Microsoft's Live OneCare 1.5 anti-virus software isn't 100% safe, say tests performed by Virus Bulletin.

VB tests on 15 anti-virus products designed for Vista found four including Microsoft's, failed to reach the standard required for its VB100 certification, says PC Pro.

The three were G-Data AntiVirusKit 2007 v.17.0.6353, McAfee VirusScan Enterprise version 8.1i and Norman Virus Control 5.90.

"The tests pitted each product against a test set of viruses from the WildList, which details viruses known to be circulating on the Internet," says the story. For VB100 certification, products had to detect all viruses from the test set.

"We are looking closely at the methodology and results of the test to ensure that Windows Live OneCare performs better in future tests," the story has Windows Live OneCare product manager Jo Wickremasinghe stating.

With all the delays in getting Vista released, there was no excuse for vendors not getting their products working, says Virus Bulletin technical consultant John Hawes, according to PC Pro.

Live OneCare caught 99.91% of the known active viruses it was tested against, leaving it open to 37 separate malicious programs, says the BBC.

Microsoft's rivals have also questionedthe effectiveness of Vista's security, says The Register.

"Anti-spyware vendor Webroot, for example, criticises 'ineffective blocking capabilities' in Windows Defender, a product which competes against Webroot's Spy Sweeper line of anti-spyware products," says the story. "Webroot also warns of slow (weekly) definition updates, and weak anti-virus capabilities in the default anti-spyware and anti-virus components of Microsoft's Windows Vista and Live OneCare consumer security suite.

"In tests conducted by Webroot researchers Windows Defender failed to block 84 per cent of a testing sample-set that included 15 of the most common variations of existing spyware and malware. Threats of various types - including adware, system monitors, keyloggers and trojans - were able to reside on the testing environment undetected by Windows Vista, Webroot reports."

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Also See:
PC Pro - Microsoft, McAfee fail to spot Vista viruses, February 5, 2007
BBC - Windows 'fails' active virus test, February 6, 2007
The Register - Security watchers lambast Vista, February 5, 2007