Microsoft will be shipping their latest OS, Windows 8, with a built in antivirus.  The antivirus software, Microsoft Security Essentials, is already available as a separate package, but until now hasn’t been built in to Windows.

This is great news for average users, who might not be as technically aware as some, who currently run their systems with no protection at all.

However it will no doubt anger security software companies, who have previously cried foul over Microsoft bundling security software with updates.  Can you blame them though?  Those £40 a year subscriptions are probably the easiest money they’ve ever made.

What are your views on the matter?  Do you side with the AV companies and think Microsoft have overstepped the line?  Or do you think that any move to help protect unsuspecting users can only be a good thing?