Security Essentials

Microsoft has a fairly new program called Security Essentials. Does
anybody know if it includes a Firewall? It does talk about
anti virus and malware protection. I just started using Comodo Free version
combo of Firewall and Antivirus/Malware. Just wondering if I should give SE
a try.

Windows comes with a firewall.

Rich Barry wrote:
Microsoft has a fairly new program called Security Essentials. Does
anybody know if it includes a Firewall? It does talk about
anti virus and malware protection. I just started using Comodo Free version
combo of Firewall and Antivirus/Malware. Just wondering if I should give SE
a try.

On 4/02/2010 08:00, Rich Barry wrote:
Microsoft has a fairly new program called Security Essentials. Does
anybody know if it includes a Firewall? It does talk about
anti virus and malware protection. I just started using Comodo Free version

Hi Rich,

Microsoft Security Essentials does not contain a firewall in its
packaging, because there is already a Firewall built in to Windows XP
SP2 and later.

A combination of Windows' own firewall and MSE would give you firewall,
antivurs and antimalware protection; with no need for any 3rd party tools.

As to whether the Microsoft offerings are any better than 3rd party
tools ... there's probably thousands of different opinions; many based
on anecdote, subjective impressions, and prejudice :-) FWIW, I've been
using MSE and found it to be pretty good. It immediately detected the
only infection I've encountered in recent times (and that virus wasn't
even active; it was in the data payload of a non-executable file.

Most antivirus apps work by means of a "filter driver", which inserts a
layer of code into the stack of drivers that read and write to the disk.
Any slight error here can be very destabilising for the entire system;
AV software is notorious for casing blue screens and the like. One
advantage of MSE is that it's extremely compatible with the rest of Windows.

Hope this helps,

Andrew

--
amclar at optusnet dot com dot au

Few users need a firewall other than what is built into Windows. If you
cannot articulate in clear technical detail why the Windows firewall is not
adequate for your specific needs you do not need any other firewall.
The router that you inevitably use to access the internet has a hardware
firewall as well which is likely the main firewall actually protecting your
computer.
Programs like Commodo, if you are not familiar with using them, can easily
complicate local network connections.
MS Essentials is no better or worse than a host of free programs like AVG so
it comes down to personal preference.
In my personal experience there is little advantage, and many disadvantages,
to paying the exorbitant prices for retail antivirus programs. Your mileage
may vary.
If you actually get hit by malware it means your firewall and antivirus
program did not work and you will end up using free programs like
Malwarebytes before you are forced to reformat and reinstall.
No program will protect your computer if you are not reasonably careful
about what you click on when viewing websites.

From: "Andrew McLaren"

snip

| Most antivirus apps work by means of a "filter driver", which inserts a
| layer of code into the stack of drivers that read and write to the disk.
| Any slight error here can be very destabilising for the entire system;
| AV software is notorious for casing blue screens and the like. One
| advantage of MSE is that it's extremely compatible with the rest of Windows.

snip

That's a bunch of malarchy !

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

"Anonamoose" écrivait
:

snip

The router that you inevitably use to access the
internet has a hardware firewall as well which is likely the main
firewall actually protecting your computer.

snip

I wasn't aware you needed a router to access the internet, or maybe I
misunderstood?

(English is not my native language)

It's been so long that I forgot I turned off Windows own Firewall.
Comodo works fine for me since I am not on a local Network.
In the past MS efforts to protect my Computer have been less than
adequate. Hence, I don't think of MS as a first line of defense.
"Rich Barry" wrote in message
...
Microsoft has a fairly new program called Security Essentials. Does
anybody know if it includes a Firewall? It does talk about
anti virus and malware protection. I just started using Comodo Free
version combo of Firewall and Antivirus/Malware. Just wondering if I
should give SE a try.

"Rich Barry" wrote in :

It's been so long that I forgot I turned off Windows own Firewall.
Comodo works fine for me since I am not on a local Network.
In the past MS efforts to protect my Computer have been less than
adequate. Hence, I don't think of MS as a first line of defense.
"Rich Barry" wrote in message
...
Microsoft has a fairly new program called Security Essentials. Does
anybody know if it includes a Firewall? It does talk about
anti virus and malware protection. I just started using Comodo Free
version combo of Firewall and Antivirus/Malware. Just wondering if I
should give SE a try.

You may find this interesting:

http://lifehacker.com/5401453/stop-p...re-good-enough

http://lifehacker.com/5433229/micros...free-antivirus

I have been running MSSE since it came out of beta on both Vista and XP and it's got a very small resource
footprint and apparently does a very good job based on recent testing.

"Doum" wrote in message
.. .
"Anonamoose" écrivait
:

snip

The router that you inevitably use to access the
internet has a hardware firewall as well which is likely the main
firewall actually protecting your computer.

snip

I wasn't aware you needed a router to access the internet, or maybe I
misunderstood?

It's not. The only reason you'd want a router is if you had several
computers and you wanted all of them to use the same internet connection
(usually DSL or a cable modem). But if you only have one PC, then a router
is not needed at all.

--

Roy Smith
Windows 7 Home Premium

On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:05:59 -0800, Doum wrote:

"Anonamoose" écrivait
:

snip

The router that you inevitably use to access the
internet has a hardware firewall as well which is likely the main
firewall actually protecting your computer.

snip

I wasn't aware you needed a router to access the internet, or maybe I
misunderstood?


You didn't misunderstand, and you are right that a router is not
needed. Moreover the great majority of computers are used without a
network, and there is no router used with them.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Got Google? =
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=does+microsoft+...+fire wall%3F

Do any MSE-specific pages mention that it includes a firewall? (No.)
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

MSE Support Forums
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...S/category/mse

MSE left beta in Oct-09.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


Rich Barry wrote:
Microsoft has a fairly new program called Security Essentials. Does
anybody know if it includes a Firewall? It does talk about
anti virus and malware protection. I just started using Comodo Free
version
combo of Firewall and Antivirus/Malware. Just wondering if I should give
SE
a try.

From: "Ken Blake, MVP"

| On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:05:59 -0800, Doum wrote:

"Anonamoose" écrivait
:

snip

The router that you inevitably use to access the
internet has a hardware firewall as well which is likely the main
firewall actually protecting your computer.

snip

I wasn't aware you needed a router to access the internet, or maybe I
misunderstood?


| You didn't misunderstand, and you are right that a router is not
| needed. Moreover the great majority of computers are used without a
| network, and there is no router used with them.

But a NAT Router or a NAT Router with a full FireWall implementation is better than using
a FireWall application in many respects.

I recently upgraded from a plain NAT Router to a NAT Router with a full FireWall
implementation and I ham very happy with it ability to "rules".

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

From: "Fuzzy Logic"

| "Rich Barry" wrote in :

It's been so long that I forgot I turned off Windows own Firewall.
Comodo works fine for me since I am not on a local Network.
In the past MS efforts to protect my Computer have been less than
adequate. Hence, I don't think of MS as a first line of defense.
"Rich Barry" wrote in message
...
Microsoft has a fairly new program called Security Essentials. Does
anybody know if it includes a Firewall? It does talk about
anti virus and malware protection. I just started using Comodo Free
version combo of Firewall and Antivirus/Malware. Just wondering if I
should give SE a try.

| You may find this interesting:

| http://lifehacker.com/5401453/stop-p...ofts-security-
| tools-are-good-enough

| http://lifehacker.com/5433229/micros...st+performing-
| free-antivirus

| I have been running MSSE since it came out of beta on both Vista and XP and it's got a
| very small resource
| footprint and apparently does a very good job based on recent testing.

Annecdotal information has shown that what gets past MSE isn't removed well by MSE even
after MSE detected it. MBAM did what MSE couldn't do.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

On Wed, 3 Feb 2010 18:47:15 -0500, "David H. Lipman"
wrote:

From: "Ken Blake, MVP"

| On Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:05:59 -0800, Doum wrote:

"Anonamoose" écrivait
:

snip

The router that you inevitably use to access the
internet has a hardware firewall as well which is likely the main
firewall actually protecting your computer.

snip

I wasn't aware you needed a router to access the internet, or maybe I
misunderstood?


| You didn't misunderstand, and you are right that a router is not
| needed. Moreover the great majority of computers are used without a
| network, and there is no router used with them.

But a NAT Router or a NAT Router with a full FireWall implementation is better than using
a FireWall application in many respects.


Yep, no question about it. My point wasn't anything else, just that
most people don't have a router.



I recently upgraded from a plain NAT Router to a NAT Router with a full FireWall
implementation and I ham very happy with it ability to "rules".

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Well, truly forgetting that XP had it's own firewall I did indeed
come away with the impression after reading about MSSE that it
did not have a Firewall. At the time that was very curious to me. So, I
decided to ask the question? I should have added and why not? But, thanks
for your contribution to this subject. MS MVP's are always valued.
"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...
Got Google? =
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=does+microsoft+...+fire wall%3F

Do any MSE-specific pages mention that it includes a firewall? (No.)
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

MSE Support Forums
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...S/category/mse

MSE left beta in Oct-09.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


Rich Barry wrote:
Microsoft has a fairly new program called Security Essentials. Does
anybody know if it includes a Firewall? It does talk about
anti virus and malware protection. I just started using Comodo Free
version
combo of Firewall and Antivirus/Malware. Just wondering if I should give
SE
a try.