Windows OneCare Security Suite

[UsandThem]

Includes one year of service for up to three PC's.

I know it isn't the best antivirus/firewall/anti-spyware suite on the market, but $12.99 to protect mom's and grannie's PC is not too bad IMO.

$32.99 (original price) - $20.00 Instant rebate = $12.99

 

[BPB]

Thanks. I just happen to have three PC's that need AV and such. The fourth already has the latest Zone Alarm Security Suite.

 

[mdbound]

I got this just for that exact purpose for $20 AR a while ago. I installed it on one computer and in the end uninstalled, never having installed it on my parents computer because I think they would have been too confused. The installation is annoying and feature set pretty limited. Additionally, Windows XP SP2 doesn't recognize this as a valid anti-virus program, and the firewall causes problems with SP2's firewall. Lastly, the spyware part is still Defender beta....and is not integrated into the program.

Pros: Cheap, all-inclusive suite, minimal resource hog per a recent PC World or PC Mag (I forgot which) test.
Cons: Sux overall, poor implementation and integration with Windows, esp consider it was made by Microsoft.

Of course, this is all IMHO.

MD.

 

[HankReardenJr]

LINK

*The $20.00 manufacturer's coupon will be automatically deducted at checkout.** No coupon number is needed.

 

[codeyf]

Originally posted by: mdbound


I got this just for that exact purpose for $20 AR a while ago. I installed it on one computer and in the end uninstalled, never having installed it on my parents computer because I think they would have been too confused. The installation is annoying and feature set pretty limited. Additionally, Windows XP SP2 doesn't recognize this as a valid anti-virus program, and the firewall causes problems with SP2's firewall. Lastly, the spyware part is still Defender beta....and is not integrated into the program.

Pros: Cheap, all-inclusive suite, minimal resource hog per a recent PC World or PC Mag (I forgot which) test.
Cons: Sux overall, poor implementation and integration with Windows, esp consider it was made by Microsoft.

Of course, this is all IMHO.

MD.

Some good points here. I got it at CC when it came out and they had it on special for $9.99. I'm considering just going back to AVG for my AV. Between my router and windows firewalls, this thing is completely seperate. Tired of all the allow/block notices I get every time I use a new app.

 

[GeezerMan]

I got it for 20.00 last month. I like it. I like the tuneup that defrags, deletes temp files, runs a virus scan per a schedule you set up.I also run spybot antispy. I don't think spybot has found anything that Defender missed yet. I had no problems integrating it into XP. Thumbs up from me.

 

[Hook]

Originally posted by: codeyf

Tired of all the allow/block notices I get every time I use a new app.

You can turn off the notices that pop up for most things. That is how I set it up on my wife's and parents PCs so that they wouldn't be confused by things popping up all the time.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Originally posted by: mdbound


I got this just for that exact purpose for $20 AR a while ago. I installed it on one computer and in the end uninstalled, never having installed it on my parents computer because I think they would have been too confused. The installation is annoying and feature set pretty limited. Additionally, Windows XP SP2 doesn't recognize this as a valid anti-virus program, and the firewall causes problems with SP2's firewall. Lastly, the spyware part is still Defender beta....and is not integrated into the program.

Pros: Cheap, all-inclusive suite, minimal resource hog per a recent PC World or PC Mag (I forgot which) test.
Cons: Sux overall, poor implementation and integration with Windows, esp consider it was made by Microsoft.

Of course, this is all IMHO.

MD.

Just an FYI - SP2 firewall should be DISABLED while using a third party firewall. It also should recongnize it as a legit A/V.

 

[Hook]

Originally posted by: mdbound


The installation is annoying and feature set pretty limited. Additionally, Windows XP SP2 doesn't recognize this as a valid anti-virus program, and the firewall causes problems with SP2's firewall. Lastly, the spyware part is still Defender beta....and is not integrated into the program.

I actually think it has more features than the average security suite; it includes an automated backup that allows scheduling backups to external drives. It also will display details about all the processes that start with Windows and what is currently running and allows you to disable them or remove them from being automatically launched (came in handy when I was trying to get rid of Nvidia's taskbar application).

Also, Defender is integrated into the main OneCare window (you probably need to allow both programs to update themselves to get the integration). The Defender status displays along with all the other stats on the OneCare main screen.

On the downside, I do have one computer out of the 5 I've put it on so far that won't allow Outlook to be added to the allowed programs to access the internet. I'm thinking that it is being caused by left-overs of Norton still on the system.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Here is my take on One Care, minireview if you will:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=33&threadid=1931178&enterthread=y

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
Here is my take on One Care, minireview if you will:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=33&threadid=1931178&enterthread=y

Schad,
I completely agree with your "mini review". Well done!
What I like most about the program is that it is fairly comprehensive and simple to use. I have it running on several machines and it is nearly a set-it-and-forget-it deal.

 

[HoosierDadE]

I bought 3 when they were $9 each. Don't intend to use them for nearly a year when the Trend Micro expires on our 3 PCs.

Why did I buy 3 and why so in advance? Yes, I know one copy covers 3 PCs. But unlike Norton, McAfee, Trend, et al, you aren't buying programs that get replaced every year. Buy Norton 2006 today for future use, and in 2008 you will be running software 3 years/versions old. With Live, you get the latest and greatest software when you install/activate it. Notice the packaging doesn't say "One Care 2006". So in 2007, 2008 and 2009, when I install the ones I bought in 2006 it should be just like the ones MS is "selling" then.

So I'm covered for all 3 PCs for 3 years with the latest programs as well as the latest definitions. Yeah, I know you can get the other big name AVs for free, but I don't need the hassles of 18 rebates (usually 2 per product, per PC per year) and often the rebates are one per household. I suspect the other brands will have to do the same thing before long, but even if they do, I'm still no worse off.

 

[jloor]

Blah, i like unbundled packages and I feel Eset Nod32 does an excellent job as an AV. No hot deal there, but you get what you pay for I guess. Lowest system resources out of any AV engine to date.

 

[intogamer]

I'd buy it... but i'll wait until it gets lower
(been running bare no protection for a long time)

I like the built in XP HUI

 

[azoomee]

Just noticed that Comcast gives you McAfee firewall and antivirus for free if you have their service.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: azoomee
Just noticed that Comcast gives you McAfee firewall and antivirus for free if you have their service.

McAfee = bloatware + inferior detection rates :thumbsdown:

 

[Devistater]

This is still going on. I just bought this yesterday and thought it was a pretty good deal. I stumbled acrosss it at costco by accident (I took a copy that said priced $33 up to register and they put in a $20 coupon automatically). I was going to post about it here, but its woulda been a repost so I'll bump instead