Windows Live OneCare Family Safety
Overview
Windows Live OneCare Family Safety is a software program developed by Microsoft. During setup, the program creates a startup registration point in Windows in order to automatically start when any user boots the PC. Upon being installed, the software adds a Windows Service which is designed to run continuously in the background. Manually stopping the service has been seen to cause the program to stop functing properly. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. The setup package generally installs about 6 files and is usually about 1.3 MB (1,360,896 bytes). Relative to the overall usage of users who have this installed on their PCs, most are running Windows Vista (SP2) and Windows Vista (SP1). While about 67% of users of Windows Live OneCare Family Safety come from the United States, it is also popular in United Kingdom and Canada.
Program details
Help link: feedback.live.com/eform.aspx?productkey=wlfamilysafety
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\windows live\family safety
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{3403CB31-D7C1-43F4-9D2F-579758C0CF09}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 1.3 MB
Language: English (United States)
Files installed by Windows Live OneCare Family Safety
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fssbho.dll
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fssfltr.sys - Family Safety Filter Driver
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fsshelper.dll - Family Safety API Library
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fsssvc.exe - Family Safety Service
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fsssvcps.dll - Family Safety Proxy API Library
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fssui.exe - Family Safety Client
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- fssbho.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Windows Live OneCare Family Safety Browser Helper Class' with the class of {4f3ed5cd-0726-42a9-87f5-d13f3d2976ac} (Windows Live OneCare Family Safety Browser Helper).
Service
- fsssvc.exe runs as a service named 'Windows Live OneCare Family Safety' (fsssvc) "This service enables Family Safety on the computer. If this service is not running, Family Safety will not work.".
Startup File (All Users Run)
- fssui.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'fssui' which loads as "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Family Safety\fssui.exe" -autorun.
How do I remove Windows Live OneCare Family Safety?
You can uninstall Windows Live OneCare Family Safety from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program Windows Live OneCare Family Safety, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Windows Live OneCare Family Safety.
How do I reset my web browser?
If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Windows Live OneCare Family Safety you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would also like to remove search providers, Accelerators and home pages. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
- The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.
Mozilla Firefox
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
- When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
- Select Settings. In the "Search" section, click Manage search engine. Check if (Default) is displayed next to your preferred search engine. If not, mouse over it and click Make default. Mouse over any other suspicious search engine entries that are not familiar and click X to remove them.
- When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different webpage, click Change to enter a link.
- Restart Google Chrome.
OS VERSIONS
Win Vista (SP2) 41%
Win 7 (SP1) 6%
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HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
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USER ACTIONS
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Uninstall it 4%
Keep it 96%
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Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows Vista |
76.47% |
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Windows XP |
17.65% |
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Windows 7 |
5.88% |
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Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
52.94% |
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Windows Vista Home Basic |
23.53% |
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Microsoft Windows XP |
17.65% |
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Windows 7 Home Premium |
5.88% |
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Geography
66.67% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
United States |
66.67% |
United Kingdom |
10.00% |
Canada |
6.67% |
Germany |
6.67% |
Australia |
3.33% |
Czech Republic |
3.33% |
India |
3.33% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard |
43.75% |
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GIGABYTE |
12.50% |
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Dell |
12.50% |
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Sony |
12.50% |
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Acer |
6.25% |
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Toshiba |
6.25% |
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MSI |
6.25% |
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Common models |
Toshiba Satellite L40 |
7.14% |
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Sony VPCL137FX |
7.14% |
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Sony VGN-FW12G_B |
7.14% |
|
Micro-Star MSI Notebook E... |
7.14% |
|
HP Pavilion dv6700 Notebo... |
7.14% |
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HP Pavilion dv6000 (RP162... |
7.14% |
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About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses and supports a variety of products and services related to computing.
Publisher URL: www.microsoft.com