Computer Security Blog

At the Computer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Bill Gates released information about his new Windows Vista operating system. The main focus of this software is security, media, and data transfer.

Microsoft Vista is scheduled to be release at the end of this year, really has caught the eye of computer enthusiasts with the new improvements that Microsoft has made.

The Vista computer software is interesting and something to look forward to, because it would feature improve searches for any type of digital media, as well as give any PC in the house the ability to play digital content. According to analyst, Nitin Gupta, the Vista software must have the increased computer security that Windows XP is lacking.

It seems that since the vulnerability in WMF files has been discovered, Microsoft has been working to create and release a patch to this problem. However the patch will not be released until Jan 10th when the company has fully tested it.

Many security analysts have complained that this is too long a time to wait to receive a patch, however Microsoft contends that the patch must be thoroughly tested before they release it.

The flaw in Microsoft Windows affects all versions and when someone clicks a link containing the an image file either from a website or in an email attachments, the virus is released causing the computer to shutdown.

On Friday, Microsoft issued a security advisory detailing that a breach in security had been found in its graphics-rendering engine.

Using this security breach, a hacker can assume command of a computer by getting the computer user to go to a website and click on a link there. When the computer user clicks on the link, he or she will download specially coded image files.

The user thinks he is downloading regular jpeg or gif files, however these files that have been saved with in WMF format will allow the hacker to gain access to passwords and other sensitive information.

Microsoft has posted a temporary solution outlining that computer users should disable Windows Picture and Fax Viewer until an update or patch is released.

If you use the popular software MSN Messenger and think you might be cheating Microsoft by getting a sneak peak of MSN Messenger Version 8, in the end you will not be the one laughing.

The F-secure computer security firm has warned that the Virkel virus is making its rounds through Microsoft MSN Messenger users who believe they are going to install Msn Messenger Version 8. However, there is no MSN Messenger Version 8 that exists, and instead clicking the link will only cause the virus to be installed.

After the virus is installed, stated computer security experts, it will send emails to all of the people in the infected person’s contact list telling them where they can download their own copy to install. The virus is contained within the file Beta8webinstall.exe. The next version of MSN Messenger is not called version 8, but instead entitled “Windows Live Messenger”.

Recently biometrics has been reported as the solution for computer security, especially with the release of the PC Verifi FingerTouch Security Professional Software. This software allows computer users to surf in the regular way, but instead blocks entry to your personal information. The system works by attaching a USB port to your fingerprint reader. The software will verify your fingerprint and you can start using the computer.

However, there are disadvantages to using this computer security software. One particular problem is that how finger must be placed in the exact same spot that you did in the beginning when setting up the software. Therefore, you will have to keep trying until it is in the right spot.

Using the fingerprint reader and software, an ewallet or secure disk partition can be setup that only you would have access to. The complete software system retails for $92 and is compatible with Windows.

Microsoft has seemed committed this year to providing a more secure computing environment for its customers.  This is evident in an article appearing on ccnmag.com, which outlines Microsoft’s “achievements such as greater customer awareness of the existence of spam, viruses, spyware, and other security threats, as well as the availability of more effective and powerful software protections against software attacks and security breaches.”

The article continues by listing the more important areas in which Microsoft has increased in its ability to offer a secure product. These three areas include, “fundamental, threat and vulnerability mitigation, and identity and access control.”

A further description of the security advancements can be read here.