Windows OneCare
Microsoft Announces Plans for No-Cost Consumer Security Offering
To address the growing need for a PC security solution tailored to the demands of emerging markets, smaller PC form factors and rapid increases in the incidence of malware, Microsoft Corp. plans to offer a new consumer security offering focused on core anti-malware protection.
Code-named “Morro,” this streamlined solution will be available in the second half of 2009 and will provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans. This new solution, to be offered at no charge to consumers, will be architected for a smaller footprint that will use fewer computing resources, making it ideal for low-bandwidth scenarios or less powerful PCs. As part of Microsoft’s move to focus on this simplified offering, the company also announced today that it will discontinue retail sales of its Windows Live OneCare subscription service effective June 30, 2009.
“Customers around the world have told us that they need comprehensive, ongoing protection from new and existing threats, and we take that concern seriously,” said Amy Barzdukas, senior director of product management for the Online Services and Windows Division at Microsoft. “This new, no-cost offering will give us the ability to protect an even greater number of consumers, especially in markets where the growth of new PC purchases is outpaced only by the growth of malware.”
Source- Microsoft Press Release
Windows Live OneCare 3.0 coming live to MU/WSUS
In the next few weeks, we are adding a new product family to your WSUS server – Windows Live OneCare V3.0. These product updates for Windows Live OneCare are applicable for the V3.0 release. For additional information on Windows Live OneCare see http://onecare.live.com/. The Windows Live OneCare V3.0 category will include updates for the following categories: Definition updates. These updates will be available through the Microsoft Update Site, making it available (depending on your settings ) via Automatic Update, and to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).
These updates are currently for pre-release validation only; WSUS admins do not need to approve any content now; Windows Live OneCare V2.5 customers are not affected by these updates. Once the OneCare V3.0 public beta is released, WSUS admins may choose to approve the updates if you have the beta installed on your network. Additionally, Windows Live OneCare V3.0 updates will be available from the Microsoft Update Catalog http://catalog.update.microsoft.com.
Source- Technet Blog
Windows Live One Care for Servers
Windows Live OneCare for Server:
http://get.live.com/onecare/server
Items to keep in mind regarding the "One Care for Server + Site license"
If you install it on the workstations, the product will install it’s own firewall and override the group policy settings for SBS 2008. While SBS 2008 ships with a trial version (120 days) of the Server a/v, they don’t ship any workstation versions and rightly so. It’s really geared toward a "workgroup" setup and not a true domain.
While they say "a domain" .. be careful here. I’m not convinced that this is good for our domains.
Windows Live OneCare for Server small business network protection:
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/server/smallbizprotect.htm
Windows Live OneCare for Server System Requirements:
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/server/sysreq.htm 
Source- MSMVP’s Blog
New Alliances Continue Momentum for Windows Live OneCare
To address the growing security and management needs of today’s new PC user, Microsoft Corp. is working with 11 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Sony Corporation of America and Toshiba Asia Pacific to preinstall trial subscriptions of Windows Live OneCare on select new PCs across North America, Europe and Asia. Windows Live OneCare provides all-in-one security and anti-malware protection for consumers and small businesses along with tools that automate and simplify PC management and performance.
“Microsoft and Sony share the same goal of helping our customers get the most from their PC experience,” said Xavier Lauwaert of VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics. “Through this alliance, Windows Live OneCare will provide our customers with a simple solution to help them maintain and secure their new PC.”
Source- Microsoft Press Release
Windows Live OneCare 2.5 beta ending, perpetual beta begins
According to a source of mine, following the official release of the final version of Windows Live OneCare 2.5, Microsoft sent out a flurry of e-mails to its testers. First off, the software giant reminded its testers that the 2.5 Beta will expire on July 31, 2008, after which OneCare will no longer keep itself up to date (both virus definitions and the actual software). Testers are urged to uninstall the beta and buy a full subscription, which is offered to them at a discounted $24.95 a year for up to three PCs, until July 31, 2008.
With the beta wrapping up, Microsoft quickly sent out another e-mail to certain testers asking if they wanted to continue to test new versions of the software. If the answer was yes, Microsoft responded with a confirmation and then the next day, e-mailed that tester the details of the Windows Live OneCare Perpetual Beta program, an invite-only group.
Source: arstechnica
Windows Live OneCare 2.5 Now Available
Windows Live OneCare 2.5 is now available and I’ve got some information for both new and existing Windows Live OneCare subscribers regarding the Windows Live OneCare 2.5 release I’d like to share.
Beginning last week (July 1st to be exact) - existing Windows Live OneCare users (paid subscribers) began automatically receiving Windows Live OneCare 2.5. The Windows Live OneCare website also began offering Windows Live OneCare 2.5 for new users as well. If you are a Windows Live OneCare subscriber and have not yet been automatically updated, you can either wait until the update occurs or download the new version from the Windows Live OneCare website.
NOTE: If you choose not to wait for the automatic update to occur and want to go ahead and “manually” update yourself via downloading the new version off the Windows Live OneCare website - you will need to uninstall the previous version first before Windows Live OneCare 2.5 will install. I had not been automatically upgraded so I chose to install manually on 1 of my PCs but the others were automatically updated soon after.
Source- WindowsVistaBlog
Windows Live OneCare 2.5 Beta Released
A beta release of Windows Live OneCare 2.5, Microsoft’s automated security suite for home users and small businesses, is available for testing from the Microsoft Connect Web site. Microsoft stated through its blog that there is little apparent difference between the beta and standard versions.
Windows Live OneCare delivers a service that includes overall security, antivirus and firewall protection, roughly priced at $49.95 per year. It can run on as many as three computers per license, according to Microsoft’s FAQ. It’s not meant for the enterprise as Microsoft has a whole suite of security solutions under its Forefront brand for that, including the recently released Stirling beta.
Servers, including Microsoft Small Business Server, currently aren’t protected by Window Live OneCare, Microsoft’s FAQ explained. However, server protection capability appears to be on the horizon. Blogger Paul Thurrott described a trial in which a small group of private beta testers have been invited to test a combination of Windows Live OneCare for Server and Microsoft Small Business Server 2008.
Full story: ENT Magazine
Homepage: Microsoft Connect
Microsoft Windows Live OneCare 2.0.2284.28
This is the updated version of the previously released Windows Live one care Beta 2,so If U haven’t downloaded the previous version than be sure to download this to keep Ur windows safe from viruses.
This new version also establishes a foundation to better address the needs of small businesses. Many small businesses need to protect and maintain a number of PCs but may not have the resources for extensive onsite IT support. To help solve this problem, we added centralized backup to OneCare so local back up on a small business network is a simple step instead of a time consuming hassle.
Here’s a quick overview of the new features we’ve added to OneCare version 2.0 to help keep users’ PCs and networks safe, reliable and performing well:
- Multi-PC and home network management.
- Printer sharing support.
- Start-time optimizer.
- Proactive fixes and recommendations.
- Monthly reports.
- Centralized backup.
- Online photo backup.
