How To Protect Windows From Burglars

Windows 8 Security: What's New — The Kickoff screen is the most obvious change to Windows 8, but some of the biggest changes are less credible.

When Windows 8 comes out subsequently this year, the new Start screen and Metro-manner apps volition likely be the start changes you'll notice, but those aren't the but 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 nevertheless.

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 start twenty-four hour period 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 wait and feel–to that of the free Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus plan, which Microsoft has offered to users as an optional download since 2009.

Since Windows Defender will provide at least basic virus and malware protection, purchasing yearly antivirus subscriptions (such equally from McAfee or Norton) or downloading a free antivirus packet (similar AVG or Avast) is optional, whereas earlier it was pretty much required if yous wanted to stay virus-free. Of grade, you may disable Windows Defender and utilise another antivirus utility that promises improve protection and more than features, but at to the lowest degree everyone will have bones protection by default.

Better Download Screening

When Microsoft released Internet Explorer nine, it updated the browser'due south SmartScreen Filter to help notice and cake unknown and potentially malicious programs that you download; the function complements IE'due south 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 volition work whether you're using IE, Firefox, Chrome, or any other browser.

In Windows 8, the first fourth dimension you run a program that you downloaded from the Internet, the SmartScreen Filter checks information technology against a listing of known rubber applications, and alerts you if it's unknown and therefore has the potential to be malware. If the warning does popular upward, y'all could then further investigate the program (and the source where you downloaded it) before running it.

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 onetime alert would show the verification status of the program publisher and warn you almost running programs downloaded from the Internet).

This is a welcome change, equally information technology cuts downwards on the number of alerts you take to click through–with Windows viii, you'll see an alert but when something's amiss.

Faster, More than Secure Startup

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

Cheers to this new boot method (and other system enhancements), your PC will start up more rapidly–in equally lilliputian as 8 seconds, from the time you press the ability push to when Windows fully loads to the desktop. But y'all're certain 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 kick loader attacks (such as malware that loads unauthorized operating systems) as well.

Though Windows eight volition piece of work on PCs with the old BIOS boot system, Microsoft will require new PCs that acquit the Windows 8 Certification to utilise the UEFI boot organization with the Secure Kicking feature enabled by default. This Secure Boot requirement is causing some business organization 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 style for users to disable the Secure Boot feature on PCs (but not on tablets).

Ii New Countersign Types

Windows 8 introduces two new password types that you tin can utilize when logging in to your Windows business relationship: a four-digit PIN and a "flick password."

For the picture countersign, you cull a photo or image and describe three gestures (a combination of circles, directly lines, or taps/clicks) in unlike places to create your "password."

Even if you determine to use these new password types, y'all nonetheless must set up a regular countersign. A PIN offers a faster way to log in, and a flick countersign gives you a more artistic and fun way to do so. Sometimes you'll accept to enter the regular password, such as when you need administrative blessing for irresolute system settings as a standard user, merely yous 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 Bone has even more system enhancements that you won't run into 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.

Eric Geier is a freelance tech author. He's also the founder of NoWiresSecurity, which provides a cloud-based Wi-Fi security service for businesses, and On Spot Techs, which provides on-site estimator services.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/464609/windows_8_security_whats_new.html

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