Microsoft has signed a deal to open its Windows 7 source code up to the Russian intelligence services.
Russian publication Vedomosti reported on Wednesday that Microsoft had also given the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) access to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft SQL Server source code, with hopes of improving Microsoft sales to the Russian state.
Microsoft today patched five vulnerabilities in Windows and Office, including a bug hackers have been exploiting for almost a month.
As expected, today's patch slate was short: Just four security updates that included fixes for five separate flaws. Of the four updates, three were rated "critical," the highest threat ranking in Microsoft's four-step scoring system. All five of the specific vulnerabilities patched today were also rated critical.
What do you do when you find a serious vulnerability in Microsoft server OS source code? You could tell the whole world about it, or you could keep schtum and just inform Microsoft. Or, of course, you could tell no one and use the knowledge to go and attack other systems.
What would the Russians do? That's an interesting question, and I guess we are about to find out because Microsoft recently signed a deal with the Russian Federal Security Service giving it access to source code for Windows Server 2008 R2, Office 2010 and SQL Server.
Microsoft announced new capabilities for Windows Phone 7, including Web-based access to phone data, a "Find My Phone" service, and the ability to connect with Zune software on a PC via Wi-Fi. Separately, hackers have already cracked the emulator released yesterday, allowing the new build of WP7 to be tried out on a desktop PC.
Microsoft today released the first public beta of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), but warned users to steer clear of the preview. The beta also includes a first-look at Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.
The company announced the availability of the betas as it kicked off its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) Monday in Washington, D.C., where it also announced it is expanding the preview of its Intune hosted desktop-computer management service by an additional 10,000 IT users.
Millions of users of Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system, which is being updated with their Service Pack 2 will begin to slowly feel the effects as the company says that this will be the final week in which security fixes for the operating system will be issued.
It is estimated that there are still several hundred million computers around the globe that are still making use of this version. The lack of new security upgrades will probably make it much easier for hackers to figure out new ways into personal and business computers.
Microsoft's $14bn server and tools unit has undergone a major shake up in order to squeeze money from the Windows Azure cloud without cannibalizing Windows Server and tools.
The unit has ramped up product and business development executives whose goal is to quickly build sellable products and services and sign up ISV and developer partners, according to internal Microsoft emails seen by The Reg.
Microsoft claims of releasing a 'Patch Tuesday' security update which will take care of the security needs for Windows Help and Support Centre vulnerability which was publicly unveiled by Google security researcher Tavis Ormandy.
Through the Windows Help and Support Centre in Windows XP users can download Help topics that aid to troubleshoot problems which come across while suing the system. Ormandy on the other hand claims of releasing the patch after Microsoft refused to release details of the vulnerability and provide a patch for it.
As July 13 approaches, when Microsoft will end support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and users will no longer receive critical security updates, a PC Advisor poll has found that 15.1 percent of XP users are still using SP2 or earlier.
Microsoft states that after July 13, Windows XP SP2 users "will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. These include security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software."
The transition to 64-bit computing has accelerated with the release of Windows 7. Figures published by Microsoft today claim that nearly half of Windows 7 installations—46 percent—are using 64-bit versions of the operating system. This represents a huge upswing in 64-bit adoption; Windows Vista, in comparison, had only 11 percent of its users running the 64-bit version.
