Microsoft Killing Windows Live OneCare
March 7, 2009 by Jason Bean
Filed under Computers
If you’ve been reading my blog for very long you’ll probably know that I’m quite the fan of Windows Live OneCare. It’s done everything I’ve needed and asked it today and has protected me with no problems whatsoever.
I’ve installed the application on every machine I have immediate control over as well as recommending it to numerous friends, relatives and clients. Everyone that I’ve recommended it to has had no problems that I’m aware of either. Since I serve as their computer support and IT department, I’m sure I would have heard about it if they did have problems.
I guess myself and everyone else in that above list then is in the minority.
As I was catching up on some old issues of PC World I noticed a story about Microsoft discontinuing development and sales of their Windows Live OneCare product in June of 2009.
It will be replaced by a stripped down and now free version of the tool code-named "Morro". Morro will have all the same antivirus and malware protection that’s found in Windows Live OneCare, but won’t have the system maintenance and backup functionality that I’ve enjoyed since I began using the product as a beta tester.
With the cancelling of Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft’s "Equipt" package of software, which included OneCare, Office Home and Student, Office Live Workspaces, Live Mail, Messenger and Live Photo, has also bit the dust.
Other Coverage on PC World
- Microsoft Kills Equipt Subscription Offering
- Will Microsoft Corner the Desktop Security Market?
- Microsoft Kills OneCare to Offer Freebie; So Long, Norton
- Microsoft Drops OneCare Antivirus Product
It is quite a shame. But hopefully, Microsoft will include some features such as the system maintenance right into Windows, and maybe back-up storage along with Mesh/SkyDrive.
Morro will just be the slimmed down version, and it might help quell competition with the main anti-virus makers along with consumer feelings of Microsoft ’selling’ technology to keep Windows secure.