Windows 8 Security: What's New-gctid51349

[Ajamu]

Windows 8 Security: What's New | PCWorld  

                   
Windows 8 is a major OS overhaul, but some of the most important  additions might be the ones you can't see. Here's a look at Windows 8's  new security tools and features.

By Eric Geier, PCWorld                             May 17, 2012 9:00 pm        
                                                                                                                       

The Start screen is the most obvious change to Windows 8, but some of the biggest changes are less apparent. When Windows 8  comes out later this year, the new Start screen and Metro-style apps  will likely be the first changes you'll notice, but those aren't the  only things that are new. Microsoft is also making some serious security  enhancements to help keep your system safer and to improve Windows'  ability to combat viruses and malware. It just may be the biggest  improvement to Windows security yet.

 Antivirus Comes Preinstalled

 For the first time in the history of Windows, you'll enjoy protection  from viruses, spyware, Trojan horses, rootkits, and other malware from  the very first day you turn on your Windows PC--without spending a cent.  Windows 8 comes with an updated version of Windows Defender that  includes traditional antivirus functions in addition to the spyware  protection and other security features that it has offered since Windows  Vista. Windows Defender now provides similar protection--and a similar  look and feel--to that of the free Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus program, which Microsoft has offered to users as an optional download since 2009.

 

The updated Windows Defender resembles Microsoft Security Essentials.

 Since Windows Defender will provide at least basic virus and malware  protection, purchasing yearly antivirus subscriptions (such as from  McAfee or Norton) or downloading a free antivirus package  (like AVG or Avast) is optional, whereas before it was pretty much  required if you wanted to stay virus-free. Of course, you may disable  Windows Defender and use another antivirus utility that promises better  protection and more features, but at least everyone will have basic  protection by default.

 Better Download Screening

 When Microsoft released Internet Explorer 9, it updated the browser's  SmartScreen Filter to help detect and block unknown and potentially  malicious programs that you download; the function complements IE's  website filtering, which works to block phishing and malicious sites.  Starting with Windows 8, the program-monitoring portion of the  SmartScreen Filter is built into Windows itself, and it will work  whether you're using IE, Firefox, Chrome, or any other browser.

 In Windows 8, the first time you run a program that you downloaded  from the Internet, the SmartScreen Filter checks it against a list of  known safe applications, and alerts you if it's unknown and therefore  has the potential to be malware. If the alert does pop up, you could  then further investigate the program (and the source where you  downloaded it) before running it.

 

SmartScreen produces an alert if you run an unknown program.

 Since Microsoft is adding the SmartScreen feature, the company is  removing the previous Security Warning alerts that appeared when you  first opened a downloaded program (the old alert would show the  verification status of the program publisher and warn you about running  programs downloaded from the Internet).

 This is a welcome change, as it cuts down on the number of alerts you  have to click through--with Windows 8, you'll see an alert only when  something's amiss.

 Faster, More Secure Startup

 Starting with Windows 8, Microsoft will begin to promote a new type  of boot method, UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), which  improves upon and replaces the archaic BIOS boot system that most PCs  have been using for decades. I won't get into the technical details  here, but UEFI offers better security, faster startup times, and a  number of other benefits.

 Thanks to this new boot method (and other system enhancements), your  PC will start up more quickly--in as little as 8 seconds, from the time  you press the power button to when Windows fully loads to the desktop.  But you're sure to appreciate the less noticeable improvements too. The  Secure Boot feature of UEFI will prevent advanced malware (such as  bootkits and rootkits) from causing damage, and it will stop other boot  loader attacks (such as malware that loads unauthorized operating  systems) as well.

 Though Windows 8 will work on PCs with the old BIOS boot system,  Microsoft will require new PCs that carry the Windows 8 Certification to  use the UEFI boot system with the Secure Boot feature enabled by  default. This Secure Boot requirement is causing some concern within the  PC industry and among power users, as it could complicate the process  of using Linux distributions  or dual-booting multiple operating systems. However, Microsoft has  promised to keep boot control in users' hands, and the company requires  system makers participating in Windows 8 Certification to offer a way  for users to disable the Secure Boot feature on PCs (but not on  tablets).

 Two New Password Types

 Windows 8 introduces two new password types that you can use when  logging in to your Windows account: a four-digit PIN and a "picture  password."

 For the picture password, you choose a photo or image and draw three  gestures (a combination of circles, straight lines, or taps/clicks) in  different places to create your "password."

 

 Even if you decide to use these new password types, you still must  set up a regular password. A PIN offers a faster way to log in, and a  picture password gives you a more creative and fun way to do so.  Sometimes you'll have to enter the regular password, such as when you  need administrative approval for changing system settings as a standard  user, but you can log in to your account using the PIN, the picture, or  your regular password.

 Other Noteworthy Defense Measures

 The enhanced Windows Defender, SmartScreen, boot system, and password  protection are the most noticeable security improvements in Windows 8.  But the new OS has even more system enhancements that you won't see at  all. A few core Windows components (such as the Windows kernel, ASLR,  and heap) have been updated to help reduce common attacks and exploits  even further.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

planning on early adoption?

[Ajamu]

Nope, just fyi for those thinking about getting a laptop/desktop/kwk.   Plus you will have to buy Windows Media Center in Windows 8 & right now i use it to schedule, record, playback & burn dvds of tv programs.

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Dolby audio to be built into all Windows 8 versions after all | Microsoft - CNET News

Dolby  Labs announces its Digital Plus technology will be built into Windows  8, Windows 8 Professional, and Windows RT on ARM tablets.


 
Dolby Laboratories warned shareholders last August that its DVD playback technologies were unlikely to be incorporated into Windows 8.

 Dolby today announced, however, that its Dolby Digital Plus technology would be part of the Windows 8 client releases.

 Dolby's Digital Plus is built into Windows 7  Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate, according to Dolby's Web  site. The site describes Dolby's Digital Plus as providing  "next-generation surround sound" that helps improve the listening  experience of DVDs and digital TVs by complementing high-definition  video with support for HD audio -- something that Windows Media Center  users would appreciate.

 But with Windows 8, Microsoft is  marginalizing Windows Media Center. There's no word from Microsoft as to  if and whether the company intends to update the current Windows Media  Center bits. But Microsoft will offer Windows Media Center as a paid (no  idea yet on the price) add-on media pack for those with the Windows 8 Professional release.

 Update (May 4): So now last year's warning from Dolby makes  sense. Dolby was correct in predicting that some of its technologies,  specifically those for DVD playback, are not going to be included in  Windows 8. Microsoft officially acknowledged this on May 3 in a post to  the "Building Windows 8" blog. And Media Center will be available via  one of two add-on packs, we now know: The Media Pack add-on or the Pro  Pack add-on, the latter of which we hadn't heard about until this blog  post. DVD playback will be offered only through Media Center and not Media Player, as ZDNet's Ed Bott explains on his blog.

 Today's Dolby press release notes that Digital Plus will be in all PCs and tablets running Windows 8, Windows 8 Professional and Windows RT (the Windows on ARM) versions. From the release:Developers will be enabled to deliver the highest level  of immersive experiences and cinematic sound through Windows 8 APIs in  desktop and Metro-style apps, including those developed for x86 and ARM  architectures. Dolby Digital Plus 5.1-channel decoding and Dolby Digital  two-channel encoding will be supported in all PCs and tablets licensed  to run Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, and Windows RT editions.


As AllThingsD noted, Dolby is expecting Windows 8 to ship some time during its fiscal 2013, which begins in October. Microsoft officials still have not announced a general availability date for Windows 8.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

I thought windows 8 and its peripherals was going to be free like all the other versions of windows. Or am I thinking about a different OS?