February 16, 2005
Microsoft Antispyware for Free
Microsoft's Antispyware is now going to be offered for free, according to the man himself, Bill Gates, at the latest RSA Security conference.
We have spoken about Microsoft's latest acquisition of GIANT here and how it violated EULA here.
Word of advice: this requires a validation of your Windows so if you were bad and do not have a legit copy of Windows, do not attempt to download this software.
Via Slashdot
Posted by darkmoon at 05:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Microsoft's Ghostbuster
Schneier on Security:
Here's how it works: The user has the GhostBuster program on a CD. He sticks the CD in the drive, and from within the (possibly corrupted) OS, the checker program runs: stopping all other user programs, flushing the caches, and then doing a complete checksum of all files on the disk and a scan of any registry keys that could autostart the system, writing out the results to a file on the hard drive.Then the user is instructed to press the reset button, the CD boots its own OS, and the scan is repeated. Any differences indicate a rootkit or other stealth software, without the need for knowing what particular rootkits are or the proper checksums for the programs installed on disk.
Simple. Clever. Elegant.
Posted by darkmoon at 07:42 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
February 11, 2005
Microsoft security chief says Windows is more secure than Linux
Mike Nash claims that Microsoft Windows Server 2003 has only had to endure a total of fifteen patches last year, which was better than RedHat and SUSE. Obviously he misses the point. Microsoft usually takes their sweet time with patches. Linux usually has a twenty-four hour turn around on security exploits. So perhaps you only had fifteen patches, Mr. Nash, but how many holes are there left to be exploited in your product? Many more than I care to count.
Via Slashdot
Posted by darkmoon at 12:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 08, 2005
Longhorn beta scheduled for beginning of summer
Microsoft's Longhorn has been talked out that it is almost an urban legend. Definitely WinFS has gone the way of urban legends. The graphics engine, Avalon, will still be at the core of Longhorn. MSDN users will have to wait a bit longer to try it out.
Via ArsTechnica
Posted by darkmoon at 01:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 02, 2005
Microsoft is loving the iPod
According to Wired's sources, approximately 80% of Microsoft employees own an iPod. Apple's iPod current commands 65% of the portable player market.
For example, an internal e-mail circular sent to several senior managers in mid-December talked about iPod shipments to Apple's nearby store in Bellevue.The e-mail said: "FWIW, the gal at the Bellevue Square Apple Store said that they are getting in two shipments of 200 iPods every day to keep up with this week's demand, and are nearly constantly selling out."
The note prompted a curt reply from Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media division, who wrote the group: "I sure hope Microsoft employees are not buying iPods. We have great alternatives. Check out http://experiencemore."
Fifteen minutes later, the manager responded: "I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sure that Microsoft employees are not buying iPods, or Macs or PlayStations."
Ahh... Apple has infiltrated the ranks of the Microsoft. Dissension ensues. Amusing.
Via Wired, Engadget, Slashdot, ForeverGeek
Posted by darkmoon at 01:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 30, 2005
Microsoft Windows SP2 subject to memory attacks
Microsoft Windows Service Pack 2. Definitely one service pack that you should never install. If you do, be forewarned.
It was discovered by MaxPatrol team that it is possible to defeat Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP SP2 Heap protection and Data Execution Prevention mechanism. As a result it is possible to implement:* Arbitrary memory region write access (smaller or equal to 1016 bytes) Arbitrary code execution
* DEP bypass.
Posted by darkmoon at 09:28 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
January 29, 2005
"You show me a secure MS OS and I will show you a flying pig."
Amusing article on Lockergnome. A senior Microsoft executive [Nick McGrath] in the UK claims that there is no security in linux and that it is a myth. Lockergnome responds with words that even I would tear over:
You show me a secure MS OS and I will show you a flying pig. Windows compatibility; yes. Windows security; give me a break
Thank you Lockergnome for my first techie laugh all morning.
Posted by darkmoon at 10:23 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 15, 2005
Black Viper series: Windows XP Super Tweaks
In the last of the Black Viper series, Black Viper here shows the Windows XP super tweaks. These tweaks are probably recommended for a better system configuration and help protect your systems and make them run more efficiently. Note to read all of the information since there are some tweaks that depend on others.
Posted by darkmoon at 12:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 14, 2005
Black Viper series: Windows services
There are plenty of services in Windows NT (NT4, 2000, XP) based systems that you can turn off and increase your system resources. Black Viper developed some guides for service configurations (2000 and XP). He has also given safe configurations, power configurations, and default. He goes on to describe the services in case you need to know they are for.
Useful for tweaking your system to work for you.
Posted by darkmoon at 12:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 13, 2005
Black Viper series: Operating System Guides
Black Viper wrote some installation guides that are very good. If you're looking to install:
Red Hat 8.0
Windows 2000 Professional and Server
Windows 2003 Enterprise Server
Windows Me
Windows XP Home
Windows XP Professional
Take a look here. You won't be disappointed!
Posted by darkmoon at 12:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 12, 2005
Microsoft and their Malicious Software removal tool
In light of last week's beta release of their Anti-spyware, Microsoft has released the Malicious Software Removal Tool. Only for Windows 2000, 2003, and XP. You must be logged in with an account that is part of the Administrator group.
Also: THIS HAS TO BE RAN IN INTERNET EXPLORER. Yes, it's a stupid activeX plugin. So close your FireFox, pray a lot, and hope that while you're running this, you're not opening up a whole new can of worms.
Slashdotted here.
Personal note: It's too bad that it doesn't remove Windows altogether. I happen to find Windows malicious software *laugh*.
Posted by darkmoon at 08:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Black Viper series: Getting strange popup messages?
Here is one of my favorite sites to speed up your Windows computer. Black Viper has a lot of good things that I recommend you to take a look at. In the tips and tricks that I post in the next few days, there will be some other things that I take a look at when speeding up a Windows based computer.
Getting strange popup messages? Not surfing the web? Here's how to fix it.
Posted by darkmoon at 12:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 08, 2005
Microsoft AntiSpyware violates Spyware EULAs
Cory at BoingBoing writes that Microsoft's new beta antispyware from the acquired corporation GIANT (we talked about this before here), violates the EULA (End User License Agreement) of spyware. Microsoft has been THE biggest supporter of pushing EULA seeing that it is their creation.
Personal note: I'd like to see where Microsoft goes legally. By infracting on their own license agreement, they are doing some illegal, just like Lycos with their anti-spam screensaver. Within the legal bounds, they'll have to find another way to disinfect machines. Perhaps with their monopolization clout, they can push forward an amendment of EULA? This will become hairy in the long run if the antispyware is kept the same as the beta.
Posted by darkmoon at 11:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 07, 2005
Gizmodo Interview of Gates
Gizmodo got the chance to interview Gates on blogging, online journalism, and the future of Windows.
Gates on blogging:
We ourselves aren't that much of a publisher. We did the Slate Magazine thing to try and prove out what kind of things, what kind of formats could you do in online journalism that were different than the things that had been done.
Posted by darkmoon at 02:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Gates points accusing finger at open-source communists
In wide world of open-source, public enemy number one would be Bill Gates. This is no laughing matter either. While Bill's company keeps trying to break into the open-source world with programs such as Paint.NET and WiX, he's having fun relating the open-source community to communists. BoingBoing and others poke fun at him after that interview by creating CreativeCommie emblems here, here, and here.
Power to the people!
Lessig writes:
what a total (intellectual) disappointment this man isIf I had the time, and the money, I'd do the deep analysis that it would take to explain to myself why it is I constantly hope to be surprised by Mr. Gates. Yet I never am. Here's BoingBoing reporting the red-baiting of Mr. Gates.
It's one thing to read this sort of thing from a studio exec, or head of a record label -- surrounded as they are by the sort that surround them. But the people I've met at Microsoft are miles beyond this sort of silliness. Does Mr. Gates not even talk to them?
Oh well, seems like Mr. Gates has felt the pressure of the people.
Power to the people!
UPDATE: GiantRobotPrinting is selling the shirts for $5 a piece (Youth S-Adult L) or $6 a piece (Adult XL-Adult 3XL) and shipping is $5.
Posted by darkmoon at 12:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 06, 2005
Microsoft releases AntiSpyware
Microsoft releases AntiSpyware(beta)
today. Buggy software, but it is reviewed here at Microsoft Inside by Nathan Weinberg. While one of the chief detriments to the Windows operating system is security, and the Google toolbar, and Yahoo toolbars try to fix this, Microsoft is also trying to slip in a subscription service into this tool. While a powerful tool, perhaps this could increase a number of other concerns by the public?
From Slashdot
Posted by darkmoon at 11:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 23, 2004
Paint.NET tries to take on GIMP in Open Source
Paint.NET is an Open Source initiative by Washington State University and Microsoft to try to replace the MS Paint in Windows XP. Written in C# and with GDI+ extensions, this is project will try to give The GIMP, a GTK based graphics program, a run for its money.
Slashdot covers it here.
Personal note: I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry over this one. GIMP is an Adobe Photoshop alternative while Paint.NET is to replace Microsoft Paint. Anyone that's worked in graphics knows that you do everything in Photoshop. Period. So, if this is supposed to compete, we better see some brilliant workings in the making. Second, this comes from my alma mater. Graduating from the same department, I'm STILL trying to figure out if the department finally found direction or not. Reason being? These were the same people when I was a senior in college that told us that learning C and Unix filesystems wasn't important for freshmen CS majors anymore and that Java and Windows was where the world was going to go. WSU CS, if you've finally found your calling, I applaude that it only took all of my collegiate career plus some. If not, I'm hardly going to bring up old wounds.
Posted by darkmoon at 01:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 21, 2004
How can I trust Firefox? - Peter Torr
Peter Torr (Microsoft) writes about some of the issues he ran into while installing Firefox 1.0. Most of them are complaints about the installer and unsigned controls (such as ActiveX), where Microsoft is famous for. Granted, this should be taken with a grain of salt. He is after all a Program Manager for Microsoft and not a bonafide geek like the rest of the Slashdot readers. In any case, he was given the "smackdown" by slashdot readers all over the world.
Personal note: Obviously, there are people that act like this one in the world. That's why we have the "No Child Left Behind" program. We're trying to dumb things down so that everyone can be just as dimwitted. What I find most amusing is that I've known Microsoft employees that have told me that their code stinks but they have no choice but to follow specifications. This leads me to believe that we have another manager that is trying to link two things together: his/her obvious ignorance to technology and having a strong opinion about the subject.
Posted by darkmoon at 03:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 26, 2004
Microsoft BSODs UK National Health Service
Interesting. 7 upgrades from Microsoft 2000 to Microsoft XP failed. This caused over 60,000 other Windows computers to BSOD. Slashdot covers this story.
Truthfully, there is no remorse except for the taxpayers for that 500 million contract by the National Health Service (UK). Most government IT staff I've ever dealt with usually don't know what they're doing, and to botch up a simple Windows upgrade is awfully amusing. To botch it up and cause BSODs on other computers.... Someone obviously doesn't know how to write automated unattended installations correctly. Go hither and learn thyself here! Oh wait. That's open-source. Might scare those MSCEs...
UPDATE: A friend just mentioned that SP2 crashed his computers to BSOD. Could these IT people have REALLY installed SP2 after all the news in the industry warns of the instability? Hmm. Let us ponder.
Posted by darkmoon at 11:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 24, 2004
Microsoft Critic gains half of settlement
Now this is interesting. Microsoft paid almost $20 million to the CCIA (Computer and Communications Industry Association) of which Oracle, Yahoo, and Sun Microsystems are on the Board. FT.com recent reported that Ed Black (CCIA president) pocketed at least half of the settlement that was approved by the Board. Rumors are that Nokia left the Board after hearing about the settlement claiming that it was handled improperly.
Much as I dislike Microsoft's antitrust issues, this "1 time bonus" along with the 3 year contract at $500,000 a year, this guy better not ever complain about not being able to send his kids to college. With all that money that goes to him, I'm surprised that he doesn't donate some of it at least to OSDN or something that's actually useful in the fight against the big M.
Posted by darkmoon at 02:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 18, 2004
Gates probably the most spammed person in the world?
This just came by the news.com.au that Bill Gates could possibly be the most spammed person in the world averaging 4 million per day.
What amuses me is that, knowing how the CEO receives email here at the corporation where I work, there is a "public e-mail" and an internal one that only the top staff know. The public e-mail is filtered by a staff that passes it along to the internal e-mail. So technically speaking, Bill Gates might be the most spammed, but it's a fake address. Similar to everyone that has a hotmail, or yahoo account where they register most of their junk as not to receive those spam messages.
Ballmer thinks that he's one of the few special people too. Sorry to disappoint you bud, but I know the game.
Posted by darkmoon at 10:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack