Microsoft Security Essentials and Avast Free: Both Good Choices

Two of the most popular free antivirus software applications recently released new versions, making the choice between the two more competitive.

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) latest version (2.0.657.0) was released in December of 2010, and Avast Free Antivirus software version 6 was released in February of 2011. In a side-by-side comparison of Microsoft Security Essentials vs. Avast Free Antivirus software, both continue to offer comprehensive security features, including real-time, on-demand scanning that includes both signature-based and heuristic scans.

Users and reviewers consider both MSE and Avast very fast, except in copying files, where Avast Free demonstrated an advantage. In some tests results, Avast Free garnered more false alarms than Microsoft Security Essentials. However, in other results, Avast Free scored higher on overall protection than Microsoft.

A major difference between Microsoft Security Essentials vs. Avast Free is file size. The setup file for Avast Free is 10 times as large because the software's installer includes more customization features. Some critics say that the installation of Google's Chrome browser unnecessarily adds to the installation file size. Avast Free also requires 10 times more hard-disk space than MSE.

In the newest update, Avast Free now includes technology that enables you to create a virtual machine – called a sandbox – within your physical computer to isolate suspected malware. This important virus-containment feature isolates potentially malevolent code until it can be verified as legitimate. If the suspicious code proves to be malware, the virtual computer will shut down, thereby isolating the potential infection so it cannot spread.

Another thing to consider when looking at Microsoft Security Essentials vs. Avast is that one of the persistent criticisms of the former is that it takes more time to complete scans. In addition, you must have a genuine copy of Windows in order to use the Microsoft security product.

On the plus side, Microsoft Security Essentials requires no registration, just a quick validation to ensure that your computer has a licensed version of Windows. You will appreciate the absence of ads or annoying screens. Reviewers say Microsoft's free product matches the detection rates achieved by commercially sold security software.

In comparing the two, Avast Free goes beyond Microsoft in its ability to scan not just email attachments, but incoming and outgoing emails. In version 6, Avast includes a site-blocking feature that lets you block specific websites, as well as additional protections both at the http and browser levels. You can also choose to run on-demand scans.

With the release of Microsoft Security Essentials' newest version, the upgrade now includes improved heuristic scanning capabilities and less reliance upon definitions, as well as improved integration with Windows Firewall. One of the benefits of choosing Microsoft Security Essentials over Avast Free is Security Essentials' easy user interaction.

With Avast Free, users benefit from connections to Avast's Community IQ system of 130 million live users who collectively monitor and report emerging threats.

Both products are great choices, although each company has different motivations for providing their software as freeware. Avast does trickle down higher-end features to users of the free software as new versions come out. Obviously, the company is looking to entice paying clients to purchase its premium products.

Conversely, Microsoft seeks to connect with its huge base of clients through this PC security freeware in order to educate users on the need for maintaining continual vigilance against malware, thereby helping to curb the volume of malware infecting its client base.

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