Over the past several years, Microsoft Security Essentials has slid in the malware detection scoring tests. It would be nice if Windows users finally didn’t have to seek out a third-party antivirus. It’s included by default on Windows 8 and named “Windows Defender.” This is one of the big security improvements in Windows 8 - you have an antivirus included so every Windows user has protection. We’ve been recommending MSE as the free antivirus to use for years because of this. Its test results showed it was ahead of the pack, so it was best antivirus at the time. MSE was a breath of fresh air - both in its interface and its speedy performance. Not only was it available for free - it wouldn’t hassle you and try to upsell you to paid antivirus solutions, like AVG and avast! do. It received very good malware detection scores, was extremely speedy, and was free. MSE was very appealing to Windows geeks like us, who quickly latched onto it.
For a more up-to-date view of our current antivirus recommendations, click here. It still scores lower than almost every other antivirus app, but at least its performance isn’t nearly as low as it once was. Update 2: In the year and a half since we published this article in 2013, Windows Defender’s test scores have improved. RELATED: What's the Best Antivirus for Windows 10? (Is Windows Defender Good Enough?) Given MSE’s poor scores, all the stories we’ve heard about it failing people in the real world, and Microsoft’s inconsistent communication, we still don’t feel we can recommend MSE anymore. Update: Microsoft has now released a statement, saying “We believe in Microsoft antimalware products and strongly recommend them to our customers, to our friends, and to our families.” Their statement unfortunately doesn’t directly address Holly Stewart’s comments or MSE’s history of worsening test scores. Microsoft is not communicating well with its users. Microsoft’s official website still bills MSE as offering “comprehensive malware protection” without any hint that they no longer recommend using it. This revelation comes to us from an interview Microsoft gave. Now, Microsoft is advising Windows users to use a third-party antivirus instead. Over the years, it’s slid in the test results, but Microsoft argued the tests weren’t meaningful. Microsoft Security Essentials (Windows Defender on Windows 8) was once on top.
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