Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner

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Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner

Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner beta
Developer:	Microsoft
Latest release:	1.2.969 / 08/14/2006
OS:	Microsoft Windows
Use:	Anti-virus, Spyware, Malware
License:	Proprietary
Website:	Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner

Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner is an online scanning and health service to help get rid of viruses, spyware, malware, and other threats. It is a free web service that is part of Windows Live.

1 Overview
2 Limits
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Overview

Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner offers a free online scanning and protection from threats. The Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner must be downloaded and installed to your computer to scan your computer. The "Full Service Scan" looks for common PC health issues such as viruses, computer performance, and open network ports. It claims to search and remove viruses, to improve a computer's performance, and to get rid of junk on the PC's hard disk. The user can choose between a "Full Scan" (which can be customized) or a "Quick Scan".

The "Full Scan" scans for viruses (comprehensive scan, quick scan, or quick scan), hard disk performance (Disk fragmentation scan and/or Desk cleanup scan) and network safety (open port scan). The "Quick Scan" only scans for viruses, only on specific areas on the computer. The quick scan is faster than the full scan.^[1]

The service also provides a virus database, information about online threats and general computer security documentation and tools. In the future , microsoft could charge a fee for this service .[1].

[edit] Limits

The virus scanner on the Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner site runs a scan of the user's computer only when the site is visited. It does not run periodic scans of the system, and does not provide features to prevent viruses from infecting the computer at the time, or thereafter. It simply claims to remove detected infections.