Microsoft Urges Users to Patch Internet Explorer Flaw

The company says a vulnerability in its Web browser could allow hackers to take control of a PC. The patch will give Microsoft time to develop a more complete repair.

Microsoft is urging users of its Internet Explorer Web browser to download a temporary patch to prevent hackers from possibly taking control of their PCs.

The company posted a security advisory late in the day Sept. 17 advising users to download the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) if their browser is Internet Explorer versions 6 through 9. IE 10, which will be included in the coming Windows 8 operating system, is not affected. Microsoft provides step-by-step instructions on how to download the tool and deploy it.

However, a Reuters news report quotes some computer security experts as saying that the patch might be too difficult for the average computer user to configure and that an easier alternative is to simply download another browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Opera Software’s Opera browser.

A researcher in Luxembourg discovered the flaw Sept. 14 when his PC was infected by a piece of malicious software known as “Poison Ivy” that hackers use to steal data or take remote control of PCs, Reuters reported.

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The threat is described as a “zero-day vulnerability,” which is computer-speak for a vulnerability that was previously unknown. If a user with a vulnerable browser visits a Website and clicks on a link, malicious code could be downloaded onto their computer.

“We have received reports of only a small number of targeted attacks and are working to develop a security update to address this issue,” read a blog post by Yunsun Wee, director of Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group. Wee described the EMET as a “workaround” that will protect a user’s computer until a more permanent fix is developed.

Besides deploying EMET, Microsoft also advises users to set Internet and local intranet security zone settings to "High" to block ActiveX Controls and Active Scripting in these zones. These settings can be found in the control panel of the Windows XP, Vista or 7 operating systems. However, it notes that while taking that step will help prevent exploitation, it may affect usability. Microsoft, therefore, says that trusted sites should be added to the Internet Explorer Trusted Sites zone to minimize disruption.

The most recent Microsoft Patch Tuesday, the once-a-month announcement of the latest security updates, was Sept. 11.

Internet Explorer is the most used Web browser with a 53.9 percent share of the market globally, according to NetApplications.com.

Microsoft took the opportunity to remind consumers of the steps they should always take when accessing the Internet on their computers: enable a firewall, apply all software updates and install antivirus and anti-spyware software.

Microsoft Rolls Dice Hopes For (Windows) 7 And (IE) 8

After taking a lot of flak for Windows Vista, Microsoft has recently released beta versions of two of its most popular products–Windows and Internet Explorer–in an attempt to recover lost ground.

The past few years have not been easy for Microsoft. The company that’s been synonymous with operating systems on computers has had to take a fair deal of flak from critics, users and has even been at the receiving end of a European Union (EU) adverse judgement. Added to that are the woes of the ongoing recession. And on the mobile front, its OS, Windows Mobile, is struggling against newcomers like the mobile versions of Mac OS and Google’s Android (very rashly dismissed as a ‘press release’ by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer). Perhaps it would be fair to say that the Redmond giant is not short of challenges at the moment.

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The Vista albatross
There are many who feel that Microsoft’s problems began with Windows Vista. Launched a couple of years ago amidst a lot of hype, the OS has become a burden to the company. While tech experts might point to flaws in the structure of the OS and its security issues, the biggest reason for its relative lack of success (Microsoft will roll out reams of information to claim that it is in fact a huge success) is that the operating system was a pain to use for mainstream users who were more than content with its predecessor, Windows XP.

Redemption through Win 7 and IE 8?
But if there is one thing we know about Microsoft, it is that for such a big company, it moves incredibly fast to address problems. The immensely successful Windows XP had in fact come hot on the heels of the less-than-impressive Windows Me and had promptly made people forget the problems posed by the latter. In what seems to be a similar move, the company has released betas of its next version of Windows, Windows 7 and its browser, Internet Explorer (IE) 8. While we have given neither product a really extended trial yet, the little we have seen of both seems to indicate that they are significant improvements over their predecessors.

The improvement in Windows 7, in particular, is stark. While the dazzling exterior of Vista has been maintained (and some might even say, made to look better), resource hoggers such as the Windows Taskbar have been removed. Microsoft has also added its Ribbon interface (seen in Office 2007) to its staple Paint and Word Pad applications, making them much more user-friendly. Those concerned about security might like the Action Center, which displays a number of security and maintenance features in a single menu–saving time and making them far simpler to manage. While its system requirements seem to be on the same lines as Vista’s on paper, a number of people have told me that it actually runs perfectly well on systems that struggled with Vista.

IE 8 is equally impressive in terms of features and functions, but is likely to face an uphill task in the face of competition from the likes of Opera, Firefox, Safari and now, Google’s Chrome, all of which update versions far more frequently than Microsoft does. Our brief look at IE 8 showed it to be a capable browser, if a trifle too stacked with features, resulting in making it less than intuitive to use. But it allows you to do pretty much everything that every other browser lets you do, from smoothly accessing your favourites to easy bookmarking. And there are some features that others do not have, such as Accelerators (which let you get stacks of information without having to key in URLs) and Web Slices (that allow you to get regular updates from specific sites without your having to go to them). Also, the fact that it will come bundled with Windows 7 (no, we have no intention of stirring up that controversy here) means that it will have a fair degree of popularity among users, who will use it as their default Internet browsing option.

But the real challenge for Microsoft will be to convince users to move up not just from Vista but from XP. How it does this is going to be interesting. We are sure the overall approach will be a lot more subtle than Steve Ballmer’s warning that users expect the latest operating systems in their work environment, and might be dissatisfied if asked to work on older systems (see ‘They Said IT’ on Page 12). Whatever happens, 2009 is going to be an interesting year for Microsoft, with the company also readying a new version of its Windows Mobile OS, version 6.5. Will these products get the Redmond giant back on track? Or will they accelerate its (perceived, we hasten to add) decline? Stay tuned

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Will Windows Phone feel any pain after getting dumped by LG?

Claiming sales are too weak, did LG make a valid point in dumping Windows Phone, or an excuse to avoid competing with Nokia? How about both?

Ahead of a meeting between their CEOs, Korea's LG Electronics has decided to shun any more Windows Phone products because there have yet to be "meaningful" sales.

That should get the meeting off to a good start.

The electronics manufacturer told the Korean Herald this week that Windows Phone devices are just not selling well enough worldwide to warrant continued manufacturing WP phones. Instead, LG will turn its focus to the Android platform.

RELATED: Expected Windows Phone 8 features justify Samsung’s decision to hold out

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"The total unit of Windows Phone sold in the global market is not a meaningful figure," a LG spokesman told the Herald, adding that the company currently has no plans of rolling out another LG-manufactured Windows Phone soon.

The company will "continue research and development efforts" on Windows Phones. Translation: we give up, unless it takes off in the marketplace.

RELATED: The Nokia Lumia 900: Pros and cons compared to the iPhone 4s

It's not exactly a huge loss for Microsoft. LG is getting its you-know-what handed to it by Samsung. The Herald notes that the mobile business unit's performance has consistently failed to meet expectations, with operating losses for seven consecutive quarters. It was only when the company focused on LTE Android phones that it got back into the black

It's not like Windows Phone will suffer as a result of this decision, either. Microsoft still has HTC, Nokia and Samsung, all of which are clobbering LG. And with all the hoopla around the Nokia Lumia 900, including raves from Steve Wozniak, it's easy to see why LG would get its feelings hurt.

Still, it's embarrassing PR for Microsoft to lose a mobile partner, especially one that had previously gone all in for the Windows Phone OS. Back in 2009, Microsoft and LG signed a partnership in which LG chose Microsoft's mobile OS as its main phone platform, committing to manufacturing up to 26 Windows Phones for 2012.

So, if nothing else, the lawyers might get involved, which will do nothing to help sell phones..

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Apple awards senior execs $60 million each

Locks in leadership with stock grants that vest in 2013 and 2016


Computerworld - Apple last week awarded six senior executives $60 million each in stock contingent on them staying with the company through mid-March 2016.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last Friday, Apple said it had granted 150,000 restricted stock units to each executive. At the close of trading Friday, the options were worth just over $60 million.

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With Apple shares down slightly on Monday, the options were equivalent to about $59.8 million as of 2 p.m. ET.

Restricted share units are not given at the time of the grant, but instead are awarded when they vest. The shares will be worth their then-current price, which could, of course, be dramatically different than their value Monday.

Half of the shares vest in June 2013 and half in March 2016, assuming the executives remain with Apple.

Those awarded the grants included chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer, general counsel Bruce Sewell and senior vice presidents Scott Forstall, Philip Schiller, Bob Mansfield and Jeffrey Williams.

Forstall heads Apple's iPhone software group, Schiller is Apple's chief marketing officer, Mansfield leads the company's hardware engineering efforts, and Williams is the head of operations, responsible for the work once done by now-CEO Tim Cook.

Eddie Cue, another senior vice president who oversees all online work at Apple -- including the App Store and iCloud -- was awarded 100,000 restricted stock units that vest in September 2014 and September 2016.

In September 2011, Cue was given a grant of 100,000 shares when he was promoted to senior vice president.

CEO Tim Cook already has his stock options: In August, after he took the CEO position when co-founder Steve Jobs stepped down, the Apple board of directors awarded Cook one million shares that vest in August 2015 and August 2021.

Cook's grant is worth approximately $399 million at Monday's stock price.

Kick users, devices from Wifi

Is your roommate eating all of your Wifi bandwidth downloading those crazy torrents? Is your wife streaming too many movies from Netflix? Are your younger ones spending so much time on nothing but Facebook? Its almost time start kicking them from Wifi connection.

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You can now kick users & devices from Wifi using an android app called WiFiKill. The app makes sure that a targeted users is not able to connect to Internet using your Wifi.

WiFiKill is pretty simple: it scans your network for connected devices and gives the option to individually kill their network connectivity. You can also chose to Kick all users, if you intend to. Tick the “all” box and the network will be completely empty in a matter of seconds. To re-enable connectivity for any device, simply uncheck the box next to its name.

Note: App does wacky stuff to your wifi by injecting spoofing DNS and several other UDP stuff, works only on Rooted phones.

There’s alot of things you can do with it, but doing so for Public or shared networks can create serious problems. We hope you don’t boot users and create havoc using this app. Use it wisely, don’t be a jackass. If you promise to be ethical, feel free to install the app from market.

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