Security features of Windows 8

Windows 8 is the next version of the Windows operating system currently being developed by Microsoft. Microsoft has made many changes to the new operating system. Many of these changes are a reflection of the changes in the way we use computers today. Apart from a new user interface, Microsoft has also added several new security features to Windows 8 to make it very secure. Security has been a main concern ever since Windows Vista. Windows 7 is very secure and hopefully Windows 8 would be even more secure.

Windows 8 will most probably be available in the month of November this year. When it goes on sale, users are most likely to observe the new user interface. There are also several changes to the core operating system which won't be so obvious. Microsoft has designed Windows 8 in such a way that it is more effective against viruses and spyware. We can only speculate but Windows 8 could be the most secure operating system to be developed by Microsoft in all these years.

Here are some of the most significant security features of Windows 8:

Inbuilt antivirus

Windows 8 is the first version of Windows to ship with an inbuilt antivirus application. It will ship with an updated version of Windows Defender which prevents viruses and spyware from infecting your computer. This version of Windows Defender looks very similar to Microsoft's Security Essentials which is a free antivirus application from Microsoft.

Windows Defender will prevent viruses and malware from infecting your computer and so a separate antivirus application is not required. However, if you are more security conscious, you can still install other antivirus software for added security.

Better Download Screening

Microsoft had recently added a new security feature to Internet Explorer called SmartScreen Filter. This feature prevents viruses from infecting your computer by blocking websites and files that contain them. In Windows 8, this feature is integrated into the operating system. Therefore, this feature will be available even if you use other browsers such as Google Chrome or Firefox.

SmartScreen Filter screens downloaded files against a list of safe applications and alerts you if it finds something suspicious. When an alert pops up, you can check the file further and open it only confirming that it is not a malware.

Secure startup

Windows 8 will use a new secure startup system known as Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). This not only makes the startup secure by preventing malware applications from infecting the computer during startup, but also makes it much faster. The startup time for Windows 8 is just 8 seconds.

New password systems

Windows 8 has introduced new password systems which can be used for login: a four digit pin and a picture password system. The picture password will consist of picture and three gestures that you have to make. These new password systems may take some time to get used to but Microsoft believes that security wise they are better than conventional passwords.

Other security features

Microsoft has also made several changes to the various components of the operating system for more security. Due to all these changes, Windows 8 may definitely be the most secure version of Windows ever.

About the author:

Aditya Venkatesh is a computer-enthusiast who is fascinated by computer technology, gadgets and the Internet. He writes frequently on computers and other topics on www.adiwebs.com. In the past, he worked as a technical writer at a leading web development company in Hyderabad, India. His other interests include photography and DIY projects