Windows Live OneCare 2.5 Beta

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by midway40, Apr 7, 2008.

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  1. midway40

    midway40 Registered Member

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    A while ago I found out that WLOC 2.5 Beta is now out. I found the news on the Vista Magazine website.

    I signed up and now have it installed on both computers. Installation was a little different as it didn't ask me if I wanted the computer to be a hub or not. I had to manually determine this on both computers after installation.

    Like the author of the article stated, there is no visual differences between it and 2.0. I am going to visit the Connect site and see what I can find out.
     
  2. Makav3l1

    Makav3l1 Registered Member

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    Do a lot of people here use WLOC?

    If so, how do you like it? I was always kind of interested in it.
     
  3. Sjoeii

    Sjoeii Registered Member

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    What is the main difference?
     
  4. Bunkhouse Buck

    Bunkhouse Buck Registered Member

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    Let's hope the detection has improved as it is second rate at best.
     
  5. solcroft

    solcroft Registered Member

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    The detection rate is fine and steadily improving. I find Microsoft is building a good reputation as a Zlob killer where so many other vendors miss.

    Much less comforting, however, is its past tendencies to surreptitiously meddle with your system settings.
     
  6. computer geek

    computer geek Registered Member

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    I know you can't rely on tests, but I have been finding that onecare is improving. Microsoft wants to lead... As usual.
     
  7. Technic

    Technic Registered Member

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    Looks clean and nice. Free trial for 224 days. :p
     
  8. computer geek

    computer geek Registered Member

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    It says that when you click on subscribe. Does that mean we all get 1 year subscriptions to onecare 2.5 at the end of it? o_O
     
  9. Jadda

    Jadda Registered Member

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    Can you install this beta on a non-english OS? Because I do remember that previous OneCare versions are only avaliable on english OS, and will not install on a non-english OS. Or have they fixed this?

    I wonder why it's not avaliable to other languages. They must loose money with that stupid rule.
     
  10. midway40

    midway40 Registered Member

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    I could not find anything other a than a few bug reports over on Connect. Even one of the mods on the 2.0 forum confessed to not knowing much about this new build (beta discussion is not usually allowed there but he spoke just this once about it). If I didn't know any better I thought I would still be on 2.0, lol. I was at least hoping for more backup options. I did notice that the "remote control" (turning on AV/FW on other computers in the Circle) is faster.

    Solcroft, since I have installed OC it has blocked 5 instances of Zlob and then perform a cautionary quick scan after each instance. It is definitely a Zlob-buster, lol.

    CGeek, I don't think you will get a free subscription but maybe a reduced price. For example I only paid $19.95 for 2.0 because I particpated in the beta.

    Jadda, I do remember seeing somewhere in the signup process that the beta was only in English.
     
  11. computer geek

    computer geek Registered Member

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    Hmm, so far, I see it has no http scanning.
     
  12. computer geek

    computer geek Registered Member

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    And still requires heavy reliency on basic microsoft tools, like phising filter. So, whats new?
     
  13. midway40

    midway40 Registered Member

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    As I indicated I do not know what is new with 2.5. They only mention changes "under the hood" but do not elaborate. I first thought about the Komuku acquisition but it would be too early for those technologies to be implemented.

    About HTTP scanning: on the Eicar test OC blocked it before the save dialog came up. Also on the Zlob instances I mentioned before, they were caught before the actual download. Isn't this HTTP scanning?
     
  14. controler

    controler Guest

    Midway

    That sure sounds like HTP scanning to me.

    The heart of Komuku was using hardware with it's on operating system but I could be wrong. If they do use this tehnology, I wonder if they will offer the hardware kit?
     
  15. midway40

    midway40 Registered Member

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    I don't think so. This is what is mentioned in the MSAMET blog:

    This reads more like software to me. Since it is supposed to be incorporated into Forefront/OneCare it has to be.
     
  16. Crappopotamus

    Crappopotamus Registered Member

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    LOL at the download server name for the beta file --'dogfood'.
     
  17. solcroft

    solcroft Registered Member

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    What is remarkable about this is how other vendors fail so horribly against Zlobs, even top names like Avira, Kaspersky and ESET. I've been recommending Windows Defender installs on the computers I have to fix so far. :thumb:
     
  18. midway40

    midway40 Registered Member

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    LOL, I missed that one, Crap! :D

    Solcroft, I am surprised at what you said about Zlob and those other vendors. I recall a couple of times Norton blocking and warning me about Zlob and I didn't think other vendors had trouble with this.

    Still nothing about a 2.5 changelog on OC's blog nor Connect at the moment.

    And a response to Makav about how I think of OC. Like I said before it is far from perfect so I will list my pros and cons.

    Pros: Very light on my systems--can play FPS games without noticing any effect. Also compared to NIS webpages load without that "hang" some people has reported experiencing. This even happened on my new Quad core so I think it has something to do with NIS's antiphishing filter.
    The integration and overall look of the GUI. While it may stick out in XP (especially if you are using the "Fisher Price" theme) it looks right at home with Vista.
    Printer sharing. To print from my laptop I used to had to go into Networking, log into my desktop, right click on the printer icon and select "Connect". This would work until the next reboot and then I would have to repeat the process. Now OC automatically sets it up to where I do not have to do this anymore and it is like having the printer connected directly to the laptop.
    Though I have only used it to test it so far, I like the remote feature where you can turn the AV/FW on on other Circle computers if for some reason they are disabled. NIS and McAfee only reported their status.
    Start Up Cleaner. While this can be done in msconfig, OC makes it a little simplier.

    Cons: Backup feature needs more options. In it's present form it is no better than Vista's Backup. It needs options to select what you want backed up and also the option to back up to another internal hard drive (in fact Vista has this capacity).
    OC is picky about what other programs are installed on the computer. For example it does not like Adaware 2007 and SiteAdvisor. MS and McAfee are supposed to be working together to solve the SA problem (Woot works without problems, btw). Also it does not like Symantec's LiveUpdate as it sees it as a marker for another AV program. This of course is erroneous since programs like Ghost use LU. This is supposed to be addressed as well. Since the only other security programs I use is SAS Free and PrevxCSI this isn't really a concern to me but does put off other people trying OC.
    From my observations on the OC's forums, it appears that people using XP are having the most problems with OC. I haven't had one hiccup yet (knock on wood) on my Vista machines.
    More info on malware it finds in relation to where it is located on the computer. Also a daily activity summary instead of the monthly summary.

    Remember what kind of people WLOC is targeted for. People with little experience with computers or for those who rather have a "set it and forget" kind of solution. Someone coming from using NOD32 would definitely not like the limited settings. Also some people like a "quiet" solution, one that does not bug you when every little thing happens (1.x versions were notorious about this). Only time I hear from OC is when the firewall asks me if a new program is ok to access the net (like NIS it has a whitelist but not as extensive) and when malware comes knocking at the door of course.
     
  19. Nike_P

    Nike_P Registered Member

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    i trying to keep myself away from Microsoft program's.
    as far i have nod , avira i will never choose WLOC.
     
  20. rhuds13

    rhuds13 Registered Member

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    Giving OC Beta a trial now. So Far all is OK it did not have any problem with Norton Save & Restore running Live Update. I would still really like more options in the settings but can live with this if no problems occur.
     
  21. solcroft

    solcroft Registered Member

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    Symantec is also one of the better anti-Zlob performers.

    Do keep in mind, though, that Microsoft still regularly fails against new Zlob variants. It's just that they have noticeably better performance in this regard where many other vendors just seem to throw the towel.
     
  22. bigc73542

    bigc73542 Retired Moderator

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    What the heck. Giving OC 2.5 a run for the fun of it. Actually runs well on my Vista but then I guess it should since it comes from the same house. With a 244 day trial I should have time to see if I can survive not having all of the settings available in my other AV's. And then again maybe it will be a relief not messing with an AV all the time. Might have time to do a little gaming for a change :D

    bigc
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2008
  23. rhuds13

    rhuds13 Registered Member

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    Mine says 224 days? But that's ok by me so long as it works.
     
  24. bigc73542

    bigc73542 Retired Moderator

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    Your right 224 days, my bad :ninja:
     
  25. Nike_P

    Nike_P Registered Member

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    Well i belive that all antivirus out there fails to detect all Zlob variants, thats to bad:mad:
    even avira itself fails.
    am i right that still no antivirus have protection against all Zlob variants? ;
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2008
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