Windows Security: Archive: April 2004

Countering Lack of Security in Wi-Fi Hot Spots

In a report on 'Securing the Mobile Device,' the Burton Group outlines options users tapping the 802.11 protocol have for securing their transmissions and guarding the integrity of their data.

Microsoft Patches Buggy Windows SSL Patch

Workarounds issued for bugs found in a recently issued Windows security patch that could cause systems to freeze or lead to system usage overload.

Remote Worker Security Needs to Balance Cost, Connectivity, Says META

The basic toolkit to secure remote access for the mobile worker should strike a balance between ease and convenience of connectivity with the resources required from an organization to support that use, according to a META Group report.

Security's 'Perfect Storm' Leaves IT Ragged

While there were actually fewer viruses and vulnerability announcements in April, the alerts that did come out affected more companies than usual, running administrators ragged all month.

'Critical' Windows Hijack Flaw Reported

Researchers warn that the boundary error vulnerability could cause a buffer overflow and lead to system takeover.

Java's Future Secured in Microsoft Pact

Microsoft agrees to patch support of JVM until 2007. James Gosling's note to the Java community: 'Relax. Have a little faith.'

Microsoft Releases Flurry of 'Critical' Patches

UPDATE: Monthly patches for April include plugs for three critical vulnerabilities, including holes in Outlook Express and later versions of IE.

Windows Patch Management, Software Update Services (Part 1)

Unlike the free patch deployment tools previously covered in this series, Microsoft's Software Update Services tool is designed to enable a highly customized deployment infrastructure by facilitating patch selectivity. We discuss SUS' features and benefits, as well as how to install, configure, and administer it.

Windows Patch Management: Updating MS Office

Scanning for Microsoft Office updates is no longer limited to the computer on which the scan is launched. The Office Update Inventory Tool offers the capability to scan multiple computers to determine if upgrades are needed.

A Mysterious Solution to Your Security?

Imagine a circuit board that fits into a PCI slot of any machine running Windows or Linux, stops virus activity without requiring updated 'signature' files and thwarts hackers and malware. A Ukrainian company claims to have developed just such technology.