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Microsoft officially launches paid security product ($49.95 per year)
Associated Press (excerpt) ^ | May 31, 2006 | Allison Linn

Posted on 05/30/2006 8:17:46 PM PDT by HAL9000

Excerpt -

Security software makers, the 800-pound gorilla has landed.

Microsoft Corp. was to announce Wednesday that it is releasing software that aims to better protect people who use its Windows operating system from Internet attacks. The move pits the world's largest software maker head-to-head with longtime business partners Symantec Corp., McAfee Inc. and others.

Windows Live OneCare, which will protect up to three computers for $49.95 per year, marks the latest step in Microsoft's effort over the years to make its operating system less vulnerable to crippling Internet attacks. Windows, which runs on the vast majority of personal computers, has been a near-constant target of worms, viruses and other attacks, hurting countless users and forcing Microsoft to invest heavily in patching vulnerabilities and improving flaws.

~ snip ~


(Excerpt) Read more at kgw.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: gopoundsandbill; lowqualitycrap; microsoft; onecare; spyware; viruses; windows; worms
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Fork it over - or else...
1 posted on 05/30/2006 8:17:50 PM PDT by HAL9000
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To: HAL9000

Good luck with that. I pay $0.00 for security on my home PCs and for that I get all the protection I'll ever need. MS must have some heavy marketing planned if they intend to get people to pay $50/year for something that's readily available free of charge. Of course, Symantec and McAfee already get that for their home security suites, so who knows why people are willing to pay for such things?


2 posted on 05/30/2006 8:39:39 PM PDT by Turbopilot (Nothing in the above post is or should be construed as legal research, analysis, or advice.)
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To: HAL9000

> Windows Live OneCare, which will protect up to three
> computers for $49.95 per year, marks the latest step
> in Microsoft's effort over the years to make its operating
> system less vulnerable to crippling Internet attacks.

"marks the latest step" ?
BS

It amounts to an admission that MS is entirely unable to
make secure products, but that they recognize that
running a protection racket can be immensely profitable.

Plus, MS can now lock Symantec & other out by building
in security defects that only MS knows how to fix.
I'm not sure this last bit is a joke. MS is, however.


3 posted on 05/30/2006 8:41:34 PM PDT by Boundless
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To: rdb3; chance33_98; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; Bush2000; PenguinWry; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; ...

4 posted on 05/31/2006 5:51:30 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: HAL9000

$49.95 for 3 computers is cheeper than Symantec or McAfee.


5 posted on 05/31/2006 6:00:18 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: HAL9000

http://safety.live.com/site/en-US/default.htm

this is the beta/freebie....... still available


6 posted on 05/31/2006 6:05:56 AM PDT by bitt ("guests, particularly uninvited ones, are not in a position to make demands...")
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To: ShadowAce; Swordmaker
take a look at this video i found on "you tube" :caution it has some bad language:

pretty funny

7 posted on 05/31/2006 6:18:17 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: HAL9000
Microsoft Corp. was to announce Wednesday that it is releasing software that aims to better protect people who use its Windows operating system from Internet attacks. The move pits the world's largest software maker head-to-head with longtime business partners Symantec Corp., McAfee Inc. and others.

LOL this is like a car dealer selling you the floormats, how pathetic!

8 posted on 05/31/2006 8:35:53 AM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: N3WBI3
More like charging you for locking doors and windows that roll up.

LOL this is like a car dealer selling you the floormats, how pathetic!

9 posted on 05/31/2006 9:06:23 AM PDT by Salo
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To: N3WBI3; Salo

If you guys actually knew anything about computer security, you'd realize that any anti-virus defense requires daily updates, for constantly emerging threats. You can't just install anti-virus, and be protected, without getting new updates known as "signatures" that allow the anti-virus software to protect you from threats that appeared after the original anti-virus software was installed.

That said, I think Microsoft should concentrate on securing their operating system, and assist rather than replace existing anti-virus vendors in providing daily anti-virus protection. Users need to rely on a multi-vendor, layered approach to securing their systems, not a single vendor that can be a single target for attacks.


10 posted on 05/31/2006 4:20:28 PM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Golden Eagle; Salo
If you guys actually knew anything about computer security, you'd realize that any anti-virus defense requires daily updates

Stating the obvious gets you no points with anyone here. Sun, RedHat, and Apple all make a product good enough that you don't need to subscribe to a service for an extra 50$ a year. Seems to be a task beyond Microsoft

That said, I think Microsoft should concentrate on securing their operating system

Welcome to the party, you're a little late but were happy you're finally here.

11 posted on 05/31/2006 6:23:38 PM PDT by N3WBI3 ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam)
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To: N3WBI3

To blame Microsoft for the attacks on their systems aids and abets the criminal hackers that prey on their often unsuspecting users, yet you take that position every single time. Nevermind the fact most of the onslaught comes from China and East Europe, you still always want to give the actual hackers a free pass, and blame Microsoft instead.


12 posted on 05/31/2006 7:12:15 PM PDT by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Turbopilot

NEVER get a Symantec product. The only way I can get email is to disable Norton, thus making it totally worthless. And don't even get me started about their pathetic Indian support "help". I really should have recorded some of the many calls we've made in the past month...and it's still not working.
How do I get free protection, rather than paying for NO protection?


13 posted on 05/31/2006 7:16:09 PM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: kittymyrib
Windows XP has a built-in firewall. That'll solve half of your security problems right there.

You can also get the Defender 5-1 security package for around $20.

14 posted on 05/31/2006 7:20:07 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Conservatism is moderate, it is the center, it is the middle of the road)
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To: kittymyrib
I use ZoneAlarm Free for a firewall and AVG Antivirus for virus protection. I use Microsoft's free Windows Defender for a resident antispyware program.

Additionally, I browse the web with Firefox instead of IE and use the MVPS Hosts file (which is explained at the above link). With that combination, I am fully protected against the types of threats a home or small office user might face.

I do have a collection of several other free security products and services on my computers, including Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE, Spybot Search and Destroy, Bazooka Antispyware, CWShredder, SpywareBlaster, and SpywareGuard. However, with the ZoneAlarm firewall and Firefox, I have never detected a single piece of malware on any of my PCs when scanning with antivirus or antispyware software.

I will note that I personally use only web-based email and so don't regularly encounter problems with Outlook or Outlook Express, but I manage a small office network that uses Outlook for email and Internet Explorer for web browsing. None of their computers has ever had a security problem while using the paid corporate versions of the above. AVG Antivirus includes an email scanner.

15 posted on 05/31/2006 10:16:45 PM PDT by Turbopilot (Nothing in the above post is or should be construed as legal research, analysis, or advice.)
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To: N3WBI3

Actually, it's like a car dealer selling you door locks!


16 posted on 06/01/2006 5:26:02 AM PDT by FLAMING DEATH
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To: Salo

My bad. You got there first.


17 posted on 06/01/2006 5:27:10 AM PDT by FLAMING DEATH
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To: Echo Talon


Is that you? I mean, I can't imagine anyone would find that even remotely humorous, much less suggest others actually see it.


18 posted on 06/01/2006 5:40:32 AM PDT by Malsua
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To: Golden Eagle

His position is the same as everyone's, including yours.

People who illegally hack your computer, just like those who would vandalize and steal stuff out of your car, should be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. I'm thinking 10 years in a 6x6 cell with a crappy 486, dialup internet connection, and no antivirus, antispyware, or firewall available. That'll teach 'em.

But, a manufacturer would be foolish to make a car with inadequate security devices, then charge $50 a year for working locks. Why not just BUILD this security into Windows to begin with?


19 posted on 06/01/2006 5:43:59 AM PDT by FLAMING DEATH
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To: Golden Eagle
To not blame Microsoft for leaving so many holes in their OS for criminals and script kiddies to exploit is delusional.

Microsoft sells buggy software and now wants to extort money from hapless users to remedy what shouldn't have been a problem in the first place.

20 posted on 06/01/2006 5:49:02 AM PDT by twntaipan (John McCain: Your 15 minutes of fame were up long, long ago.)
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