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Internet Explorer 7 To Address Security Issues
Chris Richardson
Contributing Writer
2005-02-16
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
Microsoft announced the upcoming release of Internet Explorer 7 yesterday, which will be available in beta format sometime during this summer.
 | | The Chronicles of Spyware |  |
The idea driving the update of Microsoft's browser is security. At the RSA Conference during his keynote speech, Bill Gates explained Internet Explorer 7.0 would provide a strong defense against phishing, malicious software and spyware.
In other Windows-related security news, an update for the Windows Media Player has been released, making the player more secure to assorted spyware threats. Speaking of spyware…
There is also an interesting look at the efforts made to combat spyware, provided by Larry Seltzer for eWeek.com. The article takes looks at some of the major security companies finally acknowledging the growing spyware problem. Does there presence mean the end of smaller vendors like Ad-aware or Spybot?
And finishing up on the spyware note, a woman in Florida used spyware to catch her husband's infidelities. However, the evidence was thrown out.
Enjoy,
Chris Richardson
SecurityProNews Team
IE 7 Announced, Aims To Be More Secure
Yesterday, Microsoft announced the upcoming update of their web browser, Internet Explorer, which will be updated to 7.
Promising better security, IE 7 looks to address the number of vulnerabilities contained by older versions of the browser. The new version is expected to more effectively combat spyware, malware, and phishing attacks.
According to Microsoft,
"[Bill] Gates announced Internet Explorer 7.0, designed to add new levels of security to Windows XP SP2 while maintaining the level of extensibility and compatibility that customers have come to expect. Internet Explorer 7.0 will also provide even stronger defenses against phishing, malicious software and spyware."
Expect IE 7 to arrive in beta testing format this summer.
Read the keynote wrap-up here
Microsoft Updates WMP
In their growing effort to fight spyware, Microsoft released an update for their media player, securing the utility against malicious program installs and spyware attacks. According to PC Magazine…
"Microsoft said the update (download available here) installs two components on end users' computers and will add "additional integrity checks to the DRM [digital rights management] system."
The company made no mention of a spyware infection, but a spokesperson confirmed the new version of the player was released after Microsoft confirmed that malicious hackers were using the copy-protection mechanism to install spyware, adware, dialers and computer viruses on unsuspecting PC users."
The Business of Spyware Protection
In his article, Larry Seltzer looks at how larger companies have approached spyware prevention, and what their involvement may do to the smaller vendors. Larry believes a number of companies have made an unnecessary distinction between virus and malware when offering protective utilities…
"Other companies are perpetuating the historical divide between anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and it's a completely phony distinction. Prominent among these are Computer Associates and McAfee (in both its consumer and corporate products). CA has a bundle available with its anti-virus program and the McAfee enterprise product works as an add-in module. Sometimes the distinctions between products can be confusing; the Web page for McAfee VirusScan says that it "identifies spying and pop-up ad programs," but it's clear that it alone does not integrate the functions of McAfee antispyware...
It's been clear for a long time that the era of the small anti-spyware company is coming to an end and that the larger security companies with established anti-virus product lines and installed bases were in the best position to subsume the anti-spyware market."
Evidence Gathered By Spyware Thrown Out
A woman used spyware to gather evidence against her husband to support her position in the couple's divorce proceeding. According to out-law.com, the woman installed a program called Spector, which allowed her to access chat logs of conversations he had with another woman. The software she installed took screenshots of her husband's computer.
The presiding judge threw out the evidence gathered by the wife, saying…
"The federal courts have consistently held that electronic communications, in order to be intercepted, must be acquired contemporaneously with transmission and that electronic communications are not intercepted within the meaning of the Federal Wiretap Act if they are retrieved from storage… We do not believe that this evanescent time period is sufficient to transform acquisition of the communications from a contemporaneous interception to retrieval from electronic storage"
Apparently, the courts dislike spyware too.
About the Author:
Chris Richardson is a search engine writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest search news.
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