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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Fantastic!
I just want to say I have had this since it first came out never, ever had problems we have it on our desktop in our office and on my laptop computer as well we are running operating system vista now and when we first got this program we had xp.
But since then got new computers running the newest operating system.
We had MCcaffee we had Norton the problems we had is when we refomated our systems or computer crashed was reinstalling those and when we called customer service they told us we had to repurchase a new software.
Don't know about you but that can be pricey after a bit so this is why I love this program Windows Live OneCare is easy and hassle free.
Rating: 
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A Good Entry into the Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware Market
Windows Live OneCare (O-C) is a solid attempt by Microsoft (MSFT) to enter into the anti-virus/anti-spyware market. I recommend it.
It is a "simplistic" product -- though, not in a negative way. Its interface is clear and informative, and is not filled with all sorts of extraneous information that might be unnecessary or confusing to the common user. Settings for O-C's various tasks can be easily handled through a pop-up Settings panel, which is standard procedure for many Windows programs. In fact, for anyone who has already been using Windows Defender, MSFT's free anti-spyware device, the O-C interface should feel comfortably familiar.
It is also a very "quiet" product with no multiple alerts or virus updates like other programs that, while helping protect one's computer, also slow down and/or interrupt the computer user. O-C, on the other hand, is like a nice Guest: working quietly in the background; asking politely and reasonably when something should be blocked or allowed; updating virus definitions without fanfare; discreetly saying when it's scanning the computer; and so forth. I love it!
Is O-C overpriced? Yes. For what it does; for what it does not do; for the (relatively minor) chinks in its armor -- MSFT should be pricing this more realistically. There are, however, competitive offers out there for the person who looks, especially if one takes advantage of rebates.
I have structured this review based on the tabs found in the O-C Settings Panel. That provides an accurate overview of what the product does.
FIREWALL
O-C offers a two-way firewall with two settings: "Home/Work" and "Public." The first setting is best chosen if one intends to opt for the networking capability of O-C. Otherwise, if someone only has one computer which he or she never intends to hook up to a network, then the "Public" firewall setting is probably the best choice: It offers extra safeguards vis-à-vis sharing between computers.
Is the O-C firewall just a re-tread of the firewalls that one can already find with the XP and Vista operating systems? No, the O-C firewall is significantly better, offering more security than either of the firewalls provided by XP or Vista. In fact, from what I understand, the software disables the Windows firewall so that it can superimpose O-C's (better) product.
I've had experience with other firewall programs that had all the "bells and whistles": a double-firewall; operating system firewall; "intelligent" monitoring of my computer habits. While I appreciated the security benefits, the programs were also intrusive and confusing. O-C simply does what it does--and, does it well--in the background. If there is a question about a program running something, a large pop-up window opens asking if O-C should: allow the program; block the program; or, block now and ask later. These are pretty standard options.
O-C will also change the firewall settings automatically and accordingly if it detects that the computer has changed locations from a "Home/Work" (safe) environment to a "Public" (less safe) environment.
TUNE-UP
Tune-Up does the following: It compresses old files as well as clears out unnecessary, temporary ones. It runs the Disk Defragmenter tool. It scans the computer for viruses and spyware. It backs up any changed files to a particular location. Finally, it checks for any high-priority updates for the computer.
Unnecessary files include: Internet files; cookies; applets; Recycle Bin; etc. However, there is a catch. O-C will do all of this. But, to get the full effect of the tool one must first go into Disk Clean-Up on one's OS; select all of the files and whatnot that one wants to be compressed or deleted; and, then run the Clean-Up tool oneself. Doing this will allow the settings to "take" in O-C so that it will follow those settings automatically everytime it runs the Tune-Up tool. Otherwise, you might find that Tune-Up hasn't been cleaning out the Recycle Bin, even though MSFT's information says that it should have been! This needs to be clarified or fixed in future versions.
Defragmenter can be found and run on any recent Windows OS. So, no "wow" factor there. I'm not sure why the Error-Checking tool for Drive C was not included as well in the package of options for Tune-Up. That would have been helpful.
Tune-Up also allows one to choose--easily; clearly--from a list of programs which of those programs will be allowed to start up when the computer is booted. No more having to search around in a program's Options panel in order to find and de-select that little box which says: "Begin automatically at Start-Up." This is a definite plus.
BACKUP
I have not used this option extensively yet; I've only tinkered around with it. Nevertheless, from what I can tell, configuring Backup is relatively easy. As long as one tells O-C to which USB port to back up files and as long as one plugs an external hard drive or flash drive into that USB port, the tool will run fine.
Beware, however! When Backup goes through the motions of locating changed files that need to be backed up, it just dumps them all into one "pile" without organizing them according to folder, location, type, etc. This list of files can be confusing and/or frustrating. O-C's overriding concern seems to be making sure that important files are backed up in the first place. Therefore, some of the "niceties" (if you will) have been minimized. Frankly, as long as it backs up important files properly, then I don't really much care how it does it. But, to some other people, this might matter.
O-C also offers an "Online Photo Backup" service which means that, for a fee ($50), MSFT will back up one's photographs to another secure, on-line location. Although MSFT was previously offering 10 GB of space--an insult, given what was being offered by the Competition--the size of space allotted has now been increased to 50 GB. In my opinion, the service is just not worth the money . . . plus tax!
VIRUSES & SPYWARE
The first iteration of O-C was roundly heckled by the computer security community--and, rightly so--because the product actually came in LAST amongst other security products during tests of its ability to detect viruses and whatnot. In other words, MSFT's own anti-virus product couldn't detect many (ca. 20%) of the viruses/malware that had been tailor-made for its OS!
But, that was then and this is 2.0. Testing by reputable outfits, like AV Comparatives in Austria (www.av-comparatives.org), shows that O-C is now as good as anything else out there at detecting viruses and worms, and handles itself admirably against Trojans. Script viruses are a problem for O-C (only 84% detected). MSFT should address that in future versions.
O-C provides real-time monitoring in the background. It can be configured to look not only for viruses and spyware, but also for "virus-like" activity on one's computer. (I'm not exactly sure what the latter description means. Presumably, malware, Trojans, and the like.) Regular scans of the computer can be scheduled easily from the panel--though, only in half-hour increments. So, one would have to choose either 6 P.M. or 6:30 P.M. for a virus scan, rather than (say) 6:15 or 6:45. That might annoy some people; but, I didn't mind.
Isn't this the same thing as the free tool, Windows Defender, which also scans for spyware and is included with Windows Vista? No. Like the firewall issue, O-C's anti-spyware program has been significantly beefed up. In fact, Defender on Vista will be disabled by O-C so that the latter can work without conflicts.
O-C offers to do either a Quick Scan; Full-System Scan; or, Custom Scan. These are pretty standard choices in most security software. O-C seems to be pre-set to do a Quick Scan when it performs its regularly-scheduled scan . . . which is fine. (I suspect this because it finishes so quickly in comparison to a full-system scan) However, Full-System Scan would have been a better default, given that the product might be set to scan just once per week.
MSFT's Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) does not seem to be included with O-C . . . and, that is unfortunate. There's no reason why this important tool could not have been integrated into O-C with regular monthly updates. MSFT already releases an updated version of the tool to Windows OS's on a monthly basis.
One quibble: MSFT advertises that O-C protects users from Identity Theft. By that, they mean that the product monitors whether the Phishing Filter is turned "on" or "off" on Internet Explorer. According to that logic, I could claim that my right index finger protects me from Identity Theft by turning on the filter. Utter nonsense, bordering on deceptive.
PRINTER SHARING
This is helpful for those who will be utilizing O-C within a "circle" of computers. Since I do not have a network of computers, however, I have had no need to use this. I defer to other reviewers on this feature.
LOGGING
This is a helpful feature to create a Support Log for one's computer activity and performance, just in case there might be a problem that a MSFT technician needs to look at. It's doubtful that anyone would need to use this much, if at all--but, a nice touch nonetheless.
Furthermore, O-C offers the option of creating a "Monthly Report" so that it can obediently give its owner an update of just what it has been doing all those past thirty days. Appreciated. Step lively, OneCare!
Rating: -
Surprisingly good value MS product - You can do it, MS.
In general I do not like MS products. Most people probably agree. However, fortunately or unfortunately, this is the real exception. This one has key four elements as a good security software; 1)detection power, 2)light operation, 3)intergration, and 4)low cost subscription.
Annual sub cost is $50 per 3 users, lower than $40 per 1 user of McAfee, Symantec, and Trend. Zone Alarm and BitDefender are $20 and $22 per one user and so close but still OneCare is the best value.
Detection power is not at the best but clearly above the average and probably in the top quintile. The intergration with Vista is good. It has a regular back-up and tuning program as well, which I found very useful to protect pictures and videos from my camera.
Cost per user account is getting more important, as more and more poeple started to install virtual PC 2007 and use multiple OS on a single PC and then found security software for EACH OS is required.
If you are concerned about future sub cost and looking for the best product with a good balance, this is it.
Rating: 
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Windows live onecare
Decent multi computer anti virus system. Seems a little like defender, in that the first time it scans, it seems to find things and doesn't find any problems after that (although that is what it's for).
having back up, anti virus, anti spy ware and defrag all in one has merits.
Rating: -
Solid, Reliable, Smooth Product
I've been using this ever since it came out. Easy to install, works well, has kept all 3 of my house computers free of invasions and viruses. It doesn't use up much resources and isn't overly intrusive, although it does tend to get insistent if you ignore its requests to update it and allow Microsoft Windows/IE updates in as well. Best thing about it---you can install it on up to 3 computers.
Hint: Instead of renewing the virus protection annually, just buy a completely new version of the software, uninstall the old and then install the new---it's cheaper!
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