Microsoft Releases Beta of Online Security Solution

Published: July 18, 2007

by Alex Woodie

Microsoft last week announced the availability of a beta version of OneCare 2.0, a new release of its all-in-one security offering for Windows XP and Windows Vista that combines antivirus, anti-spyware, and performance tools into a single bundle that updates itself automatically.

It's been a little over a year since Microsoft shipped the first release of OneCare, and about six months since Microsoft updated the service with version 1.5. Now, with version 2.0, Microsoft is concentrating on helping multi-PC households streamline the security and management of two or more PCs.

'"Our research has shown that most homes now have approximately 2.5 computers," writes Gina Narkunas, the lead product manager for OneCare, on the Windows Live OneCare Team Blog. "This means that in addition to securing and maintaining multiple PCs, consumers now need to do the extra work associated with connecting devices and securing networks."

To that end, Microsoft is including a new navigation bar that allows users to view the security and maintenance settings of all computers covered under a OneCare subscription. OneCare 2.0 also now delivers a monthly summary of key activities and recommended actions for all PCs in a local network, and includes a new printer connection feature that allows all computers on a network to share the same printer.

Other new bits added to OneCare 2.0 include the capability to secure Wi-Fi connections, a new system start-up optimizer that looks for ways to shorten PC boot time, a new online photo backup feature that requires an additional fee paid to Microsoft, and support for Windows Vista and X64 processors. No timeline was given for the final release of OneCare 2.0.

For more information on OneCare subscriptions, visit onecare.live.com/. You can register to download the OneCare 2.0 beta at http://get.live.com/betas/onecare_betas

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