How much will Windows security matter?
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Microsoft Corp. took great pains to improve security in its newly released computer operating system, Windows Vista, redesigning it to reduce users' exposure to destructive programs from the Internet. Outside researchers commend the retooled approach &#151; yet they also say the changes won't make online life much safer than it is now.
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Q: It seems that most of the problems, viruses, etc. that PC users have are associated with Outlook Express or Windows XP. I don&#39;t use either of them.
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A report penned by one of Microsoft's top security experts argues that Windows Vista had fewer known security flaws in its first year of release than other major industry operating systems. On the blogs, skeptics abound.
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Putting your applications and data in a partition separate from Windows' system files makes your backups faster, and reduces the risk of a virus attack.
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Microsoft may find the burden of securing older versions of Windows browsers a burden. Tough. But its neglect hurts the entire Internetâand leaves and opening for open-source replacement.
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Want to hack Windows? Better get familiar with the Registry first.
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Users of Microsoft&#39;s Windows XP computer operating system should be on the lookout for the latest round of updates and patches, which fix several security problems but lack any real security advancements.
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Competitors say they should be able replace a Windows feature that tells people about the security status of their PC.
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Want to hack Windows? Better get familiar with the Registry first. Here's what you need to know.
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Security-focused Windows XP update can be tough on applications. Guidelines are meant to help professionals "test and mitigate."
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Microsoft has confirmed the existence of a vulnerability affecting the Windows Shell. The issue exists in the WebViewFolderIcon ActiveX control, and exploitation could result in an attacker gaining the same rights as a local user.
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those nasty viruses, worms and Trojan Horses that have, on more than one occasion, crippled PCs. No doubt about that. The question is: Will they be as bad?
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Now that Microsoft has released the Windows Vista operating system and the Office 2007 productivity suite, talk has shifted from months of launch-date speculation to concerns over specific safeguards needed to ensure that the new software is secure.
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(InfoWorld) - MicrosoftÂ finally rolled itsÂ Vista operating system out the door Tuesday, billing it as its most secure operating system ever, but what are the security features that will really matter to enterprise users? To answer this question, IDG News Service asked Russ Humphries, a senior program manager with the Vista security team, to list the three Vista features that will have the biggest effect. Here's his list: 1) UAC (user account control) Before Vista, Windows automatically gave users too much power over their systems, Microsoft has said. With UAC, Windows will require a few extra steps before the user can do things such as install new programs. The feature will make it much easier for corporate administrators to lock down desktops and prevent users, or malicious programs, from messing around with the system or installing unauthorized software. UAC has been one of Vista's most controversial features with early testers complaining that they were overwhelmed with pop-up messages warning them about every little change they made to the system. But these warnings will not slow down most enterprise users because they won't be installing device drivers or software, Humphries said. "Most corporate users are going to get a corporate image that will have all their applications already installed on the image," he said. 2) Windows Defender With Vista, Microsoft has built a defense against pop-up ads and unwanted spyware right into the operating system. AlthoughÂ Defender has been criticized for not being as effective as commercial products, the fact that it will be so widely deployed is bound to improve things. "Adware is a huge annoyance, a security risk, and a bit of a machine hog, " Humphries said. "This has benefits for home users, small and medium-sized enterprises, and even large organizations." 3) BitLocker There have been more than 100 million U.S. victims of data breaches over the past two years, according to Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. BitLocker aims to prevent the next 100 million from getting hit quite so quickly by giving corporate users a way to encrypt and password-protect their data. With BitLocker encrypting Vista's data, a stolen PC doesn't turn into a front-page data breach story,Â as was the case with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs last year. BitLocker can also ensure that the operating system hasn't been tampered with at boot-up time, but customers seem to particularly appreciate the fact that it will help keep their companies out of the newspapers every time a laptop is lost. "I've had a lot of thank-yous from our customers," Humphries said.
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Security expert express concerns that cash machines could soon fall victim to Windows viruses.
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Unwanted programs that spy on PC users, deliver pop-up ads and track Web surfing habits will be a hot topic at a security conference that's usually more focused on viruses, hackers and the encryption of sensitive information.
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Blog: Researcher finds a basic cookie handling error that could compromise Windows PCs.