#windows 8 security

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Windows 8 Security Features Compared To Windows 7 Operating System

As of late, some tech sites posted articles recommending that Microsoft is giving more security updates to the Windows 8 OS than for Windows 7. Microsoft has made their most recent operating system one of the most secure OS accessible in the business.

Tech Experts Rate the Windows 8 OS High for its Security Features

Presently, their OS fulfill numerous Windows 7 users since in any case it appreciates standard support from Microsoft. Nonetheless, that does mean Microsoft will be including the security features they presented in Windows 8, to Windows 7. They will fortify just the current security features as of now accessible in the recent.

In short, do not hope to see huge updates for the Windows 7 OS despite the fact that it is still in the standard support period. Furthermore, the Windows 7 OS has just something like one more year of standard support left. After that, current users will just get occasional security patches throughout the amplified support period.

Better to Upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

Obviously, it was evident from the start that the most recent Windows OS would have preferable security features over past ones. Nevertheless, this is really a major ordeal for big business OS users. These are enormous corporate users, who conduct a large number of dollars' value of money related transactions consistently through their systems. They are ready to use even more on updating their operating systems to Windows 8, if this implies these systems will be better secured.

Instructions to Upgrade to Windows 8

If you are right now using Windows 7, then getting Windows 8 won't require any hardware upgrade. With a specific end goal to lessen the amount of Windows OS installation errors, Microsoft has launched definite directions online about how to upgrade to Windows 8 furthermore an OS upgrade tool called Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant.

You can download this application for nothing online, from the Microsoft Windows official site. Running this tool will produce a system status report that will demonstrate if your system is Windows 8-prepared. If not, the report will call attention to which all hardware or software segments you have to upgrade to make it so.

Thus, you have to run the Windows Upgrade Assistant to allow the smooth upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8. 

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Windows 8: Bundled With Improved Security Features

The pre-release buzz of Windows 8 is all over the web. According to Microsoft, the new OS will revolutionize PC use all across the globe. Many significant changes have been incorporated, covering all the major aspects of an operating system. Microsoft has introduced better security features with every operating system released till date. And Windows 8 is no different. This time too, users will get better security than before.

 What’s new in Windows 8 security? Let’s find out.

 SmartScreen Filter

 It is a technology that was introduced with Internet Explorer. This time, Microsoft has put it to its operating system. With a URL and a file/application reputation system, this tool has been designed for browsers to detect and stop malware form invading your system. The URL reputation system is made for protection against scams like phishing whereas the file reputation keeps a record of file downloads and verifies the sources.

 Windows Defender

 A built-in antivirus software called Windows Defender has been introduced in Windows 8.

This latest version Windows Defender is much better in performance and consumes lesser memory and processor resource. However, this may not be very popular with business users. Secure Boot along with third party antivirus software can ensure better protection against threats like virus malware on Windows 8.

Secure Boot

 The traditional BIOS will be replaced by UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) in Windows 8 as the next generation firmware interface for PCs. Secure Boot, driven by UEFI, is a very important security feature of Windows 8. When you turn it on, the tool can prevent the entry of very basic form of malware like rootkits. With Secure Boot, the operating system will validate the digital signature of all boot components up to the antimalware driver to detect any tampering.

 Upon encountering any glitches with signature, the recovery system on Windows will start and try to fix the problem. When the computer is in the booting phase, rootkits become active and affect the key operating system files prior to the activation of defense mechanisms. Secure Boot will not allow rootkits to load during system startup.

 Photo Passcode

Microsoft has added another security features that will allow users to set passcodes.  These would be a combination of pictures and touch gestures. Specifically made for tablets, you can set password by selecting a picture and applying three touch gestures on top of it. The gestures will be saved sequentially by the device and will serve as a protection layer against unauthorized access. Users have to follow the particular sequence to log on everytime.

 Windows Reader

 This is a new document reader that comes along with the Windows 8. It supports PDF documents and comes with a concealed security tool. It has been designed considering that the PDF format is increasingly becoming a popular target of cyber rogues as a chosen platform.

 ASLR and exploit mitigations

 The much talked about ‘Buffer Overrun’ susceptibility associated with Windows will be overcome by using the Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) technique. This technique aims to relocate a code and other data in the memory and sort out the problem of ‘Buffer Overrun’. The methods adopted to bypass ASLR have been brought under control in Windows 8 by randomization.

 Computer security has always been an issue of grave concern. Security against external threats, data loss, unauthorized use, etc has always kept experts developing the protective methodologies. As mentioned earlier, Microsoft has beefed up security on their upcoming operating system which comes in three versions – Windows 8 Home, Pro and Enterprise. The features mentioned above are common to all three versions. However, users of Pro and Enterprise will enjoy few additional features like BitLocker, AppLocker and DirectAccess as enhanced protection for business use.

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Know How Windows 8 Is More Secure For IT Consumerization

Windows 8 is a better operating system than its predecessors in terms of security. The latest update from Microsoft is regarding some security enhancement made to the Windows 8 Enterprise edition. Targeted specifically at Corporate, the business version of the new OS will ensure that users can connect to networks with added security.

At the recent Windows 8 Preview in Amsterdam, a company official re-emphasized on the utility of UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) used in Windows 8, over the traditional BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The use of UEFI has beefed up security level to quite a large extent.

UEFI uses certificates to validate the OS when a PC starts up. On the other hand, BIOS loads as soon as the system is powered on and enables running of the boot loader program. Cyber criminals can exploit the boot loader for running malicious software during the boot process, i.e., before the any antivirus tool starts up. For this reason, on a UEFI machine, the firmware authenticates the boot loader. Upon finding a corrupted boot loader, it is repaired by the firmware to stop malware from running.

Windows 8 is coming with a separate edition for the ARM based tablets. It is called Windows 8 RT (RunTime). On the ARM tablets, Windows will adopt a two step authentication process by retaining a PIN for security reasons. Furthermore, Windows 8 retains smartcard authentication so that users need not carry the authentication key every time they log in to a business network.

Corporate users will be able to benefit a lot from the ‘Windows To Go’ feature on Windows 8 Enterprise edition. You can load Windows 8 with the selected OS settings of your choice into a USB drive. The drive can then be plugged in to another machine to boot Windows 8 and browse the internet securely. This procedure is very useful if you need to give network access to some person without granting him complete access to the business networks and corporate files.

Among the other security features of Windows 8 are the DirectAccess, BranchCache and AppLocker. DirectAccess enables remote access to a business network without requiring a VPN separately. BranchCache is made for caching various forms of web content so that you need not download the same thing everytime. The AppLocker enforces certain limitations to running of programs.

Windows 8 will be using Active Directory along with the Azure cloud services to restrict access to employees in an organization. It will grant access to selected staff and apply policy management in the Windows Active Directory.

According to an IT research organization, Gartner Inc, Windows 8 will have applications which cannot view any files other than their own ones.  This is known as sandbox arrangement. It further states that the Windows App Store will add to the security since users will get an official forum to download apps that are in compliance with Microsoft. All the apps on the store will be company approved. This will reduce the user traits of downloading apps from other unsafe places on the web. Apps downloaded on the ARM tablets will be free from virus and malware and the API (Application Programming Interface) will not be varying from the developers states.

Windows 8 has undoubtedly incorporated lots of security features on the different versions of its upcoming OS. End users may not be able to realize all of it, but Microsoft’s approach towards security is commendable. However, security loopholes are always dug out by cyber traitors and thus, over time, users may witness few security flaws. Business users and organizations will be greatly benefitted.  Internet browsing will be safer than ever before. Whether you use a desktop or a tablet, you will not be let down by Windows 8 security features.

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Windows 8 Security Flaws

With the release of Windows 8 consumer preview, experts have already detected few security loopholes in it.   The Redmond based company seems to have compromised on certain levels of security that can leave users vulnerable to cyber crimes. Windows 8 is exposed to hazards from online predators, potential threats like malware as well as unauthorized users wanting to gain access to your system. Critics have demonstrated that security can be breached at different levels.

This article talks about few such areas in Windows 8:

User account can be dodged

It has been demonstrated by a security researcher that a Windows 8 bootkit can be used to bypass user account quite easily. The expert programmed a code which was applied to the bootkit that was successful in sidestepping the user account on the consumer preview version. Creating such a code is not too difficult for cyber rogues. Once the account is bypassed, rogues can run command prompts under the SYSTEM account. End users will have no inkling of this breach of security.

Although Microsoft has introduced a number of security features in Window 8 which have received rave reviews, but it still has a lot to improve.

Exploitation of Flame Malware Technique

The Flame malware which had created havoc in the cyber world can still play an active role in Windows 8. It remained undetected for a year before security experts identified it earlier this year. This led many software manufacturers to upgrade their products to provide better protection against malware.

A recent analysis by Microsoft revealed that some components of the malware were signed by certificates which allowed the malware to masquerade as a Microsoft product. This was achieved by defying a previous cryptography algorithm which allowed codes to be signed by Microsoft signatures. Even though complete protective measures have been released to deal with Flame, cyber rogues can exploit this flaw to design a more vicious malware.

Post detection, Microsoft came up with an update that can be located at the Microsoft Support Website. The update is supported by all the client as well as server editions of Windows released till date, for both 32-bit and 64-bit processors. End users have been advised to install a patch on their systems without any delay.  Moreover, Microsoft has stopped issuing of certificates from the Terminal Server Licensing Service. It is no longer authorized to issue certificates for signing the codes.

 Issues with Windows Defender

 Windows 8 consumer preview comes with a built-in Windows Defender which has been reported to give complete protection against all sorts of threats. It is also being told that users will no longer require purchasing any third-party antivirus software for PC protection. Nevertheless, software manufacturers have been granted the liberty to design protection tools for Windows 8. But, few reviewers have stated, that things might change in the final release of Windows 8.

 Critical analysis of the security issues have sparked debates as to why the OEMs are being allowed to develop security tools for Windows 8 when it comes with a much improved Windows Defender? Moreover, Windows Defender will not allow any antivirus programs to run as long as it is active. You can run an external security program only after deactivating it. To make matters worse, if Windows Defender detects that the security tool is not updated, it will prompt the user after 15 days. Till then, the user will receive alert messages from Windows Action Center reminding him/her of renewal.

 Fifteen days is a long enough a period for a system to get infected. Seemingly, Microsoft has neglected this aspect of security. For users who browse the internet day in and day out, defenseless exposure to internet can render their PCs useless within 15 days.

 Security has always been a sensitive issue with Windows. Microsoft has undeniably introduced new features to combat cyber crimes with every new edition of Windows. This time too it has made several attempts to beef up security. Nevertheless, there are some areas which still need to be worked on. The final release of Windows 8 is expected to bring about lot of changes expectantly.