Vendors state Microsoft's consumer security release will be plagued by trust issues and be seen as just one more player in an already competitive market run by companies with a history of pushing out security tools. Academics consider it too early to see if computer users will find the tool useful.

Bill Caelli, professor of the Faculty of Information Technology at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and founding director of the Information Security Research Center (ISRC), said we will not know until mum and dad have a handle on the User Access Control (UAC) system as featured in Vista, and use Windows Live OneCare for at least 12 months.

"The reason why Windows Live OneCare is mated with Vista is because Vista introduces role-based control which is a good thing but no leap for mankind as Unix used access control 25 years ago," Caelli said.

"Windows Live OneCare is a great move but the question is how user-friendly will this be for an ordinary mum and dad at home?

"We are going to have to see Vista and Live OneCare in a normal home environment for the next 12 months to see how real home users can adapt."