If you go to the Security Essentials download site, it shows that the current version of Security Essentials is version 4.3.215.0, which is the number shown on the update – but the web site has a date of February 26. The update windows refers to KB2855265, which would normally lead to a Microsoft tech support document about the patch – but there’s no document with that number. I can’t find any Microsoft description of this update. Normally I want you to be paranoid but this is a legitimate notice. It’s weird and spooky – more like malware than an installation program written by Microsoft. A program can’t display a message on your desktop: The program may need information or permission to complete a task.” Clicking on “Show me the message” causes the screen to go blank with nothing but the Security Essentials upgrade wizard in the middle of the screen. I’ve seen the above message displayed at random times on several desktops in the last couple of weeks: “Interactive services dialog detection. (If it doesn’t call attention to itself, don’t worry. It only takes a moment and shouldn’t require a restart. If you run into it, don’t panic – it’s a legitimate update that’s safe to install.
The update hasn’t always been installed automatically. The program itself is being updated – it’s more than just new virus definitions – and it was supposed to be installed automatically with the other Patch Tuesday updates. On Patch Tuesday this month, Microsoft released an upgrade to Microsoft Security Essentials, the security program used by just about everyone.