Find Out What’s New in Microsoft Security Essentials 2

Yesterday, we posted here about the availability and release of Microsoft Security Essentials 2 free antivirus for Windows. We did mentioned in our article that it is one of the most popular antivirus solution. It is without doubt also one of the most effective free antivirus application with detection rate matching those of the commercial paid products.

Almost five months ago, Microsoft released the beta version of MSE 2.0. A lot of improvements can be seen in the application. So, we thought that we should write a dedicated article highlighting all the improvements and the new features available in MSE 2.0.

Microsoft Security Essentials 2 includes the following new features and enhancements:

  • Windows Firewall integration: Microsoft Security Essentials setup now enables you to turn on or off Windows Firewall. (Don’t get confused, it doesn’t includes a separate firewall)
  • Network Inspection System: This feature uses Windows Filtering Platform to enhance real-time protection by inspecting network traffic, and to help pro-actively block exploits of known network-based vulnerabilities. (Only available to Windows 7 and Vista users)
  • New and improved protection engine: The updated engine that includes a Heuristic Scanning Engine offers enhanced detection and cleanup capabilities with better performance.
  • Enhanced protection for web-based threats: Microsoft Security Essentials now integrates itself with Internet Explorer to give protection against web-based threats.

Some notable changes in MSE 2’s settings are as follows:

  • Under Scheduled Scan settings tab, you can now limit (control) the CPU usage of MSE 2.0 when scanning. The default value is set to 50%.
  • Under Real-time protection settings, you can choose between the monitoring options as follows: Monitor all files, Monitor only incoming files and Monitor only outgoing files. You will also find settings to Enable behavior monitoring and Enable Network Inspection System options.
  • Under Excluded Files and Locations settings, you can exclude multiple files and locations. You can do so by adding them and separating each entry using a semicolon. The same can be done for Excluded filetypes and Excluded processes settings.
  • Under Advanced settings, you will find settings to remove quarantine files automatically after a certain time period.
  • And last but not the least, Microsoft has added the option to completely opt out of joining SpyNet.

For More information read What’s New in MSE 2 Help Contents. (Link will open MSE 2 help file installed in your system, so it will only work if you have MSE 2 installed.)

[ Download Microsoft Security Essentials 2 ]

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