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The service, which launched in beta at the end of last year, now offers a whole range of security and related features including anti-spyware, anti-virus and firewall protection and automatic updates. OneCare Live will also run regular 'tuneups' to help maintain the PC's performance and reliability and provide backup and restore functionality for the user's important photos, music files and other data. Finally, Microsoft will offer free help and support

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through email, phone and chat channels.

The service is aimed squarely at home users who are baffled by the various threats and security measures needed to make their PC secure today and want a single source of reassurance. The package will be sold through the major retailers throughout the US.

Naturally, the existing security companies have viewed the launch of OneCare Live and its aggressive pricing with some dismay. The move is thought to be partly the reason last month that Symantec decided to sue Microsoft over alleged technology theft.

Both Symantec and McAfee are planning new software products to match OneCare Live head on. McAfee is planning to launch 'Falcon' a code name for a multi-edition set of security subscriptions while Symantec is planning its own security subscription service code named 'Genesis'.

No date for a UK launch of the OneCare service has yet been announced although Microsoft is saying that it plans to roll out the service to a number of countries outside the US over the next year.