Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)
by Microsoft Software
Our Price: $70.49
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Category: Software
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Software Summary
Manufacturer: Microsoft SoftwareBrand: Microsoft
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: DVD-ROM
Release Date: 2007-11-15
Platform: Windows Vista, Windows XP
Model: C7S-00135
Product features:
- All-in-one security for up to 3 Users from Microsoft protects personal and financial documents from the latest viruses, worms, hackers, spyware, and online identity scams
- Automate "janitorial tasks," including disk cleaning and defragmentation, to help improve PC performance
- Easily back up your files to a CD, DVD, external hard drive, locally networked computers, or most USB-connected storage devices
- Protect your PC from outside security threats while keeping things on the inside running smoothly
- Works with Microsoft Update to help ensure that your computer is up-to-date with the latest security and critical updates
Software Reviews of Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)
Customer Review: A Good Entry into the Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware Market
Summary: 4 Stars
!!! ALERT !!!
AS OF JUNE 2009 (OR, THEREABOUTS) MSFT WILL STOP OFFERING ONECARE FOR SALE. BASICALLY, THEY'RE KILLING OFF THE PRODUCT.
AS TO THIS DECISION, LET ME SAY THAT I AM *INCREDIBLY* DISAPPOINTED. I HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY PLEASED WITH O-C, AND WAS EXCITED TO SEE WHERE MSFT MIGHT TAKE THE PRODUCT IN FUTURE VERSIONS. ANYWAYS, A MOOT POINT NOW . . .
THE REVIEW BELOW IS STILL ACCURATE, IF NOW IRRELEVANT.
!!! ALERT !!!
Windows Live OneCare (O-C) is a solid attempt by Microsoft (MSFT) to enter into the anti-virus/anti-spyware market. I recommend it.
It is a "simplistic" product -- though, not in a negative way. Its interface is clear and informative, and is not filled with all sorts of extraneous information that might be unnecessary or confusing to the common user. Settings for O-C's various tasks can be easily handled through a pop-up Settings panel, which is standard procedure for many Windows programs. In fact, for anyone who has already been using Windows Defender, MSFT's free anti-spyware device, the O-C interface should feel comfortably familiar.
It is also a very "quiet" product with no multiple alerts or virus updates like other programs that, while helping protect one's computer, also slow down and/or interrupt the computer user. O-C, on the other hand, is like a nice Guest: working quietly in the background; asking politely and reasonably when something should be blocked or allowed; updating virus definitions without fanfare; discreetly saying when it's scanning the computer; and so forth. I love it!
Is O-C overpriced? Yes. For what it does; for what it does not do; for the (relatively minor) chinks in its armor -- MSFT should be pricing this more realistically. There are, however, competitive offers out there for the person who looks, especially if one takes advantage of rebates.
I have structured this review based on the tabs found in the O-C Settings Panel. That provides an accurate overview of what the product does.
FIREWALL
O-C offers a two-way firewall with two settings: "Home/Work" and "Public." The first setting is best chosen if one intends to opt for the networking capability of O-C. Otherwise, if someone only has one computer which he or she never intends to hook up to a network, then the "Public" firewall setting is probably the best choice: It offers extra safeguards vis-à-vis sharing between computers.
Is the O-C firewall just a re-tread of the firewalls that one can already find with the XP and Vista operating systems? No, the O-C firewall is significantly better, offering more security than either of the firewalls provided by XP or Vista. In fact, from what I understand, the software disables the Windows firewall so that it can superimpose O-C's (better) product.
I've had experience with other firewall programs that had all the "bells and whistles": a double-firewall; operating system firewall; "intelligent" monitoring of my computer habits. While I appreciated the security benefits, the programs were also intrusive and confusing. O-C simply does what it does--and, does it well--in the background. If there is a question about a program running something, a large pop-up window opens asking if O-C should: allow the program; block the program; or, block now and ask later. These are pretty standard options.
O-C will also change the firewall settings automatically and accordingly if it detects that the computer has changed locations from a "Home/Work" (safe) environment to a "Public" (less safe) environment.
TUNE-UP
Tune-Up does the following: It compresses old files as well as clears out unnecessary, temporary ones. It runs the Disk Defragmenter tool. It scans the computer for viruses and spyware. It backs up any changed files to a particular location. Finally, it checks for any high-priority updates for the computer.
Unnecessary files include: Internet files; cookies; applets; Recycle Bin; etc. However, there is a catch. O-C will do all of this. But, to get the full effect of the tool one must first go into Disk Clean-Up on one's OS; select all of the files and whatnot that one wants to be compressed or deleted; and, then run the Clean-Up tool oneself. Doing this will allow the settings to "take" in O-C so that it will follow those settings automatically everytime it runs the Tune-Up tool. Otherwise, you might find that Tune-Up hasn't been cleaning out the Recycle Bin, even though MSFT's information says that it should have been! This needs to be clarified or fixed in future versions.
Defragmenter can be found and run on any recent Windows OS. So, no "wow" factor there. I'm not sure why the Error-Checking tool for Drive C was not included as well in the package of options for Tune-Up. That would have been helpful.
Tune-Up also allows one to choose--easily; clearly--from a list of programs which of those programs will be allowed to start up when the computer is booted. No more having to search around in a program's Options panel in order to find and de-select that little box which says: "Begin automatically at Start-Up." This is a definite plus.
BACKUP
I have not used this option extensively yet; I've only tinkered around with it. Nevertheless, from what I can tell, configuring Backup is relatively easy. As long as one tells O-C to which USB port to back up files and as long as one plugs an external hard drive or flash drive into that USB port, the tool will run fine.
Beware, however! When Backup goes through the motions of locating changed files that need to be backed up, it just dumps them all into one "pile" without organizing them according to folder, location, type, etc. This list of files can be confusing and/or frustrating. O-C's overriding concern seems to be making sure that important files are backed up in the first place. Therefore, some of the "niceties" (if you will) have been minimized. Frankly, as long as it backs up important files properly, then I don't really much care how it does it. But, to some other people, this might matter.
O-C also offers an "Online Photo Backup" service which means that, for a fee ($50), MSFT will back up one's photographs to another secure, on-line location. Although MSFT was previously offering 10 GB of space--an insult, given what was being offered by the Competition--the size of space allotted has now been increased to 50 GB. In my opinion, the service is just not worth the money . . . plus tax!
VIRUSES & SPYWARE
The first iteration of O-C was roundly heckled by the computer security community--and, rightly so--because the product actually came in LAST amongst other security products during tests of its ability to detect viruses and whatnot. In other words, MSFT's own anti-virus product couldn't detect many (ca. 20%) of the viruses/malware that had been tailor-made for its OS!
But, that was then and this is 2.0. Testing by reputable outfits, like AV Comparatives in Austria (www.av-comparatives.org), shows that O-C is now as good as anything else out there at detecting viruses and worms, and handles itself admirably against Trojans. Script viruses are a problem for O-C (only 84% detected). MSFT should address that in future versions.
O-C provides real-time monitoring in the background. It can be configured to look not only for viruses and spyware, but also for "virus-like" activity on one's computer. (I'm not exactly sure what the latter description means. Presumably, malware, Trojans, and the like.) Regular scans of the computer can be scheduled easily from the panel--though, only in half-hour increments. So, one would have to choose either 6 P.M. or 6:30 P.M. for a virus scan, rather than (say) 6:15 or 6:45. That might annoy some people; but, I didn't mind.
Isn't this the same thing as the free tool, Windows Defender, which also scans for spyware and is included with Windows Vista? No. Like the firewall issue, O-C's anti-spyware program has been significantly beefed up. In fact, Defender on Vista will be disabled by O-C so that the latter can work without conflicts.
O-C offers to do either a Quick Scan; Full-System Scan; or, Custom Scan. These are pretty standard choices in most security software. O-C seems to be pre-set to do a Quick Scan when it performs its regularly-scheduled scan . . . which is fine. (I suspect this because it finishes so quickly in comparison to a full-system scan) However, Full-System Scan would have been a better default, given that the product might be set to scan just once per week.
MSFT's Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) does not seem to be included with O-C . . . and, that is unfortunate. There's no reason why this important tool could not have been integrated into O-C with regular monthly updates. MSFT already releases an updated version of the tool to Windows OS's on a monthly basis.
One quibble: MSFT advertises that O-C protects users from Identity Theft. By that, they mean that the product monitors whether the Phishing Filter is turned "on" or "off" on Internet Explorer. According to that logic, I could claim that my right index finger protects me from Identity Theft by turning on the filter. Utter nonsense, bordering on deceptive.
PRINTER SHARING
This is helpful for those who will be utilizing O-C within a "circle" of computers. Since I do not have a network of computers, however, I have had no need to use this. I defer to other reviewers on this feature.
LOGGING
This is a helpful feature to create a Support Log for one's computer activity and performance, just in case there might be a problem that a MSFT technician needs to look at. It's doubtful that anyone would need to use this much, if at all--but, a nice touch nonetheless.
Furthermore, O-C offers the option of creating a "Monthly Report" so that it can obediently give its owner an update of just what it has been doing all those past thirty days. Appreciated. Step lively, OneCare!
Description of Windows Live OneCare 2.0 (Up to 3 Users)
Windows Live OneCare is the all-in-one PC security and performance service designed specifically for Windows XP and Windows Vista-based operating systems. It helps keep your PC's internal workings in order and protect it from outside security threats.Protection for your files and information
Automatically helps protect personal and financial documents, music, photos, whatever you're saving--from the latest viruses, worms, hackers, spyware, and online identity scams.
Performance tune-ups
Automates "janitorial tasks," including disk cleaning and defragmentation, to help improve PC performance.
 |
 The all-in-one PC security and performance service designed specifically for Windows XP and Windows Vista-based operating systems. |
Data back-up and restore
Makes it easy to back up your files to a CD, DVD, external hard drive, locally networked computers, or most USB-connected storage devices.
Your PC's Best Friend
OneCare helps protect your PC from outside security threats while keeping things on the inside running smoothly. OneCare includes:
- Antivirus and Antispyware
- Anti-Phishing
- Managed Firewall
- Data Backup and Restore
- Performance Tune-ups
All-in-One
All-in-one security service
- Virus and spyware protection helps shield your PC from contamination. Real-time scans identify and clean infected files and help protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
- Phishing filter in Internet Explorer 7 is activated to help detect and block known sites for online ID scams and theft.
- Firewall helps keep hackers out and private information in.
Boosts PC performance
- Tune-ups keep your PC running smoothly.
- Automatic disk cleanup, defragging, file backup and recovery on your schedule.
- Scheduled backups to CD, DVD, external hard drive, locally networked computers, or most USB-connected storage devices.
- Restores specific or all backed-up files.
One subscription
- Helps protect and maintain one, two, or three computers for one price for one year.
Automatic
Automatic protection
- Runs continuously behind the scenes while you're using your PC.
- Helps counteract new virus threats and block new harmful applications.
Automated PC tune-ups and maintenance
- Helps keep your PC running quickly and efficiently.
Automatic updates
- New feature and version upgrades included for as long as you keep your service active.
- Works with Microsoft Update to help ensure that your computer is up-to-date with the latest security and critical updates from Microsoft.
Simple
Task Bar Icon
- Always shows your PC's health status
Green means your PC status is Good. 
Yellow means your PC status is Fair. 
Red means your PC is At Risk. - One-click resolutions make it easy to take the necessary action to get and stay green.
Helpful
The OneCare Advantage:
- Unlimited, free Windows Live OneCare phone, email, and chat support.
- Automatic version and feature upgrades for as long as you keep your subscription active.
- Continuous technology improvement to combat emerging threats.
- Each OneCare subscription helps protect and maintain up to three Windows XP or Windows Vista-based PCs for one year.
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