RSSMicrosoft Rebrands Online AV Scanner
By Nate Mook | Published August 14, 2006, 4:06 PM
Microsoft on Monday rebranded the Windows Live Safety Center under its recently launched "OneCare" product. The free online tool checks a computer for viruses and makes tune-ups to improve performance. Windows Live OneCare safety scanner can be used an unlimited number of times, Microsoft said.
The tool is now available in 43 international markets, and is updated on a daily basis with protection from the latest threats to Windows. Microsoft frequently directs users to the safety scanner when a new virus surfaces. For a full range of PC protection and care services, users can subscribe to the full Windows Live OneCare for $49.95 USD per year.
Just one single use of Microsoft's OneCare scanner (last night, no less) precipitated 8 long hours of hair-pulling, Windows trouble-shooting, shortcut repairs, registry restorations, and application uninstalls and reinstalls. In sum, using it was a nightmare.
And forget using System Restore to repair the damage caused by Microsoft's "OneClueless." Apparently, it's only for appearances. ERUNT was what worked to restore my system, not System Restore. Had it not been for ERUNT, it definitely would have required a full OS reinstallation to recover from just one OneCare scan and repair operation.
Important Note: Everything was working *perfectly* beforehand. I'll never go near that god-awful Microsoft scanner again. (Me being stupid: Not stopping right there when it identified over 500 registry errors! Duh!)
But, it did do one thing right -- it made certain I will never trust M$ with my computer's security via any of its new "too little, too late" so-called security services/products, free or otherwise. It's a lot cheaper to just go ahead and pay $$$ to a firm that knows what it's doing. Speaking from direct and most recent experience, that firm is *NOT* Microsoft.
OneCare? Who cares? (Only those who care little or nothing about their system's security.)
Score: 0
|Sounds like you have something that completely hosed your system before OneCare ever touched it.
If OneCare was the cause, don't you think there would be a few more people complaining about this obvious and critical flaw?
Who knows... maybe everyone is stupid but you, but I doubt it.
Score: 0
|Is it just me, or does the acronym WLOC get pronounced "Willy Wonka?" Coincidence?
Who can take a virus,
a spyware app or two,
scan you complete system
in under an hour or two.
Microsoft can,
oh Microsoft can.
Microsoft can because
they own the whole darn world
and the operatin' system too.
Score: 0
|Did you just write a song about Microsoft?
Wow. Just... wow.
Score: 0
|"wow" doesn't even begin....
...and I thought *I* had too much time on my hands...
Score: 0
|"Windows Live OneCare safety scanner"
Can we pick a name that's under 9 syllables?
Sheesh.
Score: 0
|{nitpik}
The safety scanner is a component of Windows Live OneCare, so technically, the product *name* is well under 9 syllables.
{/nitpik}
Score: 0
|I think they need to work more on fixing their own s*** so worms and viruses cant be made.. they release a security suite and the next thing you see is a worm designed to convert the security into a botnet
Score: 0
|Who - let alone Microsoft - can stop worms and viruses from being made?
Score: 0
|Been using the beta for a while. Last I checked, it doesn't touch the thoroughness of housecall from Trend Micro, but it was definately getting better.
Score: 0
|