BillP Studios has launched WinPatrol 2013, a brand new version of its snapshot-based security tool that alerts users to program attempts to make significant changes to key areas of a PC.

Version 26.0.2013 focuses on making the program more Windows 8 friendly than before, largely by tweaking program settings to accommodate new Windows 8 conventions such as cookie storage in Internet Explorer 10.

WinPatrol 2013 is available in both freeware and paid-for Plus editions. The free version takes a snapshot of critical system resources on installation and then alerts the user to any major changes that may be occurring without the user’s knowledge. While this is primarily to offer an extra layer of security against zero-day malware attacks, WinPatrol can also be used to simply monitor new programs for potential resource-hogging installations.

WinPatrol 2013 now promises to play extremely nicely with Windows 8.

The program was already compatible with Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro prior to the release of version 26.0.2013, but this latest build provides a number of minor, unspecified tweaks to ensure the program works with the latest Windows 8 settings. By way of example, Internet Explorer 10 now stores cookies in a file called container.dat rather than index.dat, which meant cookie-handling didn’t work in earlier builds of WinPatrol running in Windows 8.

The free version should be sufficient for most users, but those looking to support future program development as well as enjoy additional features should upgrade to the Plus version, which costs $29.95 for a single user (unlimited computers), or $49.95 for the whole family. It’s a one-time cost, and unlocks additional features including detailed program descriptions for identifying start-up items and the ability to monitor selected Registry keys for changes.

WinPatrol 26.0.2013 is a freeware download for PCs running Windows XP or later, including Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. As with all desktop-based apps, WinPatrol is not compatible with Windows RT-powered devices such as the Microsoft Surface tablet.