So I am playing and trying to discover all the new goodies of MS Windows 8. Finished my install on laptop and now I am thinking how to protect the system. I am sure everyone will agree that the easier and cheapest way is to install the Microsoft Security Essentials. I have browsed to the Microsoft website and search for the Security Essentials, downloaded on my laptop and click on the installation file to start install. Wow, here is a surprise message on my screen:
As per the message it seems that Windows 8 comes preinstalled with antivirus solution already and apparently the Windows Defender software has now all same features like Microsoft Security Essentials product 🙂
You can check by pressing WindowsKey + Q – now click on Defender and no surprise here, it is really the old Microsoft Security Essentials already built in to Windows 8. But if a user installs antivirus software from McAfee, Symantec, AVG, or any other vendor, Windows 8’s own protection will turn itself off and defer entirely to the third-party product. Microsoft’s software will spring to life only if there’s no third-party malware protection at all or if the third-party software is installed but has no up-to-date signatures.
Windows 8 will warn users when their antivirus software is out-of-date and provide them information on how to renew their subscription. After 15 days of warnings, it will also offer to install Microsoft’s own Windows Defender. This combines the anti-spyware properties of Windows Defender and the antivirus capabilities of Microsoft Security Essentials.
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