Panda Security has announced version 2.0 of its cloud-based consumer antivirus service, Panda Cloud Antivirus, for both its Free and Pro editions. The new version is fully compatible with Windows 8 Release Preview and incorporates a new community-based firewall among other improvements.

According to the announcement, Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.0 offers improved malware detection and disinfection capabilities because of a new cloud-based disinfection engine. Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.0 is aimed at defending users against an increasingly sophisticated and diverse set of threats, neutralizing malware, and adapting its techniques and sensitivity according to the risk presented.

Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro Edition includes a new smart community-based firewall that automatically stops intrusion attempts and data leakage. According to the company, the firewall minimizes user intervention by automatically managing application permissions based on the real-time knowledge gathered from Panda Security’s global user community. The new firewall incorporates an intrusion detection system and adapts its behavior based on whether the user is connected via home, work, or a public network.

Visit Panda Security for a free download of Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.0; the Pro Edition is available for US$ 29.99. Existing Panda Cloud Antivirus users will be upgraded automatically to version 2.0.