14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is planning to update version 2.0 of the free security solution offered to Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP customers. Come May 18th, 2011, the Redmond company will introduce an updated AntiMalware engine release to Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0.
The software giant has made it somewhat of a tradition to update MSE’s antimalware engine on a monthly basis, and May appears to be no exception to this rule.
Of course, as it is usually the case, Microsoft will not be refreshing only Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0, but also additional security solutions.
This because MSE 2.0 as well as additional products from the company, namely those under the Forefront umbrella, share the same antimalware engine technology.
“As part of regular update of our antimalware technology to address the latest in the threat landscape, MMPC is planning to release a new antimalware engine on 18 May 2011.
“Affected products: Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), Forefront Client Security (FCS), Forefront Endpoint Protection. Engine Version will be in the range of 1.1.690X.0,” a member of the Microsoft Antimalware Engine team stated.
The most recent antimalware engine update offered for MSE 2.0 was almost a month ago.
On April 18 the Redmond company released Antimalware Engine 1.1.6802.0 to customers running Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0, FCS and FEP.
Just a week ago antivirus testing company AV-Test released the results of its latest round of benchmarks which involved no less than 22 products.
Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 made the list of security solutions that received AV-Test certification, but only barely.
This marks quite a steep drop in the efficiency of Microsoft Security Essentials according to past tests from AV-Test, especially those which looked at MSE 1.0.
MSE also scored quite high in the tests performed by AV-Test, especially considering that it’s a free security solution offering basic protection to customers.
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) 2.0 RTM is available for download here.