14 DAY TRIAL // Although Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 continues to be in development, a new release of MSE is now live and available to customers worldwide. As announced the past week, Microsoft has pushed an update to Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0, yesterday, October 18th, 2010.
Essentially, Microsoft has updated the AntiMalware engine for Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.
According to the software giant, the refresh is designed to kick MSE up a notch in order to keep up with the evolution of the threat landscape.
But in addition to MSE, Forefront Client Security (FCS) also received an update for the antimalware engine, since the two products share the same technology designed to fight malicious threats.
“Antimalware Engine 1.1.6301.0 is released to all MSE and FCS customers on 18 October 2010. Signature package 1.93.26.0 is the first that contains this engine,” a member of the Antimalware Engine Notifications team noted.
But even before the antimalware engine in Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 makes the jump to version 1.1.6301.0, the software giant offered a new release of its free security solution.
Microsoft recently announced that it was changing the licensing terms for MSE in order to open up the antivirus to more customers.
Specifically, with the advent of a new EULA, some businesses are also allowed to download, install and leverage Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0.
Small businesses can deploy MSE on up to 10 computers in their organization, free of charge, just as it is the case for home users.
Of course, both end users and small business customers need to run genuine versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 in order to take advantage of Microsoft Security Essentials.
Microsoft is hard at work developing the second version of Microsoft Security Essentials. Currently in Beta, Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 is expected to drop by the end of 2010, although the company has yet to confirm an availability deadline.
Microsoft Security Essentials is available for download here.