Windows Vista Security News

94 more secret Windows shortcuts

Vistaman — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:55:16 +0000

Last week the blogosphere went temporarily insane over a simple GUID that displays a list of Control Panel shortcuts. It’s not even close to deserving the “God mode” label, but I’m still hearing about it. As I noted in response, that’s only one of 39 GUID shortcuts available in Windows 7. But even those are esoteric and mostly of interest to programmers and geeks.

But there’s another, much larger class of well-hidden Windows shortcuts that are useful to everyone, not just techies. I dug through my notes for Windows 7 Inside Out and found a treasure trove of information about these shortcuts. They wound up on the cutting-room floor for that first edition, but are scheduled to be in the expanded second edition in a year or so. 94 more secret Windows shortcuts | Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report | ZDNet.com

The ultimate God Mode list: 39 secret Windows 7 shortcuts

Vistaman — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:00:47 +0000

For some reason that only the gods of the blogosphere can explain, an old Windows trick took on new life this week. If you create a new folder using an arbitrary name, followed by a period and the GUID {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}, you end up with a categorized list of Control Panel tasks.

As I explained last weekend, there’s nothing new or hidden in this list, but calling it “God mode” seems to have given this tip wings. Even Steven Sinofsky got into the act, sending a list of 15 additional GUID-based shortcuts to my colleague Ina Fried at CNET. So, that must be it, right? If Sinofsky has spoken then surely there can’t be any more. The ultimate ‘God Mode’ list: 39 secret Windows 7 shortcuts | Ed Bott’s Microsoft Report | ZDNet.com

Facebook enhances privacy settings

Vistaman — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:03:35 +0000

In a significant privacy shake-up, Facebook has announced it will remove regional networks and give users more control over their personal information. Users of the popular social network will now be able to control who sees each individual piece of content that they upload.

This contrasts to current Facebook policy, which only allows users to create block settings, such as that which lets a user create a list of contacts that will not be able to see all of their wall content. Facebook enhances privacy settings - Software - Technology - News - iTnews.com.au

Windows 7 tricks: 20 top tips and tweaks

Vistaman — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:04:16 +0000

Just got your hands on Windows 7 and want to bend it to your will? No problem. We’ve got plenty of tips, hacks and secrets to keep you busy for a long time, including automatically opening Windows Explorer to a folder of your choice, speeding up taskbar thumbnails, finding hidden desktop themes, forcing User Account Control to act the way you’d like, keeping your Explorer searches secret from others, and more.

So check out these tips. If you like them, we’ll keep more coming. New Zealand PC World Magazine > Windows 7 tricks: 20 top tips and tweaks

The ABCs of securing your Windows netbook

Vistaman — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Netbooks are likely to be a popular gift this holiday season—they’re cheap, highly portable, and the kind of thing that you can give as a gift to a relatively novice computer user who needs a laptop but doesn’t need the power or responsibility that comes with a more expensive portable.

Netbooks are also looking increasingly good to business travelers, due to their portability and low hardware replacement cost in case of loss, damage, or theft. But even though a netbook itself can be cheap to replace, losing an inexpensive netbook PC can still be very costly. The ABCs of securing your Windows netbook

Microsoft targets 2012 for Windows 8

Vistaman — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:45:07 +0000

When we first started posting news tidbits regarding Windows 8, we warned readers not to expect the operating system to arrive until 2011 at the earliest, and we noted that 2012 was more likely.

After the problems caused by the long gap between the releases of Windows XP and Windows Vista, Microsoft said that starting with Windows 7, the company would work really hard to follow a three-year release cycle. Windows 7 was released on October 22, 2009, so it makes sense that Windows 8 will get here in 2012, assuming no delays. Microsoft targets 2012 for Windows 8

Installing Windows 7 from a USB stick the easy way

Vistaman — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:39:30 +0000

These days there are quite a few types of computers which don’t have an optical drive built in. For the average user this is no great loss. Today Software is downloaded and not bought on a CD or DVD anymore.

Also the CD has lost its popularity for exchanging data, people use the Internet or USB sticks. However, there is one big drawback for PCs without optical drives: For installing an OS you need to boot from the installation media. Without an optical drive you run into problems, because USB sticks aren’t bootable by default and installing from a network is quite a hassle. 4sysops - Installing Windows 7 from a USB stick – the easy way

Users cannot rely on new Windows 7 safety features alone

Vistaman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:30:50 +0000

Recent tests have shown that Windows 7’s User Account Control did not catch seven out of ten malware items when run on the OS.

With Windows 7 proving vulnerable when security tested, NCP engineering encourages all businesses to review their security measures and consider adopting a virtual private network to ensure business protection. Moreover, secure communications remain a required extra for all businesses. Users cannot rely on new Windows 7 safety features alone - Security Park news

Microsoft Security Essentials or Forefront: Which should a Windows user choose?

Vistaman — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:41:36 +0000

It’s been a while since Microsoft has shared any new information about its free antimalware offering, Microsoft Security Essentials (codenamed “Morro”). But the Softies are quietly setting the stage for the product, which is slated to launch before the end of the year.

A quick refresher: MSE is the replacement for Windows Live OneCare and a superset of Windows Defender. Microsoft officials have said it is meant for consumers who are unwilling or unable to pay for security software. Microsoft Security Essentials or Forefront: Which should a Windows user choose? | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com

Microsoft Backports Windows 7 Security Change to XP, Vista

Vistaman — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:39:16 +0000

Microsoft has backported changes to its AutoRun and AutoPlay features to Windows Vista and Windows XP to help users fight malware that spreads via USB devices.

Microsoft made the change in Windows 7 earlier in 2009 to stop the spread of the infamous Conficker worm, which was taking advantage of the functionality to silently jump from PC to PC. With the change, Windows will no longer display the AutoRun task in the AutoPlay dialog except for removable optical media such as CDs and DVDs. Microsoft Windows - Microsoft Backports Windows 7 Security Change to XP, Vista - eWeek Security Watch

10 Microsoft Windows 7 Features to Anticipate

Vistaman — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:11:04 +0000

Microsoft Windows 7, touted as an improvement on both Vista and XP, will include many changes to previous versions of the operating system.

In addition to fundamental improvements, such as programming tweaks that increase its overall speed, there will also be funkier adjustments, including eccentric new wallpapers. Microsoft is looking for a massive hit in order to validate a readjusted corporate strategy and boost its finances in the midst of a global recession. 10 Microsoft Windows 7 Features to Anticipate

Review: Windows 7 RTM

Vistaman — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:07:37 +0000

Now that Microsoft’s Windows 7 has reached the release to manufacturing (RTM) stage, it’s time to take a close look at all the features of the upcoming operating system.

You might think that, because there are so many similarities between Windows 7 and Windows Vista, Windows 7 is essentially just a big Windows Vista service pack. But in reality, Windows 7 is a solid, well-performing operating system, free of many of the glitches that bedeviled the launch of Windows Vista. Review: Windows 7 RTM — a closer look

Windows 7 will nag users 29% less often, Microsoft claims

Vistaman — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:15:23 +0000

One of the most hated features of Windows Vista will be seen a third less often by users of the upcoming Windows 7, a Microsoft executive promised today. "You’ll see a lot fewer UAC prompts in Windows 7," said Paul Cooke, director of Windows 7 client enterprise security.

User Account Control, or UAC, the security feature that debuted in Vista, was designed to reduce the chance that malware could hijack a PC by forcing users to confirm that they really meant to do such things as install new software or modify key operating system settings. Windows 7 will nag users 29% less often, Microsoft claims

Vista7 more secure than Linux and Mac OS X

Vistaman — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:11:54 +0000

Vista today, post-Service Pack 2, which is now in the marketplace, is the safest, most reliable OS we’ve ever built. It’s also the most secure OS on the planet, including Linux and open source and Apple Leopard.

It’s the safest and most secure OS on the planet today. Everything that we’ve learned in Vista will be leveraged in Windows 7, but certainly when we broke a lot of the compatibility issues to lock down user account controls, to lock down the ability to manipulate states and all the things, that was a very painful process for us to grow through, but we had to do it. And the reason that Windows 7 will be successful is because of the pain we took on Vista. Because from a compatibility standpoint, if it works on Vista, it will work on Windows 7. If it doesn’t work on Vista, it won’t work on Windows 7. Vista/7 more secure than Linux and Mac OS X | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

Conficker self updates, launches false infection alert

Vistaman — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:09:09 +0000

April 1 may not have turned into the D-day that some feared Conficker might create, but the newest version of the worm (Conficker.C) is still out in the wild with mischief on its mind. The malware’s creators released a new patch on April 7; the group obviously intends to continue its active war against security researchers.

Such tenacity has been a trait of Conficker since the parasite first appeared on the ‘Net near the end of 2008. Each version of Conficker has delivered new "features" or tricks intended to bypass security patches; the April 7 update is no exception. Conficker self-updates, launches false infection alert - Ars Technica

Conficker self updates, launches false infection alert

Vistaman — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:53:46 +0000

April 1 may not have turned into the D-day that some feared Conficker might create, but the newest version of the worm (Conficker.C) is still out in the wild with mischief on its mind.

The malware’s creators released a new patch on April 7; the group obviously intends to continue its active war against security researchers. Such tenacity has been a trait of Conficker since the parasite first appeared on the ‘Net near the end of 2008. Each version of Conficker has delivered new "features" or tricks intended to bypass security patches; the April 7 update is no exception. Conficker self-updates, launches false infection alert - Ars Technica

Further Windows 7 features revealed

Vistaman — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:04:22 +0000

More information emerges from Microsoft about compatibility issues and features of the forthcoming Windows 7, in the form of answers to user’s questions.

In an previous article, we dug up information on Windows 7 from the Springboard Series round-table meetings, fronted by Microsoft’s Mark Russinovich. Now, some more answers to questions from users have been published. Further Windows 7 features revealed

How Windows 7 UAC shapes enterprise security

Vistaman — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:22:02 +0000

There is a lot of buzz about the security features in the upcoming release of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system, especially User Account Control (UAC).

Microsoft designed UAC to control the elevated “administrator” privilege that is so dangerous from an IT security perspective. UAC debuted in Windows Vista to help reduce privilege levels of all users, non-IT and IT employees alike, when tasks were being performed that did not require elevation. How Windows 7 UAC shapes enterprise security | Tech News on ZDNet

Worm Set For April Fools Day Launch

Vistaman — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:44:49 +0000

Security researchers have sent out notice about a worm set to hit the wild on April 1, making the situation no laughing matter. Conficker.C, the latest variant of Conficker.A and Conficker.B-both of which have been shut down by some crafty reverse engineering-isn’t quite as nasty as its predecessors, in the same way Lil Kim isn’t quite as nasty as 2 Live Crew.

Researchers at CA (Computer Associates) haven’t been successful in shutting down this newest variant, but have looked at the code to discover it is set to launch itself en masse on April Fools Day. But we’re guessing it won’t be a trick.
Worm Set For April Fools Day Launch

Microsoft Releases IE8, Stresses Security

Vistaman — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:40:10 +0000

Microsoft plans to make its Internet Explorer 8 browser available on Thursday, along with a company-commissioned report claiming IE8 is more secure against malware than rival browsers from Mozilla and Google.

Users will be able to download IE8 in 25 languages at 12:00 noon Eastern Daylight Time on Thursday from Microsoft’s IE Web site and its online download center. Microsoft Releases IE8, Stresses Security - PC World

Windows Vista Security News

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