All the sites are gaga about the new Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 release because it has “Network Traffic Inspection.” I have Avast Free and Avast Suite – is the Network Shield the same as MS’s NIS???
Does it help MS that it is a native x64 app in that respect?
Guess that’s two questions but I’m mostly concerned with the first one. Thanks in advance!
Of course jjb2012, avast! have a similar module (Network Shield), and better. Since avast! has much more experience and time and better virus database than MSE.
Also, after reading the PR info. (if I understand correctly)it seems XP users don’t benefit from this new feature; where as with Avast all users:XP/Vista/7 all benefit from Avast’s NetWork Shield.And I would also like to inquire…what kind of immediate support is offered in the event users have concerns and question? 
I don’t think MS is interested in XP users benefiting from “Network Traffic Inspection”, as 60% of Windows computers use XP, MS would prefer they upgrade to 7. Of course, computer manufactures & retailers want everyone to upgrade to new machines.
Isn’t that the truth…Forced consumption…why am I not surprised. Although, having said that…if I had the extra bucks I’d love to have a Windows 7 Ultra Premium Computer with a Gazillion MB of RAM etc. etc. etc.
We are getting off topic but I HATE that my secretary bought a bunch of new PCs with XP. Windows 7 is a winner – and I bought one for my daughter for $399 (could have gone $299 but the extra $100 was worth it).
What other companies are expected to support a product that is TEN years old?? Think of HP Laser printers – good luck with support and drivers after a year or so, if that.
But I’m trying to understand what “Network Traffic Inspection” means in this respect. I don’t know about experience because, in this regard, MS has been offering a network security product for years to businesses, no???
Businesses still use XP. You would be surprised at how many applications are not compatible with Windows Vista/7. Business applications can cost tens of thousands of dollars to upgrade to a windows 7 version if there is one available (many businesses use apps that are no longer supported).
Windows XP will still be the OS of choice for business for some time to come.
That’s true. 
@ jjb2012
I would go looking for a new secretary as there are many out of work now that will probably be happy with a job recommending current software and applications.
Key comment
Windows XP users won’t be able to benefit from this feature.http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/12/mse-20-arrives-with-heuristic-scanning-network-traffic-inspection.ars
The network inspection feature does exactly what its name implies: inspect traffic as you browse. It uses the Windows Filtering Platform in Windows Vista and Windows 7; Windows XP users won't be able to benefit from this feature. The Windows Filtering Platform allows programs to plug themselves into the networking subsystem and monitor any network traffic, even whatever is allowed through the firewall. MSE also now integrates with Internet Explorer to better protect against Web-based threats by preventing malicious scripts from running. Version 1.0 only detected such scripts when they were written to IE's cache, by which point it could be too late.Looks like a hybrid web shield