One of the features that Microsoft has been long touting for the new Windows 8 platform is its secure boot, which is meant to be a powerful tool against malware.Powered by the new UEFI bios, the platform can easily protect users against malware such as rootkits and other similar malicious software.
At the TechEd EMEA 2012 conference in Amsterdam, Microsoft provided a demo of the feature during a Windows 8 workshop.
The secure boot was designed so as to check the OS to see whether it is valid or not. If not, it will prevent it from loading up.
During the demo, Bill Karagounis, the group program manager of Microsoft's Performance team, took a USB drive infected with a rootkit and plugged it into a Windows 8 tablet.
During the boot sequence, the platform checked the software that wanted to load, decided that it was unsafe, and automatically entered into repair mode.
This is the manner in which Windows 8 will act each time it does not validate the boot loader or a drive that contains malware.
If the drive is attached to the device while Windows is running, Windows Defender, which has been enhanced to become a full security application, through incorporating an antimalware engine, will kick in, automatically detecting the threat and eliminating it.
The Refresh and Reset features included in the new platform are other examples of new security features that users can take advantage of, especially in enterprise environments.
For example, companies can easily reset a device if they want to give it to another employee, so that none of the settings and applications that the former owner had on the device are passed along.
Also in the enterprise environment, Microsoft has the BitLock feature available with Windows to Go, which ensures that the company's data is not compromised even if the USB stick is lost.
Microsoft is already working with partners to ensure that they can deliver great Windows 8 devices that come with all the needed features and capabilities to offer a more secure experience.
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