Redmond-based software giant Microsoft has recently announced that it is working on the next version of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), its security solution offered free of charge to users of genuine versions of the Windows operating system. But work on the next generation of MSE is still in its early stages – a Beta hasn’t even been released to the public yet.

The thing is that a Beta will be released in the near future. You can sign up here and you will be notified when the Beta version of the next generation of MSE is released to the public. Not only that, but if you sign up you will get to test the Beta release.

By testing the Beta version you will get to try out all the cool new features Microsoft Security Essentials will have to offer. According to Microsoft, here’s what you can expect to get:

• Enhanced protection through automatic malware remediation - The Beta will clean high-impact malware infections automatically, with no required user interaction.
  
• Enhanced performance - The Beta includes many performance improvements to make sure your PC performance isn’t negatively impacted.
  
• Simplified UI - Simplified UI makes Microsoft Security Essentials Beta easier to use.
  
• New and improved protection engine - The updated engine offers enhanced detection and cleanup capabilities.

I have to remind you about the fact that Betas can tend to be fidgety; they may not work properly, there could be annoying bugs, they could drive you up the walls. Sign up for testing the Beta of the upcoming new version of MSE only if you understand what testing Betas is all about. If you don’t, then you’re better off waiting until the final version of the new MSE is rolled out to the public.

Microsoft did not explain when it plans to have the final version of the new MSE out to the public. It only said that it expects to release the Beta version to the general public by the end of the year.

Additional information on Microsoft Security Essentials is available here.