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Microsoft Releases New Security Essentials Beta

- By - Source : Tom's Guide US

Microsoft has introduced the next version of Microsoft Security Essentials in a new beta.

Tuesday Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc said that the company has released a beta of the next version of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). For the uninitiated, this is the company's "no-cost light weight anti-malware" service, providing genuine Windows users with in-house protection from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

According to LeBlanc, the new version is now integrated into Windows Firewall and Internet Explorer--the current, pre-beta version is somewhat of a stand-alone entity, only scanning files downloaded to the user's hard drive.

Leblanc also stated that the beta now uses a new protection engine which offers "enhanced detection and cleanup capabilities with better performance." Best of all, a network inspection system is now included, protecting against network-based exploits.

"In addition to ongoing virus and spyware definition updates, we will be providing software updates to the beta for download through Microsoft Update on a periodic basis," Microsoft said. "To have these updates installed automatically, you must be subscribed to Microsoft Update with preferences set to automatically download and install new updates."

To download the new beta, head here to visit the Microsoft Connect page to sign in or register. For those who are having issues downloading the installer from the main link, Microsoft has also provided a file transfer manager (FTM).

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gogogadgetliver 07/22/2010 7:27 PM
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-17+

Using it. Dig it. Lightweight, effective, free.

False_Dmitry_II 07/22/2010 7:35 PM
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I think you need to mention that you just need a windows live/MSN account. Most will already have one.

I'll try it and see if it annoys me less than AVG.

Anonymous 07/22/2010 7:35 PM
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Haven't tried the new Beta yet, but the one thing I Really, Really don't like about MS Security Essentials even though I've been using it the last 6 months or so is in the Settings under Default Actions, No Where does it give you the option to ASK FIRST!

thebigt42 07/22/2010 7:37 PM
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thebigt42 07/22/2010 7:38 PM
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Does it fix the Shortcut hack?

False_Dmitry_II 07/22/2010 7:39 PM
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Whoops spoke too soon.

shanky887614 07/22/2010 7:58 PM
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i perfer malwarebytes

and if you pay you get an extra protection module and flash scan to scan your running processes
(of course i run a firewall as well but so should everyone)

it also has an option to block popups that can be disabled by simply right clicking it and clicking "website blocking"

i7Rocks 07/22/2010 8:12 PM
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I've been using Security Essentials since beta and it is amazing, it has blocked viruses/malware on several occasions and it is super lightweight and unintrusive. I don't ever have to touch it, good job MS. I don't see how you could improve the performance, but thats fine with me.

kezix_69 07/22/2010 8:14 PM
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False_Dmitry_II :
I think you need to mention that you just need a windows live/MSN account. Most will already have one.I'll try it and see if it annoys me less than AVG.



AVG's protection capabilities (of their free version) has drastically gotten bad lately. I used to use AVG for years and then I decided to see if anything better had come out. I switched to Avira and actually found a few viruses on my computer that AVG never knew existed....

I recommend that no one use AVG free unless it actually starts working again.

rohitbaran 07/22/2010 8:28 PM
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Their security software has still a lot of scope for improvement before it reaches the levels of good solutions like Kaspersky and Avira.

Stryter 07/22/2010 8:35 PM
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I've been using the security essentials for probably a year or so now. It seems to work pretty darn well for lightweight virus protection. It doesn't bombard me with messages or alerts either, like mcafee and norton would do.

I've noticed that MS keeps its definition's pretty up-to-date with semi-regular updates. No real complaints, you get what you pay for (or don't pay for in this case).

mrecio 07/22/2010 8:36 PM
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Im another user who used AVG free for many years, for the past 6 months my system has been clean as a whistle, or so i thought. After getting tired of the pop ups to upgrade to AVG pro i uninstalled and installed Microsoft Security Essentials and it found two viruses that AVG didnt. I no longer recommend anything but Microsoft and maybe Avira as free antivirus.

Silmarunya 07/22/2010 8:49 PM
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alphadark 07/22/2010 8:59 PM
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I have been using WSE on my PC since April. Used to use Trend Micro but since this is free and uses minmal resources it is now my Preferred AV.

False_Dmitry_II 07/22/2010 9:30 PM
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kezix_69 :
AVG's protection capabilities (of their free version) has drastically gotten bad lately. I used to use AVG for years and then I decided to see if anything better had come out. I switched to Avira and actually found a few viruses on my computer that AVG never knew existed....I recommend that no one use AVG free unless it actually starts working again.



Yeah, this beta found one thing that AVG didn't. And this comp that I'm giving it a test on has only had this OS on it for a few months.

stm1185 07/22/2010 9:59 PM
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I thought MS giving away free software with Windows was illegal use of a monopoly to control the markets. I mean surely how can they get away with giving people free Anti Virus, after getting away with giving people a free web browser! They must be stopped before they bankrupt all those poor people who spend 40 hrs a week perfecting the Norton Pop-ups annoying timing!

bochica 07/22/2010 10:32 PM
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It is light weight until it comes to scanning large install files. It starts "pegging" the CPU, even on the fastest systems. If this new version fixes that, I will be very happy. Other than the pegging issue, it is does a good job, isn't that annoying, and it detects when something bad tries to hit your system and deals with it.

pojih 07/23/2010 12:08 PM
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I didn't use any AV until I installed the MS program.

Much less obtrusive than pretty much any other AV program I've used.

To the people saying "But if you pay for something its better..." - that's the point, this is free.

NeeKo 07/23/2010 12:15 PM
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Microsoft did it right this time :P

iam2thecrowe 07/23/2010 12:46 PM
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i wouldnt say that paying for norton is better, id rather have a virus than have norton on my computer

False_Dmitry_II 07/23/2010 12:51 PM
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stm1185 :
I thought MS giving away free software with Windows was illegal use of a monopoly to control the markets.



That was because IE came preinstalled. This doesn't

Anonymous 07/23/2010 2:07 AM
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LOL
Hey Mom my Swiss Cheese OS has something to stop viruses
Oops ohh well I got another virus.

pjmelect 07/23/2010 2:59 AM
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I also used to use AVG 9 but I got feed up with the dead tabs in Internet explorer 8 and the clashes with Zone Alarm. What’s worse it no longer seems to be a very effective anti-virus program nowadays. I switched over to using the Microsoft anti-virus program several months ago and so far I have been impressed by it. It doesn’t slow your system down like Norton or MacAfee being light weight yet seemingly effective. It has a few features that I would liked changed a little bit it is still only a beta. I also use the Malwarebytes anti-virus program on other people’s computers which is very good at actually removing a virus if you become infected.

falchard 07/23/2010 5:00 AM
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I question one thing with Microsoft's Security. Zune is not a trusted program.

f-14 07/23/2010 6:38 AM
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i don't like paying for protection, but i have been forced to use norton and Ca's antivirus for years, was going to switch to NOD32, until i heard about MS finally putting something out to deal with their software gaps. i mean if this was a car or a house, and it starts leaking in the rain despite my windows and rooftop, that's very bad and in those situations with cars and houses, the builder and manufacturers get sued out the wazzoo for 2- 1000 times the cost they sold it for. software vendors should never have been sheilded from being sued for selling bad/buggy software.
i understand the problems with securing every program, but still if software is used in everything from controlling how your car stops to generating power with nuclear fission...do you really want to be put in harms way with out atleast some semblance of protection?
btw been using ms security esentials for the last 6 months, previous to 2010 i was using avg for a year. i must say security essentials is less taxing and a tad quicker, but there's less action controls, but a far superior detection compared to avg, it even goes after my no-cd/dvd patches and online activation hacks i have had since 123 dvd x-copy went the way of the dodo bird. found a way to put it on a friends tweaked media center edition machine and it goes after all the tweaks the guy did, which sucks, cuz he has a legal key right on the machine for it, he just doesn't want all the pre programmed general load junk with the normal disc install and have to edit or disable stuff after every hard disc wipe he does on a 6 month basis.
i like the fact microsoft is finally trying to correct their gigantic mistake tho i give them props for good effort finally after all these years of waiting!

eddieroolz 07/23/2010 6:47 AM
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I'd like to give it a shot someday, but for now ESET suffices for me.

triplebug 07/23/2010 3:08 PM
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Will try it after my kaspersky license expired..

bourgeoisdude 07/23/2010 3:31 PM
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I still think Avast! is a good antivirus as well, but definitely concur that AVG has gone downhill in a hurry. Currently using the original MS Security Essentials. I'm almost afraid to use the new one because the old one works so well.

ksampanna 07/23/2010 8:23 PM
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I can't get to it :(

Anonymous 07/26/2010 4:47 PM
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Funny that someone mentions Eset. I used to swear by them, but after scanning my system with MSSE and Malwarebytes, I was shocked by the amount of crap Eset missed.

MSSE works great so far. As long as it stays effective and lightweight, I have no need to use anything else.

chazzmatt 08/02/2010 7:26 PM
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I used to swear by ESET also, but they have gone downhill in the past year. I use MSE + Malwarebytes. They work very well together.