Windows Security Essentials

[TechBoyJK]

Hi Guys,

I find WSE seems to work pretty good.

I do a lot of reinstalls for friends, etc. and I always want to put some virus protection on the machine before I turn it back over. Sometimes they are using expired versions of Norton, nothing at all, etc. and they just dont have the money to pay for another subscription.

So if I do a reinstall of Windows XP, get it fully updated, with WSE installed, what else should I do? SpyBot? I don't think its a good idea to have two virus apps running, so besides WSE, I'm thinking adware/malware apps are needed? Like spybot or AdaWare?

What are your recommendations? Should I just leave it to WSE and not install anything else?

 

[compman25]

superantispyware or malwarebytes. I wouldn't bother with spybot or adaware anymore.

 

[Blazer]

perform a few cleanup and installs myself, what i found is that most users have no ideal at all on how to handle unsolicited email, or how to safely use the internet, they can be Click Happy, so i have started using MSE and setup IE with High security settings and wait for them to call so i can explain why i did so, mostly it goes in one ear and out the other as they already know how to protect thier PC and get offended when you tell them different, one problem has always been when a security warning pops up on thier screen they will find a way to disable it, which you know what happens next, on the other hand i have found Vista to be a good OS for green users, but i find additional add on's to just be more confusing than what they can deal with safely, so the combo of a fully updated OS with a nag free Virus software and High IE settings and a non admin account to be mostly what they need, just have to install everything before they get it, only leaving the printer for them to install.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I'd install Malwarebytes also.

 

[Blazer]

the sticky thread is very helpfull, those guys put alot of time and effort into creating suck a sticky, i reffer alot of people to just read and follow that guide, very helpfull.

 

[Absolution75]

depends on the user - i only run WSE and windows firewall. If I know a user is prone to clicking things that say: "click me for free ipod" etc, then maybe spybot.

Also, isn't WSE only for vista/w7?

 

[Blazer]

xp up thru win7, ive installed it on many xp's.

 

[insect9]

I use WSE and windows firewall. Don't forget to set up a restricted user account and enable DEP

 

[tuan209]

I am a big fan of MSE here. Been a long time user of NOD and recently switched over. Other then scanning a little slower, I see no difference.

 

[Rifter]

I run no protection, no windows firewall, disabled UAC and no virus scanner and am always logged in with admin access, i just virus scan my windows partition from linux once a week. And im behind a router/firewall.

 

[ultimatebob]

I run no protection, no windows firewall, disabled UAC and no virus scanner and am always logged in with admin access, i just virus scan my windows partition from linux once a week. And im behind a router/firewall.

I hope that you're the ONLY person who uses that PC! If you let a friend use it who isn't as tech savvy as you are, you're going to get 0wned.

 

[MedicBob]

I hope that you're the ONLY person who uses that PC! If you let a friend use it who isn't as tech savvy as you are, you're going to get 0wned.

Or already is, but just doesn't know it yet.

 

[jamesave]

it's funny to see that kind of reply from MedicBob to ultimatebob.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

How does WSE update its virus definition? Do I have to turn on windows update?

 

[tzdk]

Think so unless you tell Task Scheduler to do this. MSE does not update that often, once per 24 hour or something, so you could chose every 4 hours or so. In theory that can save your butt one day.

Google mpcmdrun.exe -SignatureUpdate there will be guides with screenshots and all. mpcmdrun.exe is command line version of MSE

 

[Rifter]

Or already is, but just doesn't know it yet.

Im the only user of my desktop, if anyone comes over they sometimes use the lappy. I look over the firewall(both of them) logs every 24-48 hours. My router and my server, the server is acting as a stealth firewall hooked up behind the router and infront of the internal network. Everything connected via wireless is in the DMZ on the outside and has no internal network access whatsoever. I should also point out that i ONLY game in windows, the only time windows is ever booted is for gaming, i dont surf the net, watch videos, check e-mail, or download anything in windows. Running it with no protection as i have been it has only got one virus in 6 months according to clam antivirus anyways.