Windows 8 to have built-in antivirus software
Baku, 19 September (AZERTAC). Microsoft`s decision to ship the next major release of its Windows operating system with built-in anti-virus software has drawn mixed reactions from the security community.
Windows 8 will ship during the third quarter of 2012 and comes bundled with Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) that contains anti-virus and anti-spyware tools.
Microsoft on Tuesday released a preview of the new operating system to developers during its Build conference in the US.
“We have made many investments in security in Windows 8, building upon the work done to improve security in Windows 7,” a Microsoft spokeswoman said.
“All of these investments give us great confidence that Windows 8 will be the most secure operating system we`ve produced.”
The move to include anti-virus in Windows 8 is a positive step for security, but will undoubtedly be a “regulatory hot button” issue, according to Gartner research fellow Neil MacDonald.
“It tends to distort market competition when you include something [like anti-virus] out of the box,” MacDonald said.
Anti-virus firm Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley said the change could improve home user security but noted criminals would likely craft malware to evade Microsoft`s scanner.
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