Best Antivirus Software for Windows 8 Review

Windows 7 was such a welcome relief after the nightmare of Vista that it is bound to survive even longer than the venerable XP. All computers die, however, and need replacement, which at some point will mean crossing over to Windows 8. Windows 8 rhymes with hate. Haters gonna hate. Windows 8 haters are amusing because they don't realize how much their tirades reveal about themselves. Show us a Windows 8 hater and we'll show you someone who cannot concentrate long enough to learn a new operating system, someone who fails to see the goodness in a leap forward that includes desktops and mobile devices in its embrace, someone resistant to change. Who moved my Start button?

Love it or hate it, if you are running Windows 8, you know that it includes the best security features native to any version of Windows thus far. Microsoft includes Windows Defender with Windows 8 to improve protection for those who will never get around to installing third-party antivirus for Windows 8. However, according to performance test results from respected independent software labs, Defender is no match for the best antivirus for Windows 8 products: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Norton AntiVirus. We will show you how to pick virus protection and we invite you to read articles about antivirus software for Windows 8.

Antivirus Software for Windows 8: What to Look For

There is no need to be overwhelmed by the Windows 8 internet security product selection process if you concentrate, as we do, on three areas: performance, features, and help and support. Let's elaborate.

Performance
A useful approach to evaluating the performance of antivirus software for Windows 8 products is the way in which AV-Test, the independent IT security institute, arranges its tests. AV-Test conducts tests that show how well antimalware products detect and block malware, how well they repair computers that are already infected and whether they slow down system performance or falsely flag perfectly safe files as dangerous. We rank antivirus products based on test results from AV-Test.

Features
Prior to purchase, it is useful to consider whether an antivirus for Microsoft Windows 8 product can also prevent you from becoming the victim of a phishing attack and whether it can protect you from threats contained in instant messages, email and removable memory devices. Another good feature is the ability to schedule scans for times when you are not using the computer.

Help & Support
Security software publishers are not all equal when it comes to the methods they use to provide support for their products. Be aware that some companies are there 24/7, and you can always reach a representative via online chat or telephone. Some companies limit their support hours, and some only provide support via email.

Don't be content with Windows Defender. It is for people who cannot be bothered to protect themselves in the best possible way. Read performance tests from respected labs, visit product user forums to uncover issues, and decide what level of help and support is right for you. Our reviews provide a summation of all that information in one place, so if we can make your decision easier, then we have done our job.

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