14 DAY TRIAL // Windows Live OneCare 2.0 takes the user out of the wireless security equation almost completely. Microsoft's security solution is designed to do nothing more than to automate the process of securing a wireless connection making the necessary adjustments to the router on behalf of the user. A new feature that is coming to Windows Live OneCare 2.0, according to Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc, will set up a secure wireless home network connection requiring merely a rudimentary proof of ownership check. Just watch the video at the bottom in order to get an idea of how you will be able to leverage OneCare 2.0 in order to protect the machines on your wireless home network without messing around with the router's settings.
"To secure your wireless network - you are required to connect via cable (Cat-5) - which is why I needed a Cat-5 cable in my video to proceed with the process of securing my router. This is important as this prevents anyone from connecting to your network wirelessly and using Windows Live OneCare to wipe your wireless networking settings with their own settings. This is what the OneCare Team calls the "proof of ownership" check", LeBlanc explained.
With Windows Live OneCare 2.0, Microsoft aims to make the process associated with configuring a router for secure wireless capabilities as streamlined as possible by completely automating it. The feature in Windows Live OneCare 2.0 has been dubbed WiFi Security, and essentially, it will alert the user to add security to an insecure network and to the machines connected to it. At this point in time, you can access a free 90 day trial of Windows Live OneCare 2.0 via this download link.
"In securing your router - it does not completely wipe out all your settings. The settings that Windows Live OneCare changes during the securing process are the SSID, enabling of WEP security, & setting of the WEP key. After Windows Live OneCare secures your router, you are given instructions on how to set up other PC's on your home network with the new settings Windows Live OneCare enabled on your router," LeBlanc added.