InVision Computers

A vulnerability in Windows that is known since September 7 is being taken advantage of by releasing the code in public. The code crashes a computer but Harmony Security Senior Researcher Stephen Fewer has developed a code that lets an attacker run a program on a user’s machine which is more dangerous than the other situation.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and 2 as well as Windows 2008 SP1 server are the operating systems that are vulnerable to the exploit according to Metasploit developer HD Moore.
An Immunity Senior Researcher said that the code only works on Vista.
Source: PC World

Source: PC World

This is why is so so important to be downloading and installing your windows updates.

Is 7 Microsoft’s Lucky Number?

So far, most of the press for Windows 7 has been good. IT pros and consumer beta testers have, for the most part, praised the new operating system as faster, nicer looking and easier to use than Vista. Folks are finding that they can install it on less powerful hardware than Vista requires, including inexpensive netbooks, and get good performance. What’s not to like?

We need to remember, though, that all the reviews thus far have been based on the (free) public release candidate or the RTM that certain IT pros get as part of their MSDN/TechNet subscriptions, MVP status, their companies’ beta testing relationship with Microsoft, etc. Folks have a tendency to be less critical of a product that they don’t have to pay for. Will the user satisfaction factor hold up once people start paying for the OS?

Vista actually got many positive reviews, too, when it was in beta testing. It was after it was released to the general public that most of the complaints started coming in – including complaints from the same tech pundits who had good things to say about it before. I think we have the OEMs to thank for much of that. Too many of the hardware vendors installed it on machines that just weren’t up to the task, and frustrated computer buyers found themselves working on systems that operated at a slow crawl. Of course, Service Pack 1 helped a lot with those performance issues, but by the time it came out, the damage to Vista’s reputation was already done.

With Windows 7, Microsoft obviously made performance a priority, whereas in designing Vista, security seemed to be at the forefront (no pun intended). They quickly discovered that although most computer users will say they want their systems to be secure, many of them want that only as long as it doesn’t inconvenience them. Thus another thing that got Vista off on the wrong foot was User Account Control (UAC), which so many people saw as much too “in your face.” Win7 still has UAC, but its default behavior has been toned down to make it less annoying and users have been given more control over it. At the same time, new technologies in Windows 7 such as BitLocker to Go and AppLocker (in Enterprise and Ultimate), DirectAccess (in Pro, Enterprise and Ultimate), and improvements to smart card support, the Windows Firewall, and other existing security technologies make this the most secure version of Windows ever – without getting in your face.

Something that I’ve not yet been able to try out is Windows 7’s improvements to handwriting recognition. I thought the Tablet PC was a great idea, but unfortunately it didn’t catch on, and it’s you don’t see as many Tablets for sale as you did for a while. It would be great if Windows 7 changed that, but I don’t know whether it will happen. HP’s TouchSmart tx2z is one that looks interesting, with the ability to handle up to 8 GB of RAM. Fujitsu is still putting out a number of machines in the Tablet form factor, including the teeny tiny 5.6 inch LifeBook U820 that’s cute as can be, if not overly functional. Its slightly bigger brother, the LifeBook P1630 (8.9 inch screen) always catches my eye, but I’m not going to pay almost $2000 for a system that has only 1 GB of RAM and a 1.2 GHz processor. I think the biggest problem with the Tablets is that they have continued to be significantly more expensive than regular laptops/notebooks with comparable specs. That’s because of the expense of the touch screen, I suppose.

In fact, one new focus in Windows 7 that most beta testers didn’t get a chance to fully appreciate is its Touch capabilities. That’s because using it requires that you have the proper hardware – a touch screen monitor. There aren’t that many of those floating around out there yet, and they’re relatively expensive. I’m lucky to have an HP TouchSmart as our “kitchen computer” but it’s not the latest incarnation and doesn’t support all of the Windows 7 Touch goodness, such as multi-touch (ability to grab with two fingers, like you can do with the iPhone). To see a demo of Windows 7’s multi-touch, watch the video at

http://www.win7news.net/AK8917/090917-Touch-and-Gestures

Speaking of the iPhone, the Windows 7 desktop operating system isn’t the only “7″ in Microsoft’s lineup. Those of us who haven’t fallen under Apple’s spell are looking forward to Windows Mobile 7, the next full version upgrade of Microsoft’s phone/handheld OS. An incremental upgrade, WM 6.5, will be out next month and it has some nice new features, but it’s WM 7 – especially running on high end phones like the Omnia II with its drop-dead-gorgeous AMOLED screen (coming soon to Verizon) – that we’re hoping will be the iPhone killer.

Although we don’t know much about it yet, I’m hoping that WM 7 will be a lot like a pared down version of Windows 7, made for the small screen. The problem with Windows Mobile in the past was that it was too stylus-centric; that is, you couldn’t easily navigate its interface with just your fingers, as you can do on the iPhone. Some of the phone vendors have addressed this with their own interface overlays. For instance, the Touchwiz 2.0 interface on the Omnia II brings the same type of touchability to that device that iPhone users enjoy. See it in action here:

http://www.win7news.net/AK8917/090917-Software-Tour

WM 7 is expected to be released in 2010 and there are rumors that beta testing will begin before the end of this year. Microsoft has kept it under close wraps, but there have been leaks, and even suggestions that it’s already in the early phases of beta testing:
http://www.win7news.net/AK8917/090917-Windows-Mobile-7

We have to say 7 hasn’t always been a lucky number for Microsoft, though. Internet Explorer 7, although it introduced tabbed browsing for the first time in IE and greatly improved browser security, was plagued with usability and reliability problems. I experienced frequent browser crashing or freezing with it – problems that I haven’t seen in IE 8.

Article provided by http://www.win7news.net

Mac Malware

Posted: 31 Aug 2009

An Apple-specific DNS changer Trojan has been detected by Trend-Micro. It is named JAHLAV-K and it comes in a mountable Disk Image File (.dmg).

If users get infected with this file, their browsers would redirect to phishing sites and some of them would also redirect to sites that offer fake anti-virus programs.

Sophos warns that the pirated version of “Foxit Reader for Mac” comes with this trojan. “While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, we are not happy about the recent malware attacks masquerading as our Foxit Reader,” said the vice president of sales and marketing at Foxit Corporation.

Source: The Register

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd451022.aspx

Great place to read about some quick tips from microsoft about the new opereateing system windows 7

I am really excited to load this on my Acer one netbook.

Your laptop is great for portability, but what if your battery won’t hold a charge? There are ways you can extend untethered time on your laptop. And if you follow these tips, you can get the most out of your battery life.

Buy an energy-efficient laptop. The size and type of portable computer have a big effect on your battery life; opting for a smaller screen and a solid-state drive will save power. Check out the power ratings when buying a new machine; and if you can get an upgrade on your battery, it’s worth the splurge.

Use your computer’s power-saving settings. Whether you’re on a PC or a Mac, your computer should come with energy-saving settings that will dim your screen after a certain period of inactivity and turn off your screen and hard drives after a longer period. You can make the length of time your computer stays on while inactive even shorter to conserve more power, too.

Shut off devices and programs you don’t need. The more your computer is doing, the more power it uses. Shut down any programs that you aren’t actively using or that aren’t absolutely essential, and try using only one application at a time. This also goes for wireless, Bluetooth, speakers, and any USB devices; even that USB mouse draws power. CD/DVD drives also use a lot of juice, so try to run all programs off your hard drive, and don’t keep a disc in the drive because your computer will try to read it every time it starts up.

Go easy on your display. A big, bright, crisp display isn’t always a necessity. If you can, dim your screen and lower its resolution to save power. And don’t use a graphic screen saver; just let it go dark.

Turn off scheduled tasks. Unless you’re working on something you’re very worried about losing, turn off autosave functions. Also, stop any programs from automatically opening, such as autoupdate and virus-scanning programs, and close any nonessential programs you may have open on startup.

Keep your computer at a comfortable temperature. Extreme heat and cold will affect your battery’s performance. When it’s above 80 degrees, your battery will discharge more quickly, and when it’s cold your battery won’t charge well. It’s best to work at room temperature. Also, make sure your computer doesn’t overheat (the fan uses a lot of power) by using a cooling mat, keeping vents clean, and avoiding leaving it on soft surfaces.

Take care of your battery. Though most newer laptops run on lithium-ion batteries, which don’t suffer the “memory effect” that older nickel-based batteries did, you should still fully charge it before your first nonsocket use, and you should let it discharge nearly completely every once in a while so your computer can recalibrate its minutes-left-for-computing clock. You should also make sure the battery contacts are clean; if they’re not, clean them with some rubbing alcohol on a cloth.

Use sleep and hibernate modes. Don’t just leave your computer idle when it’s not plugged in. If you’re stepping away for a short time, use your PC’s sleep mode; if you’ll be away for a longer time, use hibernate, which draws even less power, though your computer will take a little longer to wake up. Some laptops, such as Macs, will automatically enter sleep mode when you close the lid.
Any thoughts or ideas? Leave a comment!