REDMOND, Wash. — May 25, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Windows Live™ OneCare™, the all-in-one, automatic and self-updating PC care service aimed at helping consumers more easily protect and maintain their PCs, has been certified by ICSA Labs as an effective solution to combat viruses and other forms of malicious code as well as providing a quality firewall service. In addition, OneCare has achieved West Coast Labs’ Checkmark certification, meeting the lab’s criteria for protection against viruses and Trojans. OneCare customers now benefit from the increased confidence of utilizing an independently tested and certified service.
“These certifications from two of the world’s most trusted independent cybersecurity testing organizations is a milestone in the development of Windows Live OneCare,” said Dennis Bonsall, director of Windows Live OneCare in the Online Business Group at Microsoft. “As we continue to advance toward launching this full service in the coming weeks, gaining the ICSA Labs and West Coast Labs seals of approval validates OneCare as a comprehensive source of protection that helps customers enhance the overall safety and health of their personal computers.”
ICSA Labs, an independent division of global information security specialist Cybertrust, is recognized as the global standard for security product certification. Testing consists of a comprehensive analysis of security-related risks likely to be encountered by the product. This process, representing three certifications, includes extensive testing of the anti-malware product’s ability to detect and disinfect common and “in-the-wild” viruses and a thorough analysis of the firewall’s ability to restrict unwarranted access. Certification criteria are continually updated to address constantly evolving computer security threats. “To become certified, a company’s product must meet demanding, industry-accepted criteria that prove its resistance to an array of threats and risks,” said Larry Bridwell, content security programs manager at ICSA Labs. “Windows Live OneCare has met the high standard of ICSA Labs certification, and the service’s customers can be confident that it will deliver a high level of security and reliability.”
West Coast Labs’ Checkmark certification system has become recognized as a leading global standard for anti-malware certification and testing to real-world standards. The final version of Windows Live OneCare has been certified against three Checkmark criteria: for virus detection, virus cleaning, and Trojan detection. “The Checkmark System certifies information security products to real-world standards,” said Chris Thomas, operations director at West Coast Labs. “Checkmark Certification is an acknowledgement that Windows Live OneCare has satisfied all the criteria outlined in the test suites for protection against viruses and Trojans.”
Currently available as a 90-day free trial in the United States, Windows Live OneCare will be available in the coming weeks from retailers and via the Web for an annual subscription of $49.95 MSRP for up to three personal computers. As a paid subscription service, Windows Live OneCare will include the following features:
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Anti-virus and firewall protection and automatic updates
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Anti-spyware functionality powered by Microsoft® Windows® Defender
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Regular PC tuneups to help maintain computer performance and reliability
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Easy-to-use backup and restore functionality to help protect customers’ data and important files
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Customer support from PC care experts at Microsoft via e-mail, phone and chat for no additional charge
Customers who want to download the 90-day trial version of Windows Live OneCare can visit http://onecare.live.com.
About MSN and Windows Live
MSN® attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live, a new set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. MSN and Windows Live will be offered alongside each other as complementary services. Some Windows Live services entered an early beta phase on Nov. 1, 2005; these and future beta updates can be found at http://ideas.live.com. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com. MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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