I just want to hear your views on Microsoft Security Essentials. I'm thinking about switching over and I just want to know how good/bad it is and if its better than other security software out there. Any input about it is appreciated. Cheers

I have been using it on my personal computers, family member computers and have never had an issue or virus in 3 years. Highly recommend!

Have been using it for a while now. Very light but the malware protection isn't very good anymore.

So now I've installed Avast! Free. Very good malware protection, including basic rootkits. On-demand scan very good as well as the realtime protection (even includes a mail scanner). Also runs very light.

Avira Free is also a possibility. Malware protection a tad better than Avast and also very light. No email scanner though.

If you want MSE, add AVG Linkscanner with it for the webprotection.

Other than that, use Malware Bytes Anti Malware and then the fast scan. Very thorough scan and free. Doesn't provide realtime protection so should be considered as an extra safequard once a week.

Once a month, you should use the very thorough and extensive (free) ESET Online scan.

If you do have problems with it, it's a quick and clean uninstall.

I've been happy with it in the 2.5 years that I've had it installed on my laptop.

My family has been using it for 2+ years now. ^

No problems.

(Standard disclaimers apply. don't go to any sketchy sites, don't download "free" movies, songs, cracked programs, etc... )

Been using MSSE since it became available in 2009. I have no problem to report. It caught a few malware that got past me before it was able to inflict damage on the systems.

Before MSSE I was using AVG free, but it became too nagging in trying to upsell the professional (pay) edition.

I've been using it for maybe 8 months with no problems.

I thought it would use less resources than Symantec. It does keep the CPU meter in the task manager lower than Symantec. But my notebook still seems noticably slower when it does its daily download and disk activity. Not a big performance improvement for me -- but it is free. It's triggered once. Seems to work.

I'm trying it out and it seems to be fine. It rates fine. It is not at the top of the AV Comparatives tests. I would bolster with a free or paid copy of Malwarebytes though.

Absolutely solid program, no issues with viruses, etc. Again, as someone else pointed out, don't do any stupid downloading.
Clean interface also which is something I can't say about McAfee.

Cnet is a big fan of it as well - can't find the link now, but will post when I find it

I have been running it for years without issue, I have seen it fix things Norton and McAfee could not. I have it on all my machines and those who I help out. With how well this performs no reason to spend any hard earned money.
I have the opinion that the one company with the most skin in the game to have excellent anti-virus software is Microsoft. They have suffered black eyes over the years and have finally decided to fight back.

Zero problems with it, small footprint.

Also just run the Windows 7 firewall as well, so don't bother with any third party programs for this sort of stuff.

high recommend!

Jsnydcsa's mother and father use it. As some may know, they're complete novices with computers (e.g. "The internet is broken" or writing down friends' and family members' email addresses in a paper address book (when they have Outlook)) and I've been holding their hands for nearly forever on everything from programming the time on the VCR to the present day.

With caveats similar to jerryss's, I give it 5 stars for 'ol mom and dad.

Not that I'm tooting Microsoft's horn here, but I think MS has an interest in keeping this program (a) simple and (b) up-to-date and working against the latest attacks, etc. People just blame "Microsoft" or "Bill Gates" (I know, they're both 70+ years old, give 'em a break) for everything that's wrong with a computer, MS doesn't need any more bad press, so keep the program working.

Plus, they both use gMail POP, so I think between Security Essentials and gMail's junk filters, they're pretty well covered.

If you want basic protection that has a very clear interface and never bothers you with difficult messages, MSE is the one. Perfect for your children/older relatives who just mail/visit basic websites.
For a better protection for more riskier use, there are better options as I've said above.