Microsoft OneCare

I find myself helping people set up their computers often. With this comes variation in technical capabilities of user with which I am doing this for. I have learned that setting up a novice with advanced security features creates more work for me when they inevitably call me with questions. Therefore, I am wondering if it wouldn't be better for me to match the end user with the level of security applications. Seems logical.

I have been reading about Microsoft's new OneCare. It seems that it is a good product for novices, as it provides adequate security that is self-managing. OneCare may not be the right product for people that are more advanced and desire better security.

Can anyone that has used the product tell me if OneCare would be a good product for me to install on novice computers as an all-in-one self-managing security application?

 

no its still in beta

 

I just checked it and it's indeed in BETA, which means not for normal use.
I'm not really looking forward to have Windows Live OneCare on my computer.
I ditch MS Applications one after another and replace them with better 3rd party softwares. Microsoft's creativity is replaced with money.

 

Dallen i have used it off and on since its release. I would definitely recommend it to users who are not that inclined to have to hassle over security programs. The average family are most likely better protected ( this being 95% of pc users) by using some thing simple and easy to use , than complicated layered security which can easily lead to problems, or even no security at all as many do.. Much stress can be illiminated on a family pc by such a simple program. Can you imagine the hassles that some kids have with their over security concious elders when insistance on too much layered security is the norm. What should be a normal healthy computer experience becomes a nightmare. Iv found no problems with it and its very easy to use and does afford good protection. As far as im aware the anti virus is RAV with some form of behavour detection. The firewall has both incoming and outgoing protections , however its set so that the user is not assailed by heaps of pop ups . Its easy for those who hang out in security forums to forget that some peoples just want a good internet experience and some thing that they can run in the back ground to give them and their family decent general protection. The suite is real easy to use and updates itself . I really dont think because its still in beta or the final stages that this would prevent me from recommending it for use.. Especially as this month its available at the discount price. I think you are making a good recommendation for the average novice user

 

First, I want to thank the three of you for taking time to respond. I went ahead and installed it on one of the two systems that I'm setting up to see what it's all about. I must say that I agree with solarpowered candle on this one. metallicakid15 & ErikAlbert, you make good points and I would have probably drawn the same conclusion as you regarding beta status; however, it is nearing the end of beta and there is a substantial discount for the first year for those that purchase in April and use the beta. Frankly, I impressed with it and would recommend it to anyone that finds themselves setting up a computer for a novice, or are a novice themselves. Also, compared to Norton SystemWorks 2006 and Zone Alarm, Microsoft's One Care is extremely light. This is an added benefit because the two systems that I'm working with are older and limited on resources.

 

Dallen I think that you have a good idea in installing OneCare. It has the promise of being a decent app. As you probably know all Microsoft products are not crap. Actually quite a few of them work really well. Let us know how the people you are installing it for like it. Thanks

bigc

 

Huh? Frontpage, anyone?

 

BYW, there is a special offer, dollar 19.5 approx for 1 year for 3 PCs as I received mail from MS.
I just wander can it work with Dial up?

 

TNT,
bigc73542 did not say that every Microsoft product is not crap!!!

You must be misinterpreting the above quote. He clearly states that all of Microsoft products are not crap, which should have probably been reworded to say, "Not every Microsoft product is crap."

 

Let me remove all doubt about what I posted. Some microsoft products could use a little work, but some of their products do work very well. Personally I like the windows operating system even with some of it's little bugs. And the alternatives to the windows operating system are not very user friendly at all. Basically I posted that I don't dislike Microsoft products.

bigc

And thank you Dallen for attempting to clarify my poor choice of words.

 

You are quite welcome. Hopefully, in trying to clarify I did not put words in your mouth. I also like many of Microsoft's products and agree entirely with what you said about Microsoft. Many people criticize Microsoft, but I think they forget two things. One, what things were like before Windows, or even in the early stages of Windows. Two, what things are like if you take Microsoft out of the picture. When you own over 80%, more or less, then you are bound to have lots of complaints. By no means am I saying that Microsoft doesn't have issues, and I'm certainly not saying that there aren't things about how Microsoft operates that pisses me off (i.e. releasing buggy software to the public & charging people for OneCare products which essentially adresses flaws in your system), but come on people, give Microsoft some credit. They certainly deserve some.

 

Oh, ok. On that, I can agree.

 

works fine on dialup. the initial download is huge on dialup. once its installed and up and running its all cool.

 

Hi i have used onecare since it came out in beta and I can honestly say it works well with defender and I also run nod32 it works well with that and does not conflict with it at all.
Also just trying SocketShield in beta works again with that no problem.
Also when and if anyone gets the chance try IE7 this browser is a lot better.

 

I've been thinking about IE 7, but I've heard some people have had installation issues, so I've decided to wait until it is fully released.

Regarding OneCare and NOD32, I would not even attempt that. I understand that you claim to have no conflicts, but it is never advisable to have multiple Anti-virus softwares on a system at the same time.

 

I like and use MS Office 2000 too for many years, but not the rest.
I replaced the most important MS Applications for internet with other softwares.
MSIE = Mozilla Firefox
MS Outlook = Mozilla Thunderbird

Add/Remove Programs = Total Uninstall + TuneUp Utilities
and I will continue to do this.

M$ has one big advantage : USERFRIENDLINESS.

 

I know I thought the same thing but when I onecare on I was waiting for nod32 or onecare to play up but as I posted 3-4 months no trouble so either I am lucky or onecare not very strong because when I did turn nod32 off to try it and with one care running the red shield flashed up with a popup that there was no antivirus installed, yet onecare was running.
Turned nod32 back on reported to microsoft what had happened and they sent an e-mail back that onecare can run with another antivirus, but only certain ones.
So it looks like nod32 is ok, but have not heard whether other ones conflict with onecare or not.
The guy would not go into anymore detail, like naming others.

 

From January until April, I ran the OneCare beta and Windows Defender (along with the IE7 beta) for the same reasons mentioned in the original post. Mostly the default settings were used, except the firewall in OneCare was adjusted higher to always show alerts. Simple for me to use, OneCare also ran very 'light' (even more than NOD32 does). However, updating and also checking for updates to both programs often slowed other applications almost to a halt.

There were no problems until I decided to test both programs by visiting some 'risky' web sites (I was about to reformat and reinstall Windows on this computer anyway). I clicked ads, followed links, downloaded some files, etc. After what was probably a few hours total of this type of browsing, Windows Defender was quietly disabled and OneCare didn't alert or warn about anything but still seemed to be running without any problems.

A Kaspersky online scan didn't find any malware. A safe mode scan using a trial download of NOD32 found malware: "Win32/Demoleak Test" and "NewHeuristic PE virus". Explorer.exe wouldn't run after the computer was rebooted, and the network connection was corrupted beyond use, even in safe mode w/networking.

OneCare beta and Windows Defender, at least as they were in the first week of April, didn't protect very well if the computer user wasn't browsing carefully.

 

Although not very scientific, I believe your findings. I hope Microsoft understands that there are substantial leaps that must be made to bring their products up to standards. That being said, I think the best way to summarize your finding is, "It's difficult to protect against stupidity."

 

I got hit very bad with spyware while Windows Defender was turned on and protecting my PC and got no alerts. I had to re-install and vowed never to ever rely on Windows Defender again. The same goes for any Microsoft Security product.

I got NOD 32 since and haven't had problems for months!!!

Windows and IE Explorer are the most security flawed PC programs in the world and made by who - Microsoft? I wouldn't trust MS with my PC security ever and I would highly recommend others not to put their trust in Microsoft here. Their track record as far as security holes in their browser and OS speaks for itself!!

Microsoft don't really specialise in anything except making money - they are good at that but as far as PC security goes I want experts who have a known and reliable good security track record looking after my PC not the company responsible for creating the holes.

Nice con job MS. Create an expensive OS full of security flaws then create another expensive program to patch it up!!

Stick with companies who specialise in security and not one who constantly creates doors without locks!!

Dave

 

I like XP very much and find it very stable on my system.If Microsoft wants to offer consumers free security tools, that is great.But to have to pay for this service, 'No Fng Way'.If you bought a used vehicle from your local mechanic and had to take it back to him every month for repairs he was charging extra for, would you continue to do that.I'd think not.