Microsoft OneCare gets a bashing
Published: 13 May 2005 15:10 BST
IT professionals have slammed Microsoft over plans to charge for a security service to protect its own products.
Microsoft on Friday announced an internal beta launch of Windows OneCare, which will be a paid subscription service to block viruses and spyware that affect Windows machines. But users are upset that the software giant wants to make money from securing its own products they say it should have made secure in the first place.
One IT security worker said he was appalled at the idea: "The fact that they are charging is the height of hypocrisy. It is unbelievable that Microsoft is attempting to launch a service to charge customers for protection from flaws in its own products. I feel there should not be a need for that — they should have software that's resilient to that."
ZDNet UK readers wrote they were also angry with Microsoft. "Am I just being cynical or does this sound like a way to make money rather than fix the product?" asked Nick Stevens in a Talkback comment to the article announcing the prouct. "What I am surprised about, considering the high cost of the OS in the first place, is how MS have the gall to charge for this service."
IT consultant John Perczyk added: "Great idea — MS get to turn their security bugs into a revenue stream... Perhaps it should be more correctly renamed 'No one cares'."
An emailed response attributed to Microsoft's director of platform strategy Nick McGrath, said: "Windows OneCare will be a paid subscription service. As it is still early in the product development cycle we have no further details to share at this time. We will keep you posted as we get closer to final availability. What has been announced is internal beta, which will be distributed to Microsoft employees, and represents the first step in Microsoft's plan to offer a comprehensive solution to help consumers protect and maintain the overall 'health' of their PCs."
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40 comments
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oooooooooooo that's funny. Microsoft says, " our p... Anonymous -
Whats the difference,you pay for AV software... Wayne Hynes -
http://distrowatch.com Anonymous
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This is an outragious conflict of interest. A comp... splinter
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What's the difference between a subscription... Anonymous
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If Microsoft didn't charge for this prop... Anonymous -
My first reaction is that charging... Anonymous
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I say that vendor liability is... Arthur B.
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I have seen comments like thes... Ryan Egesdahl
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Hello,
I cannot believe that Microsoft would have... MSK1812
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I personally find these comments astounding, these... Anonymous
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Truly amazing is the number of people who wel... Roger Pratt
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As a Mac user I don't know weather to laugh or cry... Anonymous
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Every piece of software has bugs and flaws. M... Anonymous
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Here I come UNIX! Screw Micro$oft! Anonymous
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I've been on the fence for a while now...I've look... Steve Daniels
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Your arguement is barely existant and so silly tha... Bryan Steward
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For Microsoft to charge anything for the faulty so... Anonymous
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Microsoft is now trying to make more money off of... Tom G.
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I have no problem with Microsoft entering the... David Wright
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It is perhaps the most underhand tactic Microsoft... Marc Dresdon
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OK i've rerad the responses to the article and bel... Andy
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This is really interesting. Because I dont know ho... Anonymous
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Firstly, why is everyone so surprised? Micro$... ML
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Apple effectively does the same with its different... Liam
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Is this a hoax? Anonymous
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I agree with Microsoft, somethings must be payed.... Carlos
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What a great idea! This way Microsoft can purpose... Anonymous
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It's simply amazing how many people have so m... Anonymous
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Linux awaits you all. It makes sense from both a b... Anonymous
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But then again I suppose if anyone knows how... Kevin Sinclair
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Symantec have been doing it for years. Have you e... Anonymous
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I too,think this whole thing is incredible.A decen... Bruce White
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Anti-Virus software makers do not sell updates to... Anonymous
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Wake up you nerds. Of course there are going to b... Tom Thumb
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Bill Gates is the anti-christ, open source so... Anonymous
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This sounds a lot like the old Mafia scheme of "pr... Anonymous
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Microsoft is known for selling half-baked products... Arthur B.
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Microsoft WOULD give us this stuff for free if it... Anonymous
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And the world should be perfect. WaWaWa! They will... Anonymous
