On October 26, 2012, Microsoft released their latest operating system, Windows 8. Along with their many new upgrades and refreshes, one of the features in Windows 8 is the built-in anti-malware protection. Microsoft has included anti-spyware protection with the operating system since Windows Vista. That has now been expanded to include malware protection, not just spyware.  Called Defender, it is Windows 8’s anti-malware solution.  If no active anti-malware software is found, Windows 8 will activate Defender to keep the end user protected. This is Microsoft’s way of providing baseline anti-malware protection and keeping the general computing population safer than they were before.

You’re probably wondering why I am outlining these new features in Windows 8. Well, ICSA Labs tested and certified several anti-malware solutions designed to run on Windows 8. The following products met ICSA Labs criteria for a desktop/server anti-malware certified solution:

• Ahnlab V3 Internet Security 9.0
• ESET Endpoint security
• GFI Software Vipre Internet Security
• Microsoft Windows 8 with Defender active (both 32 and 64 bit versions)