Is Extra Virus Protection required if You have Microsoft Security?

Microsoft Security Essentials is just that, the essentials only.

It tends to be the low water mark in any AV test, though it usually does enough to pass VB100.

All the big name free ones are probably better, though if you do not have a high risk, MSE is low overhead, no ads & no renewals.

The amount of "extra" protection you can use is limited... Using Malwarebytes as a second opinion scanner is good.

Also, using a DNS that has some malware filtering (such as OpenDNS), Smartscreen in Browser, using Microsoft "Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit" to harden Browsers etc. against exploits.

Private Firewall looks like it may add some further defences, particularly the process control that neither the Default Windows Firewall nor MSE offers

http://www.privacyware.com/personal_firewall_2.htm...

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Microsoft Security Essentials is #4 of the top 4 free av products. You should be fine with it.

I would recommend installing Malwarebytes to perform an on-demand weekly scan. No AV product gets everything, but not much can get past two different ones. Also, you might want to install an antispyware program like Spybot Search and Destroy or Adaware.

Nope. I've had MSE on my pc's for several years now and had no problems.

You do have to practice safe surfing & email though anyway.

The best anti-virus in the world can't protect you if you do stuff you shouldn't on the Internet.

Like opening email attachments from just anybody or going to websites that have"questionable content (pics)...", including friends, without scanning them first.

MSE will be just fine. These days just don't download something that has no credibility or you have never heard of. Also, email providers catch attachments and virus sent via email before they even reach you.

Extra virus protection is required if you have Micro$oft *anything*.

It would be a good idea to run a second security program such as avg free or paid.