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Windows Live OneCare randomly expires

By Tim Conneally, BetaNews

December 20, 2007, 2:35 PM

Microsoft's Windows support forum found a throng of users yesterday complaining of their Windows Live OneCare subscriptions inexplicably showing up as having been terminated.

This left many scrambling to find out whether OneCare was still providing them with updates, firewall, and antivirus protection, or if Microsoft had forgotten about them.

The forum's moderator sought to deter panicked users from calling tech support, saying that the subscription/profile server/database issue would be corrected within 24 hours. One user who spoke to the call center reported that he received the response, "We cannot confirm that your computer is being protected."

Microsoft Program Manager Kapil Rastogi has posted on the forum that it is a temporary glitch in the billing system affecting only a limited number of subscribers. He says Microsoft will work directly with those affected to correct account status and address interruptions in the OneCare service.

Add a Comment (57 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By mjm01010101

posted Feb 13, 2008 - 10:45 PM

http://windowsonecare.sp...1141!4866.entry#comment
(see comments)

Users are revolting!

Score: 0

By treworld

posted Dec 27, 2007 - 3:26 PM

Randomly? Or, planned? Must we be reminded of the 360 and it's RRoD? So... Randomly??? I think not...

Score: 0

By dougau

edited Dec 26, 2007 - 9:16 PM

Everyone knows OneCare, Windows XP, and Vista randomly expiring are major benefits of Microsoft's Genuine Advantage program and serves to let us people who actually pay money for Microsoft products know what dirty, pirating, piece of crap scumbags Microsoft thinks we really are.

It just makes me itch at the seams to give Microsoft a weeks pay to "upgrade" to Vista so my computer will run 20% slower.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Dec 26, 2007 - 10:47 AM

Mmm...Food for trolls.

This place just gets better and better.

Ya could have at least posted some drive-by detection rates. I suppose in a few more versions it might be worthwhile, but right now, in terms of pure ability, it's not even close to many of the free alternatives out there.

Score: 0

By elievano

posted Dec 24, 2007 - 1:55 PM

is crap anayway

Score: 0

By improvelence

posted Dec 23, 2007 - 10:58 AM

People actually use this? I installed once on Vista and the OS became instable. No thanks.

Score: 0

By SnakerDLK

posted Dec 23, 2007 - 10:41 AM

first,
windows is all buggy and has a flawful security that makes your computer a swiss cheese to malware. Then they expect you to pay for their own service to fix this ? meh...

second,
microsoft = lots of bugs, just face it...
So I don't really expect any product offered by microsoft to safely protect my computer against malware(including any other product offered by microsoft)

Score: 0

By cousinkix1953

posted Dec 22, 2007 - 8:41 AM

I don't use One Care. We have several anti-virus and firewall programs that are free and wird things don't happen to people using them.

Avast - Zone Alarm - Ad Aware - Spy Bot! One Care? Who cares any more?

Score: 0

By lazarus98

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 7:05 PM

I'm more than amused by the deletions of post in this and other sections. BetaNews's is getting pretty heavy handed these days, or at least the editors. Why bother allowing anyone to post at all if your going to delete or edit comments that are totally legit POSTS?
So since this is off topic, I'm sure it will be deleted very soon.

Score: 0

By TomA102210

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 10:04 AM

By smarterthanyou said:

"Are there really that many people that waste their money on garbage? Windows Live OneCare is the worst program of its kind ever created."
----------------------------------------------
For you, perhaps, although I doubt you have even tried the program. For others, maybe the one you use is "the worst program" ever created. I've used OneCare and found it to be quite adequate just as many, many others have.

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 3:43 PM

I was speaking in terms of facts. It's a well known fact that OneCare has the worst virus detection rate and despite Microsoft's best efforts, nothing has been done to improve this. You can use the firewall software and Windows Defender software included with Windows Vista along with free antivirus software as mentioned in my earlier post and get the same level of protection that OneCare offers. The best part is it's free.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 9:56 AM

Kapersky false positived Windows system files on wednesday for two hours. So much for your love for that program.

AV is stupid. I don't use it personally, but must use it at work.

Score: 0

By RejZoR

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 9:33 AM

This could happen to anyone, be it MS or some far smaller Grisoft.

Score: 0

By dan-0

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 9:38 AM

Except that Grisoft for the basic user standpoint is free.

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 3:35 AM

Are there really that many people that waste their money on garbage? Windows Live OneCare is the worst program of its kind ever created.

Score: 0

By KSzostek

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 9:38 AM

I have to say I like it. Does what it says and it does it pretty well.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Dec 22, 2007 - 6:19 PM

ROFL! Yeah, that's obviously why we're having this discussion!

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 3:37 PM

It has the worst virus detection rate of any antivirus software on the market. You'd be better off using the free Microsoft Windows Defender software along with the free Avast Antivirus software.

Score: 0

By Ramhound

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 11:13 PM

All I know is it detects a virus in a 10 month old website backup ( contains email data ) and most other anti-virus programs do not.

Score: 0

By sx66gns

edited Dec 20, 2007 - 10:11 PM

lol , owned.

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 8:59 PM

Microsoft should leave this kind of thing to the companies that are dedicated to security solutions and worry more about making Windows itself more secure. This is nothing more than another ploy to leech more money from it's customers and not something that Microsoft is truely interested in or dedicated to. If they were truely dedicated Onecare would at least be on par with other solutions instead of lagging behind.

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 8:55 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! They just can't get this right..... With this and with WPA as well.

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

edited Dec 20, 2007 - 8:34 PM

I have been suffering from this as well. Of course I'm in the free beta program so I'm not as concerned (I don't use subscription software). If they cut me off I just go back to AVG Free.

Score: 0

By mdotwills

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 7:40 PM

Another M$ Stuff up lol. "We cannot confirm that your computer is being protected."

Score: 0

By internetworld7

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 6:13 PM

Guys, this is really becoming silly. It's time to come out of the stone ages of computing altogether and switch to a Mac. It's the best antivirus solution known to man. Let me make it easy for you --> http://www.apple.com/getamac

Score: 0

By dan-0

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 9:43 AM

you must have missed the news article that noted 400 new mal-ware software pieces that target macs. Not to say there is anything wrong with owning a "mac" which is based on Unix...but I would sooner go to linux than MAC.

Score: 0

By odarky

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 1:07 AM

switch to Mac doesn't guarantee you will not get virus. It's just nobody care to create virus that infects Mac. it's not worth time and effort.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 8:53 AM

A virus is made to infect the most people as possible. Lets look at this Windows based computers 95% Mac 5% you do the math. I agree with you but many people like pi$ingo are just trolls that look forward to a MS thread to spew their vial hate.

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 9:17 PM

There's also this other kind of anti-virus out, works just as good as paid or free versions.

Its called use your farking head, if you don't go downloading stuff you shouldn't and use some farking sense it would be a non issue.

Stone age? The only difference in a mac and a pc now is the operating system, your fooling yourself if you believe there's more to it.

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 10:02 PM

You are right.

http://www.apple.com/getamac/viruses.html

Step 1: get rid of the totally insecure M$ OS
Step 2: buy a Mac
Step 3: profit

or

Step 1: get rid of the totally insecure M$ OS
Step 2: download Ubuntu for _free_ and install
Step 3: profit

Score: 0

By preinterpost

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 10:53 AM

The OS is just a commodity these days. XP works for anything (not just itunes, or VT 100 terminals). Why should anyone sensible limit themselves by selecting a fringe product if not for a special purpose?

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 8:54 AM

How many windows based games play on that? Yea thought so.

Score: 0

By crashoverride

edited Dec 23, 2007 - 3:44 PM

yea, because everyone out there is a hard core gamer. I wonder how many people out there never get any further than the pre installed games like solitaire or places on the web like Yahoo Games for example. Gamers are a minorty of commputer users just like OSX and Linux Users. Transgaming believes that making Windows games run on Linux is going to be the holy grail for Linux acceptance when this is just not the case. The only thing that is going to gain Linux further acceptance is further progress in the areas of ease of use and hardware support. Gaming is a good feather to have in your cap but is not going to drive Linux acceptance very far if Linux doesn't get as dumbed down as Windows so that the average user is able to use it.

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 11:12 PM

Yeah, Apple may not have viruses but secure? try again...

All operating systems have their flaws, to believe one is better then the other is moronic, but to believe its better for YOU then that's understandable as some people have different needs and work differently.

Score: 0

By Jordanr05

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 7:03 PM

Here's the irony: If everyone listens to you and gets a mac, market share will skyrocket (let's pretend EVERYONE listened to this guy).

Hackers will see this, and proceed to beat the living s*** out of OSX. I almost hope it happens to teach you mac guys a lesson. NOTHING is secure - osx is just off the radar for now.

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 3:34 PM

OneCare has been rated the worst AV product out there. Does it really matter if it is on or off?

LOL, M$ sells an OS that is so insecure it sells you Anti-Virus software to try and patch it up. LOL.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 6:48 PM

My father-in-law has had it well over a year and never had an issue. He's had symantec before and untold number of problems with them. If it keeps him off my back then I'm all for it...

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 6:12 PM

*** yawn ***

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-6165661-7.html

Score: 0

By marrix

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 8:25 AM

pitdrongo,
I find the omission of the fabulous Eset product NOD32 in this link most curious indeed! Yet, this is a site that promotes those that spend advertising $$ much more than they do the alternatives.

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 9:19 PM

***yawn***

Do you even bother to read the links you post?

Thats over 9 months ago, a lot can happen in 9 months.

Score: 0

By pitdingo2

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 10:04 PM

sure, a lot of M$ Windows machines can get exploited.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 8:56 AM

A little bit of common sense will go a long way, you should try it.

Score: 0

By chlive

edited Dec 20, 2007 - 5:13 PM

"...rated the worst..." really? by who, you?

Score: 0

By Tenoq

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 6:23 PM

The people that count - AV Comparatives. It's also a bas**** to install. We charge nearly as much in labour as the software itself costs if a client asks us to install it. Takes far, far longer than it should. :p

Score: 0

By MellonCollie

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 4:29 AM

OneCare got an 'Advanced' rating in November's Retrospective/ProActive test at av-comparatives. I'd bet money on it getting an equal, or better, rating in February's On-demand comparative.

Score: 0

By SGD

edited Dec 20, 2007 - 8:46 PM

If douchedingo says it's that way it is. What ever troll.

Score: 0

By preinterpost

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 5:14 PM

"The vulnerability statistics come from Secunia and ZDNet broke them down by Windows XP flaws, Vista flaws, and Mac OS X flaws.
During 2007 Apple had more than five times the number of flaws per month than Windows XP and Vista in 2007, and most of them were serious. Windows Vista had less flaws than Windows XP.

The article admits that the problems could be much worse. Apple do not admit that it ever has problems with its software until it releases a patch for it. This means that it could be sitting on huge security holes that it has not told anyone about."

Score: 0

By Tenoq

edited Dec 20, 2007 - 6:26 PM

"This means that it could be sitting on huge security holes that it has not told anyone about."

You mean like Microsoft? At least it looks like Apple is patching their vulnerabilities - and not re-patching old ones time and time again. But then we could all go with Linux, where flaws are discovered and resolved quickly - because it's all open. :P

Regardless, the fact remains: Macs don't get viruses. That might change, but right now it's a secure alternative (whatever the reason).

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 9:26 PM

Not repatching old ones?

How about Quicktime for starters...everyone is equally vulnerable, let apple open its system to every single configuration windows supports lets see how quickly they patch then...

You cannot secure stupid and users believing their OS is bulletproof is a poor way to handle security.

Linux flaws fixed quickly?

As each version is updated more and more problems are being found in Linux as well as OSX since a lot of the underlying work is bsd.

Score: 0

By preinterpost

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 10:55 AM

I don't think Linux is a very interesting target for hackers. It's a small market share and most Linux users are IT experts, know how to prevent the typical infection and keep an eye on processes (mostly professionally).

Score: 0

By school1012

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 4:50 PM

OneCare is so bad, that it was one of only a few AV programs that detected Viruses Google was passing around with their ads.

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 12:59 AM

I assume you mean unintentional, since Google would never sanction such a thing. Even so, you're going to have to back this up with a link to a credible source. I've never heard anything about this.

Since I never click on ads though, just block them, it's sorta moot to me personally.

Score: 0

By MellonCollie

posted Dec 21, 2007 - 4:32 AM

S/he's probably talking about this: http://news.zdnet.com/21...223511.html?tag=nl.e550

Score: 0

By hiyoag

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 3:08 PM

Problems with the first version of a Microsoft product. How unusual.

Score: 0

By iamtux

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 3:18 PM

Actually, I believe they are on v2 now.

Score: 0

By mdotwills

posted Dec 20, 2007 - 7:41 PM

Well, nothing has changed then. Just following tradition I see...

Score: 0

By Tippy1955

edited Dec 25, 2007 - 1:40 AM

I have been a Live OneCare user since the first beta version.I am now a paid subscriber. I not only have it on my six computers, I also highly recommend it to all of my customers. No complaints here!!

Score: 0

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