Windows 8 to ship with built-in antivirus

Windows 8, Microsoft's upcoming flagship operating system, will ship with a built-in antivirus software from its Security Essentials program. Tech site ZDNet said the move, a good one for consumers but likely to anger the antivirus industry, will make antivirus "standard" on the next version of Windows. "This means that Windows 8 users will get out-of-the-box protection against malware, along with firewall and parental controls from within Windows without requiring users hunt down a separate download or buy new software," it said. It said the antivirus will be added to the Windows Defender package already built into Windows. Also, a new security feature being built into Windows 8 is protection from bootable USB drives infected with malware. But the ZDNet article also noted this may have a potential problem - hitting the built-in antivirus may mean a jackpot for malware authors. "One possible downside of including a single antivirus package in with millions of Windows installations is that it could create a security monoculture where the majority of systems are protected by a single application. Attack that one application, and it could be jackpot for the bad guys," it said. On the other hand, antivirus companies may cry foul over the move. ZDNet said some companies already threatened to kick off when Microsoft first offered Security Essentials to users via Windows Update. — TJD, GMA News