Microsoft has released a public beta version of its Windows Security Essentials package, giving users a sneaky glimpse of what to expect from future releases. There are not a huge number of changes to speak of, but the release is an important advancement for a home-user friendly security suite that has gained a large following since it was debuted. Windows Security Essentials 4 beta is available right now to anyone with a Windows Live login.

There are some minor interface tweaks to be seen in the application, but it is the improvements to performance and the detection process that are of interest. One of the concerns with running any security software is the potential for it to impact on system performance – and this is one reason why many people simply do not bother installing security software. There have been performance tweaks that help to reduce the strain on your system while it is protected.

But the purpose of the program is to offer protection against a range of threats and in addition to the general performance enhancements, there have also been improvements made to the detection engine. No security app is able to promise one hundred per cent protection rates, but Windows Security Essentials improvements bring great levels of protection to Windows users.

There is a strong focus on ease of use, and as well as the redesigned and cleaned up interface, changes have also been made to the way the app handles threats that are detected. The program can now deals with a greater number of threats automatically without the need for user intervention, and there is also the ability to configure on-demand and scheduled system scans in addition to the all-important real time protection.

You can find out more and download a free copy of the app by paying a visit to the Microsoft Security Essentials 4 Beta review page.