Beta Test LockDown Millennium
As techniques used by hackers and malicious programs become more sophisticated, the danger persists that even the most careful user can become a victim. Aiming to ensure a secure computing environment, New Hampshire based LockDown Corporation is seeking 200 additional
beta testers to participate in the development of its LockDown Millennium and LockDown Millennium Pro Internet protection software. The beta is open to testers of all nationalities running either 9x or NT-based versions of Windows. Support for Windows XP is included in all of the featured products.
More suited toward home and small business users, LockDown Millennium
features enhanced trojan detection and removal functions. The premium LockDown Millennium Pro includes tools to monitor network conditions,
enforce policies on cookies and scripting, a Web monitor, and a utility to audit files.
Microsoft Settles Antitrust Case with New Mexico
Following yesterday's decision to change provisions of Windows' licensing, Microsoft has taken another step toward solving its legal
woes. New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid and Microsoft have announced that the state's antitrust case against the software giant has been settled.
The Associated Press reports that the Redmond, Washington, based company has agreed to pay all legal costs incurred in the case and according to Madrid, the state will also receive any "penalties and remedies imposed in the continuing federal antitrust case." She additionally noted that the settlement serves the interests of the state's consumers and businesses alike.
Office XP Bug Opens System to Outsiders
UPDATED Since its introduction, Microsoft's ActiveX technology has been plagued by a seemingly endless flow of security vulnerabilities. The latest flaw discovered by famed bug-hunter Georgi Guninski does nothing to soften the technology's bug laden image. This time, Microsoft Outlook View Control, an ActiveX control that ships with Office, grants malicious users unlimited access to a target system. Although it was first reported that Office XP was solely vulnerable, Microsoft has since issued a security bulletin revealing that all versions of Outlook including 98 are affected.
According to Guninski's findings, "If a user visits a specially designed HTML page with IE or opens or previews a message with Outlook XP arbitrary commands may be executed on his computer." This exploit is accomplished by accessing the Outlook executable, allowing an intruder to read, modify, or delete messages contained in Outlook's folders using a property called "selection."
Microsoft Loosens Grip on OEMs
In a move aimed at granting more freedom to OEMs, provisions of the licensing agreement for Windows have been changed. Microsoft announced today what amounts to a reversal of some of the stringent requirements it has imposed on OEMS in the past. The recent Appeals Court ruling prompted Microsoft to alter specific areas of the Windows licensing agreement that were in violation of Federal anti-trust laws. The flexibility to add and remove components from Internet Explorer, as well as to choose the placement of Start menu shortcuts and desktop icons has been granted to computer manufacturers. The decision to make changes in the agreement will not affect the October 25 launch date of Windows XP, despite requiring slight changes to its code.
The software giant has moved to take immediate steps to appease the court, recognizing what the court considers to be its wrong doings. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stated today, "We recognize that some provisions in our existing Windows licenses have been ruled improper by the court, so we are providing computer manufacturers with greater flexibility and we are doing this immediately so that computer manufacturers can take advantage of them in planning for the upcoming release of Windows XP." Ballmer also remarked that this decision in no way replaces settlement talks with the government, stating that the company was willing to iron out any lingering issues.
Microsoft, VeriSign Secure .NET
Since Microsoft announced its upcoming .NET and Hailstorm services, the company has faced much criticism from security experts and privacy advocates. In turn, Microsoft has decided to add an extra touch of security by extending its
partnership with VeriSign. In addition to Microsoft's own Passport authentication system, the integrity of certain transactions will be
augmented by digital certificates. Both companies were eager to point out that the extra security measure does not require any additional
passwords.
Although Passport will remain the standard method of authentication for most of the .NET services, particular scenarios demand enhanced security. In instances were users transfers funds, or divulge sensitive personal information such as their medical history, a certain level of trust is required. Mountain View, California, based VeriSign touts its
digital certificates as the solution to these concerns. Both companies will collaborate on fine tuning the technology as Microsoft's Hailstorm
progresses.
Understanding the WPA Whitepaper
Following Fully Licensed GmbH's public release of a highly technical whitepaper filled with revelations of the secrets behind Windows Product Activation, many users have rushed to read the findings only to find them downright confusing and cryptic. BetaNews sat down with Thomas Lopatic, one of the paper's authors, to gain further insight into the research - minus the technical jargon.
Thomas Lopatic: Thanks for your interest in our WPA paper. We appreciate your efforts to make its contents available to a much wider audience. As the primary author of the paper, I'll answer the questions you sent to Matthias.
Preview Program XPeriences Snags
UPDATED Windows XP public preview program participants are up in arms over delays and an apparent communication blackout with Redmond. A series of recent slip-ups by Microsoft's download partner Conxion has tainted the experience of these customers before they have even gotten their hands on the software giant's greatly hyped new operating system. All customers were expected to have received an e-mail detailing the download process by July 7. However, the date has past and many customers have been left in the dark.
Over 50,000 users who applied for the program opted for the download option, leaving Conxion with the immense task of addressing
their concerns and waves of discontent. To make matters worse, an initial server configuration error granted unlimited access to the official download site, allowing software pirates to download the product well before paying customers were notified of the release.
France: Completely Wired in 5 Years
Growing concern that rural areas would miss out on high speed Internet connections has led France to undertake an ambitious task of wiring its entire land mass within five years time. Under the plan, local communities will be provided with loans of up to $1.3 billion. That money would then be earmarked to lay down fiber across the countryside. The total estimated cost of the project dwells around 30 billion francs.
First reported by Reuters, the government is also considering utility lines owned by state-controlled Electricite de France to be ideal pathways for fiber optic networks. Citing the low profit potential of rural markets as a barrier to investment by the private sector, a government spokesperson predicted that 70-80 percent of the country would not have access to high speed Internet connections if not for government action. Full details of the plan will be announced today.
myCasio Beta Set for Launch
An entirely new realm of possibilities is opening up for Cassiopeia users who feel the handheld does not do enough. In conjunction with ActionEngine, Casio is set to begin testing a new wireless service available exclusively on its popular brand of PDA. Dubbed myCasio, the service promises to open up a pipeline of information and media, extending the device well beyond its traditional role as simply an organizer. Augmenting a user's computing experience, content for business productivity or just plain entertainment purposes will be accessible from the tiny Windows CE based machines. Officially slated to launch this fall, the service matches steps taken by competitors to squeeze as much Internet functionality as possible into portable devices.
While wireless products ranging from cell phones to competing models of handhelds using the OmniSky service provide similar offerings, this marks Casio's first attempt to act as a true content provider to customers.
Apple Places Cube on Ice
Fans of Apple's radically different Power Mac G4 Cube are in for some disappointment. Rumors predicting Apple's plan to discontinue the production of the Cube have proven to be true. Today the Cupertino, California based company announced that production would be suspended indefinitely. Leaving a glimmer of hope for Cube users, Apple did keep open the prospect of a similar design resurfacing with upgraded hardware. However, no plans exist for new models at this time.
Introduced at last July's Mac World Expo, the G4 Cube never experienced the consumer response Apple had hoped to ignite with its release. Dismal sales that remained well under projections, as well a reputation for quality assurance problems plagued the Cube during its lifespan. For many, the most notable aspects of the G4 Cube will remain the infamous micro-cracks that formed in its clear plastic casing, and the misaligned switches that caused it to turn off unexpectedly.
The Flip Side of 'Shared Source'
Last week, Microsoft announced a collaboration with Corel aimed at developing C# and Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) tools for the FreeBSD operating system. Upon release, this software will be made available to academic institutions and researchers, but access is limited by the company's conditions. Touted as a sensible alternative to GPL licensing, Microsoft's "shared source" program is intended to create a model for software development that the company hopes will counteract the popularity of the GPL.
GPL was first utilized by the free software movement for the free distribution of software, but later was adopted by the open source movement – which Microsoft has had considerable disagreement with. Described by Microsoft as being "viral" in nature, the GPL has come under intense scrutiny by the media.
Beta Test Symantec NAV for Exchange
Symantec is looking to recruit testers for a mid-July beta of Norton AntiVirus for Microsoft Exchange 3.0. The beta includes several new features, most significantly support for Exchange 2000's virus API dubbed VSAPI 2.0. VSAPI 2.0 offers new functionality such as context information for attachments and message body scanning. Symantec has plans to fully support VSAPI 2.5 as well. Interestingly, this release marks the end of Symantec's support for Netscape browsers and following Compaq’s announcement of plans to cease Alpha development, NAV will not support the DEC Alpha platform.
The beta can be remotely installed on multiple servers, and will provide a management interface using Microsoft Management Console (MMC). For customers with less demanding needs, NAV also includes the option to install on standalone Exchange servers. In this case, the primary means of management is an HTML-based user interface that can be accessed through the server or remotely via the Internet. Daily tasks can also be automated though a "zero maintenance" mode, simplifying operation for smaller customers.
Microsoft 'Shares' .NET Framework
Microsoft today announced a partnership with Corel to develop its C# and Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) development tools for the FreeBSD operating system. Versions of these tools will be made available to academic institutions and researchers under the "shared source" initiative. Redmond has been promoting shared source in place of the open source GPL licensing agreement which it has described as being "viral in nature." Corel is experienced in developing products for flavors of UNIX, having once distributed its own version of Linux.
Often beleaguered by the open source community, Microsoft spokesperson Craig Mundie underscored the company's code sharing strategy, stating "First, we took the core Microsoft .NET technologies to the W3C and ECMA standards bodies for standardization. Now, with Corel, we're creating an implementation under our shared source philosophy." A beta version of the tools is expected to be released in early 2002 with a final version coming later that year.
Oracle Bets on Subscriptions for Small Business
Firing up the rhetoric, Oracle front man Larry Ellison announced a new suite of online business applications Tuesday, aimed to compete with Microsoft's bCentral. Described by Ellison as a "direct assault" on the Redmond giant, Oracle's service will target companies with 100 employees or less at a cost of $99 USD per month. Microsoft's purchase of Great Plains software assures that an online battle will ensue between the world's two largest software companies.
The over 100,000 bCentral subscribers pay an average of $30 USD each month according to an Associated Press report. However, Ellison is confident enough that his service will be adopted by the marketplace and claims, "bCentral is so bad that our biggest fear is that people will think online services won't work." Oracle will charge an Internet startup, NetLedger, with the task of promoting its online business applications to small businesses. Oracle owns a majority share in NetLedger.
New Beta Organizes Palm
As Palm upgrades its hardware, more and more files can be stored in any given handheld's memory. With a significant number of files, organization and access time soon become an issue. Many third party developers have answered the call to improve file management on handhelds beyond what is offered by the core Palm OS. At PC Expo in New York, Bachmann Software announced that it was up to the task.
A beta of FilePoint, a file management system, is currently in testing and the final code will be available to Palm customers within 60 days. FilePoint features fast searching by filename, keyword, and date. It is also compatible with the most popular business applications for Palm OS. A simple interface manages all tasks including viewing, editing, and file sharing.
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