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Windows Live OneCare, previously known as '''Windows OneCare Live''' and formerly code-named '''A1''', is a Computer Security Service developed by Microsoft for its Windows Operating System s. An annual subscription is US$49.95, which can be used on up to three computers. HISTORY Microsoft designed OneCare as part of an idea set named in the summer of 2005. The managed beta program was launched before the public beta, and was located on BetaPlace, Microsoft's old beta delivery system. On May 31, 2006, Windows Live OneCare made its official debut in retail stores in the United States .1 The beta version of Windows Live OneCare 1.5 was released in early October 2006 by Microsoft. Version 1.5 was released to manufacturing on January 3, 2007. It was made available to the public on January 30, 2007. Beta testing for version 2.0 started on July 4, 2007. Beta testers can sign up at Microsoft Connect to participate in the testing of the upcoming product {Link without Title} . FEATURES Windows Live OneCare currently features an integrated Anti-virus Program , Firewall , Backup and restore utility, tune-up utility with the integrated functionality of Windows Defender for Malware protection. The future addition of a registry cleaner was considered2 but not added because "there are not significant customer advantages to this functionality".3 Windows Live OneCare is built for ease-of-use and is designed for home users. OneCare also attempts a very minimal interface to lessen user confusion and resource signature. At the most basic, it adds an icon to the Notification Area that tells the user at a glance the status of the system's health. Three alert levels are available, from green (good) to yellow (minor problem) to red (major problem). Version 2 will have new features. They are Wi-fi security and home network status. Version 2 will make startup faster. Compatibility Version 1.5 of OneCare is only compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista (32 bit only). {Link without Title} Version 2 of OneCare is compatible with Windows XP (32 bit only) and Windows Vista (32 bit and 64 bit). Activation Windows Live OneCare requires users to activate the product if they wish to continue using it after the free trial period (90 days for version 1.5; 224 days for version 2.0 Beta). This can only be achieved by having a valid Windows Live ID so that an association can be made between the account and the subscription to OneCare which has been purchased. When the product is activated, the grey message bar at the top of the program disappears, and the subscription is fully activated for 1 year from the date of activation. Users can check the status of their subscription on the ''Billing'' page at http://billing.microsoft.com/ Windows Live OneCare does not currently require the operating system to be checked with either Windows Genuine Advantage or Validation , neither before, during or after installation. The program can simply be installed from a stub downloaded from the http://onecare.live.com/ website or as CD media.4 Protection Windows Live OneCare Protection Plus is the security component in the OneCare suite. It consists of three parts:
Windows Live OneCare 1.5 also monitors Internet Explorer 7 security settings and ensures that the automatic website checking feature of the Phishing Filter is enabled. Performance Windows Live OneCare Performance Plus is the component that performs monthly PC tune-up related tasks, such as:
Backup Windows Live OneCare Backup and Restore is the component that aids in backing up important files. Files can be backed up to various recordable media, such as external hard disks, CDs, and DVDs. When restoring files, the entirety or a subset of them can also be restored to a networked computer, as long as it's running OneCare as well. The Backup and Restore component supports expected modern Backup Software features such as incremental backups and scheduling. CRITICISM Windows Live OneCare has received much criticism from other competing security software companies. On January 26, 2006, Windows Live OneCare received criticism from Foundstone (a division of the competing McAfee antivirus) for the integrated firewall having default White List s which allow Java applications and Digitally Signed software to bypass user warnings, since neither of those applications carry assurances that they will not have security flaws or be written with a malicious intent.5 Microsoft has since responded to the criticism, justifying their decision in that Java applications are ''"widely used by third party applications, and is a popular and trusted program among our users"'', and that ''"it is highly unusual for malware to be signed."''6 Windows Live OneCare has also received criticism for the lack of adherence to industry firewall standards concerning intrusion detection. Tests conducted by Agnitum (the developers of Outpost Firewall) have shown OneCare failing to detect trojans and malware which hijack applications already resident on an infected machine.7 In February 2007, the first Windows Vista anti-virus product testing by Virus Bulletin magazine (a sister company of Sophos , the developers of Sophos Anti-Virus) found that Windows Live OneCare failed to detect 18.6% of viruses. Fifteen anti-virus products were tested.89 AV-Comparatives.org also released results that placed Windows Live OneCare last in its testing of seventeen anti-virus products.Feb 2007, comparative #13 1011 In response, Jimmy Kuo of the Microsoft Security Research and Response (MSRR) team pledged to add "truly important" ("actively being spread") malware as soon as possible, while " detection numbers will get better and better" for other malware "until they are on par with the other majors in this arena." He also expressed confidence in these improvements: "Soon after, majors will need to catch up to us!"12 REFERENCES SEE ALSO
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