Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Microsoft Surface tablets - it seems it's all happening over at Redmond. As Microsoft's readies its new operating system roll out, we've every right to get excited, but with all eyes distracted by the new system's sheen, it's easy to overlook the mundane but essential business of security. Over the last 12 to 18 months, security - of the lack thereof - has cast a growing shadow over Windows and the antivirus firms we trust to keep us safe online. Indeed, some have suggested that the bad guys might be winning in the never-ending game of high stakes chess. So the question is, will Windows 8 let us sleep sounder in our beds? Security as standard To help protect Windows machines Microsoft has for a long time offered its Security Essentials anti virus program as a free download. Despite this, it's reckoned that almost a quarter of all Windows 7 PCs have no anti-malware software installed. To address this problem, Microsoft has opted to install Windows 8 Defender by default.