Microsoft Security Essentials Antimalware Engine Update Postponed

Microsoft has postponed the release of an update to the antimalware engine behind its free security solution offered to users of genuine Windows.

Initially, the Redmond company was planning to introduce a refresh to Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0 today, August 16th, 2010.

This is no longer the case, the software giant informed, as it announced that the update in question has been delayed for a few days.

Microsoft noted that MSE customers will still have their security solutions kicked up a notch this week, only that they will need to exercise their patience a tad longer.

“The release date of Antimalware Engine 1.1.610X.0 has changed from 16 Aug 2010 to 19 Aug 2010,” revealed a member of the Microsoft Antimalware Engine team.

Of course, it will not be just Microsoft Security Essentials to get updated. According to the company’s original announcement, both MSE and Forefront Client Security (FCS) will get refreshed.

In the context of the delay, it appears that Microsoft will push the new Engine version 1.1.610X.0 to both Microsoft Security Essentials and Forefront Client Security on August 19th.

Microsoft explained that the update is nothing more than a stage in the natural evolution of the MSE and FCS antimalware technology, and not an upgrade to the two products.

At the same time, the Redmond company is already building and test driving the next generation of Microsoft Security Essentials.

The Beta development milestone of Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 was offered via Microsoft Connect on June 20, 2010.

Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 Beta Build 2.0.0375.0 was offered initially only to testers in the United States, Israel (English), and Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese).

However, the promise from the Redmond company is that early adopters in additional markets around the world, such as China, would also be allowed to access the Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 Beta bits for testing in the future.

Microsoft Security Essentials is available for download here.