Perhaps you've heard that Windows 8 will ship with built-in antivirus software. Don't fret if you're just now learning this, Microsoft did a great job bombarding the media with information about its next major OS at its BUILD conference, and retaining it all on first pass is asking a lot. Nevertheless, this is a big announcement, and one that can't be sitting well with third-party AV vendors. Security firm Sophos has a message for them: "Too bad, sucka!"

Read more at: Maximum PC | Sophos Disses Norton and McAfee, Praises Windows 8's Built-in Antivirus

The only difference it will make is for those systems without a pre-installed A/V. OEM's will continue getting their pay-per-install from Norton & McAfee and people will continue to let them expire without replacing them.

Snips from Protecting you from malware - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs (already posted here in Win8 News):

We believe that all Windows 8 users should be protected by traditional antimalware software that provides an effective, industry-recognized level of protection. There are a lot of great antimalware solutions available that we expect will be updated to protect Windows 8 PCs and we believe most PC makers will continue to ship Windows PCs with these solutions installed.

We’re continuing to work with antimalware partners during the Windows 8 development process so you have the best possible Windows PC experience no matter what antimalware solution you choose. We provide them with resources, such as the technical details of how we architected the performance improvements for Windows Defender, so they have the opportunity to make similar improvements to their products.

Originally Posted by mikedl

Originally Posted by Lee

Good info. Still loaded up MSE and its running smoothly.

Hi, Lee!

Why did you do that when it's already built in to the Win 8 OS?

It is, is that what Windows Defender is/does??


Can I uninstall MSE?

As far as MS building an AV, or anything else they want into their OS, good for them. I just bought a Chevrolet pick up, GM had installed the seat belts, thank you GM. I don't need to be running all over looking for seat belts.

Originally Posted by Bill2

I'm wondering, isn't MS building up monopolistic positions again that it got hammered for? Inbuilt AV, iso handler, pdf reader (where did modern pdf reader disappear? Oh well, not really missing it).

As I understand it, since the majority of computer purchases are OEM, if the OEM elects to include a different A/V then the revamped Windows Defender will not be activated. From the same blog post:

If you don’t have another solution installed, Windows 8 will provide you protection with a significantly improved version of Windows Defender.

Originally Posted by 24c

Originally Posted by mikedl

Originally Posted by Lee

Good info. Still loaded up MSE and its running smoothly.

Hi, Lee!

Why did you do that when it's already built in to the Win 8 OS?

It is, is that what Windows Defender is/does??


Can I uninstall MSE?

As far as MS building an AV, or anything else they want into their OS, good for them. I just bought a Chevrolet pick up, GM had installed the seat belts, thank you GM. I don't need to be running all over looking for seat belts.

On Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows Defender only includes signatures for spyware, adware, and PUPs. Only in the Developer Preview, the virus, worms, bots and rootkit definitions included in MSE, Microsoft Forefront, Windows InTune, etc. are included, thus incorporating A/V protection.

Thus, in the Developer Preview, Windows Defender = Microsoft Security Essentials.