Windows Live OneCare Product Details

Protect, maintain, and manage your computer with Windows Live OneCare, the always-on PC-care service from Microsoft. Working quietly in the background on your computer, OneCare protects against viruses, spyware, hackers, and other unwanted intruders. New features allow for multi-PC management to form a circle of protection, printer sharing support, and centralized backup of up to three PCs covered under the same OneCare subscription.

New OneCare features

Here is what's new on Windows Live OneCare:

• Multi-PC and home network management
• Printer sharing support
• Start time optimizer
• Proactive fixes and recommendations
• WiFi Security
• Centralized backup
• Online photo backup

All-in-one protection and maintenance

In one convenient package, Windows Live OneCare helps protect your computer, uses its optimization features to keep your PC running at its speediest, and even regularly backs up your important files:

• Protection Plus uses antivirus and antispyware scanners, a managed two-way firewall, and integrated anti-phishing technology to protect your computer from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, hackers, phishing, and other threats. It runs continuously, but you can scan individual files and folders for viruses on demand simply by right-clicking them. You can even scan attachments you receive via Windows Live Messenger or MSN Messenger.
• Performance Plus regularly defragments your hard disk, removes any unnecessary files that may clog your computer, and helps ensure important security updates from Microsoft are installed efficiently and on time.
• Backup and Restore regularly copies your important files and settings to CD, DVD, external hard disk, network drive, or other data-storage device.
• Instant Help provides online help anytime you need it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Easy to use

Windows Live OneCare is always on, and constantly communicates the status of your PC's health in the notification area of your Windows taskbar:

A green icon means your status is Good. Protection Plus features like antivirus, antispyware, and anti-phishing are up to date, and your computer is not due for a tune-up or backup. Windows Live OneCare is running in the background, monitoring your system to prevent threats from viruses and spyware.

A yellow icon means your status is Fair. Usually this means you have an action to take, such as scheduling or running a tune-up or backup or downloading a noncritical update. A yellow icon means there is no immediate threat to your system, but you should take care of the action as soon as you can to return your system to green.

A red icon means your computer is At Risk. This can happen if, for example, Windows Live OneCare is unable to update Antivirus with the latest virus definitions because of a lost Internet connection, or if the Windows Live OneCare Firewall is turned off.

Always on and automated

Continuously working against threats, Windows Live OneCare is always on, and works with Microsoft Update to help ensure your computer is up to date with the latest critical security releases from Microsoft. You can also use OneCare to simplify home network tasks such as printer sharing, and centralized backup, on up to three computers. Keep your PC safe, secure, and ‘green’ with Windows Live OneCare.

Evolves to meet your needs

Windows Live OneCare provides automatic updates and service enhancements to subscribers the moment they're released. All PCs (up to three) within the OneCare circle of protection are kept current under the same subscription, giving you the latest technologies to protect your home network against emerging threats, and no worries about different antivirus software versions.

A complete list of features and side-by-side comparisons are available on the Internet Security Suites Software Review HomePage.

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