MSE vs Avast Free

[laymonage]

Alright so I'm currently using Microsoft Security Essentials and it works good, but there's one problem that's really bugging me.

Everytime I boot my laptop, a process named MsMpEng.exe (Microsoft's Antimalware Service Executable) will always use about 25% of my CPU for about 15 minutes, but then the process will stop and it stops using my CPU. I know it's not a big problem but I just want to know if there's a solution.

 

And then I'm planning to use Avast! Free Antivirus instead of MSE. Which one is better?

Oh yeah the last time I installed Avast and rebooted my laptop, I couldn't log on to Windows, it froze on the "Please wait" screen. I think it's because I didn't remove MSE before installing Avast, so I think that problem could be fixed later.

 

So yeah, which one is better?  :)

 

 

[Godlygamer23]

Avast. For a free AV, both are adequate, but Avast also comes with more features for free, compared to MSE.

[GoodBytes]

Both are equally good. So if you want to switch go ahead. If, on your laptop, you just download stuff from trusted sites (ie: Adobe, Microsoft, etc.), and have it set to not auto run setup from USB keys (ie: your friend has a virus on his USB key set as autorun, and he doesn't know, and runs on your computer), then yea, I think you are good to go to not have anything. I don't have an A/V on my laptop. I just use it to take notes in class with Microsoft OneNote, and working on my personal project on the go.

 

But I would look into MsMpEng why it takes your CPU.

[Deathstroke]

MSE is a great product, but not on its own, it does have flaws. If you're not looking to spend any money, go with Avast!, but if you like MSE and want to stick with it, something like the pro version of Malwarebytes, I think it's around 25$ lifetime license, will boost your protection phenomenally.

 

Malwarebytes Pro blocks more malicious packets from site while still letting you access the site better than any program I've seen/used.

 

About the MsMpEng issue, maybe try a full reinstall of MSE. If its still coming up, check if it's set to run an automatic scan on boot-up.

 

GL.

[laymonage]

Avast. For a free AV, both are adequate, but Avast also comes with more features for free, compared to MSE.

 

Both are equally good. So if you want to switch go ahead. If, on your laptop, you just download stuff from trusted sites (ie: Adobe, Microsoft, etc.), and have it set to not auto run setup from USB keys (ie: your friend has a virus on his USB key set as autorun, and he doesn't know, and runs on your computer), then yea, I think you are good to go to not have anything. I don't have an A/V on my laptop. I just use it to take notes in class with Microsoft OneNote, and working on my personal project on the go.

 

But I would look into MsMpEng why it takes your CPU.

Thanks for the replies, yes I only download stuffs from sites I trust, and I rarely use my friends' flash drives  :)

 

MSE is a great product, but not on its own, it does have flaws. If you're not looking to spend any money, go with Avast!, but if you like MSE and want to stick with it, something like the pro version of Malwarebytes, I think it's around 25$ lifetime license, will boost your protection phenomenally.

 

Malwarebytes Pro blocks more malicious packets from site while still letting you access the site better than any program I've seen/used.

 

About the MsMpEng issue, maybe try a full reinstall of MSE. If its still coming up, check if it's set to run an automatic scan on boot-up.

 

GL.

Thanks for the reply, I'm going to reinstall it and see if the problem still exists. :)  

[mgsstar]

MSE, because I once had a situation where Avast detected itself as a virus and it couldn't remove it lol so their protection of their files aren't that good.

[laymonage]

MSE is a great product, but not on its own, it does have flaws. If you're not looking to spend any money, go with Avast!, but if you like MSE and want to stick with it, something like the pro version of Malwarebytes, I think it's around 25$ lifetime license, will boost your protection phenomenally.

 

Malwarebytes Pro blocks more malicious packets from site while still letting you access the site better than any program I've seen/used.

 

About the MsMpEng issue, maybe try a full reinstall of MSE. If its still coming up, check if it's set to run an automatic scan on boot-up.

 

GL.

 

Alright I just reinstalled it but the problem still exists  :(

MSE, because I once had a situation where Avast detected itself as a virus and it couldn't remove it lol so their protection of their files aren't that good.

lol  :lol:

[Paper Overload]

Avast Free for me because Microsoft Security Essentials is having some false positives on some games I play. Although when other people ask me what to install for an antivirus, I usually tell them to install Microsoft Security Essentials.

[techie]

I run MSE paired with malware bytes. I don't really see the point of paying loads of money for antivirus programs unless its for someone who has absolutely no idea what they're doing and would legitimately believe that they actually are the millionth visitor to a website, like my dad...

[Deathstroke]

Give this a read. http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-vista-tips/what-is-msmpeng-exe/

[laymonage]

Thanks for the replies!

 

Give this a read. http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-vista-tips/what-is-msmpeng-exe/

Thanks, I'm gonna give that a try  :)

[XiaoPigs]

Used both before. AVAST Free on my laptop and MSE on my rig before I had Kaspersky installed. Didn't notice any difference day to day to be honest.