Symantec: Windows Update Downloader Can Spread Malware
Researchers at Symantec have published a report highlighting how the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) -- a main component of Windows Update -- is being used by Trojans to download malware that bypasses firewalls and security controls.
BITS runs in the background and downloads patches to Windows without eating up all available bandwidth. Because it supports the HTTP protocol, it can be used to download almost any file, and Microsoft employs the technology for sending beta versions of its software such as Vista and Windows Server to testers.
Microsoft Tool to Protect Office Files
Microsoft is readying a new file conversion tool for Office that is designed to strip out malicious code embedded in a document. The company says businesses will be safer from exploits in older file formats, and, in turn, Microsoft could see more upgrades to Office 2007.
The tool, dubbed Microsoft Office Isolated Conversion Environment, or MOICE, can be associated to the older file formats like those used in Office 2003. When the document is accessed, it is upconverted by MOICE and handed off to the new version of Office.
SanDisk, Microsoft Join to Replace U3
Just four months after its big coming out party at CES, U3 -- a platform for running applications from USB thumb drives -- has already been put on the chopping block by parent SanDisk. The company has decided to join Microsoft in creating a new standard.
U3 was first introduced in 2005, backed by a host of supporting software and hardware vendors. Popular applications including AOL's Winamp, Cerulean Studios' Trillian, McAfee Antivirus and Skype among others were offered in U3 versions to spur its adoption.
Manufacturers to Unveil Microsoft Web Phones
As the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) kicks off this week in Los Angeles, nine hardware manufacturers will introduce a new generation of phones designed to work with Microsoft's Office Communications Server and Office Communicator.
Microsoft provided the specifications for the phones, which link up with e-mail, instant messaging, real-time presence, and conferencing. The company is aiming to bring voice communications back into a business world that has been shifting toward written chats and e-mail.
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Apple Notebook Sales Up, iPod Sales Down
For the month of March, Apple was the fourth largest seller of notebook computers, grabbing nearly 10 percent of the market behind Gateway, Toshiba and HP. The retail numbers, consolidated by NPD Group, do not include Dell, which only sells directly.
Apple's 9.9 percent share in March puts the company back in the top five notebook retailers after it dropped out in February. Apple previously held a 10.1 percent market share in January. Toshiba led the market in March with a share of 26.2 percent, closely followed by HP at 23.9 percent. Gateway placed third with 13 percent of the market.
Vonage: We Have Patent Workarounds
During its quarterly earnings call Thursday, Vonage chief executive Jeffrey Citron acknowledged that the company's patent fight against Verizon has hurt profit margins, but says it has developed workarounds for two of the three patents in question.
Vonage declined to offer specifics on how it intends to sidestep Verizon's VoIP patents if it loses on appeal, only saying a software update would be delivered to subscribers in the coming weeks. The third patent -- involving placing calls over Wi-Fi -- is still being worked on, but Vonage says only 10 percent of subscribers use Wi-Fi phones.
VMware Workstation 6 Supports Vista
VMware this week made available version 6.0 of its desktop virtualization product, which has set a standard for testing and development, and competes with Microsoft's now-free VirtualPC. New features in Workstation 6.0 include support for Vista, dual monitors, and USB 2.0 devices.
While the server world increasingly turns to virtualization to take advantage of the huge advances in CPU power with the advent of multi-core chips, virtual machines play a critical role in aiding IT administration, development and software testers. Users can quickly boot up a computer within a computer, as well as do cross-platform testing without multiple hardware setups.
Warner: Canada Source of Film Piracy
Warner Bros. announced this week it would no longer hold promotional screenings of movies in Canada, and all press screenings would take place in a private room. The move comes in response to increasing movie piracy in the country, which the studio blames on lax laws.
While China and Russia often thought as the largest sources of pirated content, Warner Bros. claims Canada is the real problem. The company says 70 percent of its films have been pirated in Canada over the last 18 months. Those illegal -- and often poor quality -- copies are then sold around the world.
5 IE Flaws Patched with 14 Others
For May's Patch Tuesday, Microsoft corrected a total of 19 security flaws across its consumer and business product lines, with an update for IE fixing five remote code execution vulnerabilities. A highly-publicized DNS flaw was also patched.
Seven critical security bulletins were issued, three of which affect Office. MS07-023 fixes three separate flaws in Excel that could lead to remote code execution, while MS07-024 does the same for three vulnerabilities in Microsoft Word.
Death Knell Rings for Portable Media Center
Unbeknownst to many, Microsoft put the nails in its Portable Media Center coffin last year, telling licensees it would no longer develop the platform, opting instead to focus on Windows Mobile. The final word came in a public newsgroup posting Friday.
"With the re-investment of resources in media experiences on connected Windows Mobile powered devices, Portable Media Center 2.0 is the last version of our Portable Media Center software under the Windows Mobile brand. We do not plan any future Portable Media Center software upgrades or marketing activities," wrote Microsoft's David Bono.
Sun to Help Bring OpenOffice to Mac
OpenOffice has seen much success on Windows following the release of version 2.0, but its Macintosh brethren has remained stuck in the past without a native port. Engineers at Sun are hoping to change that, lending their support to building an Aqua version of the free Microsoft Office alternative.
While an X11 version of OpenOffice has been available for Mac users, that release required first launching the X Window system - something few consumers even had installed. The OpenOffice development team put the full Aqua port on hold in 2003 with a goal to have it ready during 2006.
Microsoft Preps 7 Security Bulletins
Microsoft on Tuesday will issue seven security bulletins that correct vulnerabilities in products ranging from Windows to Office and Exchange Server to BizTalk. One of these fixes will be for a highly-publicized DNS flaw affecting Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.
Specifically, two bulletins will affect Windows, with at least one rated critical. Three will affect Office, also with at least one rated critical. One critical bulletin each will be released for Exchange Server and Microsoft CAPICOM and BizTalk. In addition, six high-priority non-security updates will be issued through Microsoft Update. Per its standard practices, Microsoft does not disclose specifics of upcoming patches before they are released.
Yahoo Launches Web Based Messenger
Following in the footsteps of IM rivals AOL and Microsoft, Yahoo on Thursday launched a Web-based version of its instant messaging client, which runs across platforms in IE, Firefox, Opera and Safari. Users can message their Yahoo and Windows Live contacts from a Web browser, as well as access chat history.
Yahoo Messenger for the Web includes a feature the downloadable versions does not yet have: a tabbed message window. Currently in beta, the service is available in English, Portuguese, Vietnamese and traditional Chinese. AOL has offered its own AIM Express on the Web since 2000, while both Microsoft and Google also offer browser-based versions of their IM clients.
Vonage Retrial Request Denied
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has denied Vonage's request that a patent infringement ruling against it be vacated and the case sent back to the lower court for a retrial. The company can, however, reference the matter in its appeal brief, due next Wednesday.
Vonage's request followed a ruling Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court that called into question the patentability of "obvious" inventions. Verizon sued the company for infringing on its voice over IP patents, but Vonage claims the patents should not be considered valid.
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