WindowsOneCare goes live

Microsoft's new PC security aid, which it describes as "all-in-one protection and maintenance service for your Windows XP PC," is now yours for $49.95/year (for up to three family PCs). Some may balk at paying that, but "there are plenty of users who will and probably should avail themselves of this product," according to Washington Post PC security columnist Brian Krebs. One plus: "Microsoft has said it will offer free phone, online chat or email support to all customers, a feature that is mostly lacking at the moment for consumer anti-virus products." According to the BBC, OneCare "is aimed at consumers and small businesses which currently have only the most basic protection against net-borne threats. Microsoft said up to 70% of consumers either have no security software on their PC or have programs that are no longer updated."