New guide by Microsoft on how to secure workstations and networks that run versions of Microsoft Windows. Very detailed guide.
Download details: Windows XP Security Guide: "The Microsoft Windows XP Security Guide provides several levels of security guidance for customers interested in hardening deployments of Windows XP for desktop and laptop clients in their environment."
Closed Socket Tech News.
8/31/2004
Lower power consumption and more performance per core = AMD's new strategy.
Tom's Hardware Guide: Tom's Hard News: "AMD has won another race against Intel by demonstrating the first dual-core processor. AMD expects the dual-core AMD Opteron processor for servers and workstations to offer the best performance per watt in the market when it will be available in mid-2005. "
Tom's Hardware Guide: Tom's Hard News: "AMD has won another race against Intel by demonstrating the first dual-core processor. AMD expects the dual-core AMD Opteron processor for servers and workstations to offer the best performance per watt in the market when it will be available in mid-2005. "
Getting new life out of an old Pentium 4 mothboard. This is a neat idea, if you can't afford the price of a new board and new RAM with your new processor.
Tom's Hardware Guide Processors: PowerLeap Breathes 2.8 GHz Life Into Old Sockets - Reviving Socket 423 To Almost 3 GHz: "The fourth anniversary of the first Pentium 4 is quickly approaching - back when it was launched, the chipset still featured a Willamette core on the now practically defunct Socket 423. It's true that these systems were also based on the (in)famous Rambus memory that despite its heftier price tag was really no faster than the SDRAMs then available. The Socket 423 systems nonetheless sold well, meaning that today their users generally search in vain for ways to conjure up a faster computer. "
Tom's Hardware Guide Processors: PowerLeap Breathes 2.8 GHz Life Into Old Sockets - Reviving Socket 423 To Almost 3 GHz: "The fourth anniversary of the first Pentium 4 is quickly approaching - back when it was launched, the chipset still featured a Willamette core on the now practically defunct Socket 423. It's true that these systems were also based on the (in)famous Rambus memory that despite its heftier price tag was really no faster than the SDRAMs then available. The Socket 423 systems nonetheless sold well, meaning that today their users generally search in vain for ways to conjure up a faster computer. "
8/13/2004
Microsoft responds to corporate installation issues with XP SP2 (mainly turning on the Windows Firewall, by defualt and the usage of bandwidth).
Desktop Pipeline | News | Microsoft Posts SP2 Blocking Tools: "Microsoft on Tuesday posted a toolkit that blocks Windows' Automatic Update from grabbing Windows XP Service Pack 2, an option enterprises concerned about lack of testing time had been demanding. "
Desktop Pipeline | News | Microsoft Posts SP2 Blocking Tools: "Microsoft on Tuesday posted a toolkit that blocks Windows' Automatic Update from grabbing Windows XP Service Pack 2, an option enterprises concerned about lack of testing time had been demanding. "
8/10/2004
An IBM internal document gets leaked. They don't want the company computers to be upgraded to XP SP2 quite yet.
TweakXP.com - IBM Just Says No to XP Update: "IBM, for one, is holding off on installing the security focused update for Windows XP. In a note headlined 'To patch-- or not to patch' posted Friday on its corporate intranet, IBM tells its employees not to download SP2 when it becomes available because of compatibility issues. A copy of the note was obtained by IDG News Service. "
TweakXP.com - IBM Just Says No to XP Update: "IBM, for one, is holding off on installing the security focused update for Windows XP. In a note headlined 'To patch-- or not to patch' posted Friday on its corporate intranet, IBM tells its employees not to download SP2 when it becomes available because of compatibility issues. A copy of the note was obtained by IDG News Service. "
8/9/2004
AMD releases support for their buffer-overflow protection and throws it in Intel's face with the release of XP SP2.
AMD says its chips can boost PC security - News - ZDNet: "AMD on Monday trumpeted a chip feature called Enhanced Virus Protection, which works with an update of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system to thwart some viruses and worms--malicious software that devours data or clogs up e-mail servers. "
AMD says its chips can boost PC security - News - ZDNet: "AMD on Monday trumpeted a chip feature called Enhanced Virus Protection, which works with an update of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system to thwart some viruses and worms--malicious software that devours data or clogs up e-mail servers. "
8/8/2004
New report on how this laptop lock isn't secure.
SECURITY LABORATORIES NEW REPORTS AND SECURITY ALERTS: "All users of the Kensington cable lock model 64038 to secure their notebook computers are at risk of theft. Although Kensignton advertises that they are liable for up to a value of $1500 if your computer is stolen, the terms of this agreement DO NOT cover theft by means other than by force. If you are utilizing this lock, your computer can be easily stolen and will not be subject to the anti-theft warranty."
SECURITY LABORATORIES NEW REPORTS AND SECURITY ALERTS: "All users of the Kensington cable lock model 64038 to secure their notebook computers are at risk of theft. Although Kensignton advertises that they are liable for up to a value of $1500 if your computer is stolen, the terms of this agreement DO NOT cover theft by means other than by force. If you are utilizing this lock, your computer can be easily stolen and will not be subject to the anti-theft warranty."
8/6/2004
SP2 may not install automatically, as mentioned below, tho verification of this posting hasn't been made yet. I'm not sure on which to believe.
ActiveWin.com - The Most Activated Windows Resource: "As soon as the background download is complete, you will be prompted to install SP2 and to accept the EULA (SP2 does not install automatically even if Automatic Updates is set to automatically install security updates). If you have a modem connection, don't 'Cancel' the update once it's in progress; just disconnect and when you reconnect later, it will automatcially pick up where it left off until it completes. "
ActiveWin.com - The Most Activated Windows Resource: "As soon as the background download is complete, you will be prompted to install SP2 and to accept the EULA (SP2 does not install automatically even if Automatic Updates is set to automatically install security updates). If you have a modem connection, don't 'Cancel' the update once it's in progress; just disconnect and when you reconnect later, it will automatcially pick up where it left off until it completes. "
And then this item shows up. Looks like MS has less than a month to fox it before SP2 gets pushed live.
Desktop Pipeline | Windows XP Service Pack 2 Breaks Microsoft CRM: "Solution providers have known for some time that the upcoming major update to Windows XP--dubbed Service Pack 2--will break custom applications. But now it appears SP2 will break off-the-shelf Microsoft apps as well.
According to a posting on Microsoft's download site, installation of Windows XP SP2 will break the Outlook Sales client of Microsoft CRM 1.2. The fix involves an update to the CRM server and Outlook client plus some manual workarounds, according to the post"
Desktop Pipeline | Windows XP Service Pack 2 Breaks Microsoft CRM: "Solution providers have known for some time that the upcoming major update to Windows XP--dubbed Service Pack 2--will break custom applications. But now it appears SP2 will break off-the-shelf Microsoft apps as well.
According to a posting on Microsoft's download site, installation of Windows XP SP2 will break the Outlook Sales client of Microsoft CRM 1.2. The fix involves an update to the CRM server and Outlook client plus some manual workarounds, according to the post"
Windows XP Service Pack 2 is going to be released (propably) this month, and it will be pushed via automatic updates. This is the first time that Microsoft has released a service pack through auto updates, so this is a new big step.
While I've not had any problems with the beta releases of SP2, pushing it to everyone should be interesting, especially with the firewall features and antivirus checking.
Welcome to the Microsoft Protect Your PC Web site: "Microsoft is preparing to release a free update for Windows XP that provides better protection against hackers, viruses, and worms. The best way to ensure you get Windows XP Service Pack 2 when it is released is by turning on Automatic Updates today. You can use our step-by-step instructions or, if you prefer, let us do it for you. "
While I've not had any problems with the beta releases of SP2, pushing it to everyone should be interesting, especially with the firewall features and antivirus checking.
Welcome to the Microsoft Protect Your PC Web site: "Microsoft is preparing to release a free update for Windows XP that provides better protection against hackers, viruses, and worms. The best way to ensure you get Windows XP Service Pack 2 when it is released is by turning on Automatic Updates today. You can use our step-by-step instructions or, if you prefer, let us do it for you. "
8/5/2004
DIrectX 9.0C is now available. Should be nice to see what this does for games and features.
Download details: DirectX 9.0c Redistributable for Software Developers: "This download provides the DirectX 9.0c end-user multi-languaged redistributable that developers can include with their product. The redistributable license agreement covers the terms under which developers may use the Redistributable. For full details please review the DirectX SDK EULA.txt and DirectX Redist.txt files located in the license directory."
Download details: DirectX 9.0c Redistributable for Software Developers: "This download provides the DirectX 9.0c end-user multi-languaged redistributable that developers can include with their product. The redistributable license agreement covers the terms under which developers may use the Redistributable. For full details please review the DirectX SDK EULA.txt and DirectX Redist.txt files located in the license directory."
A bluetooth hunting rifle at Defcon 12.
Tom's Hardware Guide Business Reports: Defcon 12's Fear and Hacking in Vegas - Bluetooth Vulnerabilities#bluesniper: "When the Flexilis team walked in with their BlueSniper Bluetooth sniper, everyone wanted to know what this evil looking contraption could do. It looks like a mutant cross between a sniper rifle and Ghostbusters particle canon, complete with nuclear backpack. Thankfully, it is a very simple device that can do one thing well: find and attack Bluetooth devices from far away. "
Tom's Hardware Guide Business Reports: Defcon 12's Fear and Hacking in Vegas - Bluetooth Vulnerabilities#bluesniper: "When the Flexilis team walked in with their BlueSniper Bluetooth sniper, everyone wanted to know what this evil looking contraption could do. It looks like a mutant cross between a sniper rifle and Ghostbusters particle canon, complete with nuclear backpack. Thankfully, it is a very simple device that can do one thing well: find and attack Bluetooth devices from far away. "
IT and computer hardware news events and Closed Socket's reviews and personal takes on things you should know about. Visit Closed Socket Industries for the rest of the story.
Links
Previous Posts
- Finally, you'll be able to use DDR2 with the AMD c...
- Very nice article on the features of the Person Na...
- Large group of questions answered about the forthc...
- Finally, a real date for the launch of Vista. Coul...
- Free web-based remote control software. Very nice ...
- Microsoft has released Office Live as a limited op...
- New Web 2.0 site that allows you to make presentat...
- Microsoft is working on a very cool new technology...
- Looks like Google is branching into even more venu...
- The Podcast Network lists tons of podcasts, with m...
Archives
- 08/01/2003 - 08/31/2003
- 09/01/2003 - 09/30/2003
- 10/01/2003 - 10/31/2003
- 11/01/2003 - 11/30/2003
- 12/01/2003 - 12/31/2003
- 01/01/2004 - 01/31/2004
- 02/01/2004 - 02/29/2004
- 03/01/2004 - 03/31/2004
- 06/01/2004 - 06/30/2004
- 07/01/2004 - 07/31/2004
- 08/01/2004 - 08/31/2004
- 10/01/2005 - 10/31/2005
- 11/01/2005 - 11/30/2005
- 02/01/2006 - 02/28/2006
- 03/01/2006 - 03/31/2006
- 04/01/2006 - 04/30/2006
- 05/01/2006 - 05/31/2006
- Current Posts
