Newsletter Archives

• Microsoft keeps chipping away at the Windows XP deadline

  Posted on January 28, 2014 at 19:14 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Or… when is end of life not end of life?

  InfoWorld Tech Watch.

  Windows News Microsoft Security Essentials, MSRT, Windows XP

• Microsoft pulls the plug on Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows XP

  Posted on January 8, 2014 at 20:16 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Sometime in December, somebody at MS decided that XP customers will no longer be able to download MSE.

  InfoWorld Tech Watch.

  Windows News Microsoft Security Essentials, MSE, Windows XP End of Life

• Microsoft Security Essentials wants to update itself – let it

  Posted on February 25, 2011 at 18:11 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  MS just release Security Advisory 2491888, which a patch for a hole in Microsoft Security Essentials (and the Malware Protection Engine in general).

  I’m recommending that you go ahead and install it. MSE will ask for permission to install an update (I haven’t seen it offered through Windows Update yet). When MSE asks if it’s OK to update, go ahead and allow it.

  Windows Patches/Security KB 2491888, Microsoft Security Essentials

• Microsoft Security Essentials installer changes your Automatic Update settings

  Posted on June 3, 2010 at 07:01 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Sad but true…

  When you install MSE, the installer changes your Automatic Update setting – if you have Windows set up to “Notify but don’t download,” for example, the installer switches it to “Update automatically.”

  Details on my InfoWorld Tech Watch blog.

  Thanks to EP for the heads-up….

  Windows Patches/Security Automatic Update, Microsoft Security Essentials

• Alureon rootkit tops the list of malware caught this month

  Posted on May 24, 2010 at 22:13 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  See the details in my new InfoWorld Tech Watch blog.

  Windows Patches/Security Alureon, malware, Microsoft Security Essentials, rootkit, Windows XP

• Avira nag screens give me heartburn

  Posted on December 14, 2009 at 22:14 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I just got this message from a fellow I’ve helped in the past:

  I’m running Vista Home Premium using Explorer to connect to the Internet. All of a sudden a few days ago a screen starting showing up asking me to select between 2 options: Either – Continue Unprotected or – Get Security Software. When I selected Get Security Software, it asked me to Register Now and pay $59.95. So I went back to Continue Unprotected which I had to select a couple of times to get back to the web site. It also kept recurring while I was working on the site.

  There was no way of getting rid of this maddening screen no matter what I tried to do. I thought I could get rid of the damn thing by right clicking on the screen but to no avail. I also tried to go to Control Panel to uninstall it but there was no folder there. I suspect this happened when I opened an e-mail from a friend with a web site link. To me, this is like a virus which impedes and disconnects my access to web sites through Explorer.

  After checking with Google, I found this screen was called Antivir with a web site named Avira.com. Have you heard of this and do you know any way I can get rid of this nightmare other than paying them $59.95? I’d appreciate any guidance you could provide.

  My answer:

  [SEE ADDITIONAL UPDATE BELOW: The fellow I was helping actually had an Antivir infection – Avira had absolutely nothing to do with it. I used to recommend Avira wholeheartedly, but their nag screens come mighty close to scareware. I just saw one today, and again it really gave me heartburn. They overstate the advantages of the paid versions of Avira, and try to sell by scaring people. That isn’t right. I’m a convert to Microsoft Security Essentials and in my book updates I’ll be recommending MSE. Apologies for the missed note about Antivir, which is truly a piece of crapware. There’s nothing inherently wrong with Avira, as long as you don’t believe the scare screens.]

  Avira used to be a good program. Now it’s a piece of unscrupulous crapware.

  First, ditch Internet Explorer. Get Firefox and use it. IE is an unnecessary headache.

  Second, download Microsoft Security Essentials but don’t install it just yet. MSE is free, and it works great – AND it won’t start nagging you for money.

  Third, disconnect your computer from the Internet. Then click Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs and follow the instructions to remove Avira Antivir. You’ll probably have to stop Avira, and may have to re-boot once or twice in the process.

  Fourth, re-boot your machine one more time.

  Fifth, double-click on the downloaded Microsoft Security Essentials installer and follow the instructions to get MSE installed.

  Sixth, plug your computer back into the Internet.

  Your Avira pains should be gone and, after a fairly lengthy download, MSE will be protecting your PC, no problems at all.

  UPDATE: Thanks to all of you who posted in defense of Avira. I still say MSE is a far better product, but the main point is that I got duped! The fellow who wrote to me is apparently the victim of a piece of crapware that’s using Avira’s name to legitimize itself. Details on the BleepingComputer site. I’ll stick with MSE, but the rogue program is the problem here, not Avira.

  Other Avira Antivir, Microsoft Security Essentials

• Microsoft Security Essentials is doing well

  Posted on November 6, 2009 at 06:28 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  You all know by now that I’ve thrown away AVG Free and replaced it with Microsoft Security Essentials, on all of my many machines, right?

  I wrote about MSE in my Windows Secrets Newsletter column. (Yes, that’s in the paid version, but you can subscribe and pay any amount you choose.)

  A small antivirus analyzing group called AV-Comparatives.org has just published a white paper that looks at how well antivirus products handle viruses that are common, in the wild, right now.

  MSE scored in the top category “Advanced +” right up there with Symantec, F-Secure and Kaspersky, and ahead of ESET, Sophos, AVG, McAfee, AVAST and Avira.

  MSE‘s a great product. Free. Fast.

  Uncategorized Microsoft Security Essentials

• Microsoft Security Essentials – just da facts

  Posted on October 8, 2009 at 10:10 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Windows Secrets Newsletter just hit the stands, and I’m very proud of my article on Microsoft Security Essentials.

  Anything you want or need to know about MSE is in that article. The short version: get it.

  Oh. Don’t let the “paid content” flag put you off. You can subscribe to the “paid” version any time, and you get to choose how much it’s worth to you.

  Windows Patches/Security Microsoft Security Essentials

• Microsoft Security Essentials – get yours today

  Posted on September 29, 2009 at 16:06 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I’ve been using Microsoft Security Essentials (code-name Morro) on a dozen computers for more than a month.

  I like it. I bet you’ll like it too.

  I like it so much that I’ve thrown away my old antivirus programs and replaced them. All of them.

  MSE is free. It works, and works well. I’ve written about it several times on this site, and cover it extensively in my new Windows 7 book.

  According to a Microsoft Press Release, it will be widely available today.

  Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft Corp.’s new no-cost, core anti-malware service that helps protect consumers against viruses, spyware and other malicious software, will be available tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 29. Microsoft Security Essentials, independently certified by West Coast Labs, is backed by the company’s global security response team and is built on the same award-winning core security technology found in the company’s security solutions for businesses. It requires no registration, trials or renewals and will be available for download directly from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials.

  There may be some glitches, so I don’t yet recommend that you throw caution to the wind and change immediately. But you should certainly watch closely.

  UPDATE: It’s up.

  Windows Patches/Security Microsoft Security Essentials, Morro
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