QuickTime Pro 7.70.80.34 with Serial Key Full Version Free Download

Quick Time The Best Place to Play
A powerful multimedia technology with a built-in media player, QuickTime lets you view Internet video, HD movie trailers, and personal media in a wide range of file formats. And it lets you enjoy them in remarkably high quality.
Watch Internet video, HD movie trailers, and personal media clips. Whether it's on the web or on your desktop, QuickTime Player brings your digital media brilliantly to life.
The QuickTime family of digital media creation, delivery and playback software lets you deliver live or pre-recorded videoand audio to an audience of any size. When combined with QuickTime Player and QuickTimePro, these applications work together to provide the industry's first end-to-end, standards-based digital media delivery system.
QuickTime 7 is Apple's cutting-edge digital media software for both Mac and Windows-based computers delivers unparalleled quality for creating, playing and streaming audio and video content over the Internet. Besides playing MPEG-4 and MP3 content, it supports timecode tracks as well as MIDI standards such as the Roland Sound Canvasand GS format extensions. It alsosupports key standards for web streaming, including HTTP, RTP and RTSP. Plus, it supports every major file format for images, including JPEG, BMP, PICT, PNG and GIF. QuickTime 7 features anultra efficient new H.264 video codec delivering stunning quality at remarkably low data rates from 3G to iChat AV to HD.

CyberLink PowerDVD 7 Registered Full Version Free Download

CyberLink PowerDVD 7 is a pioneer in bringing advanced digital video and audio software to the market. Producer of the DVD software player, PowerDVD, CyberLink also delivers complete solutions for the digital home and online learning solutions. CyberLink is an owner of a number of patented digital videoand audio technologies. Combined with extensive user-interface research, CyberLink has launched multimedia applications that arerobust and powerful, yet friendlyenough for the non-professional users.
CyberLink PowerDVD 7 Supporting a complete range of video formats including MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) and audio technologies DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital EX, PowerDVD enhances your movie experience outdoors with flexible mobile features such as the new 'See-It-All ' feature that speeds up and completes movie playback before battery power runs out along with a built-in pack for saving essential battery power. PowerDVD 7 has been recognized as a winner of CES Innovations 2007 Design and Engineering Award for the following 2 new features: 'Say It Again' feature that instantly repeats a speaker's entire dialog and 'Read-It-Clearly' feature that migrates subtitles to open areas for unobstructed viewing. PowerDVD also offers 5 viewing modes: Dock--resizes panel and fits to bottom of screen; Taskbar--allows access to controls via icon on taskbar; Mini--space-saving design for essential disc control, Full screen--expands viewing mode; Control panel--translucent floating panel.

CPAC Imaging Pro 3.0 Full Version Free Download

Digital Imaging PRO Software
Retouching software for professionals...
Outstanding results in just minutes
CPAC imaging introduces Version3.0 of the CPAC Digital Imaging PRO retouching software. This new software is an advanced retouching software that is much easier to use than for example,
Adobe Photoshop. No more needto follow expensive and long training courses anymore. Within and hour or two going through the Tutorial, you and your staff can start making astonishing retouching work within a matter of minutes. Theywill create professional results with an easy to learn, operator friendly format. No more brush or hours of hard work needed to achieve professional portrait retouching and restoration. It is the ideal program to retouch, restore, repair, refresh, renew, rejuvenate your customers portraits.
Professional results with an easyto learn, operator friendly format.
No more brush or hours of hard work needed to achieve professional portrait retouching and restoration. The ideal program to retouch restores, repair, refresh, renew, and rejuvenate your portraits. Retouching software for Professionals...outstanding results in just minutes.
Software Features:
*. Portrait retouching
*. Changing backgrounds
*. Changing clothing
*. Colorize B&W pictures
*. Remove dust and scratches ...and many more
Among the tools are:
Portrait warping tool, which changes facial expressionsnaturally, such as an open mouthto a closed one, a narrower chin or wider eyes. Even add a smile.Portrait colorization, which applies color to the gray areas, converting any B&W image into a true color image.
Skin color adjustment that lightens or tones complexion, adds a healthy suntan, or brightens dark or shadowed areas of the face or body.
Skin texture editing which deletes blemishes automatically to remove freckles, moles, acne, birthmarks, even heavy wrinklesor can reduce dark lines around the eyes.
Brush tool that modifies selected areas without changing skin texture.
Other capabilities include changeof attire, background and scenery; soft filter, sepia tone and image sharpening.

ArchiCAD 15 Graphics For 32Bit "x86"& 64Bit Full Version Free Download

DESIGN Horizons
ArchiCAD 15 enriches architectural forms available for designers to unleash their creative minds, and it also expands the scope of the BIM workflow to include renovation& refurbishment projects.
The evolution of the design process has gone through at least as many revolutionary steps as the forms and structuresthemselves. During the course ofthe past few decades, architects have gradually left the "flat-lands" of 2D sketching for the exciting "high-lands" of designing in 3D virtual spaces. The increase in freedom brought about by the third dimension, however, adds a new degree of difficulty to orientation in space as well. ArchiCAD 15 introduces 3D guidelines and editing planesto revolutionize the 3D space definition, making the perspective view the natural, 3D environment for building design.

AutoCAD 2012 for 32Bit & 64Bit Full Version Free Download

Below is the link to Download Autocad 2012
Design and shape the world around you with AutoCAD® software, one of the world's leading CAD programs. Explore ideas more intuitively in 3D, speed documentation, share ideas seamlessly, and customize AutoCAD for your specific needs. With new and updated tools for 3D conceptual design, model documentation, and reality capture, AutoCAD 2012 helps design professionals maximize productivity.
Model Documentation Tools
Save time by automatically generating intelligent documentation for AutoCAD, Autodesk® Inventor® software, and other models. Import a widevariety of other formats including SolidWorks®, Pro/ENGINEER®, CATIA®, Rhino, and NX®. Drawing views, edge display, and location are instantly updated when an engineering change is made.
3D Free-Form Design Tools
You now have the power to design ideas in almost any form you can imagine. Simply push/pull faces, edges, and vertices to model complex shapes, add smooth surfaces, and much more. With tools for surface, solid, and mesh modeling, AutoCAD provides the utmost flexibility and control when designing in 3D.
Autodesk Inventor Fusion
Adds to the 3D conceptual design capabilities of AutoCAD and sets a new standard for professional 3D modeling ease ofuse. It enables you to flexibly edit and validate models from almost any source, helping you further experience the benefits of easy-to-use 3D in the native DWG format.
Parametric Drawing
Dramatically slash your design revision time with parametric drawing. By defining persistent relationships between objects, parallel lines remain parallel and concentric circles remain centered, all automatically. And now, you can infer geometric constraints in real time—as you draw—eliminating the need to manually define all of your object relationships.
Point Cloud Support
Bring your 3D scans to life, streamlining time-consuming renovation and restoration projects. With support for up to 2 billion points, you can quickly visualize and snap to the surface of your scanned objects directly within your modeling workspace.
Associative Array Functionality
Save valuable rework time by establishing and maintaining a set of relationships between arrayed objects, such as windows on a building or trusses on a bridge. Plus, you cannow array objects along a specified path (rather than just rectangular or polar options), saving even more time when creating conceptual designs or finished documentation.
PDF Support
Sharing and reusing designs has never been easier thanks to robust PDF support within AutoCAD. With TrueType font support, import and underlay capabilities, and powerful publishing capabilities, AutoCAD helps facilitate clear communication when using PDF.
Multi-Function Grips
The power of multi-function grips has been extended to moreAutoCAD objects including lines, arcs, elliptical arcs, dimensions, and mleaders as well as 3D faces,edges, and vertices.
Hatch & Gradient Enhancements
Save time with hatch preview, gain more control with expanded object grip functionality, and choose from more options for appearance of hatches with the addition of background color. Easily send all hatches to the back of the drawing with a single click.

Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 Full Version Free Download

Very Below is the link do download Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 Full Version Free Download.Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe® Premiere® Pro CS5 software lets you edit faster with true native format support. Get breakthrough performance on workstations and laptops; streamline collaboration; and boost productivity with an efficient, robust, cross-platform editing workflow.
Enhanced Performance
The improved performance comes courtesy of Adobe's Mercury Playback Engine, which was devised for CS5 from the ground up to take advantage of 64-bit processors. Because most of the tasks in Premiere can takea long time (especially if you're adding lots of effects or rendering a long movie) this alone can be a tremendous time-saver. The revamp also means that you can do real-time HD chroma keying with the included Ultra keyer, which is optimized to tackle real-world green screen conditions, and capable of complex keys on smoke, liquids, and transparent objects.
f you're using a computer with a 32-bit CPU or operating system, however, your system will be unable to run Premiere Pro CS5. Adobe claims to have conducted research and discovered that very few existing customers would be affected. Given the prevalence of 64-bit systems in recent years, that's quite believable. If you're one of that underpowered minority looking to dive into Premiere Pro CS5, you'll need to factor a new system (or at least a thorough upgrade of certain components) into the purchase price. Alternately, if you're using a 32-bit version of Windows and purchased a copy of CS5 Master Collection of CS5 Production Premium, Adobe includes a copy of Premiere Pro CS4, which is compatible with 32-bit systems.
Like its CS4 predecessor, Premiere Pro CS5 supports hardware acceleration (which can energize effects processing even more), but there's an even touchier caveat here. Whereas CS4 supported a range of video chipsets from both Nvidia and ATI, the new Mercury Playback Engine was programmed to work exclusively with Nvidia's CUDA technology. As this writing, the full list of supportedvideo cards includes the GeForce GTX 285 ($400 street, ) consumer-level card, and the Quadro FX 3800, FX 4800, FX 5800, and CX workstation cards. (Adobe tells us that testing is underway on Nvidia's latest consumer releases, the GeForce GTX 470 and 480, but has offeredno information yet about their compatibility.) Owners of even the most powerful new AMD cards, whether the consumer dual-GPU Radeon HD 5970 or the workstation FirePro models, are entirely out of luck.
New Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 Features
But even users of unsupported video cards will benefit from some of Premiere Pro CS5's changes—just because you're not running on the of the supported cards doesn't mean you can't run CS5. If you're working on a really tough sequence, such as one that uses RED (4K) files or lots of effects, you can "fake" it by dialing down the resolution to as much as one-sixteenth during playback, so your computer can handle it. To make it easier to focus on individual moments, you can set the Pause resolution to "Full" to see the picture in all its detail even if your hardware gives you trouble watching it in motion. This is a thoughtful compromise that generally improves performance on sloweror non-workstation machines (like the one we used for testing), and is helpful enough tobe worthy of celebration even byowners of faster computers.
Also introduced is support for many other kinds of standards and technologies. The software now recognizes Sony XDCAM HD 50, Panasonic AVCCAM, DPX, and AVC-Intra, for tapeless recording;as well as for additional support for certain D-SLRs from Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic. You can also now import RED (R3D) files without transcoding them or installing other software, and a special Source Settings option for RED lets you tweak every aspect of the footage for individual or multiple clips. Moreintriguingly: You can now open projects made in, and share them between, Final Cut Pro and Avid video software.
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Corel Draw Graphics Suite X5 Full Version Free Download

Graphic Design Software for Striking Visual Communication
Put the power of CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X5 behind your ideas and make a bold impact across any media. This versatile graphic design software has it all—vector illustration, page layout, photo editing, tracing, Web graphics and animation in one tightly integrated suite. Get ready to do more than you thought possible!
Overview
Creativity and power come together in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5. With increased speed, more accurate color control, enhanced vector illustration tools and new Web capabilities, it's a must-have for any designer. Get going quickly with new professionally designed templates andlearning materials. Find graphics, fonts andimages on your computer faster than ever with new Corel® CONNECT™. Re-purpose and share your creations anywhere with expanded file compatibility. Then output everywhere, from Web banners and animations, to logos, custom signs and more.
*. More speed with new multi-core support
*. More rich content and professional templates
*. More learning tools , video tutorials and expert tips
*. More compatibility , with support for over 100 file formats
*. More color control and consistency
*. More Web capabilities , including Flash animation support
*. More output options for print, Web, digital signs and more All-in-One Professional Graphics Suite
Find everything you need for professional graphics illustration, layout, tracing, photo editing, Web graphics and animation in one complete suite of integrated applications that is easy to learn and use.
High-Value Digital Content
Enrich your designs with over 1,000 professional fonts, including Helvetica®, Garamond® and Frutiger® fonts for the first time ever. Plus, take advantage of high-value digital content, such as premium clipart, royalty-free photos and vehicle templates.
Market-Leading File Compatibility
Re-purpose and share your creations anywhere with market-leading file compatibility. Import and export files quickly and easily with dozens of supported file formats, including PDF, JPG, PNG, EPS, AI, TIFF, PSD and DOCX.
Easy to Learn and Use
Start smoothly and learn quickly with built-in learning tools, valuable video tutorials, design insights from experts and a visually rich, online guidebook. (A hard cover, full-color, printed guidebook is included with the box version.)
Precise Control and Easy Sharing
Output to a broad variety of media, from distinctive logos and signs, to striking marketing materials, Web graphics, billboards and car wraps. Export options letyou compare file formats before export, soyou can optimize your settings to achieve the highest file quality.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 —Graphic Design Software that brings new meaning to Visual Communication.
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Adobe CS6 beta Full version Free download......

The world's best digital image editing
software is about to get even better.
Explore Adobe Photoshop CS6 beta
for a sneak preview of some of the
incredible performance
enhancements, imaging magic, and creativity tools we are working on.
Discover for yourself why Photoshop
CS6 software will be a whole new
experience in digital image editing.
The Photoshop CS6 software beta
contains features from the next shipping version of Photoshop and
Photoshop Extended software, the
professional standard in digital
imaging, to be released in spring
2012. The Photoshop CS6 beta is
available to our customers on both Mac and Microsoft Windows platforms
and with support for either an English
or a Japanese interface. Adobe has also included a set of video
editing tools for the traditional photo
editor. PC Mag notes that users can
split and join clips, add transitions
between different segments and even
apply photo adjustments to the video like brightness, contrast and tint. "Photoshop CS6 will be a milestone
release that pushes the boundaries of
imaging innovation with incredible
speed and performance," said Winston
Hendrickson, vice president of
products for Adobe Creative Media Solutions. "We couldn't wait to share
this beta of Photoshop CS6 with our
customers and are looking forward to
hearing from them and seeing the
ways they are incorporating the beta
into their daily creative workflows." In addition to the new features, CS6
has been redesigned with a darker
interface, although users can selected
a lighter gray background in the
options. The beta is available now for anyone
on a PC or Mac to download and try.
Adobe will be releasing the full version
in the second half of 2012 at $699 for
the standard version and $999 for the
Extended package. Adobe now offers a subscription model that starts at $35
per month with a one-year
commitment or $49 on a month-to-
month basis. Content-Aware Patch — Patch images with greater control using the newest member of the Content-Aware family of technologies. Choose the sample area you want to use to create your patch, and then watch Content- Aware Patch magically blend pixels for a stunning result. Blazingly fast performance and a modern UI — Experience unprecedented performance with the Mercury Graphics Engine, which gives you near-instant results when you edit with key tools such as Liquify, Puppet Warp, and Crop.* Plus, a refined, fresh, and elegant Photoshop interface features dark background options that make your images pop. New and re-engineered design tools — Create superior designs fast. Get consistent formatting with type styles, create and apply custom strokes and dashed lines to shapes, quickly search layers, and much more. Publisher: Adobe Labs Last
updated: March 22, 2012 File Size: 1.7 GB OS Support: Multiple OS(Mac os X and Wi License: Freeware

TuneUp Utilities 2012 full version free download----------

The easy and complete all-round PC
optimization workout. More than 30
tools guarantee PCs maintain peak
performance when working, playing,
and gaming. Even when not needed,
background processes, services, and scheduled tasks will often be running.
With the new TuneUp Program
Deactivator, you can turn off programs

on demand, completely automatically,
thus reducing the demands on your
PC. The result: that "Windows like it was on the very first day" feeling. The
brand-new Economy Mode offers
extra mobility--just with the click of a
button. It extends battery run-time on
notebooks, netbooks and tablet PCs
running Windows by up to 30%, while also reducing energy consumption by
up to 30%. And it even optimizes
power management under Windows.
Forget annoying time spent waiting,
slow response times, unstable
systems, and frequent crashes. The tuning suite in TuneUp Utilities
includes a range of easy-to-use tools
to reliably improve the performance of
your PC. Turbo Mode, for example,
enables you to shut down over 70
applications that bring your PC to a crawl with just a single click. In
addition, proven maintenance features
allow you to perform a full registry
clean-up. A special rating function
checks the usefulness of programs at
any time. This provides a sound basis for decisions when installing and
deactivating programs, or adding and
removing autostart entries. Plus
there's the Optimization Status feature
which enables you to check the
effectiveness of tuning steps carried out. The classic features of TuneUp
Utilities at a glance: 1-Click
Maintenance and Automatic
Maintenance for all-around
maintenance of your PC; Reliable hard
disk defragmentation, for even better performance; TuneUp Registry Cleaner
for intensive Windows registry
cleaning; Live Optimization to bring
your active programs and games up to
top speed; Gain hard disk space by
removing unnecessary data. What's new in this version: Version
12.0.3010.5 updates: The Economy Mode automatic start
and stop settings have been
improved.
TuneUp Program Deactivator has been
made more user friendly.
ITuneUp Utilities can
now be pinned to the Windows 7
task..

Fast stone capture 7.0 full version

FastStone Capture is a powerful, lightweight, yet full-featured
screencapture tool that allows you to
easily capture and annotate anything
on the screen including windows,
objects, menus, full
screen,rectangular/freehand regions and even scrolling windows/web
pages. You canchoose to send
captures to editor, file, clipboard,
printer, email, Word/PowerPoint
documentor upload them to your
website. Editing tools include annotating(texts, arrowed lines,
highlights), resizing, cropping,
sharpening, watermarking, applying
edge effects and many more. It also
allows you to record screen activities
and sound into highly compressed video files. Other features include
global hotkeys, automatic filename
generation, support for external
editors, a color picker, a screen
magnifier and a screen ruler. FastStone Capture saves files in BMP,
GIF, JPEG, PCX, PNG, TGA, TIFF and
PDFformats. Features A small handy Capture Panel that
provides quick access to its capture
tools and output options Global hotkeys to activate screen
capturing instantly Capture windows, objects, menus,
full screen, rectangular/freehand
regions and scrolling windows/web
pages Capture multiple windows and
objects including multi-level menus Options to specify output destination
(internal editor, clipboard, file,
printer ...) Draw annotation objects such as
texts, arrowed lines, highlights,
watermarks, rectangles and circles Apply effects such as drop-shadow,
frame, torn-edge and fade-edge Add image caption Resize, crop, rotate, sharpen,
brighten, adjust colors ... Undo/Redo Support external editors Save in BMP, GIF, JPEG, PCX, PNG, TGA,
TIFF and PDF formats Convert images to multi-page PDF fil Send captured images by email Send captured images to Word and
PowerPoint documents Send captured images to a Web (FTP
server Record screen activities and sound
into video files Screen Color Picker Screen Magnifier Screen Ruler Support multiple monitors Run when Windows starts (optional) Minimize to System Tray area Small footprint in memory And many more ...

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Update

Although the Beta release of Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Vista had been Predicted for Mid-July, Josh Phillips reported at Windows Connected* that Microsoft has asked us to inform everyone the following:

“There will be a Windows Vista service pack and our current expectation is that a beta will be made available sometime this year. Service packs are part of the traditional software lifecycle — they’re something we do for all Microsoft products as part of our commitment to continuous improvement, and providing early test builds is a standard practice that helps us incorporate customer feedback and improve the overall quality of the product.

Service packs are just one example of the work we do to constantly improve the Windows experience. We also deliver improvements to Windows via Windows Update, which is an excellent channel for providing our customers with the most significant updates as they happen. And, since Windows Vista launched, we have continued working with partners to improve overall device coverage and application compatibility. There are now more than 2.1 million supported devices and more than 2,000 logoed applications for Windows Vista. We think customers will have a great experience using Windows Vista today.”

Lavasoft Replaces CEO Ann-Christine Åkerlund

Although I thought that I had removed my name from the Lavasoft mail lists over a year ago, it seems that it didn't take. Perhaps the change announced below that I discovered in the email just received will help bring an end to some of the troubles Lavasoft has encountered the past few years.

For Immediate Release:

Lavasoft Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer

Gothenburg, Sweden (July 23, 2007)

Lavasoft AB today announced Jason King has been named as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Ann-Christine Åkerlund, current Chief Executive Officer of Lavasoft, is retiring from her position at the company. Ms. Åkerlund will remain a silent partner in the privately owned Lavasoft AB.

After six years of building the Ad-Aware brand, which now boasts over 250 million downloads worldwide, and company itself, which has grown to include 4,000 partners in 120 different countries, Ms. Åkerlund will be passing on the torch to a member of the company’s senior management team.

Mr. King, currently Lavasoft’s Director of Worldwide Sales, will assume full management responsibility for the company effective August 6, 2007.

“Jason King brings strong execution skills and an excellent track record at the company. I am confident that Jason will continue to uphold the Lavasoft mission and vision, and will lead the company to the next level,” said Ms. Åkerlund.

With the recent release of its new anti-spyware software version, Ad-Aware 2007, important opportunities lie ahead as Lavasoft develops the high-quality solutions that are needed to combat the changing threat landscape in today’s cyber world. Mr. King will focus on continuing Lavasoft’s leadership in the computer security industry.

“Lavasoft is known for its high standards of security products which protect the privacy and security of our customers. I look forward to building on the success of the company, as our products continue to grow and expand to take on today’s security challenges,” Mr. King said.

Microsoft Announces Enhanced Privacy Protections for Customers

Microsoft Announced an enhanced set of privacy principles for Live Search and online advertising data collection, use and protection. Microsoft's intention is to

"implement new privacy features and practices as it continues to develop its online services and offer new controls that help users manage the types of communications they receive from Microsoft."

I selected some of the key features from the announcement that caught my attention. For example, later this year, Microsoft plans to offer advertising services to third-party Web sites. Under the enhanced privacy, customers will have the ability to opt out of the behavioral ad targeting by Microsoft’s network-advertising service on those Web sites.

There will be specific policies around search query data and Microsoft will be explicit with customers about how long the company retains search terms in an identifiable way as well as informing people when and how to “anonymize” such data.

Following Google and others, Microsoft will make all Live Search query data anonymous after 18 months, unless the company receives user consent for a longer time period. According to the announcement, the policy will be both retroactive and worldwide. It will include removal of cookies and IP Address connected with search terms.

Another important feature change is the storage of store Live Search service search terms separately from account information. With so many "Live" features requiring a Hotmail/Live email address, it is reassuring the personal data associated with that account will not be tied to other services.

Major Counterfeit Software Bust

Updated 25July2007 -- Link to Windows Genuine Advantage Blog article with samples of counterfeit Windows Vista DVDs: Biggest Counterfeit Bust ... ever. The included photographic sample illustrate why it is so easy to fool people with the counterfeit.

As reported by the FBI:

"For Immediate Release
DATE: July 23, 2007

INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY FBI AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES IN PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA RESULTS IN MULTIPLE ARRESTS IN CHINA AND SEIZURES OF COUNTERFEIT MICROSOFT AND SYMANTEC SOFTWARE

A joint investigation conducted by the FBI and authorities with the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of more than a half billion dollars worth of counterfeit software, announced J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, and Steven Hendershot, the FBI’s Legal Attache in Beijing, China.

The operation, codenamed “Summer Solstice,” began in 2005 and since then, law enforcement in both countries have worked closely by sharing information to jointly investigate multinational conspiracies by groups who manufacture and distribute counterfeit software products around the world. This unprecedented cooperative effort led to the arrest of twenty five individuals, the search of multiple businesses and residential locations, asset seizures by the Chinese government worth over $7 million, and the seizure of over 290,000 counterfeit software CDs and COAs (certificates of authenticity) in China. The counterfeit software has an estimated retail value of $500 million. In addition, Agents with the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office executed 24 searches and asset seizure warrants, yielding approximately $2 million in counterfeit software products, in addition to assets seized by the U.S. government worth over $700,000.

Operation Summer Solstice encompasses multiple investigations currently being conducted by the FBI in Los Angeles and the MPS, Economic Crime Investigation Department (ECID), in which criminal organizations responsible for manufacturing and distributing counterfeit software have been identified in both Shanghai and Shenzhen; as were distributors located in the United States.

As much as I protested WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) being added to Windows XP, I have no objections to it being included as a part of Windows Vista. My reasoning? WGA was not part of XP when the license was purchased and the initial software caused many headaches. However, with a brand new operating system in Windows Vista, it is known that WGA is included from the start.

Windows Vista Won't Silence Scotty's Bark

I don't know what you do during your lunch break. What I like to do is catch up on my reading. Catching up today just led me to Bill Pytlovany's blog post, Bits from Bill: Vista Won't Silence Scotty's Bark.

Regular Security Garden readers (as well as folks I have helped on the forums) know that I am a long-time fan of WinPatrol. It was the first software I installed on my new Windows Vista machine.

Although WinPatrol works just fine on Windows Vista without Scotty's bark, I admit that I have missed hearing Scotty when launching WinPatrol to formulate a forum response to a user's question or to check settings on my own machine. So I will add my thanks to Larry Osterman for his assistance.

I will be on vacation next week when the new version of WinPatrol with Scotty's bark is expected. However, I will look forward to the update when I return as well as finding out what other surprises Bill has in store.

Take Ownership of Your Files and Folders

The cartoon below from Userfriendly.org has been making the rounds.

Click image to see full size

As happens when migrating data or upgrading the operating system, the required permissions for accessing the files might be different or ownership lost. Vista4Beginners created an illustrated tutorial explaining how to take ownership of your files and folders if this happens to you.

Internet Explorer 7 Security Whitepaper & Training Available

Markellos Diorinos, IE7 Product Manager, reported that the IE Team has just released the Internet Explorer Desktop Security Guide that discusses many of the new security features in IE7 along with recommended settings. Although this is of particular interest to organizations who need to make certain tweaks to accommodate specific security needs, regular home users will also find the other options of interest, particularly in homes with multiple computers networked.

Also available is Markellos TechEd presentation, Windows Internet Explorer 7 Security In-Depth.

Hello World - AntiSlyware is here!

In the words of Microsoft MVP, Tom Coyote Wilson:

"We are open for volunteer helping of users

If you wish to become part of the staff here, please register then make a post with your qualifications in the Open forum or PM an Admin we will reply to you or PM you privately.

If you are seeking help, welcome to AntiSlyware, please start a New Topic in the appropriate area so that someone can help you as time allows, Please keep in mind that the helpers here may already be helping in many forums and time is limited so it may take a bit to get around to your topic. This is an all volunteer effort to help users on the internet with computer problems and not a paid service. And to that, all information and help given is subject to your approval to use or not use on your computer, you have the final say, and therefore no gaurentee is given nor intended at any point.

If you are not part of the staff, you are not allowed to post to other user's problem posts, however you are allowed to post to news articles and topics in the open chat areas as well as start your own topics in the appropriate areas.


(The forum is run by volunteers who donate their time and expertise. We make every attempt to ensure that the help and advice posted is accurate and will not cause harm to your computer. However, we do not guarantee that they are accurate and they are to be used at your own risk.)

May your day be blessed by those you love and those you love be blessed by HIM ;-) (Tom Coyote Wilson)"

August 2007 Microsoft Security Bulletin Release

The August release contains 9 new bulletins, 6 of which have maximum severities of "Critical".

• MS07-042
  Vulnerability in Microsoft XML Core Services Could Allow Remote Code Execution (936227)

• MS07-043
  Vulnerability in OLE Automation Could Allow Remote Code Execution (921503)

• MS07-044
  Vulnerability in Microsoft Excel Could Allow Remote Code Execution (940965)

• MS07-045
  Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (937143)

• MS07-046
  Vulnerability in GDI Could Allow Remote Code Execution (938829)

• MS07-047Vulnerabilities in Windows Media Player Could Allow Remote Code Execution (936782)

• MS07-048
  Vulnerabilities in Windows Gadgets Could Allow Remote Code Execution (938123)

• MS07-049
  Vulnerability in Virtual PC and Virtual Server Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (937986)

• MS07-050
  Vulnerability in Vector Markup Language Could Allow Remote Code Execution (938127)

Additionally Microsoft is re-releasing one bulletin:

• MS07-038
  Vulnerability in Windows Vista Firewall Could Allow Information Disclosure (935807) – This is a detection-only change, to address the situation where a missing Firewall Logging Directory would cause the update installation to fail. There’s no change to the update binaries, so if you have already successfully installed this update, you do not need to reinstall it.

Please refer to the bulletin revision notes for more detail.

Also today Microsoft released Microsoft Security Advisory (932596). This is to let customers who run x64-based Windows operating systems know about an update to Kernel Patch Protection that is available. The update adds additional checks to Kernel Patch Protection for increased reliability, performance and security. Please see the security advisory and associated KB for more information.

How to secure a wireless network

Here's a great tip via Josh at Windows Connected:

"Steve Lamb of Microsoft created this 5 part series on securing a Wireless network. If you unsure how to do this then check it out, complete with videos."

Part 1: Enabling WPA on a wireless router
Part 2: How to change the SSIDPart 3: Reconfiguring a Vista client to connect to your WPA secured access point
Part 4: Connect using WPA for the first time on Windows VistaPart 5: Connecting using WPA for the first time on XP

Do you have a Windows Vista tip? To celebrate the redesign, the Windows Connected Team is giving away prizes for the best tip or hardware/software review. The number of prizes depends on the number of entries. Grand prize? Are you ready for this? It is a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition!!! There are also a few Windows Vista games, Laptop bags and lots of other swag for other potential winners.

To enter, just register at Windows Connected Forums and submit a new Windows Tip here or a review of a recent piece of hardware or software. Only entries of sufficent quality will be entered, so a two-line review probably won't count. Be add either the Tip tag or Review tag to your post. You can enter as many times as you want. The contest will end on August 31st. Winners will be selected based on quality of post(s) by the Windows Connected Staff, which means I am not eligible to enter. However, you are as there are no restrictions against readers of my blog.

How to secure a wireless network

Here's a great tip via Josh at Windows Connected:

"Steve Lamb of Microsoft created this 5 part series on securing a Wireless network. If you unsure how to do this then check it out, complete with videos."

Part 1: Enabling WPA on a wireless router
Part 2: How to change the SSIDPart 3: Reconfiguring a Vista client to connect to your WPA secured access point
Part 4: Connect using WPA for the first time on Windows VistaPart 5: Connecting using WPA for the first time on XP

Do you have a Windows Vista tip? To celebrate the redesign, the Windows Connected Team is giving away prizes for the best tip or hardware/software review. The number of prizes depends on the number of entries. Grand prize? Are you ready for this? It is a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition!!! There are also a few Windows Vista games, Laptop bags and lots of other swag for other potential winners.

To enter, just register at Windows Connected Forums and submit a new Windows Tip here or a review of a recent piece of hardware or software. Only entries of sufficent quality will be entered, so a two-line review probably won't count. Be add either the Tip tag or Review tag to your post. You can enter as many times as you want. The contest will end on August 31st. Winners will be selected based on quality of post(s) by the Windows Connected Staff, which means I am not eligible to enter. However, you are as there are no restrictions against readers of my blog.

Windows Vista Validation Issue Fixed

As I was reading new blog posts in my RSS feed this morning, I came across a somewhat alarming entry at Certified Bug, by fellow MVP Tashi indicating

"Microsoft’s WGA server went down August 24th 2007, and installations were being flagged as counterfeit because they could not be validated."

As Tashi and I are in different time zones, I hoped that by this morning the problem had been rectified. Heading to the Windows Genuine Advantage blog, I found and update by Alex:

"We've been receiving reports on our forum and through customer service starting last night that Windows Vista validations have been failing on genuine systems. It looks now as though the issue has been resolved and validations are being processed successfully.

Customers who received an incorrect validation response can fix their system by revalidating on our site (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine). We encourage anyone who received a validation failure since Friday evening to do this now. After successfully revalidating any affected system should be rebooted to ensure the genuine-only features are restored."

Update 28 August 2007

• See: Windows Genuine Advantage Team Blog post, Update on Validation Issues
  
  "This validation failure did not result in the 30-day grace period starting and no one went into reduced functionality mode as a result. The experience of a system that failed validation in this instance was that some features intended for use only on genuine systems were temporarily unavailable. Those features were Windows Aero, ReadyBoost, Windows Defender (which still scanned and identified all threats, but cleaned only the severe ones), and Windows Update (only optional updates were unavailable; security and other critical updates remained available). Also, the desktop message about failed validation appeared. And as I indicated, these features return to normal and the desktop message disappears when an affected system is revalidated at our site."
  

Microsoft Formally Announces Windows Vista SP1

Microsoft formally announced the long-awaited and widely speculated Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Vista today as "Evolving Approach to Servicing the Windows Platform." SP1 will be released to a small group of beta testers within the next several weeks. From there, testing will expand, with the release of SP1 expected in the first quarter of 2008.

If you have been holding off getting a new PC or an upgrade until the release of SP1, you will see from the information below, that although SP1 will provide improvements, it should not be compared to Windows XP SP2. Windows Vista is already a secure and stable operating system. So, why wait? See if your computer is ready with the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor.

In a PressPass interview of Jon DeVaan, senior vice president of the Windows Core Operating System division at Microsoft, Mr. DeVaan characterized SP1 this way:

"DeVaan: I should start by saying that one thing people shouldn’t expect to see is new features, although some existing components and features will be enhanced. For example, we’ve added support in BitLocker Drive Encryption for encrypting multiple volumes on the PC, and have improved printer management by simplifying printing to a local printer from within a Terminal Server session. Service packs typically are not vehicles for new features, and the same will be true with Windows Vista SP1.

Windows Vista SP1 will contain changes focused on addressing feedback from our customers across a number of areas. In addition to all the fixes delivered via other channels like Windows Update, Windows Vista SP1 will address specific reliability and performance issues that have been discussed on many self-help forums, such as copying files and shutdown time. It will support new types of hardware and emerging standards, like EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) and ExFat (a new file format that will be used in flash memory storage and consumer devices). It will also include some management, deployment, and support improvements, such as adding the ability to detect and correct common file sharing problems to Network Diagnostics. Windows Vista SP1 also will include Secure Development Lifecycle process updates, where we identify the root cause of each security bulletin and improve our internal tools to eliminate code patterns that could lead to future vulnerabilities.

As we’ve done in the past, we will document all of the changes through our support.microsoft.com site in a Knowledge Base article, which will be available around the time the beta is released."

SP1 will include an enhancement to some features and existing components, including support in BitLocker Drive Encryption for encrypting multiple volumes on the PC. However, Microsoft is not waiting for SP1 to deliver updates to customers. For example, yesterday, Microsoft released two updates to improve performance and reliability, KB 938194 and KB 938979. In addition, through the cooperation of vendors, Microsoft has been better able to provide driver updates via Windows Update.

The information below from the Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta White Paper, describes many of the security, reliability, and performance improvements that will be in Windows Vista SP1.

"Security

Security improvements that will be in Windows Vista SP1 include:

• Provides security software vendors a more secure way to communicate with Windows Security Center.
• Includes application programming interfaces (APIs) by which third-party security and malicious software detection applications can work with kernel patch protection on x64 versions of Windows Vista. These APIs help ISVs develop software that extends the functionality of the Windows kernel on x64 computers without disabling or weakening the protection offered by kernel patch protection.
• Improves the security of running RemoteApp programs and desktops by allowing Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) files to be signed. Customers can differentiate user experiences based on publisher identity.
• Adds an Elliptical Curve Cryptography (ECC) pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) to the list of available PRNGs in Windows Vista.
• Enhances BitLocker Drive Encryption (BDE) to offer an additional multifactor authentication method that combines a key protected by the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) with a Startup key stored on a USB storage device and a user-generated personal identification number (PIN).

Reliability

Windows Vista SP1 will include improvements that target some of the most common causes of crashes and hangs, giving users a more consistent experience. Many of these improvements will specifically address issues identified from the Windows Error Reporting tool. The following list describes some of the reliability improvements that Windows Vista SP1 will include:

• Improved reliability and compatibility of Windows Vista when used with newer graphics cards in several specific scenarios and configurations.
• Improved reliability when working with external displays on a laptop.
• Improved Windows Vista reliability in networking configuration scenarios.
• Improved reliability of systems that were upgraded from Windows XP to Windows Vista.
• Increased compatibility with many printer drivers.
• Increased reliability and performance of Windows Vista when entering sleep and resuming from sleep.

Performance

The following list describes some of the performance improvements that Windows Vista SP1 will include:

• Improves the speed of copying and extracting files.
• Improves the time to become active from Hibernate and Resume modes.
• Improves the performance of domain-joined PCs when operating off the domain; in the current release version of Windows Vista, users would experience long delays when opening the File dialog box.
• Improves performance of Windows® Internet Explorer® 7 in Windows Vista, reducing CPU utilization and speeding JavaScript parsing.
• Improves battery life by reducing CPU utilization by not redrawing the screen as frequently, on certain computers.
• Improves the logon experience by removing the occasional 10-second delay between pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL and the password prompt displaying.
• Addresses an issue in the current version of Windows Vista that makes browsing network file shares consume significant bandwidth and not perform as fast as expected.

Administration Experience

Many of the changes in Windows Vista SP1 will improve the deployment, management, and support experience for Windows Vista customers. The following list describes some of these enhancements:

• BitLocker Drive Encryption encrypts extra local volumes. For example, instead of encrypting only drive C, customers can also encrypt drive D, E, and so on.
• Addresses problems with printing to local printers from a Windows® Terminal Services session.
• The Network Diagnostics tool will help customers solve the most common file sharing problems, in addition to the basic problems that it already diagnoses.
• Administrators can control the volumes on which to run Disk Defragmenter."

Windows Mail Fix

Once again, I am glad that I regularly read Sandi Hardmeier's blog, "Spyware Sucks". I thought that my Windows Mail accounts had become corrupt because outgoing mail was not being sent. However, from Sandi, I learned that yesterday Microsoft released Knowledge Base Article 941090: Messages may be stuck in the Outbox when you use Windows Mail on a computer that is running Windows Vista:

"On a computer that is running Windows Vista, some messages may be stuck in the Outbox when you use Windows Mail. You cannot send or delete these messages. Additionally, every time that you close Windows Mail, you are prompted that there are unsent messages in your Outbox."

You will be prompted to restart your computer after installing the update.

Thank you, Sandi!

Firefox 2.0.0.7 Security Update, September 18, 2007

Mozilla released a security update for Firefox 2.0.0.7:

• MFSA 2007-28 -- Code execution via QuickTime Media-link files

To update manually rather than waiting to be offered the update is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1. Select Help > Check for updates

2. Click Download & Install Now

3. Click Restart Firefox Now

Since it is that simple, why not do it now?

How to fix Internet time sync

Although the time on my computers has always been correct, it appears many people have not been so fortunate. Ed Bott has posted instructions on How to fix Internet time sync. Like others, he has apparently not had success with the clock synchronized with time.windows.com and changes the location to one of the U.S. government servers.

With Windows Vista, it is easy to access Date and Time. Just click Start (the Vista Orb) and start typing "date and time". You will find it the second selection after typnig "da".

XP Repair and Windows Update Issues

As was reported in How Windows Update Keeps Itself Up-to-Date Microsoft customers who use the Windows Update received an update to the service. Unfortunately, this change has affected customers who repaire their systems using a Windows XP CD. This method or repairing the system replaces all system files (including Windows Update) on the machine with older versions of those files and restores the registry.

The problem, as explained by Nate Clinton (Program Manager, Windows Update) is

"the latest version of Windows Update includes wups2.dll that was not originally present in Windows XP. Therefore, after the repair install of the OS, wups2.dll remains on the system but its registry entries are missing. This mismatch causes updates to fail installation."

If you are affected, contact Product Support Services. In the U.S. and Canada, help with security update issues or viruses can be obtained at no charge using the PC Safety line (1-866-PC-SAFETY). For locations outside the U.S. and Canada, go to http://support.microsoft.com/security for the number in your area.

See the blog post by the Windows Update Team and Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles:

• KB 943144: Updates are not installed successfully from Windows Update, from Microsoft Update, or by using Automatic Updates after you repair a Windows XP installation

• KB 916259: The Windows Update Web site and the Microsoft Update Web site do not scan for updates when you repair a failed installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or of Windows XP Service Pack 1

Windows Vista News

I just realized that this post has been in draft mode since last week! Yes, I have been busy with other tasks but I am determined to get this published today, just in case some of my regular readers may have missed the news.
DreamScene

The Windows Vista Teams have been busy in several arenas. In addition to the expected Tuesday update of Windows Defender definitions, saw there was an optional Windows Update for Windows DreamScene. When I checked the Windows Ultimate Team blog, I discovered the announcement: Windows DreamScene released! This updates the beta version of the Windows DreamScene Content released in March of this year.

Additional DreamScene desktop options are available at Dream.WinCustomize.com from Stardock, a Microsoft partner. Brandon LeBlanc provides A look at the Windows DreamScene Content Pack Favorites in the Windows Experience Blog.

References:

• Dream.WinCustomize.com
• Stardock
• Windows Experience Blog
• Windows Ultimate Blog
• Windows Vista Team Blog

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
The other exciting news is that Windows Vista SP1 was released to a private group of Beta testers via connect.microsoft.com. Brandon LeBlanc was busy again, this time with a review of SP1. See Experiencing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta.

Advance Notification of Security Updates for Java SE

Well, now, this is one blog post that is too important to put off. Thanks, Nellie2!

It seems that Sun Microsystems, Inc. is finally improving their update process. As announced last week:

"Sun Microsystems, Inc., is announcing two new Java SE security response features, each designed to strengthen the Java platform's position as one of the most widely used, secure software platforms available. The new features include Sun's synchronized release of Java SE security fixes, and advance customer notification of those releases. They are designed to complement Sun's existing Sun Alert notifications, as well as the built-in Java Auto Update tool for Microsoft Windows users, and build a foundation for additional Sun Connection services and a customized Java SE platform for production environments that are expected in 2008."

I have not been impressed with Sun Java and, in fact, have yet to install it on my new laptop. The "built-in Java Auto Update tool" has been a rather poor performer. Let's hope things are improving. See below for the first update schedule.

Advance Notification of Security Updates for Java SE:

"The following is our first advance notification of security updates for Java SE.

On the week of October 1, 2007, Sun will be releasing security updates with JDK and JRE 6 Update 3, JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 13, and SDK and JRE 1.4.2_16. This will be followed by the release of SDK and JRE 1.3.1_21 on the second week of October 2007.

This is Sun's first step towards the simultaneous release of security fixes across all supported Java SE release families. Sun expects to fully synchronize the release of security fixes across all supported releases, including J2SE 1.3.1 in 2008. Note that J2SE 1.3.1 has completed the Sun "End of Life" (EOL) process and is only supported for the Solaris Operating Environment and customers on Sun's Vintage Support Offering."

IE7 Re-Released for Windows XP

After reading Sandi's blog post yesterday -- posted while she is on Holiday -- I kept refreshing the IE Team Blog watching for the announcement of the re-release of IE7 for Windows XP. The announcement was finally made this morning {bold added in the quote}:

"Because Microsoft takes its commitment to help protect the entire Windows ecosystem seriously, we’re updating the IE7 installation experience to make it available as broadly as possible to all Windows users. With today’s “Installation and Availability Update,” Internet Explorer 7 installation will no longer require Windows Genuine Advantage validation and will be available to all Windows XP users. If you are not already running IE7, you can get it now from the Internet Explorer home page on Microsoft.com, get a customized version from a third-party site, or, if you haven’t already received it via Automatic Updates, this version will be delivered to you as we described previously. If you are already running IE7, you will not be offered IE7 again by Automatic Updates.
Additionally, we’ve made minor changes to IE7 for Windows XP based on customer feedback:

• The menu bar is now visible by default.
• The Internet Explorer 7 online tour has updated how-to’s. Also, the “first-run” experience includes a new overview.
• We’ve included a new MSI installer that simplifies deployment for IT administrators in enterprises. Learn more about it here.

Thanks,
Steve Reynolds
Program Manager"

Actually, I think this bears repeating: "Internet Explorer 7 installation will no longer require Windows Genuine Advantage validation and will be available to all Windows XP users." With this change, even if you do not have WGA installed, there is no excuse now for Windows XP users not upgrade to IE7. Do it today to take advantage not only of the additional security features, but the other major improvements to Internet Explorer.

Questionable CyberDefender Using MBAM

First it was Symantec support claiming Malwarebytes (MBAM) as a Norton tool and now CyberDefender, a company with a questionable reputation anyway, is doing the same. As Steve Burn of hpHosts reported:

"I've written previously about CyberDefender, and looking at what this guy went through after falling for their scam to the tune of $249.99 (approx £150), they've not changed one bit - they're still rogue."

Members of the security community know MBAM is an excellent program -- and apparently so do the security vendors (both real and rogue). Get the real thing from Malwarebytes.org.

Spring Cleaning (humor)

Spring is the time of year when we like to open windows to air things out and give our homes a top to bottom spit and polish. This is also a good time to remove the accumulated dust from our PC.

There is, however, one area on our PCs that is frequently neglected -- the inside of the computer monitor. I read recently that all computer screens on the inside are covered with bacteria, dust, germs, etc. that can be dangerous to your health.

"This is caused by a variety of reasons and it can prove to be a health hazard for everyone that uses the computer. Some at the CDC in Atlanta have recently said that this problem can be as dangerous as cigarette smoking because of the time that most of us are now spending on computers for work and personal reasons."

The link below is to a special program that I discovered at Log'N'Rock. It is free for personal use and is claimed to be able to correct this fast growing potential health problem.

MSRC Security Bulletin Release - Advance Notice, April 2009

On April 14, 2009, Microsoft is planning to release eight new security bulletins. Below is a summary in order of severity.

Critical:

Bulletin ID: Windows 1

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office

Bulletin ID: Windows 2

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows

Bulletin ID: Windows 3

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: May require restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows

Bulletin ID: IE

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer

Bulletin ID: Excel

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: May require restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Office

Important:

Bulletin ID: Windows 4

Maximum Severity Rating: Important
Vulnerability Impact: Elevation of Privilege
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows

Bulletin ID: ISA

Maximum Severity Rating: Important
Vulnerability Impact: Denial of Service
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Forefront Edge Security

Moderate:

Bulletin ID: Windows 5

Maximum Severity Rating: Moderate
Vulnerability Impact: Elevation of Privilege
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows

April 2009 Microsoft Security Bulletin Release

Eight new Microsoft security bulletins have been released today. Summaries for the April 2009 bulletins may be found at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-Apr.mspx.

MS09-009: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office Excel Could Cause Remote Code Execution (968557)

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: May require restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Office

MS09-010: Vulnerabilities in WordPad and Office Text Converters Could Allow Remote Code Execution (960477)

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office

MS09-011: Vulnerability in Microsoft DirectShow Could Allow Remote Code Execution (961373)

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: May require restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows

MS09-012: Vulnerabilities in Windows Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (959454)

Maximum Severity Rating: Important
Vulnerability Impact: Elevation of Privilege
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows

MS09-013: Vulnerabilities in Windows HTTP Services Could Allow Remote Code Execution (960803)

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows

MS09-014: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (963027)

Maximum Severity Rating: Critical
Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer

MS09-015: Blended Threat Vulnerability in SearchPath Could Allow Elevation of Privilege (959426)

Maximum Severity Rating: Moderate
Vulnerability Impact: Elevation of Privilege
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Windows

MS09-016: Vulnerabilities in Microsoft ISA Server and Forefront Threat

Management Gateway (Medium Business Edition) Could Cause Denial of Service (961759)
Maximum Severity Rating: Important
Vulnerability Impact: Denial of Service
Restart Requirement: Requires restart
Affected Software: Microsoft Forefront Edge Security

U.S. Tax Season and Phishing Scams

Yes, I waited until close to the last minute to file our tax returns. Figuring it out both ways, it worked out better for us by filing our return as married/separate.

If you are in the mad scramble to file your return on time, don't fall into any phishing scams. As US-Cert reported today:

"Phishing scams may appear as a tax refund, an offer to assist in filing for a refund, or contain details about fake e-file websites. These messages may appear to be from the IRS and directly ask users for personal information. These messages may also contain a link and instruct the user to follow the link to a website that requests personal information or contains malicious code.

US-CERT encourages users to take the following measures to protect themselves from this type of phishing scam:

• Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages.
• Maintain up-to-date antivirus software.
• Refer to the IRS website related to phishing, email, and bogus website scams for scam samples and reporting information.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more information on social engineering attacks."

Zune HD to Include OLED!

Until I saw the anticipated specifications for the upcoming new Zune device, I did not think all that much about it. Many people consider the incorporation of NVIDIA Tegra to power HD content exciting or that it includes a web browser.

As far as I am concerned, the ultimate clincher that will make the Zune HD a major hit is the OLED full touch screen. OLED is an amazing technology that will make using the Zune HD a pure delight.

From a Neowin Exclusive: Lets talk some Zune HD specs:

"An overview of the Zune HD specs:

• 3.6 inchish OLED full touch screen.
• NVIDIA Tegra powered.
• 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 120GB versions.
• HDMI Connection to stream straight to your TV.
• HD Radio.
• Web Browser.
• WiFi compatible, with wireless marketplace.
• Released, early fall.
• International release of the Zune device itself.
• Home AV packs, Car packs, Charge packs."

16APR09 Edit Note: Neowin has struck the 120GB version from the list.

Frontier Stuffs Time Warner's Tiered Plan (for now)

Time Warner Cable (TWC) recently announced plans to bring consumption-based billing to Rochester, N.Y.; Greensboro, S.C.; and San Antonio and Austin, Texas. This tiered/metered plan would provide for levels of service ranging from 1 gigabyte for $15 to 100 gigabytes for $75, with $1/GB over the subscribed limit.

Via engadget it appears that Frontier Communications Co., the local Rochester telephone/DSL provider, has shelved their plans to introduce a similar metered billing offering. Thus, it appears that TWC's plans are up a creek for now.

"That move bodes poorly for the future of metered Internet billing. Because the idea is unpopular with consumers, cable and phone companies need to match each other's moves in introducing it, or one of them gains a competitive advantage by offering the standard all-you-can-eat service."

Services in the Rochester area are fairly limited. Satellite has not been broadly accepted in the area. Frontier's DSL and TWC's Road Runner are essentially the only providers. As can be seen at Stop the Cap! Alternatives!, broadband service providers in this area are very limited. Let us hope that Rep. Massa stays true to his promise:

"Internet access is as essential to our economy as water is to our survival," said Congressman Eric Massa. "With limited choices in broadband providers, and virtual monopolies in many market areas, I view this as nothing more than a large corporation making a move to force customers into paying more money. I firmly oppose capping internet usage and I will be taking a leadership role in stopping this outrageous, job killing initiative." {Emphasis added}

With my interests in the computer security arena, I can envision asking someone with a severely infected computer why they had not installed the latest security updates and their response being that they had used up their metered service limit conducting a job search and filing unemployment claims!

Visit Stop the Cap! for information and news to "Fight Back Against Usage Caps for Cable, DSL, and Fiber Optic Broadband".