Microsoft isn't too happy with the results of a recent test that found fault with its antivirus software.
For the second time in a row, the company's Security Essentials failed to win certification from AV-Test, a German-based testing lab that evaluates the efficacy of antivirus products. Out of 25 programs tested, only three failed to gain AV-Test's thumb's up for certification.
Microsoft's Forefront Endpoint Protection, which is geared toward corporate customers, also failed to gain certification.
Microsoft responded to the test via a blog posted yesterday, challenging its findings.
"Our review showed that 0.0033 percent of our Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection customers were impacted by malware samples not detected during the test," Joe Blackbird, program manager for Microsoft's Malware Protection Center, said. "In addition, 94 percent of the malware samples not detected during the test didn't impact our customers."
Blackbird cited three different examples in which he believes AV-Test missed the mark.
AV-Test reports on samples hit/missed by category. We report (and prioritize our work) based on customer impact.
AV-Test's test results indicate that our products detected 72 percent of all "0-day malware" using a sample size of 100 pieces of malware. We know from telemetry from hundreds of millions of systems around the world that 99.997 percent of our customers hit with any 0-day did not encounter the malware samples tested in this test.
AV-Test's test results indicate that our products missed 9 percent of "recent malware" using a sample size of 216,000 pieces of malware. We know from telemetry that 94 percent of these missed malware samples were never encountered by any of our customers.
Microsoft cut AV-Test a bit of slack by saying it's difficult for such independent groups to devise tests that can mimic the real-world conditions of virus attacks. At a security conference last year, AV-Test itself admitted to certain flaws in the methods used by current independent tests. But it still stood behind its own approach.
Security Essentials has been on a bumpy ride with AV-Test as of late.
In 2009, Microsoft's initial version of the software scored well in the group's testing. But more recent tests conducted last Winter and last Fall found the product much less effective.
CNET contacted AV-Test for comment and will update the story if the group responds.
Microsoft challenges poor grade for Security Essentials
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Microsoft challenges poor grade for Security Essentials
