Windows 8 Will Have Built-in Antivirus Software

Microsoft Windows 8 will come packed with its very own built-in antivirus software.

Previous editions of Windows only came with Windows Defender, which detects and removes spyware from the PC.

Microsoft’s antivirus software, Microsoft Security Essentials, has always been up for [free] grabs, but it requires the users to manually download it.

With Windows 8, Microsoft has decided to roll the protection offered by Microsoft Security Essentials into Windows Defender, giving Windows Defender the power to offer spyware, malware, and virus protection, along with parental controls and a personal firewall.

In short, Windows 8 will come stock with all of the functionality offered in paid antivirus software typically provided by Symantec, ESET, Kaspersky, and others.

While it’s good to see that Microsoft is taking measures to protect its end users right out of the box, there’s concern over what kind of an impact it will have on third-party antivirus software companies. Microsoft has previously caused an uproar already and found themselves being accused of engaging in anti-competitive practices when it offered Microsoft Security Essentials in a Windows Update last year.

Still, one can argue that it's good to see Microsoft take the security of their operating system into their own hands. Despite the availability of third-party antivirus software, PCs continue to get infected at an alarming rate, suggesting that many users don’t even bother installing or keeping up-to-date antivirus software running on their PCs. With Windows 8 – and the new Windows Defender – those users will have the protection whether they like it or not.

Aside from the built-in antivirus software, Windows 8 will also have a nifty feature called Secured Boot, which stops any attempt to boot the PC from an infected USB drive and will display a warning message to the user.

Yet another reason to look forward to the new [more secure] version of Windows!

Do you feel Windows 8 will have any impact on third-party antivirus vendors and their products?