Microsoft Security Essentials Scores Failing Grade

With all the malware and virus threats primarily targeting the Microsoft Windows platform, it’s almost a requirement to install some type of anti-virus software. Microsoft even goes so far as to offer a free download of its own product, Microsoft Security Essentials, if the Microsoft Update service detects another product hasn’t been installed first. Unfortunately, the product’s detection capabilities are called into question with the latest testing performed by AV-Test.

The firm conducts bimonthly tests on almost all of the available Windows anti-virus products, free and commercial, and grants them a certificate of approval based on performance. In a September through October test done using Windows 7, Security Essentials was the only tested product to fail certification. The tests measure three major categories: level of protection, repair ability, and usability. A total score reached in these combined areas must be at least 11 out of 18 possible points for a passing grade. Security Essentials came up short, scoring ten and a half points.

The reason for the failing score has to do with an inability to detect enough zero day threats. In the other categories, Security Essentials scored about as well as ever. To be fair, most of the software tested performed worse in the area of zero day than in the same test conducted in May through June. The top three anti-virus products in the test are Bitdefender Internet Security, F-Secure Internet Security, and Kaspersky Internet Security – all commercial programs. Out of the free options, ZoneAlarm Free Anti-Virus + Firewall receives the highest score.

What should we take away from these results? I’ve spent a considerable amount of time removing malware and virus infections on Windows PCs over the years when doing on-site service calls. My experience tells me the quest to keep a machine protected is a constantly moving target. A product that does an excellent job one year is likely to be a less attractive choice the next year. Any anti-virus product kept current with the latest signature updates is better than nothing, but some products become bloated and slow as new features are added and signature databases grow larger. Other products appear to become targets for malware authors after they’re adopted by enough PC users. Still other anti-virus programs suffer from software developers who don’t stay on top of all of the latest techniques used by malware authors to hide from or disable scanners. I’ve always liked Security Essentials from a standpoint of the software not dragging down a computer’s performance and avoiding annoying or flashing pop-up status windows. The fact that it’s free of charge doesn’t hurt either. Even though I find this failure disappointing, I would like to see if Microsoft manages to improve Security Essentials in subsequent tests.