Microsoft Fails Antivirus Certification Test (Again), Challenges the Results

redletterdave writes "For the second time in a row, Microsoft's Security Essentials failed to earn certification from AV-Test, the independent German testing lab best known for evaluating the effectiveness of antivirus software. Out of 25 different security programs tested by AV-Test, including software from McAfee, Norman, Kaspersky, and others, Microsoft's Security Essentials was just one out of three that failed to gain certification. These results are noteworthy because Microsoft Security Essentials is currently (as of December) the most popular security suite in North America and the world."

Norman? Norton!

[Anonymous Coward]

WTF editors.

Re:Norman? Norton!

[Intropy]

Saxon AV has always been better.

Re:This is why

[smpoole7]

Proof that I'm an old timer: my used of the term "anti virus." It's not called that nowadays. It's Malware Detection, Security Software and Shields and Bad Guy Blockers(tm). I must update my terminology and get with the times. :)

Kind of funny.

[plebeian]

Does anyone else think it is kind of funny that the Microsoft response is (to paraphrase); We did not detect any of the software they say we could not detect. That being said they may have a real point that their software is designed to detect real world threats and not proof of concepts that never leave the lab. Without more in depth analyses than I am willing to do, I can do little more than jump to conclusions based upon my own personal bias.

Re:This is why

[sa1lnr]

"Compuserve"

That was the proof for me. :)

Power Off?

[raftpeople]

I take it a step further. I carry around a "1" and a "0" in my pocket.

If I need to compute something I pull them out and get to work.