Which is the Best Free AntiVirus? AntiVir Versus Microsoft Security Essentials - Part 1

Written by: Donna Buenaventura • Edited by: Bill Bunter
Updated Jun 24, 2010 • Related Guides: Microsoft | Microsoft Security Essentials

I put AntiVir Personal Edition and Microsoft Security Essentials head to head. Read this detailed antivirus comparison to find out which of the two antimalware performs better and which is the best.

Overview

Avira AntiVir Personal Edition is one of the widely-use anti-virus protections that you will find in millions of PC and often recommended to end-users looking for free security solution. Microsoft Security Essentials is the new kid in the block and has garnered good detection rating in AV-Comparatives.org review (beating other popular antimalware scanners). Let’s compare the two applications that will not only protect your computers from malware but will help you in browsing securely.

Installation and System Requirements: Winner – AntiVir PE

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and Avira AntiVir Personal Edition (AntiVir PE) will work with Windows XP, Vista and 7. AntiVir continue to support Windows 2000 and what is great is you can install it in a Netbook! Installing AntiVir let you customize which component to install and how you want the program to protect the system while MSE do not offer such. Both programs require no reboot after installation which means you are protected as soon as the installation has finished, you can start configuring and using the malware scanner. No registration is required to continue installing any of these programs but Microsoft will need to validate if your Windows has passed the Genuine Advantage program.

User Interface: Winner – Microsoft Security Essentials

The UI of AntiVir is actually good but comparing it with MSE, the latter is neater and will not confuse beginners to start configuring the program or which is safe to change.

AntiVirus Task Scheduler and Memory Usage: Winner – AntiVir PE

With AntiVir PE, you can create several scan and update tasks within the program. MSE only allow you to modify the single update and scan task.

AntiVir is lighter to use than MSE: AntiVir will only use 57MB when running a full system scan while MSE’s memory usage during a scan is 73MB. When the programs are idle, MSE will use 4MB while AntiVir will use 1.3MB only.

Scanning Performance: Winner – Microsoft Security Essentials

When I run a system drive scan using the programs’ default scan settings, MSE finished scanning in 45 minutes and 12 seconds with 434,750 files scanned. AntiVir has scanned 362,326 files in 23 minutes and 45 seconds. Changing the scanner of AntiVir to use maximum heuristic analysis resulted to 3 false positives after it scanned a total of 362,985 items.

Note: MSE’s scanner offers heuristic detection but no option to disable/enable it. No false positive by MSE after the system drive scan. The 3 false positives by Avira are text files of IE-SPYAD and Website Watcher.

Images

No False Positive by AntiVir using default setting

Features: Winner – AntiVir PE

MSE features its real-time protection against malware and spyware, heuristic detection, e-mail attachments scanner and browsing protection. AntiVir will offer the same except e-mail scanner (this feature is available only in paid edition of AntiVir).

AntiVir also provides anti-phishing protection and Secure Start protection which is quite useful because any identified malware is removed before the system will continue to load. However, both programs do not offer web shield against rogue and malicious websites (unless the website will download or load content that is malicious).

MSE and AntiVir let you run a quick, full, single (via context menu) and custom scanning. You can customize the scanner of AntiVir to use normal or higher scanning process which means it can finish fast but will use more memory or use lower memory but the scan will take longer to finish. This option is not available in MSE. AntiVir has the option to run a boot records scan.

neo Mar 15, 2011 8:02 AM

M.S.E

hi there
in my opinion its better to have an anti virus that has a up to date database it self by newer Versions so that U don't have to first download it and then run a scan
and of course a firewall for the best protection
i think if Microsoft work harder in this area's its gonna be thee best AV

Prashneet Prasad Mar 14, 2011 8:08 AM

MSE The Best

MSE will never let you down. It is the best free antivirus program far better than all the paid ones. Runs in a single process and fast and easy to install and use.

sangeeth Feb 18, 2011 3:59 AM

mse

M.S.E is best free antivirus i have ever seen.
it will not slow my pc and remove all viruses
immediatly.ithink microsoft is thinking for humanity

Timo Jan 8, 2011 6:48 AM

Great article

Just wanna say I like the setup of your article very much. Very understandable!! Thanks a lot.

ROBERT Nov 26, 2010 7:25 AM

MSE IS SECURE

Hey, i choose MSE coz its all that microsoft has to offer to protect its operating system. lets be realistic here, its not about competition causing microsoft to manufacture an anti-virus but rather genunue protection to those who buy genuinue windows yet may not afford a good anti-virus in the short-run.
i give credit to MSE and the company at large.

Ali Shah Nov 16, 2010 10:20 AM

To All

Microsoft Windows Security Essentials 1.0 is free and extremely powerfull for simple web browsing for simple users as far as i think bussiness and highly tech programmers will require a paid antivirus they all are good if you paid them large industries pays 1000s of dollar to get these kind of protection

i m using Eset Smart Security 4.0 for months and my computer is not infected at all

sam Oct 9, 2010 2:47 PM

mse is better

because i had tried avira , msc,avast 4.8 & 2010 ,,avg doctor & norton from all MSC is the best it detect's more and it is the product of microsoft so it is best for windows os .
and it dos't slow down the system ....
i will suggest all to go with msc it is very good...

sandeep gurung Sep 6, 2010 2:32 PM

best antivirus

I do think that avast is the best..

James Short Aug 31, 2010 6:23 AM

Avira, virus laden

I caught the Win32 zbot recently and the Avira free version I downloaded to try and get rid of it appeared to get infected. Avast was picking up Avira files as infections. After 48hrs of combating an accumulating no. of trojans and viruses it was when I uninstalled Avira and downloaded MSE that my PC killed the infection. I was relying on AVG 9 free, but I will be sticking with MSE now.

Don Aug 27, 2010 2:04 PM

Avira AntiVir PE

Software is some of the buggiest I have tested in some time. No popups with I tested with eicar.com; it just logged and blocked it. I went to delete from the quarrantine content menu and it restored the file! Glad it was not a real virus.

This software not "ready fo primetime." Actually, the only one I would recommend is MSE and that would only be to the "totally clueless." Anyone with any PC smarts should be running a full feature paid for malware scanner.

Fiore Aug 15, 2010 12:25 PM

MSE

I must say that MSE runs great. I have tried all of them AVG,Avast, Mcafee, Norto 360 etc... I service computers and feel cofident that MSE does a great job and is free. Microsoft is doing the right thing to improve it's image. Win 7 is fantastic and MSE doesn't slow it down a bit. Get it !!!!!

M. Bertumen Jul 21, 2010 5:37 PM

Avast failed me

I got avast after reading several positive reviews about it. Today I got one of those new mailvue.class trojan viruses. It went right past my avast protection. I had to clean the virus up and the mess it made myself. I think I'll try MSE for now. Doesn't look too bad. These trojans are getting really smart, too.

Tobias Weiß Jul 17, 2010 4:49 PM

@Aldon

Don't be a retard. If you know anything about computers, then you would know installing two antivirus of any brand -- even Avast and MSE -- side-by-side is NOT "super virus protection". If anything, that will shorten the life of your computer because the two will clash and cause problems. This is why antivirus comparisons were made, to find which is the best of them according to user review and professional opinion, so you can get the best one and not worry about protection... You shouldn't even run two anti-malware scans at once. Scanning simultaneously with Avast and MalwareBytes can even cause problems as if they both find a file at the same time in their search, both will skip over it because they think the item is already being dealt with by the other program.

If you want a better antivirus, just go with MSE. To me, this blog was unreliable for one reason: it rated AntiVir over MSE simply because MSE requires the Windows Genuine Verification. That, if anything, proves it's _more_ secure, because pirated/illegal operating systems can't run it. Sure, neither can Linux/Mac, but it's made for Windows to begin with... As far as Windows antivirus' go, MSE is the top of the line, especially running Windows 7 with UAC and Firewall both enabled as well.

Bob S Jun 25, 2010 3:10 PM

AV Security Suite

To metech

MSE let AV Security Suite slip through to my Vista machine. I'm pi**ed

metech Jun 21, 2010 11:23 AM

AVG failed me

Yesterday I was attacked and infiltrated by the nasty "AV Security Suite". ( I suppose they are all nasty in reality).

Anyway it strolled right on past my AVG 3 pack suite. Very disappointed to say the least.

My computer whiz friend recommended MSE not only because it works but also because it's free, easy to use, and is not bloated with unnecessary functions, bells, and whistles.

Aldon Jun 4, 2010 5:02 AM

To other people here

I would say that I like MSE better than Avira or AVG anti-virus. It scans pretty fast, like 4 minutes with the quick scan and it only consumes 3k MB worth of RAM space, useful for bloated Vista where you use 700mb even though you're just staring at the desktop.

I use Avast though, but I'm currently planning on using both at the same time (SUPER VIRUS PROTECTION).

sean May 19, 2010 5:51 PM

To the person who mentioned AVG

I'm a system tech and I clean viruses almost on a daily basis. I can say with certainty that AVG offers some of the worst protection on the market today. I have lost count of the number of infected AVG system I have worked on. It has to be somewhere in the hundreds. Their antivirus was good once upon a time, but now it is a joke. They simply get by on their name they earned in the early part of this last decade, somewhat like Symantec.

Wanda Widsides May 14, 2010 3:23 AM

reemi, this bulletin is not biased at all.

"Where is the most obvious "best" free anti-virus metioned in this bulletin board? AVG Free 9 has over 250 million downloads in 16 months! Wow! If that doesn't tell everyone which program is the best then I would call this bulleitin board totally biased."

Hmmm...

That only says which is the most downloaded, not which is the best at what it does. Fads are popular too, but it doesn't always mean they are good just because most of the people take part in them. Like fads; a lot of people do it just because others are doing it and or telling them to, not because it means anything else important to them, they just want to fit in is all.

AVG Free 9 was great at first, but over time it has become bloat-ware, just like a lot of the pay for programs do.

Both AntiVir and Microsoft Security Essentials are superior to the now over blown AVG Free 9, which is still okay, just not as good.

Sorry.

Nabi May 11, 2010 11:35 PM

There'no issue with MSE, no ulterior motive. Just get it.

Saki Apr 30, 2010 4:24 PM

i am using MSE for a while ....... it is so simple and so easy to use ........ its interface is neat ..... update process and security alerts are good ....but it takes a while to complete a full scan.... but it is really a good anti virus software .............

Ardee Sureta Apr 16, 2010 11:17 PM

@FX

It is clearly stated that the product tested was avira premium, it means that it is not free, on the other hand the discussion in this site is about free avira vs. mse...

and in the longer run, mse will be better because it is very compatible with windows, and every security update of the OS can be used by mse

Fx Apr 5, 2010 5:03 PM

@Sureta

The latest av-comparatives report (Feb 2010, revised March 2010)

http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/stories/test/ondret/avc_report25.pdf

clearly indicates that Avira AntiVir is top-tier, Microsoft Security Essentials is second-tier.

That said, the results of such detection tests are not constant, as the virus environment constantly changes, as do the anti-virus programs themselves. Avira does seem to have a considerable edge both in memory footprint (smaller) and processing speed -- those tend to be less variable across different revisions of the same product.

- bill Mar 30, 2010 8:25 PM

We've used AntiVir for many years

and have been very satisfied with it. Testing labs confirm your observation that it catches more malware than MSE (or any other alternative) - though it may generate more false positives as well (we haven't seen any that I can recall). Its nag screen can be blocked if it annoys you (just use your firewall to block avnotify.exe from executing, or change its permissions to deny read/execute).

Online Armor gets rid of the other potential need for MSE and has served us well as a firewall, especially its 'run safer' feature (though this may be less important given the Vista and Win7 security enhancements). The ability to block out-going connections is useful (though I believe that an add-on to MSE can allow better control over its facilities in this area).

Ardee Sureta Mar 28, 2010 12:42 PM

Is this accurate?

it seems like the test is a bit biased, im not questioning your credibility but according to this site

http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2009/10/av-comparatives-picks-six-malware-removal-winners.ars

The results are as follows
Advanced+: eScan, Symantec, Microsoft, F-Secure, Kaspersky, Bitdefender
Advanced: ESET, Sophos, AVG, McAfee, Avast, AVIRA, Trustport
Standard: Norman, G DATA
Tested: Kingsoft

MSE is one of the 6 anti virus program that is rated as advanced+ while avira is in advanced category only

av comparatives are the ones who performed the tests according to the link stated above

reemi Mar 28, 2010 12:30 AM

AVG Free 9

Where is the most obvious "best" free anti-virus metioned in this bulletin board? AVG Free 9 has over 250 million downloads in 16 months! Wow! If that doesn't tell everyone which program is the best then I would all this bulleitin board totally biased.

Hamster Man Mar 19, 2010 9:31 AM

I prefer MSE. I'm sick of huge anti-virus solutions with tons of options and custom features etc. You know what I want from my anti-virus? An "update and scan" button, a progress bar, an exit button, and a checkbox for enabling/disabling real time protection. Done.

Michael S Mar 16, 2010 10:03 PM

The comparison makes want to try MSE

In fact I will put it on one machine and let you know.
I cannot agree more with Tim's comments. MS say a large percentage of pirate Windows have code injected into them--I agree.

Antivir's alarming warning messages some of which look downright sinister which almost qualifies them as scareware to buy the paid version.

Shovelhead13 Mar 14, 2010 8:43 PM

Which is the best choice?

It seams to me that Microsoft Security Essentials is the best choice here. That's because it checks the email for you while AntiVir doesn't until paid for. That last bit points to the fact that AntiVir has been made to get customers buying another version. Those linds of software can't be trusted.

asdsd Mar 12, 2010 9:11 PM

get it its a very good program its free and protects against virus and all that stuff get it

jacky Feb 22, 2010 11:17 PM

so sweet

Great performance

Evan Feb 18, 2010 11:53 AM

One thing about MSE and portables

I use MSE but if you use it on a laptop you often miss updates so for the duration after the missed update you get a notification that you may not be protected unti l the next update is done.. At work, I use Sophos and so far MSE is quicker, had caught more stuff. I say more stuff because I checked it against a website that Sophos flagged one thing and MSE flagged an additional 2 malicious scripts running.

Dev Kumar Jan 19, 2010 8:46 AM

Its a nice move !!

I don't like the idea of of the 'genuine' stuff as Microsoft selling the Operating System hidden ?

Am sticking to my Mac and Open SuSe. No antivirus, no windows update "frequent" check. I can use the process (including internet usage) for other sttuffs.

But i give full marks to release an antivirus from mircorost as they only their operating system's bugs !!

=) Dec 24, 2009 1:51 AM

RE: Which is the Best Free AntiVirus? AntiVir Versus Microsoft Security Essentials - Part 1

MSE working on w7 RTM, all that "genuine" is marketing crap

MaxKam Dec 19, 2009 8:32 AM

Phishing is taken care by IE 8

There are features in IE8 which complements MSE antivirus features. It only make sense to break this up into individual components rather than one big junk of software which can affect performance.

M Buenaagua Dec 16, 2009 9:55 AM

Great review.

I love you detailed review of these two products and would like ot say thanks for making it informative to us. I only found out about MSE last night and installed it on my main PC and was so impressed with it that I will stop using my other AV programs and stick with this. I am also planning on installing it on our home laptop. As a technician, I will recommend this AV to anyone asking for a free anti virus from now on. Thanks.

rover3500 Nov 9, 2009 9:32 PM

Avira is my choice

I use the paid version of avira(premium suite)...I've tried most security progs,and my 1st 2 choices are eset security and avira for speed and detection.Shame kapersky so slow,or would recommend that.The new forticlient suite (free)doesn't seem bad,but haven't had a long time to test it.

mw Nov 6, 2009 5:58 AM

"Best" implies "Better than any other"

When comparing only two things, "better" is the right term - "best" should only be used when comparing three or more things.

If you're going to ask "Which is bwst?" you should include more candidates - like, say, AVG or any or all of the other free anti-virus programs.

I won't use AntiVir, because of the popups, and i won't use MSE until is see a few more reviews.

So far, i'm sticking with VG - i have no problem periodically downloading and installing upgrades manually. (On my Windows 7 RC1 system, i have Windows Update set to "Notify Only" and i decide whether i want it to download and install updates.)

Danny D Oct 22, 2009 11:46 PM

... prolonged usage...

I was never a fan of Microsoft and it's products, but I would have to choose MSE. You can't rate a program after you installed it, and ran some tests (which might of been craftly chosen). Use them for a month, or more, and then you will see how annoying a program can get, and how effective the other might be. I'm sure not everybody will agree with me, but keep this in mind. Microsoft, a huge software developer, has made a free antivirus. Not a trial version, and not a watered down version that doesn't have all the options that a Pro version might. And, it's very easy to use, effective, and fast.
I wouldn't worry for those that don't have a legal version of Windows. They probably already have an illegal version of an antivirus, or, maybe even MSE. :)

Kevin Oct 19, 2009 7:27 PM

MSE ... AVG ... AntiVir ... they all are free and all do a good job and I don't have a problem recommending any of them. However, MSE has one big advantage over the others - Windows Updates.

I've used AVG for years but about once a year they come out with a major version change (for example, from 7.x to 8.x) which requires downloading and basically reinstalling. Since MSE using Windows Updates this shouldn't be a problem.

For users who need to install an AV and forget about it I feel more comfortable recommending MSE than the other products.

Don Oct 18, 2009 11:13 AM

Seems skewed to me...

I've used Avira Free and Avast! Although Avira appears superior in detection and the pop-up really doesn't bother me, what always drives me away from Avira is their horribly slow servers for the Free Edition. Avast! is excellent as well, and their servers are equally fast for the Free Edition as well as the Paid. I recently dumped Avira from my Netbook, and installed MSE. So far, so good - it's the Beta machine for MSE. If I continue to see good things, I may move one of my other systems to it. And, WGA doesn't bother me, as each laptop and desktop I own has a valid and licensed copy of WinXP. In this case, I totally agree with Microsoft.

Schmeckel Oct 9, 2009 5:45 PM

Thank you Tim, looks like I download and use MSE. I use Vista, MADE my MS, only make sense. Plus, I don't like popups and MSE looks cooler.

Tim Oct 7, 2009 3:33 PM

Genuine Advantage

The difficulties some have with WGA are of course unfortunate, but it seems to me that every one of the causes of invalidation has legitimate cause. If you installed windows on more than one computer (virtual machine or not), you've violated the terms of use. If you bought a used computer, you should have had the sense to buy from someone reputable. That list can go on and on. Bad or pirated software... nobody can pin that one on Microsoft. Deal with your own problems.

The very core of my preference to MSE and "Avast!" has been that both offer 100% free software. Too many people have become accustomed to the fact that "popups happen". This is intolerable for myself. The software is the guest on *my* computer. I am not guest on the *software's* computer.

Altogether, I simply prefer to avoid annoyance where I can.

Tim Oct 7, 2009 10:54 AM

Apologies

Yes, I see that I misread the section about the UI.

I have no invested interest is MSE. I do enjoy the fact Microsdt has no reason to give me popups to up-sell me to any silly Pro version though, which finally lives up t the fact the virus protection should be both free and available without pretense that I willbuy a bigger better product after 30 days, etc.

Nobin Oct 7, 2009 9:28 AM

Mr. Tim, please comment to such knowledgeable articles only after reading it properly. It's very clear from your comment that you don't have a great taste on Avira but on MSE.
Miss Donna had written that "UI of AntiVir is actually good but comparing it with MSE, the latter is neater and will not confuse beginners to start configuring the program", meaning UI of MSE is not confusing.
There are many people who would like to have able/disable features for their own reasons.
Anyway this article was quite knowledgeable and I expect more such articles from Miss Donna.

Donna Buenaventura Oct 7, 2009 5:26 AM

Which is why MSE wins in the Installation section in the review :)
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/articles/50054.aspx

Sam Oct 7, 2009 5:00 AM

Seems skewed to me as well

I used AntiVir PE before and dumped it immediately after MS released MSE. Why? AntiVir PE generates annoying pop-up ad almost daily, trying to persuade users to upgrade. Those pop-ups are very intrusive and you have to "OK" it. Sometimes it pops up while I watch TV on my computer.

Adware - MSE wins and AntiVir PE loses.

Donna Buenaventura Oct 5, 2009 10:25 PM

Please check also the article about Windows Genuine Advantage:http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/articles/36431.aspx
And the review for MSE:http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/reviews/39342.aspx

Tim Oct 5, 2009 6:24 PM

Seems skewed to me..

Just about everything on page one of this article seems pretty subjectively pitted against MSE.

First of all, if you have turned off Window Updates, you're not off to a great start for Security.

I have no idea why Avira's support of Win2k has anything to do with netbooks. That's not even related.

MS checking for a valid copy of windows is totally not a bad thing. I'm not sure why that's even noted in the article.

I'm not sure which MSE you were using, but I don't think that the UI to MSE is "confusing" by any measure of the word.

The heuristics of MSE are exactly what makes it not generate false positives. This is a huge plus to me. Who on earth would want to disable a perfect feature?

Altogether, I disagree with the article. Especially