Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 released.

[froggyboy604]

Microsoft said the updated anti-malware engine makes the software faster and smarter at detecting security hazards. The software also now ties in with Windows Firewall, giving you the option of turning the firewall on or off. When I installed the 2.0 edition, it detected that Windows Firewall was not running and asked if I wanted to enable it.
The new version integrates with Internet Explorer to detect Web-based threats and can watch out for malware coming in through a network, though only for those running Windows Vista or Windows 7.

Download link for MSE 2: http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

romduck

I been using it for about a day, and it been pretty good. Quick scans only take a few minutes, so it saves me some time. The background of the program also looks more high tech with the checkered pattern background.

 

[Demon_Skeith]

I'll wait awhile before getting it, but if it integrates with IE will it work with firefox or chorme running?

 

[froggyboy604]

I'm currently using MS SE, and Firefox, Chrome, and Opera can still go online and use the internet. I think MS SE 2.0 makes Internet Explorer safer, but also protect Firefox, and Chrome when you used them to open downloaded files.

This post might help : http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/msescan/thread/afa243d7-ce29-4383-a3d9-68dac7e370f8

Yes, Microsoft Security Essentials works the same, but the browsers themselves are actually quite different in their abilities to protect you from things like Phishing, which really have little or nothing to do with the malware that MSE is designed to stop.

For more about these browser protection abilities, see these tests by a third-party organization that show Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.5+ have far better protection than the others you mention, though most have improved to at least some extent.

http://nsslabs.com/browser-security

Note that MSE also integrates with both Internet Explorer 7/8 and recent Firefox (3.x?) versions to protect from malware downloads, since both of these are designed to work directly with antivirus products to protect you. I don't believe any of the other browsers currently do this, so consider this when choosing them to perform file downloads and even browsing in general.

The common misconception is that all your protection is left to the antivirus program, while in truth much of your security depends on your choice of browser. Also realize that each browser you add to a PC is another entirely different program that requires you to maintain updates and upgrades, so in reality each one simply increases your risk and reduces your overall security.

Rob