To all that use and have suggested Security Essentials

Nice to know.
I use it exclusively, mostly because I don't see a reason to use anything else at this point. I'm not going to pay for something just for the feeling that "paid is always better".
I have it on my moms netbook(Win7), my laptop(Win7), my kids pc(XP), and my old pc(Vista) which my kid uses when he's at my place. Not once has there ever been a problem.

But always keep in mind, browsing habits are the first line of defense. Doesn't matter how much you did or didn't pay, if you're not careful in the first place, it WILL happen....protected or not. Nothing is perfect.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built( I will never "buy" a PC)
    CPU
    AMD Phenom2 XII 560
    Motherboard
    Biostar A780L3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR3-1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    xfx 9800 GT
    Sound Card
    Creative X-FI Xtreme Gamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    320GB
    Cooling
    2 front, 2 back,one side
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless LX310
    Internet Speed
    18/2 cable
    Other Info
    Opera/Chrome / EPSON Stylus nx420 / Microsoft Security Essentials / CCleaner / Malwarebytes / OpenDNS / Paint.NET / 7-Zip / Windows Live Mail Client
Yes, I have put it on the last 4 computer systems I have set up for people with no complaints from anyone.When my Nod32 expires I will use it as well.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
I think that a great idea, Rodger. Its free, too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thanks for that update, Richard! I hadn't read that one before - though I have seen others that are somewhat similar. It's good to see additional somewhat official confirmation of what many of us have known and been recommending for quite some time (and in other forums as well from what I've seen). I just hope they keep it free now that it's getting all this official recognition and don't see it as a money-generating opportunity (no matter how inexpensive).

I am, however, having a bit of difficulty with version 2 (fully updated with Vista fully updated) in terms of occasional (not often and not always and not during every scan and possibly even not during scans - I've not confirmed that yet) massive CPU usage spikes from MsMpEng.exe - as high as 50-60% - that I can end with Task Manager End Task and then restarting MSE and then if applicable restarting the scan as a full scan rather than a scheduled quick scan. It generally then doesn't re-occur. Here's one thread with several possible causes/solutions: Recent upgrade to MSE caused me to get MsMpEng.exe cpu hog issue. I've tried them all, but none have worked (though it could be something I've missed - I have tried quite a few alternative AV programs and thought I used the removal tools for each, but might have accidentally skipped one and I do run several programs that are security-related though not technically AV programs (like Secunia PSI) and I haven't gone there yet). Here's a listing of other related threads: msmpeng.exe - Microsoft Answers Search. I'm considering submitting a case. But I expect no replies about this here and don't want to change the focus of this thread or hijack it - so please hold off on suggestions unless I actually post a thread with this issue.

@ilikefree, I realize that switching before the end of a paid subscription feels like throwing money away (it's how I felt when I did it with PandaSoft to move to MSE - and I had almost 6 months remaining), but is that really the case if the replacement is free and quite possibly (most likely if not definitely IMHO) a better alternative? Then again, I've never used or even tested Nod32 (and haven't ever faced any problems concerning its use on any forum or in my business), so I'm not really in any position to render a valid judgement.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]

    Dell AIO Printer A940

    Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem

    6TO4 Adapter
    Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
    Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
    Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
    Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

    Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
Richard thanks for the article.
As Lorien mentioned -i had the same cpu spikes in v2 , i did not have them on v1.
But as suggested, after my 1st full scan (800,000 items in 2 hours) i can confirm i do not see spikes any more for the last two days.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO G-530
    Other Info
    # Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400 (2.16GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB)
    # 15.4-inch glossy 16:10 display (1280x800)
    # Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
    # 3GB DDR2 667MHz RAM
    # 250GB 5400RPM HDD
    # SuperMulti DVD+/-RW Optical Drive
    # Broadcom WiFi (802.11b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Modem
    # 6-Cell 11.1V 53WHr Battery

    http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5022&review=lenovo+g530
In my case I had NOD32 on my Vista partition and when I made another partition to install Windows 7 I installed MSE, my thinking was if it performed without problems I would not bother to renew NOD32 when it expired, which was several months.

I was very happy with the performance of MSE and knew that whenever I booted into Vista I was covered by NOD32, I had plenty of time to know I'd carry on using it and as I've now done away with the Vista partition I'm more than happy to have a reliable anti virus program with the added bonus of it being free.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Home
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy x360 Convertible 15-bq0xx
    CPU
    AMD A9 Stoney Ridge Technology
    Motherboard
    HP 8312 (Socket FP4)
    Memory
    8.00GB Dual-Channel Unknown (?-0-0-0)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz) 512MB ATI AMD Radeon R5
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Aud
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor on AMD Radeon R5 Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    119GB SanDisk SD8SN8U-128G-1006 (SSD)
    931GB Hitachi HGST HTS721010A9E630 (SATA
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Optical Wheel Mouse
    Internet Speed
    62.86Mbps down 18.19Mbps up
    Other Info
    EPSON78D0CF (XP-332 335 Series) (Default Printer)
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