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Microsoft’s New Interest: Security
Chris Richardson
Contributing Writer
2005-03-01
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With the New Year comes a fresh approach, a time to turn over a new leaf. With this in mind, Microsoft has turned over a number of new leaves in their approach to securing their software products.
 | | Microsoft's Focus? Security! |  |
Using the RSA Conference as a vehicle for his message, Bill Gates gave a much-discussed keynote speech detailing Microsoft's new approach to security, be it viruses, spyware or browser-related. Of course, once Microsoft announced their crusade to be more secure, a number of publications were quick to respond.
Also worth noting was the reminder Microsoft released about the grace period for Service Pack 2 delivery. If, by April 12, 2005 SP2, isn't installed on your Windows XP box, copies of the update will be automatically downloaded to the non-compliant computers. Fortunately, the installation will still be up to the user, but support for non-SP2 XP boxes will slow to a stop.
Enjoy the issue.
Chris Richardson
SecurityProNews Team
Microsoft Issues SP2 Reminder
A notice on Microsoft's TechNet page reminds users, specifically Windows XP users, that the grace period for delaying the download of Service Pack 2 expires on April 12, 2005.
After this date, Microsoft will send out SP2 packs to XP computers that don't have it. Their note says:
UPDATE: Time is running out! Please note that the mechanism to temporarily disable delivery of Windows XP SP2 is only available for a period of 240 days (8 months) from August 16, 2004. At the end of this period (after April 12, 2005), Windows XP SP2 will be delivered to all Windows XP and Windows XP Service Pack 1 systems.
Coinciding with Microsoft's expressed interest in improving the security to their products, once the grace period ends, users with Automatic Update and Windows Update turned on will find copies of SP2 on their computer, waiting to be installed.
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Reactions To Microsoft's Security Initiative
Recently, Bill Gates announced his intention to improve the quality of security services offered by Microsoft.
To bolster this talk, the Redmond software king released their free AntiSpyware tool, announced a more secure Internet Explorer 7, released a security-based update of SQL Server 2005, and bought the enterprise security company Sybari. All of these moves were made with the intention of addressing long-existing security issues the company faces.
However, reaction to Microsoft's security push has been one of "show me". Boost Marketing offers a look at how the business side of security could be affected once Microsoft officially launches their upcoming free security software…
But what about its allies? The companies who currently provide an extra layer of security for Microsoft products may be edged out. Most welcome healthy competition while some believe a level playing field is impossible with Microsoft as a direct competitor, noting that smaller companies cannot afford to be as generous as the software giant, who plans on giving some of its security tools at no cost.
Microsoft says they are the ones who get the blame when security products breakdown. Customers see it as a fault with Windows or Internet Explorer and do not recognize it as an outsourced software problem.
In InformationWeek.com, Bob Evans looks Microsoft's approach to their new strategy:
Microsoft and Gates are betting that their customers will give the company and its somewhat shaky security history another 6-9 months to substantially improve existing products while simultaneously releasing new software conceived and developed with security as a top priority. It's as if Gates and Co. have pushed a massive stack of chips into the middle of the table and said, "This matches what your company's already spent on Windows infrastructure and applications and standardization, and"--they push another heaping pile into the center of the table--"this raise represents what you'd have to spend on top of that to migrate to a different platform."
Now, granted, software is not simple to create, and the escalating skills and inventiveness of the loathsome bastards behind the epidemic of cybercrime present a daunting challenge. And, to be sure, Microsoft has significantly increased its commitment to making all of its products and technologies more secure.
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Top Ten Viruses and Hoaxes February 2005
Noted security site, Sophos.com, has released their monthly report of the top viruses and hoaxes reported to the company.
Carole Theriault, security consultant at Sophos, said of these threats:
"It looks like the Zafi-D worm is going to be hanging around like a bored teenager for some time to come, unless more home users realise how important it is to update their anti-virus software. This Hungarian worm accounts for almost one in three viruses reported. Despite only appearing at the end of February, the Sober-K worm has already made an impression on the chart and will be one to watch in March. It can pose in a number of disguises, including a bogus email from the FBI or raunchy videos of celebrity heiress Paris Hilton."
Top Viruses for February 2005
Top Hoaxes for February 2005
About the Author:
Chris Richardson is a search engine writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest search news.
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