Free Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware & Anti-Malware suite from Microsoft: Microsoft Security Essentials

Shawn Weisfeld — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:40:32 GMT

In the past I have blogged about VIPRE from Sunbelt Software (http://www.drowningintechnicaldebt.com/ShawnWeisfeld/archive/0001/01/01/vipre-from-sunbelt-software.aspx) and Windows Live OneCare (http://www.drowningintechnicaldebt.com/ShawnWeisfeld/archive/0001/01/01/windows-live-onecare.aspx). I still like VIPRE as it is the most cost effective solution I have found to protect servers (at the time of this writing they are charging $50 for a site license for there product, I have been hard pressed to find anti-virus that will run on Server 2003/Server 2008 for that price). On the other hand in Microsoft infinite wisdom they decided to discontinue OneCare, I really liked that product, as it made it dirt simple for the home user to not only protect there computer but to also back it up and share resources like printers and the like. Now that some of those features are baked right into Win 7 (i.e. backup (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/1838/using-backup-and-restore-in-windows-7/), share resources (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/homegroup.aspx)), I guess Microsoft decided they should rebrand the anti-virus and give that away, I like free. Here enters a new product Microsoft Security Essentials a Free Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware & Anti-Malware suite. You can get it here http://www.microsoft.com/SECURITY_ESSENTIALS/. The only drawback, IMHO, is that the “maintenance” tasks in OneCare were all grouped in one place, the new approach seems a bit disconnected.

BONUS Tip: If you think you are already infected, or just want a second opinion try the online “Windows Live safety scanner” http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.aspx. I used this the other day on a computer that my brother infected with something and it cleaned it right up.

Restoring Windows One Live Care Backups

sweisfeld — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:50:35 GMT

Having trouble getting Windows One Live Care to recognize your backup? Try this. Connect the backup to another computer on your network and share out the drive. When the backup is local (i.e. connected directly to the computer) One Care is picky as to the format of the disk, location of the files, etc. However if the backup is attached over a network One Care is allot more flexible.

On another related note the article in the KB titled “Restore files on a computer without Windows Live OneCare installed” is pure JUNK!!! If the goal is to restore WITHOUT OneCare installed then why does step 2 say “start the Windows Live OneCare Restore program”. How are you supposed to start it if it is not installed. ARGG!!!

I know that they plan on discontinuing OneCare (http://windowsonecare.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C29701F38A601141!10418.entry) however it would be nice to see something that would allow you to restore your backups that did not require an install. Ideally this would be included in the backup. The biggest problem with any of these tools is that the backups chop things up and compress them and you need to search the internet to find a tool to put humpty dumpty back together again. It would be nice if the tool was part of the backup. Kind of like a self extracting zip file.

Ok, I will get off my soap box now. . . .