MSERT aka Microsoft Security Scanner

I thought I would try this. As it was running, it said it had detected 70 infected files. But when it completed after 5 hours, it said there was no malware. Does anyone use this utility? It examined 3 million files! My system only has 750,000 files, so it was evidently checking metadata and other bits of Windows.

If Microsoft Security (Defender) is healthy, up‑to‑date, and running normally, then you have no reason to run MSERT. MSERT is strictly an exception‑handling tool, not part of routine protection.

TraderGary said:

If Microsoft Security (Defender) is healthy, up‑to‑date, and running normally, then you have no reason to run MSERT. MSERT is strictly an exception‑handling tool, not part of routine protection.

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But I use Webroot and Defender is off. I had suggested MS Safety Scanner in another thread and then thought I had better put my money where my mouth was and test it.

I think these specific-purpose scanners are kind of nice to run every now and then. McAfee used to have one back in the day; others probably do also.

As Gary said, if your anti-malware is working, then you probably don’t need it. But how do you know your anti-malware is working? You can’t exactly ask it to report on its own health.

It’s like that cool fungus that invades ants, consumes their innards, and then signals their brains to do its bidding. The ant is blissfully ignorant the whole time, so don’t bother asking the ant how it’s doing. Nature is fun, btw.

OK. I use Microsoft Security (Defender) and never had a reason to run MSERT.

kelper said:

But I use Webroot and Defender is off

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Webroot should be able to handle anything the internet can throw at you.
Personally, I would ignore MS offerings if you are running Webroot.

I've been running Bitdefender (paid) for 13 years... absolutely no problems.
The reason I run Bitdefender is because it cares what I want, not what MS wants. ^^

Even running Webroot, MS Defender is always there in the background, just like it is with my Bitdefender.


Just checked on AV-Test... Webroot isn't doing as well as it was the beginning of this year...




And from AV Comparatives...


The front runners still seem to be Bitdefender and Kaspersky...

Ghot said:

Webroot should be able to handle anything the internet can throw at you.
Personally, I would ignore MS offerings if you are running Webroot.

I've been running Bitdefender (paid) for 13 years... absolutely no problems.
The reason I run Bitdefender is because it cares what I want, not what MS wants. ^^

Even running Webroot, MS Defender is always there in the background, just like it is with my Bitdefender.

Click to expand...

Defender's periodic scan is turned off in my system but the antimalware service is unstoppable. I believe it truly is deactivated unless Webroot crashes.

@Ghot have you ever tried Webroot? PC Magazine long had it as an Editor's Choice.
it's lighter than a Durex Gossamer and probably gives better protection!

kelper said:

Defender's periodic scan is turned off in my system but the antimalware service is unstoppable. I believe it truly is deactivated unless Webroot crashes.

@Ghot have you ever tried Webroot? PC Magazine long had it as an Editor's Choice.
it's lighter than a Durex Gossamer and probably gives better protection!

Click to expand...

See my additions above.

And no, I've never run Webroot. I ran Symantec (Norton) AV and Zone Alarm Firewall (before ZA messed up it's own program).
After that, I ran Bitdefender Internet Security and it's followup, Bitdefender Total Security. Both are AV/firewall programs.





And for Bitdefender... I only run three of it's 13 modules, RED boxes... Firewall settings are as shown.
I love BD's Firewall, with it's toggles.




Bitdefender works flawlessly. And the other modules may be of interest to some...



Running just the three modules, this is the resource usage... (pic on left is normal running).
(pic on right is running a scan of the Windows drive - high priority)

.......

My Windows drive is a 2.5 inch Samsung 860 EVO 500GB (not a very fast drive).