Microsoft Security Essentials got an update this morning, so in case you’re running this particular antivirus solution on your PC or laptop, make sure you deploy the new version as soon as possible.

Microsoft hasn’t provided any release notes for this new build, but this isn’t at all surprising, as the company rarely says anything about the new Security Essentials versions that it rolls out.

This strategy, however, is a bit surprising, given the fact that plenty of users are running it these days, despite all the negative coverage that Security Essentials got after third-party antivirus tests, so the only thing we can do right now is assume that it brings performance improvements and fixes for bugs found in the previous version.

Microsoft Security Essentials 4.8.204 continues to provide support only for Windows Vista and Windows 7, as Windows XP is no longer supported after Microsoft pulled the plug on this OS version in April 2014.

On the other hand, newer versions of Windows, such as 8 and 10, come with Windows Defender, which has become a full-featured security solution that’s based on the same Security Essentials engine.

Poor performance in antivirus tests

If you’re now looking for a new security product to defend your computer from malware and other threats, it’s worth knowing that Microsoft Security Essentials has never been a leader in antivirus tests performed by third-parties across the globe.

In fact, Microsoft itself admitted that Security Essentials is only supposed to provide basic protection to Windows computers until users install more advanced software. Microsoft Security Essentials is obviously offered free of charge, but right now there are plenty of alternatives out there that do not cost a thing and come with a lot richer feature set on Windows.