Microsoft released another version of Vista on Monday, with a number of security features added to the much anticipated operating system. Along with security features, this latest release comes with a few performance and user interface functions.

Monday's release is the expected third CTP (Community Technology Preview) version of Vista. During a conference call with media on Monday, Shanen Boettcher, senior director in Microsoft's Windows Client group, said: "We're getting more frequent and better feedback than we have ever gotten before in any previous release of Windows, and it is making the product much better."

Some of the changes are that Microsoft AntiSpyware is now called Windows Defender. The December version of it is based on a new engine that Microsoft claims can detect and remove more 'potentially unwanted programs', or PUPs, than before. You also get the BitLocker Drive Encryption which is meant to protect data on computers when lost or stolen. There is now tighter control over removable storage devices by letting system administrators centrally block the installation. Some Parental controls designed to let parents limit and monitor computer usage along with a few other additions (Firewall filtering, Single-button on and off control, SuperFetch, Windows Media Center and Media Player 11).

On Monday, Microsoft also sent out an updated version of its next major Windows Server release to testers.
The Windows Server Longhorn code is not available via MSDN or TechNet, but only to participants in a private beta test program.