To date, Windows Live has the following services:

1. Live.com serves as the personalized starting point for Windows Live services, powered by cutting-edge technologies such as RSS and Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX). Live.com offers complete choice and customization for individuals who want quick access to the people and information they care about most.

2. Windows Live Mail is a new, global Web e-mail service, built from the ground up to be faster, safer and simpler. Existing MSN Hotmail users will be able to seamlessly upgrade to the new service.

3. Windows Live Safety Center is a Web site where users can scan for and remove viruses from their PC on demand.

4. Windows Live Favorites is a service that enables individuals to access their Microsoft Internet Explorer and MSN Explorer favorites from any PC that's online.

5. Windows Live Search Mobile allow users to use their Web-enabled mobile device to search the Web for almost anything they're looking for, just like on a PC.

6. Windows OneCare Live is a previously announced PC health subscription that helps protect and maintain PCs via an integrated service that includes anti-virus, firewall, PC maintenance, and data backup and restore capability.

It also has Live Jobs, Xbox Live and Jobs Blog.  Soon to come are Windows Live Messenger which brings people together via instant messaging, file and photo sharing, PC-based calling, and more; Microsoft Office Live a set of affordable business productivity services.  Microsoft will also have its own ad program called adCenter to counter Google's adSense program. 

The change in Microsoft strategy is driven by the success of Google and Yahoo and the pervasiveness of broadband and wireless connectivity that has driven higher demands for more personalized services as well as broader acceptance of software-based services.

Among all the online services, today we focussed on Windows OneCare Live since this is one product that sets Microsoft head-on with security firms like Symantec, Sophos, CA, TrendMicro and McAfee.  OneCare Live is the end product of Microsoft's acquisition of anti-virus firm GeCad Software, and anti-spyware firms Giant and Sybari.  An enterprise desktop version to be called Microsoft Client Protection is expected to be available next year.

Windows OneCare Live is an automatically self-updating PC health service that runs quietly in the background. It helps give you persistent protection against viruses, hackers, and other threats, and helps keep your PC tuned up and your important documents backed up.  It runs quietly in the background, providing anti-virus and firewall protection; updates itself to help users keep ahead of the latest threats; runs regular PC tune ups; provides one-click solutions to most problems; makes back-ups easily; lets users to see the status of their system at a glance.

The software currently only supports Windows XP Service Pack 2 and requires users to remove competing applications before installation.  Currently the software is available for free during the testing period, but Microsoft plans to charge a fee for the service once a final version is released.  There are rumors that Spyware Doctor from PC Tools will soon be incorporated into Microsoft OneCare Live as well.  Microsoft said 15,000 customers are already using the service.

Security issues has been the perennial problem of Microsoft.  Reports of product flaws and security attacks have been reported affecting different Microsoft products.  Products like SQL Server, Exchange, NT, Windows Server, Windows XP, Media Player, Word, Jet Database Engine, and the most popular of them all - Internet Explorer.  According to security alerts aggregator Secunia Inc., there have been 70 advisories posted for IE flaws since 2003. Almost 30 percent of those remain unpatch.  A discouraging number if you ask me.

Just recently, a bug in Internet Explorer was discovered that allow hackers to scan hard drives using Google Desktop.  Another is the discovery of malware (malicious software) exploiting an unpatch IE security vulnerability.  Xbox 360 users are also complaining that their systems had crashed during regular play as well as during online game play using the Xbox Live service, harddisk not working, problems booting games and being turned off, and the drive may also be scratching discs.  One customer who claims his Xbox 360 overheats and freezes up has already filed a case against Microsoft.  The list goes on and on. 

Whatever happen to Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Initiative launched Four (4) years back?  During the launch, Microsoft was so confident in announcing that the company is taking security seriously and will help protect users against vulnerabilities by producing quality software.  How many flaws have been found since then?  Why can't Microsoft just patch all of their vulnerabilities?  Leaving software flaws unpatched is a bigger threat and it leaves the perception that Microsoft just doesn't care enough to patch all their product flaws.

Now don't get me wrong here, I am all for security and Windows OneCare Live is a welcome development for me even if it has business intentions written all over it.  For the simple reason that users don't bother to patch their software and they don't update virus list.  If there would be an application that can do this automatically, then it will definitely lessen unprotected PCs.  But after the free trial period, I am pretty sure most users will be upset that they should pay Microsoft to secure Microsoft products when it should have made secure in the first place. 

Given the facts presented, should we trust Windows OneCare Live to protect our systems?  Is Microsoft more serious this time than its earlier Trustworthy Computing Initiative?  Let me answer my own questions with some more questions:  Will I trust a blind driver to teach me how to drive?  Will I seek the advice of an obese dietitian or gym instructor to help me lose weight?  Or will I drive a car with no breaks?  Perhaps I will, after I asked someone to try it first.

At the end of the day, Microsoft entry to the security application arena will keep the other security firm on its feet, and whether we like it or not OneCare Live will have a major effect on the security market.  But only Microsoft and the performance of Windows OneCare Live can decide its own fate.  Let us wait and see.

Am logging off.  Stay cool always and God Bless us all!!!

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Announcement: Watch out for the Powertips 2006 "Security Secrets and Strategies" conference.

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