test drive — month 6 Looking for a better antivirus/security package A dual-boot to no-boot problem fix using Bootrec Best updated-driver source for brand-name PCs Resized XP recycle bin still way too large

INSIDER TRICKS By Lincoln Spector Managing multiple e-mail accounts in Outlook Multiple e-mail accounts for multiple needs POP and IMAP handle e-mail differently Setting up multiple accounts within Outlook Control when you download each account Make sure the "From" address is the correct one Merging on the server: the Gmail alternative

PATCH WATCH By Susan Bradley New path for zero-day attacks: old printers A known worm finds new ways to crawl into PCs Video files a more likely attack vector Malicious fonts can lead to future attacks Give this Office update a pass for now Remote Procedure Call threat targets XP systems Far East language locale vulnerable to attacks Outlook and WordPad threats of lesser risk Low-powered XP SP3 boxes clobbered by updates Intuit's QuickBooks and MS's .NET duke it out Threats to FastCGI and domain controllers Recommended pass on Outlook Express update

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