Avast Vs. Microsoft Security Essentials

[Matt915]

I'm trying to decide between these two free AV programs. Which one do you favor?

I was thinking of installing both just in case there's something that slips by one...

 

[Chiefcrowe]

MSE for me.
Also, it's not a good idea to install multiple AV programs simultaneously.

 

[Lemon law]

MSE for me.
Also, it's not a good idea to install multiple AV programs simultaneously.

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As for me my current choice freeware choice is Avast, but the point is and remains, we pay or don't our money and we take our chances.

And while ChiefCrowe is 100% correct in saying we can have one and only one active AV at one time, an Active AV is only one layer in only one layer in what I regard as a needed multi-layer security system.

Even if I can't say there is anything wrong with MSE, I have to question that only MSE is or will be ever enough.

 

[Monster_Munch]

The current version of avast seems really buggy to me. When I ask it to update, nothing happens except an empty progress bar appears. Same when I ask it to do an on demand scan of a file I just downloaded.

 

[MustISO]

I'm running both on one machine and I've never had an issue with either. I have a few systems that run two A/V programs, no conflicts up to this point.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Honestly you need to consider what you are doing and why anyone would want to compromise your machine in the first place.

Unless you have Mission Critical Items (Or something equivalent) on a WAN Attached system I don't see any reason whatsoever to run multiple A/V Solutions.

Also, like I said earlier, what are you doing on these systems that put you at a high risk? Are you haphazardly clicking around the Internet? Are you hosting information that people would pay big money to get their hands on?

A single quality A/V Solution is plenty for 99.9% of users in the world.

That said, MSE and NOD32, for me, are the only suites that I recommend. Sure, AVG, Avira, and Avast aren't bad (Certainly better than nothing (aka: McAfee)), but MSE and NOD32 are some real quality products.

-GP

 

[Matt915]

I'm not really clicking randomly...honestly I can't remember the last time I even had my A/V program warn me that something I was downloading/clicking on had a virus in it. Maybe 7 years?

 

[wayliff]

I'm trying to decide between these two free AV programs. Which one do you favor?

I was thinking of installing both just in case there's something that slips by one...

I don't use any AV and everything has been good for more than 2 years...()
However, I'd take MSE or Nod32 if I needed to.

Install two or move AV programs is definitely not a good idea.
I'd imagine performance would be affected because you'd have to active engines and also...it might be possible that one might consider the other to be malware...I don't see the point at all.
I bet google can confirm these statements if you search a bit.

 

[Gamingphreek]

I don't use any AV and everything has been good for more than 2 years...

How would you know that everything is good if you don't have A/V Software to report it?

 

[lowrider69]

Avast vote for me, I've had no issues with version 6 or the versions before it. It's lighter than MSE and they trade blows back and forth as far as detection rates. One big plus for Avast is it's network and web shields, I think they're a major plus because they have a high detection rate and they work.

 

[wayliff]

How would you know that everything is good if you don't have A/V Software to report it?

I run manual scans about twice a month and I try to rotate the applications I use. (MBAM, SAS, HouseCall, ClamWin, etc)

That, good habits and knowing some of the common behaviors.
I am a programmer and also provide IT support to businesses and residential users so I am constantly learning on what to look out for. Not trying to brag here.

Check these out...
http://exodusdev.com/blog/mike/living-dangerously-no-anti-virus-or-firewall
http://ravikanthl.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/how-to-run-a-pc-without-anti-virus/

It might not be for everyone...but I like knowing I can manage without it -

 

[Lemon law]

The thing I might add is the following fact, using two active OS's at best significantly slows down your computer, at worst they can fight with each other so bad, it will crash your computer given some time.

And then we wonder why some gamers with hardware challenged computers strip all their security from their computers to gain a little speed. Then come on this very forum, after their computers stand the test of a very little time, and tell computer users, that computer security is totally unnecessary.

And Jesus, some gullible people believe them. And then find they got owned later at their leisure.

 

[lowrider69]

I run manual scans about twice a month and I try to rotate the applications I use. (MBAM, SAS, HouseCall, ClamWin, etc)

That, good habits and knowing some of the common behaviors.
I am a programmer and also provide IT support to businesses and residential users so I am constantly learning on what to look out for. Not trying to brag here.

Check these out...
http://exodusdev.com/blog/mike/living-dangerously-no-anti-virus-or-firewall
http://ravikanthl.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/how-to-run-a-pc-without-anti-virus/

It might not be for everyone...but I like knowing I can manage without it -

Good habits and working in IT doesn't prevent hackers from infecting sites you may go to. Legit sites, forums, ad servers, etc.. get hacked everyday. If you're running Linux I can maybe see not having a AV, but even some Linux users still recommend it. But running a Windows machine with no AV that is connected to a network is not the wisest move IMO.

 

[wayliff]

Good habits and working in IT doesn't prevent hackers from infecting sites you may go to. Legit sites, forums, ad servers, etc.. get hacked everyday. If you're running Linux I can maybe see not having a AV, but even some Linux users still recommend it. But running a Windows machine with no AV that is connected to a network is not the wisest move IMO.

Any OS can get compromised by an attacker if they so wish to do it.
The attack surface for Windows is surely bigger and the interest on attacking windows is also significantly higher.

I don't run AV on my Windows 7 machines (3) and I have not had infections or issues for the time I already mentioned. It works for me, it does not mean it works for everyone. Good habits and working in IT may not preventive by itself but it gives me the experience to reduce the risk of getting attacked.

This is a rather old article...
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/aaron_margosis/archive/2006/06/02/614226.aspx

Anyone is free to do what they feel works best for them. There isn't any 'one way' for everyone.

 

[jadinolf]

I use avast! and have for years but I suggest that, if you are interested, try them both.

Would love to hear from you re: the results.

 

[eUK-host]

I have never used the Avast, but the Mcafee. I have used it very least times as the Microsoft Security Essentials has done quite well for my system virus problems.

 

[bruceb]

I have Avast on my old Dell 8200 XP Pro SP3 ... it works just fine and you hear when it does it update. It also has a feature to run a program in a Sandbox (haven't tried that yet)