Desktop antivirus software to cost $49.95 per year for up to three PCs.

 

Robert McMillan

 

Friday, May 26, 2006

 

Microsoft will complete its entry into the desktop security market next week with the general release of its Windows Live OneCare antivirus software.

 

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OneCare, which also includes backup and PC-tuning software, has been available for free in beta form since November, but as of next Thursday customers will be able to purchase the final, supported product, according to sources familiar with Microsoft's plans.

 

OneCare will cost $49.95 per year, which will cover licenses for as many as three Windows XP PCs. That means "98 percent of homes in the U.S. will be able to buy one subscription and be able to cover all of their PCs," Microsoft Group Program Manager Brian Hall said in an interview earlier this year.

 

A spokesperson for Microsoft's public relations agency declined to comment for this story except to confirm that the product would be available for purchase from the Web and in retail stores in the next few weeks.

 

Three Apps in OneCare

 

OneCare includes firewall, antivirus, and backup software, as well as Microsoft's Windows Defender antispyware technology. The product also takes care of routine maintenance tasks such as defragmenting the hard disk and cleaning up unused temporary files.

 

Microsoft portrays OneCare as part of a new category of "PC care" products that handle technically challenging tasks. But analysts say that the product clearly targets the antivirus market, dominated by companies such as Symantec, McAfee, and Trend Micro.

 

"This is really competing head-on with the antivirus vendors," said Andrew Jaquith, senior analyst with Yankee Group Research.

its a good program I even use it but I think the free version is about to go byebye. Microsoft is going to include it in there "OneCare Live suite".

 

Reviews say:

 

1. Mcafee- has best adware/spyware tool in its security suite

 

2. Symantec\f-secure - has the best anti-virus

 

3. Zonealarm- the best Personnal firewall

 

But thats a hundred bucks right there, I dont know about you but I think this is getting rediculous. Microsoft should spend more time writing better code to prevent all this stuff but no they want to go the easy route and just go for more money. I really wish all these games that we play could be played on Linux boxes...

Writing code to protect against every virus is virtually impossible. Let me tell you all something: I run no anti-spyware or anti-virus at all. None, nada, zip. Once a month I will install and run Xoftspy, Ewido, SpySweeper, and Ad-Aware. Before I run these I run a program called CleanUp!, which cleans out all temp files. Last time I scanned (3 days ago), Ewido found 7 traces of spyware (all cookies), xoftspy found 7 (same cookies), ad-aware found 7 (same ones again), and SpySweeper found 10 (Same 7 and some other wierd traces). No viruses at all were found. All you have to do is be smart on the internet. Oh, I forgot to mention I run this machine on a DMZ as well, because I download torrents.

Same Here Falcon.

 

I might. Might have had a virus 1 time. It was that or the HD failed. I think the HD failed b/c I could never get it to load an OS again.

 

My kid got a bad case of spyware/adware once but that was on a crakced Win XP SP1 system.

 

Things have gotten better for MS since SP2. My whole lan of 10 computers does not use anything but Firewalls. I cant stand AV. If I ever do get one. Thats what backups are for.

im testing out the no a/v theory and am only using windows firewall and a spyware detector

I don't use antivirus at all either.

I run those spyware programs and clean up and that's it.

Be careful.

ya but how u spossed to dl porn i mean c'mon!!!!?

 

lol, jus playin I dont have any av, but I have had look2me trojan on my cpu bout 7000 times. Damn porn sites.

Y'all that use none are going to put ideas in the others' heads!

 

If you do not know exactly what you are doing at exactly every moment, please use an Anti-Virus and Spyware program.

thats not good use that and its one of the better programs out there to keep that crpa off of the computer

Using Spybot free scan has solved many a laggy prob as well as learning what was truly needed at startup or not from it's advanced view startup list.

 

Spywaredetector has further found high risk entries in registry that after removing cleared laggy internet performance that even saw highr bf2 fps online.

 

Firewall often blocks attempts from all over trying various things. Atleast it gives explanation of where from and what it tried and risk level.

 

Viruses are likely to come from email. Most of us get tons of unaskedfor junk email which is how some viruses enter. Not just from attachments, but lookign at them as their email animation executables run. So I would never check email without antivirus from reputable company that constantly updates and makes easy reporting of suspected virus email as well as a smart watch to detect unknown new ones.

 

Seems working for me. Caught the odd one in email that was automatically deleted and info sent to company about.

It is a choice that is for sure!

 

Using something has advantages and disadvantages.

 

Using nothing has advantages and disadvantages.

 

It is up to the user to decide the benefits of them.

 

If I were using Emule or some other Download software. I would definately use something. That is where a lot of peeps get in trouble.

 

AOL AIM is another bad one. There is stuff written just for that program.