Is Windows Live OneCare security scanner of any use

[lickdafun]

hello i have a question related to the Windows Live OneCare security scanner. i have to install it but before i want to know if is it any good against malware spybots etc. because i have already installed it and tried it but it takes ages for it to completely finish scanning the drives and i do not mind that if it does a good work. it takes about 8 hours for a complete scan of the whole desktop to be scanned. so what is your advice on this.

[Amie]

there are many other anti-virus scanners out there why are you stuck with this one. if you are using a free version you will probably be good with out of it as windows has discontinued the careone security scanner ages ago so i do not think that there will be any updates avaliable on it any time soon and neither does it provides any protection against new threats. which i think what is the whole point of installing an security scanner.

[HiSpeed]

if you need a security scanner from Microsoft you should try installing the Microsoft Security Essentials as it is freely avaliable from the Microsoft web site Microsoft.com/en-in/security_essentials/default.aspx if you want to read or know more about it you can go to the link and read up the advantages and features on the software. there are many more options for the same. if you want to you can also try the BitDefender Security 2011. just saying it is your call.

[BiGMaCHiNe]

the BitDefender Security 2011 uses a very smart way of keeping the desktop/laptop secured. there are many setting avaliable in the BitDefender which are highly customizable but i recommend it if only you are up to managing each of its setting and only if you know a little some thing about security. because the custom settings avaliable there are a pain if you are not found of using it. it will almost block every activity happening on your machine and ask for permission for each and every one of them. so only use it if you are looking for good security and lots of harassment from your antivirus.

[Connect_Me]

you should try using any of the paid antivirus, there are many available out there. i use Kaspersky Antivirus for my desktop security as it provides an all round protection. and the Kaspersky labs makes sure that the database is up to date and releases data base updates every day. so i am quite happy with the antivirus and recommend it for you. oh and one more thing it has this nasty habit of deleting every infacted file with out asking for example if you connect a pen drive to the desktop it automatically deletes all the infected files there which in some cases means emptying the whole pen drive exactly when you connect it.

[teenQ]

yup you should try McAfee—Antivirus i purchased a copy a while ago and have been using it ever since. there are no issues with it at all. all the custom setting are also working alright and you need not make any changes there. the anti virus asks your permition before deleting or for quarantine of any infected file which it encounters so no such problem there and also updates avaliable here every day. so i think you should definitely go for this.