If you have been reading the news lately, or worse, if you have deployed Windows Live OneCare 1.5 and used Outlook, then you already know that Microsoft's anti-virus has developed a hunger for user emails. Users complaints have been pouring in over the aberrant behavior of Windows Live OneCare. According to reports, the Microsoft anti-virus is either placing in quarantine or - in some cases - completely erasing Outlook .pst or Outlook Express .dbx if it detects any examples of malicious code in them.

Microsoft has kept quiet over the whole situation and there have been reports that a patch will be released this week, on March 13, to be more specific, that would resolve the issue. However, this is not the case as the Redmond Company has already made a patch available at the end of the past week.

On March 11, Microsoft has provided an updated Windows Live OneCare anti-malware engine. According to the Redmond Company, the update will fix the issues related to the erroneous deletion or quarantine of Outlook .pst or Outlook Express .dbx.

The update will be pushed automatically to all users that have Windows Live OneCare installed and are connected to the Internet. Microsoft has placed strong emphasis on the fact that OneCare's updates will be delivered automatically and that there is no need for user interaction.

If you want to confirm that your copy of OneCare is up to date, you have to look for the anti-malware engine version number. If the update has been successfully installed you should see AM Engine:(1.1. 2306 .0) as the version number. In the anti-virus interface locate and select "Change OneCare Settings" then click the "Logging"tab and the "Create support log" button. Here you will be able to navigate to the Virus and Spyware Versions area and access the version number.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused our customers," told a Windows Live OneCare representative to Mary Jo Foley.