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Microsoft said Tuesday that it had begun making available the first beta of the next version of Microsoft Security Essentials, its free security service. Microsoft Security Essentials was originally released in Sept. 2009, as a stopgap for those who normally would not run anti-malware protections. The next version, Microsoft said, would be more tightly integrated with Internet Explorer as as way to secure the PC against Web-based threats. In addition, the software will also protect against network-based threats for both Windows Vista and Windows 7 users, whose PCs include the Windows Filtering Platform Service inside those operating systems. WFS isn’t part of Windows XP, however, so users running that OS won’t be able to take advantage of that protection. Other features include Windows Firewall integration. Perhaps most importantly, Microsoft has upgraded the detection engine for better and faster anti-malware performance, the company said. “Today we are announcing the beta for the next version of Microsoft Security Essentials,” Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc wrote in a blog post. “Microsoft Security Essentials was first released in September 2009 and is our award-winning no-cost light weight anti-malware service. It’s designed to help address the ongoing security needs of PCs running genuine Windows — helping keep people protected from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.” The beta is limited, however, and available to users on a first-come, first-served basis …