MS LiveOneCare was a security risk!

Hi malware fighters,

Users of Microsoft’s LiveOneCare software beta ran huge security risks, because this AV stopped no more than a mere 17% of the known malware. A software that lets through 75 to 80% means a security risk for the user. MS commented on the findings of a Dutch Consumer organization, that tested the software; that their software is improving all the time, and the results were produced by its test version of the software, which was still in beta. Link to article in Dutch: http://www.telegraaf.nl/i-mail/58648831/Surfer_in_gevaar_met_OneCare.html?p=17,2

polonus

Hi Polonus,

Did Onecare’s customers really think they were going to get a first rate product on the cheap?

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=23828.msg196392#msg196392

Microsoft could’ve put resources into its AV and anti-spyware to bring the detection rates up to the level of their competitors, but instead they decided to give their customers what they paid for: a second or third rate product.

Hi FwF,

Yes, they only positioned the broad holistic approach of LiveOneCare. Also the AV solution of CA (previously Computer Associates) had bad overall results. It only stopped 21 procent of virus in its tracks. So you could say M$ from the start ran with the wrong horse in the anti-malware race. Bogus protection apparently was better than no protection, while some said the product was good, while they checked with online scanners, or they were just lucky? Don’t know about the situation now, but it is good just to have at the back of our heads. There is a proverb for this: “Shoemaker stick to …”. Microsoft is once again constricting user choice by sheer marketing force, and when the ecology is reduced innovation will suffer. Add to that the potential danger of digital pandemics from viruses and hackers increasing by orders of magnitude and things don’t look good.

polonus

Since multi-layered protection with good counsel is better, for holistic approach, it would be good for something similar to PCPal, means, automated advisory which directs the end-users to “the cobblers”, if only it were done by a third party with fair amount of conscience. Unfortunately, Gteko is already acquired by MS.

Somehow this sounds odd in a boards owned by a company offering remarkably competitive multi-platform free anti-virus apps. It is nice to see some software are free and yet competitive. :wink:

I don’t think this is necessary in this board but, just in case, I’ll write down some malware specialist services from my list. Even Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner may not be so bad if only it is considered as just a part of protection.

Standalone free anti-spyware
AVG Anti-Spyware Free
A-squared Free
SUPERAntiSpyware Free
Ad-Aware SE Personal

Online anti-spyware scans
Trendmicro Anti-Spyware
Webroot Spy Audit
Ewido Antispyware(Proably better with AVG Anti-Spyware Free above)
A-squared (Alternative to the standalone A-squared Free above)

Standalone free anti-virus with resident scanners (Do not use with any other anti-virus with a resident scanner)
AVG Anti-virus Free
AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic (No E-mail Protection)

Standalone free anti-virus
BitDefender Free Edition (No Resident Protection)
ClamWinPortable (Portable)

Online anti-virus scans
Kspersky Online Scanner
TrendMicro Housecall
TrendMicro Housecall (java version)
Symantec Secrutiy Check
McAfee Secruity
F-Secure Online Scanner
Panda ActiveScan
Authentium Free Online Virus Scan
eTrust Antivirus Web Scanner
BitDefender Online Scanner (Alternative to the standalone BitDefender Free Edition above)

Hi Rumpelstiltskin,

Well this was meant as info for people that came here for a general orientation. The regular visitors of this board more or less know what the anti-malware landscape is about, and in which way to protect a platform from malware infection. We also have newbies, that are better off hearing the story as it is from the start, at least having an opportunity to form an opinion.
The uneducated masses are those that keep the malware going around. The score of infected (zombie) machines must be beyond believe. How many people know about those easy measurements they can take to turn a dangerous as default machine into a much more secure machine (*without admin rights, safeXP,
updated anti-malware programs, avoid running scripts, safe browsing etc.).
There really are a lot of people out there that should not be out on the Internet in the first place (comparing it to normal road conditions).

polonus

Hi, polonus,
…Obviously, I wasn’t thinking of the possibility of being called by name when I registered my account. :stuck_out_tongue:

Yes, the list is for people who are attracted to this thread by your bit sensational topic title. However, I wonder if “the uneducated masses” is a proper way to describe them although I agree with most of your points.

In fact, immediately after one of my family members’ friend’s machine was infected, the family member began to get a few spams in daily basis. Since I couldn’t find any symptom of infection on the machine of my family member, apparently, the address book of the infected machine was harvested. The friend is hardly uneducated but his knowledge of technical area is a different story… Of course, it didn’t harm their long-term friendship but I needed to ask Tom to watch out for daily spams. Educated or not, there must be many innocent people on the net, who are helping illegal activities without knowing. :frowning:

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Polonus already sending you one of these great virus software packages…it’s in the mail ;D
i wouldn’t use it to protect my lawnmower ::slight_smile:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8180407&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01139&id=1162595706109

To Rumpelstiltskin,

Sorry when I talked in general about the “uneducated”, I did not mean you or anyone in particular. All those that land onto this forum get well informed whenever they decide to come here more often. It was my sort of ironic way of saying, that there are a lot of people out there, that are not interested in security one bit, do not update AV or use their comps without any AV or firewall, also people that use their machines as it came out of the box, and ask the repair man if the machine is fully corrupted by malware or other undesirable programs or code. Then they decide to buy a new one. A money fountain for third parties.
Well they do not have to know what goes on under the hood, but in comparison when I decide to enter the road with a vehicle without a driving license, without proper inches on the tires, and they take me and my car from the road, I am to blame. Computer owners can put everyone else at risk, and I am not to reckon them amongst the “uneducated masses”???
I am just being friendly. I started out that way once, and had to learn the hard way, 30% of my OS vanished from one major malware infection. Then I swore "Not that easy are “they” going to get at me again, went to join the nice people at Avast Webforum, and since I have been safe and secure with two tracking cookies to my name, that have been deleted. That is why I do it, that is why I owe the Avast team for getting me where I am to-day, a computer user that got an informed decision on malware in general, and eventually a malware fighter.
I hope Rumpelstiltskin that this place will bring you a bit of inspiration like I had.

polonus

Polonus, I agreed with the recognition of the situation but only disagreed with the reference. Generally speaking, if we refer someone or a group in a sarcastic or patronizing way, it usually makes it difficult for him/them to listen to our words. There is something more than clever diplomatic tact or psychological trick in this. In fact, talking of education, one of the best ironies I have ever read/heard is really ancient: The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. There is something in common with what a computer-literate once said to me, “My knowledge may be better than yours but I am definitely not the best and if you think you are the best, you are unlikely the one. This is what you should always keep in your mind when on-line.”

In fact, I have already been “inspired” by a thread in another board, where I learned that a bull-headed persistence pays at times. :wink:

Nowadays, we come on-line driven by various needs. For better of worse, the net is getting more and more similar to our real world, reflecting many more aspects of our lives. As you said, here seems to be quite a crossroad where various people from various backgrounds passing through. Why should we expect one-way teaching process when technologies allow us interactive communication?

Hi Rumpelstiltskin,

Allthough your nick stays a big mystery to me, I could agree with your views in many aspects of it. The more one knows, the more there is one does not seem to know, it is the prerogative of the wise. Good to have you here on this webforum.

polonus

It’s working, then. When one of my friends showed me his personal web site, I was surprised to see his personal phone number. I advised him to be more “mysterious” on the net. In any case, thank you for the warm welcome.

At least OneCare users will know they are protected against malware exploiting the latest Windows vulnerabilities:

http://www.computershopper.co.uk/?news/news_story.php?id=103922

::slight_smile:

EDIT: A direct link:

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/shopper/news/104769/microsoft-fences-off-zeroday-word-flaw-ahead-of-rivals.html