Microsoft Security Essentials loses AV-TEST certification

oma · Dec 1, 2012

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/30/microsoft_security_essentials_loses_av_test_certification/

Microsoft Security Essentials, Redmond’s free antivirus tool for home users and business with up to ten PCs, can detect just 64 per cent of zero-day threats when running under Windows 7.
That low detection rate has cost it the AV-TEST Institute’s seal of approval, a certification it hands out to products that meet 11 of 18 criteria it assess. Those criteria consider how effective software is at detecting and blocking threats, repair of infected systems and overall usability including “average slowing down of the computer when the software is used on a daily basis, false positives during a system scan and the display of false warnings or the blocking of certain actions during the installation and during the use of known good software.”
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gman863 · Dec 1, 2012

Ouch.

I hope Microsoft fixes this, as I like the simplicity of MSE. Until then, it looks like I'd better switch back to AVG Free.

joffa · Dec 1, 2012

Darn I was fairly happy with MSE and it sure was easy to use so thanks for the heads up oma :cool
Pretty embarrassing for Micro$oft not to have accreditation :-o

Lucky I have a 15 PC 3 year corporate licence for NOD 32 still running so I will now install NOD 32 on the three new windows 7 pcs

Maybe this will help LOL

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080715212652/uncyclopedia/images/c/c3/Computer_condom.jpg

oma · Dec 1, 2012

Bummer eh? Had MSE for a little while when going to Windows 7 but since I was used to Avast! spinning ball, I dumped it pretty quick and got Avast again. Here's a link for comparison with other antivirus etc. http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/home-user/windows-7/sepoct-2012/ http://www.techspot.com/news/50945-...ls-bombs-tests-loses-av-test-certificate.html

@joffa. LOL

DavidGP · Dec 2, 2012

I can only belief that it may depend on when the test was taken and to what AV Dat was used, no excuse but if this test was to be run say next week it could be very different.

I have to say I use Avast free at home, but also use MSE on other PCs and have never had issue, personally MSE is light and quick. In some weird way the security thing is not really an apps place to protect you, its yours, you surf, download in hooky places than no matter what security or browser you use you will become infected (see malware forum)

I just may email someone I know and ask MSFT about this and what they think.

BILLMCC66 · Dec 2, 2012

I have been running MSE for 2 years now and have never had an attack (touches wood)
It has more to do with surfing habits and the websites visited than anything else.

Colemanguy · Dec 2, 2012

Yeah, im not switching off mse for any of my machines.

mjnc · Dec 5, 2012

It's interesting how each product can score differently with each platform.

Also, there is sometimes significant difference between a product's Protection score and the Repair and Usability scores.
(you can click on the column headings to sort the lists by different criteria)

I have been noticing that Kaspersky continues to do very well.

Detailed Test Reports - Home User

Microsoft Security Essentials: Windows XP

Microsoft Security Essentials: Windows 7

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Microsoft Security Essentials loses AV-TEST certification

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