As reported on several news outlets and blogs... Windows 8 is giving startup malware the <a*hem*> "boot". Stories can be found on ARS Technica and Tech World. Quoting from Tech World, "Probably the biggest security addition is Windows 8’s support for UEFI 2.3.1 secured boot technology (which requires BIOS support), which stops early-booting malware from interfering with antivirus products before they load into memory."
