Windows Live OneCare Reviews

Microsoft Windows Live OneCare is an all-in-one security and maintenance suite for Windows PC, and is designed to protect PCs and keep PCs perform in top condition. Windows Live OneCare provides real-time and on-demand antivirus scanner, managed and two-way firewall, OneCare advisories on security, integration with Windows Defender antispyware, integration with Microsoft Update, performance tune-up, removal of unnecessary files, automated backup of files, choice of full or incremental backup, and restoration of missing files or all files.

iTnews used Windows Live OneCare security package and concluded that beginning and intermediate users will welcome the program’s simplified, one-click approach to security and tune-up. Power users and small businesses, though, may be disappointed, especially by the program’s backup module. The $49.95 list price covers three PCs for one year, which is a good deal. But when you look more closely, the price is not quite as good as it seems. Windows Defender is available as a free download, and some of the program’s tune-up tools are already built into XP. So for $49.95 you get a good anti-virus program, a good firewall, and a so-so backup program, as well as automatic alerts and integration of all tools. The price still may be right, but power users and small businesses may still want another backup program in addition to what ships with OneCare.

ABCNews reviewed OneCare Live and concluded that “at $49.95 direct for three computers, OneCare is cheaper than current security suites, but it also offers less. There’s no antispam protection, securing of private data, or parental control. Its firewall is functional but limited, and it doesn’t protect well against spyware. McAfee, Symantec, and possibly others will soon offer subscription-based protection as powerful as their existing suites and will add backup and “PC health” features - eliminating OneCare’s key differentiators. I can’t see how OneCare will survive without a major overhaul.”

SuperSite for Windows concluded that “I really like Windows Live OneCare and though it lacks a single important feature I feel is absolutely essential for some people, it does go well beyond competing security suites by tackling non-malware-related problems that affect over PC health, including PC performance. If you’re using an email service that provides extensive anti-spam and antivirus filtering, OneCare is a no-brainer: It’s reasonably inexpensive, can be installed on multiple PCs in your home, and provides virtually every PC health feature anyone would want for a home PC. Because it’s configured as a centrally-managed, automatic service, it’s always up-to-date and can be updated with new features and functionality as-needed. My understanding is that Symantec and McAfee are racing to ship product suites that compete more closely with OneCare. I’m not surprised. With OneCare, Microsoft has looked past standard anti-malware functionality and come up with a more complete PC health solution. Highly recommended.”

CNet gave editors’ rating of 6.3 out of 10 (Good) and concluded that “Windows Live OneCare is the first of many managed online security services to debut this year. We recommend waiting, then comparing the offerings from Symantec, McAfee, and other established security vendors before deciding on a managed online security service.” The good includes Windows Live OneCare provides a mini IT department for those who want a managed service to provide antivirus, antispyware, and firewall services. While the bad is that Windows Live OneCare requires the removal of all third-party security software from your PC first, works only with Internet Explorer 6 or higher, and can still produce an “everything’s OK” reading after scanning with old signature files.

Protect and tune your PC with Windows Live OneCare.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, June 17th, 2006 at 12:03 am and is filed under Security. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.