question about Microsoft's Anti-Virus program

#1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 08:27 PM

If I use Microsoft's Anti-Virus on a Windows XP Pro computer,
how do I know that the anti-virus program is updating itself
on a timely basis?

In other words, where on my computer can I look to see
when the anti-virus tables had been most recently updated?

....

#2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 08:55 PM

From: "wylbur37" <wylbur37nospam@yahoo.com>

| If I use Microsoft's Anti-Virus on a Windows XP Pro computer,
| how do I know that the anti-virus program is updating itself
| on a timely basis?
|
| In other words, where on my computer can I look to see
| when the anti-virus tables had been most recently updated?
|
| ...

Do yourself a favour. Remove OneCare and install a *better* anti virus solution.
Microsoft's so-called anti virus solution has one of the worst catch rate in the AV
industry.

If you want an excellent paid-for anti virus solution I suggest Kaspersky or NOD32.
Even the free version of Avira AntiVir is better.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

#3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 09:06 PM

"wylbur37" <wylbur37nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:241adf6b-4cd1-43b7-85bb-7a0953ad921a@y77g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
> If I use Microsoft's Anti-Virus on a Windows XP Pro computer,
> how do I know that the anti-virus program is updating itself
> on a timely basis?
>
> In other words, where on my computer can I look to see
> when the anti-virus tables had been most recently updated?
>
> ...
If you mean Windows Defender, that is a free spyware tool, it isn't
anti-virus software.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/pro...r/default.mspx

If you mean Windows live OneCare, being a supposedly fully
functioning security suite:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/pro...r/onecare.mspx

It ain't free and there are plenty of free alternatives:
http://antivirus.about.com/

And MS security software dosen't make the top ten in comparisions:
http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivi.../aatpavwin.htm

#4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 09:29 PM

"ded" <witheld@invalid.witheld> wrote in message
news:fr1jh1$uhu$1@aioe.org...
>
> "wylbur37" <wylbur37nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:241adf6b-4cd1-43b7-85bb-7a0953ad921a@y77g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
>> If I use Microsoft's Anti-Virus on a Windows XP Pro computer,
>> how do I know that the anti-virus program is updating itself
>> on a timely basis?
>>
>> In other words, where on my computer can I look to see
>> when the anti-virus tables had been most recently updated?
>>
>> ...
> If you mean Windows Defender, that is a free spyware tool, it isn't
> anti-virus software.
> http://www.microsoft.com/protect/pro...r/default.mspx
>
> If you mean Windows live OneCare, being a supposedly fully
> functioning security suite:
> http://www.microsoft.com/protect/pro...r/onecare.mspx
>
> It ain't free and there are plenty of free alternatives:
> http://antivirus.about.com/
>
> And MS security software dosen't make the top ten in comparisions:
> http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivi.../aatpavwin.htm
>

And I have yet to see the two Microsoft ranked above the free ones.

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not reply with email

#5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 11:52 PM

From: "Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM" <franksaunders@mvps.org>

| And I have yet to see the two Microsoft ranked above the free ones.
|

The free Avira AntiVir does indeed out rank OneCare.

Albeit Onecare seems to do very well on the ZLob family of Trojans but that's about it.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

#6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 03:00 AM

David H. Lipman, 3/9/2008,4:55:50 PM, wrote:

> Do yourself a favour. Remove OneCare and install a better anti virus
> solution. Microsoft's so-called anti virus solution has one of the
> worst catch rate in the AV industry.

Regarding Microsoft's anti-virus program, didn't they buy out one of
the better Romanian AV companies a few years ago? That should have
made them a player in the malware market you would think.

#7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2008, 03:14 AM

From: "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com>

|
| Regarding Microsoft's anti-virus program, didn't they buy out one of
| the better Romanian AV companies a few years ago? That should have
| made them a player in the malware market you would think.

Yes, Reliable Anti Virus -- http://www.ravantivirus.com/

Either RAV was not good to begin with or Microsoft bastardized it. In either case, it is
not a "player".

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp