Shortly after Microsoft announced the release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview (aka Windows 8 Beta), Piriform announced that it updated its advanced system information tool Speccy to version 1.16. This new version provides support for the next milestone of the Windows operating system. So if you decide to get Windows 8 Consumer Preview (available for download for free here) you can rest assured that Speccy will run on it (you can get Speccy straight from the developer here).

Before you go get Specyc 1.16, take a look at the change log that Piriform provided:

• Added Windows 8 beta support.
  
• Rearchitecting data loading order.
  
• Improved exception handling for CPU and GFX sections.
  
• Improved detection of Admin Shares.
  
• Improved bug data collection and reporting.
  
• Fixed minor GUI issues.

Taking the spotlight off system information tools and putting it on security solutions, Kaspersky Lab launched the Kaspersky Internet Security Beta testing program for Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Early adopters who get Windows 8 Consumer Preview can join the beta testing program, they can get a beta version of Kaspersky Internet Security Technical Preview and use it to protect their operating system. The Technical Preview, which can be used for free for a 3 month period, blends traditional methods of protection with innovative cloud-based technologies to protect against viruses, Trojans, hackers, spam, and more.

Kaspersky Internet Security Technical Preview is fully compatible with Windows 8 Beta Consumer Preview and the new technologies and enhancements the operating system has to offer. You can grab the beta version of the Kaspersky Internet Security Technical preview straight from Kaspersky Lab here.

If you do get the security solution and put it to the test, Kaspersky Lab encourages you to provide some feedback. This feedback will be used to “provide the best experience for all users when Windows 8 is commercially released.”