Windows 8 Anti-Virus Software?

I recently did a clean install of Windows 8 Pro on one of my PCs. When I attempted to install Microsoft Security Essentials Anti-Virus, I received a pop-up message stating MSE was not needed in Windows 8; the Windows Defender program in Win 8 covered virus and malware protection.

While I've had good luck running MSE anti-virus in Win 7 machines, the statement that Win 8 doesn't need an AV program both surprises and scares me.

I'm thinking about adding either AVG or Kaspersky as an added level of security. I'm not a fan of either Norton or McAfee as I have had performance issues with both in the past.

Do any malware geeks have opinions on how effective the built in Windows 8 AV protection is and/or what AV program seems to run best on Windows 8?

Thanks in advance.

 

If you install a second AV without first disabling Defender you will very likely suffer system problems. Defender is the latest incarnation of MSE and should be sufficient without anything more than occasional on-demand scans from a non-realtime AV/AS such as MalwarebytesAntiMalware

 

Defender & MSE are the same. Just that MS went back to the Defender name in 8. Think of AV software like a flu shot. It helps to keep you safe, but you still have to take the proper precautions in the long run.

 

Now I get it. I was having flashbacks to the "Defender" in Windows Vista. uke

 

Defender was the start of the whole MSE. It was not until Microsoft bought out the company that owned the rights to the engine for MSE, that they killed off Defender and started MSE. I run MSE on our desktop and have not had any problems with it.

 

all these work on windows 8-

avg antivirus
avast antivirus

that's all I found so far