Microsoft Security Essentials v. Panda Cloud Antivirus Free

[Dieselman]

Your missing the point. Microsoft was never a company who made anti virus protection. There are on OS maker. Panda has always been a company that makes security solutions. They have been making security products and fighting viruses longer then Microsoft so there detection rate should be higher. Panda has been around since 1990.

[TheFist]

Why is everyone saying that MSE has a better detection rate than Panda?

Panda beats MSE in tests by PC-Mag
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2364844,00.asp
The latest av-comparatives also has Panda well ahead
PC Security Labs also rates it very well
http://www.pcsecuritylabs.net/document/certificate/Panda_Cloud_Antivirus_Greater_China_Region_High_Protection_Certificate_2010Q3.pdf

Is there something I'm missing here?

[Quackimducky]

Yes there is, the test by PC mag is a month old. I can't open the pdf file on pcsecuritylabs so im not sure.

[sss20]

Hi TheFist and welcome to rM!
In all the test done Panda and MSE always manage to score 97-99% ....a almost perfect score...
I've tested almost all the antiviruses out there ...and let me tell you that no antivirus can protect you 100%... you can also check http://www.av-comparatives.org/ .
So even if Panda has 99% and MSE 98% thoose 1% missed by Panda or MSE will manage to infect a lot of PCs.Because 1% in the real world could mean tens of thousands malware samples.
Panda and MSE (like all the other antiviruses) need a second line of defence.....You can't just use MSE or Panda and say that you are safe....That's the ugly truth.



Because you are a new member ,you can start a topic in "How is my config" viewforum.php?f=58 and the other members will help you build a solid security config.

[TheFist]

Thanks for the reply!
Fortunately I was aware of all that At the moment I'm running PCAV with threatfire at level 4. I normally run comodo but I'm handing this computer over to my wife once I get a new one so I thought I'd put something she'd be able to handle on it. For on demand I have MBAM and SAS, as well as the UBCD and the emsisoft emergency kit on usb if I get into any serious trouble

Back on topic
I like PCAV because it's so light and does stop a lot of zero-day malware.
I did try MSE a while ago and I remember not being overwhelmed by it.. I may try the newer version a bit later.
That's what I like about being a freeware user.. whenever something new and exciting comes out I can jump straight on it

[redman2563]

well said sss20. I used to be a big believer in MSE and think its still a great av to novice-light users. You set it and forget it. In the latest AV-Comparatives, mse scored a 97.6 and panda a 99.2. So out of roughly a million samples, 97.6 = 3400 missed samples and 99.2 means about only 800 missed samples. it adds up. The only free av that you would be OK with is avast or comodo because it has several components. avast being aimed more towards novice users vs comodo.