Microsoft

Two third-party software companies have come together to release temporary fix for a highly contagious and critical zero-day flaw which affects all versions of the Windows operating system (OS). The security flaw, which Microsoft says it knows about ... and is working on a permanent patch towards, makes users of Windows 2000 through Windows 7 vulnerable to attack if they open a desktop folder packing an infected .LNK file extension. Microsoft Temp Fix Not Popular Microsoft last week released its own temporary solution in the form of a workaround, but few users were very fond of a solution that ... (view more)

Windows XP continues to represent the single biggest target for hackers , according to security experts who also suggest these threats could initiate a considerable push for home and business users to upgrade to Windows 7. The recent discussion is ... based on Microsoft's early 2010 "Security Intelligence Report Volume 8," or SIRv8, which covered the six-month period July 2009 to December 2009. The report found that the United States continues to be the top spot for malware threats, with populous China running second, just in front of Brazil. WinXP Vulnerabilities Behind Push to Windows 7 An ... (view more)

Mozilla and Google have taken an interesting approach to ensuring that flaws, bugs and other problems associated with their Internet browsers are reported on in a timely manner. The two companies are paying outside researchers as added motivation, ... with the belief being that if a bonus is attached for their efforts, more individuals will be willing to offer up their time to discover new errors. Not All Researchers Financially Motivated Microsoft employees need not get too excited with the news, as company representatives announced that no such bonuses will be given to their researchers. ... (view more)

According to a new poll by tech blog PC Advisor, just one in every six users of Windows XP plan an upgrade to Microsoft's newest operating system (OS), Windows 7. WinXP SP2 Cut-Off Causes Concern PC Advisor's poll was based on Microsoft's recent ... deadline to end active support for Windows XP Service Pack 2, or SP2. That leaves fans of Windows XP who want and need security updates and support for their systems the option of upgrading to Windows XP Service Pack 3 (which should continue to receive support until at least 2014 ) or a newer operating system, like Windows 7, released last October. ... (view more)

A serious security flaw affecting Windows shortcuts could pose a significant risk to critical global infrastructure, says a new report from security research firm Sophos. Power grids and manufacturing plants could soon be targeted by a flaw that ... researchers say has already been exploited by hackers. "Early versions of the malware have been programmed to seek out SCADA software (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) by Siemens Corporation, which is used in managing industrial infrastructures, such as power grids and manufacturing plants," said Sophos. Security Firms Fear Growing Threat ... (view more)

Microsoft has issued an automated workaround for a Windows shortcut flaw that security researchers yesterday flagged with a yellow alert. The workaround is a temporary measure while the company works furiously to provide a more permanent patch. The ... Windows shortcut flaw affects files with the .LNK extension (otherwise known as "shortcut files"). The zero-day vulnerability could allow cyber criminals to seize control of victim PCs. A similar and more public version of the exploit affected Siemens industrial automated systems just last week. Temporary Fix Alters Icons, Leaving them ... (view more)

Microsoft has made keeping in touch with friends a one-click experience now that it has integrated Facebook features with its Outlook email program. Users can view the photos, status updates, and wall posts of fellow contacts who are also members of ... the social networking site. The move is a big one for both Facebook -- now the world's most-visited site -- and Microsoft Outlook, traditionally one of the world's most popular email programs. Microsoft is calling the new plug-in the Outlook Social Connector, and it follows similar Microsoft mash-ups involving less outstanding social networking ... (view more)

A new Windows zero-day flaw has gone public. Known as the "Windows Shortcut flaw", the exploit affects all versions of Microsoft Windows. What's important to note is that merely opening or viewing an infected USB stick can infect a computer -- even ... on systems where Windows Autoplay is disabled. The flaw affects files which have the file extension .LNK, otherwise known as a "Windows Shortcut" file. Shortcut files are essentially copies of program icons and tell Windows where the original program is located. For example, normally one would have to click Start -> Programs ... (view more)

Microsoft recently took full advantage when given the opportunity to criticize longtime rival Apple about its iPhone 4. To their credit, however, Microsoft ended up offering some self-depreciating humor in the process. "It looks like the iPhone 4 ... might be [Apple's Windows Vista], and I'm OK with that," said Kevin Turner, Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer (COO) during their Worldwide Partner Conference held in Washington. (Source: thestreet.com ) It was only five years ago that Windows Vista was pegged as Microsoft's most comprehensive operating system (OS) to date, yet it soon fell out of ... (view more)

Just days after media reports suggested that the Windows XP downgrade function would be available in Microsoft operating systems until 2020 , the software company has now announced that the feature is unlikely to last quite that long. In an ... announcement about the release of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 on the official Microsoft Windows Blog on Monday, Brandon LeBlanc made a side-note on the timeline for Windows XP downgrade rights -- in short, the ability to revert to Windows XP while using Windows 7. WinXP Downgrade Rights Extended "[W]e have decided to extend downgrade rights to Windows XP ... (view more)