Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 Update Released

As previously announced, Microsoft shipped the first update to the free security solutions it’s offering to users running genuine copies of Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.

After being postponed for just a single day, Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 received a new antimalware engine last week.

When it shipped in December 2010, MSE 2.0 featured Antimalware Engine 1.1.6402.0. It’s specifically the antimalware engine that the update kicked up a notch, although not that much.

Just ahead of releasing the refresh, the software giant announced that the antimalware engine version would be in the range of 1.1.650X.0.

Customers running Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 will now be able to notice that the Antimalware Engine version was boosted to 1.1.6502.0.

This of course, impacts not only those running MSE, but also users of Forefront Client Security (FCS), and Forefront Endpoint Protection (FEP).

The three Microsoft security products mentioned above all have the same antimalware engine at the core, essentially sharing the technology.

The antimalware engine updates that the Redmond company serves to Microsoft Security Essentials, but also to additional security solutions are nothing more than standard refreshes.

Microsoft explained that the updates are necessary for the security products to evolve and reflect the changes of the threat environment.

Microsoft released MSE 2.0 in December 2010 while managing to say almost nothing at all on the new version of Microsoft Security Essentials.

In fact, those that followed the development process of MSE, know that the Beta release of version 2.0 was a higher priority for Microsoft in terms of marketing than the RTM milestone.

Over a month later, and the Redmond company still has to introduce Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 to end user properly.

Still, one good news that also impacts MSE 2.0 is that it can now also be leveraged by small businesses on up to 10 computers, free of charge, of course.

Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) 2.0 RTM is available for download here.