While building Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0, Microsoft is also preparing to kick up a notch the antimalware engine of its free security solution offered to users of Windows.

In this regard, the Redmond company revealed that it is planning to deliver new Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and Forefront Client Security (FCS) releases in mid-August 2010, which will feature a new antimalware engine at their core.

The move is planned for approximately a week from now, and it is part of the natural evolution process for the two security offerings.

Customers running Microsoft Security Essentials and Forefront Client Security should by no means expect an upgrade to the two solutions.

The software giant is in fact focusing on better tailoring both MSE and FCS to the new threats that attackers are producing and releasing into the wild.

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Microsoft Security Essentials to Get New Antimalware Engine - - Softpedia

Thanks.

Thanks JMH. It seems to me that Mr. Gates is getting very serious about fighting viruses ect. That's good. We will know for sure it's great when M/S starts getting sued for offering a free program that works great. I don't think that MSE is offered for any other operating system (non windows). This is one for us good guys.

Layback Bear said:

Thanks JMH. It seems to me that Mr. Gates is getting very serious about fighting viruses ect. That's good. We will know for sure it's great when M/S starts getting sued for offering a free program that works great. I don't think that MSE is offered for any other operating system (non windows). This is one for us good guys.

Actually Mr Gates is busy fighting against world diseases. Meanwhile, that is a task being pushed by "the other Steve", Mr Steve Ballmer

And I didn't get why Microsoft would be sued by offering a free program to compete with paid ones. There are always those who feel comfortable with free software and those with paid software. You can get decent support levels and quality from free software, sometimes better than with their paid counterparts.

Finally, there is a whole story about why there is no MSE for non-Windows systems. Viruses on non-Windows platforms are quite rare and some of them are more of a proof of concept than a virus itself. But please, let's not hijack this thread to discuss it

To me it's simple. M/S has big pockets. Offering a antivirus for free that works is stepping on aftermarket toes. The lawyers will come out of the word work. Fighting world diseases is a tax wright off. Yes off shore donations all so are included.

"Customers running Microsoft Security Essentials and Forefront Client Security should by no means expect an upgrade to the two solutions."

Confusing. Does this mean a current MSE or FCS user won't get the new engine? Would they have to manually download the new version of MSE/FCS?

My brain hurts...

WiFi Ed said:

"Customers running Microsoft Security Essentials and Forefront Client Security should by no means expect an upgrade to the two solutions."

Confusing. Does this mean a current MSE or FCS user won't get the new engine? Would they have to manually download the new version of MSE/FCS?

My brain hurts...

Mine too... I had the same thought as I read it.

I'm kinda confused, too. I'm using the MSE Beta 2.0 with Engine Version 1.1.6004.0. The new Engine Version will be in the range of 1.1.610X.0 according to the referenced article.

If current "Customers running Microsoft Security Essentials and Forefront Client Security should by no means expect an upgrade to the two solutions", and I'm assuming that includes the Beta testers, what's the point in Beta testing a product that won't have all the newest components?

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.

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