Which is best.

[thescruff]

Windows defender or MS security essentials.

[RichieP]

Just Security Essentials

Q: How is this different from Windows Defender?

A: Windows Defender detects and removes known spyware only. It is not designed to protect against the full breadth of malicious software, and specifically does not prevent viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malicious software from infecting your machine. The new no-cost solution will be a comprehensive anti-malware solution.



Q: Is Microsoft Security Essentials designed to replace Windows Defender?

A: No but if you are running Microsoft Security Essentials, you do not need to run Windows Defender. Microsoft Security Essentials is designed to disable Windows Defender in order to manage the PC’s real-time protection, including anti-virus, rootkits, Trojans and spyware.


Q: Does installing Microsoft Security Essentials disable Windows Defender
A: Microsoft Security Essentials should disable Windows Defender on Vista and Windows 7 and uninstall it from XP. In some cases, this does not happen automatically.

Q: What happens if I do not disable or uninstall Windows Defender if I am using Microsoft Security Essentials?
A: If Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender are both running, your system may experience performance degradation and other problems caused by the conflict of two services providing real time protection simultaneously.

Taken from here

[Pooneil]

Windows defender or MS security essentials.

Only one way to find out... FIIIIIIIGHT!

[thescruff]

Thank you Richie, the reason I asked was MS ( the computer problem) advised me to install Security essentials and I had to remove avast to do what they wanted.

I now notice that Defender has been switched off, and SE wont let it back on.

[Megaross]

I'll say this, security essentials let through a lot of virus when I was using it.
I used NOD32 before and Kapersky now, both have kept my pc locked down and virus free, and less annoyance with networking configs.

[BillyGoat]

What is a lot of virus's and how are you getting so many?

It fascinates me what people get up to to 'find' or expose themselves in the first place......not that it's to say it's wrong!

How did you know it didn't work - was it popups, slowness, other?

BG

[Megaross]

A lot of things, slowness from a trojan, then something corrupted a load of my files (luckily I keep backups), had some "p*ss me off" ware install itself.

No idea how they got through but they managed it, I've downloaded one or two torrents (iso files for software I own licencing to but not a disc) and a bit of music from where I have scratched discs. But it's rare I'll download anything, especially not illegally, I just buy hard copies and rip them.

[Icm76]

torrents (iso files for software I own licencing to but not a disc)

Those can be filled with malware, total PITA really because torrent would be ideal for this kind of thing otherwise. If legit torrents are available it's probably best to get the torrent link from an official website rather than browsing a tracker.

[Megaross]

That's the main trouble, so many websites don't offer download links for their software or sell replacement media. So I'm forced to take a slightly risky torrent.