Posts Tagged ‘Security’

Today Microsoft released their new security product (for the consumer market) : Microsoft Security Essentials. As I blogged earlier today it the beta is available in three versions. The installation (of the 64-bit version) is a very easy next-next-finish setup!

Read the rest of this entry »

Specific Beta Feedback
Your customer feedback and support is valuable to the upcoming release of Windows SteadyState 2.5 and we want to ensure that we provide a great experience for you! Email comments and issues to wssbeta@microsoft.com or post at our SteadyState Beta Community Site. Continually check the SteadyState Beta Community Site for announcements and topic discussions during our Beta program. We are specifically looking for feedback around:

• Overall Performance and Stability with Windows Vista Features
• Windows Disk Protection
• User Restrictions and Setting with Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer 7

Handbook
Along with the Beta, be sure to download the updated Windows SteadyState Handbook.

Features Included with Windows SteadyState
Windows SteadyState includes the following features to help you manage your shared computers:

• Getting Started – Provides the initial steps to help you during your first time use of Windows SteadyState.
• Windows Disk Protection – Help protect the Windows partition, which contains the Windows operating system and other programs, from being modified without administrator approval. Windows SteadyState allows you to set Windows Disk protection to remove all changes at a certain date and time or to not remove changes at all. If you choose to use Windows Disk Protection to remove changes, any changes made by shared users when they are logged on to the computer are removed when the computer is restarted.
• User Restrictions and Settings – The user restrictions and settings can help to enhance and simplify the user experience. Restrict user access to programs, settings, Start menu items, and options in Windows. You can also lock shared user accounts to prevent changes from being retained from one session to the next.
• User Account Manager – Create and delete user accounts. You can use Windows SteadyState to create user accounts on alternative drives that will retain user data and settings even when Windows Disk Protection is turned on. You can also import and export user settings from one computer to another—saving valuable time and resources.
• Computer Restrictions – Control security settings, privacy settings, and more, such as preventing users from creating and storing folders in drive C and from opening Microsoft Office documents from Internet Explorer.
• Schedule Software Updates – Update the shared computer with the latest software and security updates when it is convenient for you and the shared users.

Download Windows SteadyState 2.5

Source : Bink.nu / Microsoft.com

Today marks the launch of Windows Live OneCare 2.0, Microsoft’s 2nd revision of its all-in-one home computer management offering, combining anti-virus, firewall, spyware protection and backup software all into the same application. So what’s new in this version?  According to a new OneCare 2.0 Reviewer’s Guide, quite a bit:

Security and Protection Technologies

· Wi-Fi connection security (New)

· Real-time and scheduled anti-malware scanning

· Two-way managed firewall with automatic policy updates

· Internet Explorer^® 7 Phishing Filter integration

· Microsoft Update integration

· OneCare advisories

PC Performance Tuning and Optimization

· Proactive fixes and recommendations for PC health (New)

· Start-time optimizer/turn off unused programs (New)

· Automatic disk defragmentation and hard drive cleanup

Data Backup and Restore

· Centralized backup for multiple local networked PCs (New)

· Online backup for photos (available at added cost) (New)

· Full and differential backups for key file types, including music, photos and financial documents

· Backs up to CD, DVD, external hard drive, local network drive and USB-connected devices

Network and Multi-PC Management

· Multi-PC management and monitoring (New)

· Automatic printer-sharing configuration (New)

· Firewall Connection Wizard for complex connections

Reporting, Licensing and Support

· Monthly report of service and results (New)

· Free version upgrades over the course of the 12-month subscription

· Telephone, chat and e-mail support

· Freedom to install OneCare on up to three PCs

OneCare is available in 17 countries and 7 languages, at http://onecare.live.com (unlike zuneoriginals which is well, disappointing people outside the USA).  Finally if you have any problems with the new release don’t forget the official Windows Live OneCare forums.

Source : LiveSide.NET

Looks like OneCare 2.0 could be going gold very soon. As well as it showing up on Amazon.com with a retail release date of next week, an email sent to OneCare users tonight suggests that a web release will be even sooner than that. On top of that, the OneCare installation page has been unavailable for several hours tonight, which is always a good sign that a release is right around the corner.

For those of you already using OneCare, you should be prompted to upgrade once the new version is available, though you can still upgrade manually once its out. If you haven’t been testing the OneCare 2.0 beta, you should read up on the new features before it launches – new features include multi PC management, centralised backups and much more. You never know, it might just catch your eye… 

Source : LiveSide.NET

I read the following on Microsoft IT Pro Evanvgelist Jeff Alexander’s blog :

Do you have email systems? Do you use desktop applications like Microsoft Office?  We all do right?  Collaboration tools are an essential part of our working life today.  Unfortunately the bad guys know this as well so they are regularly targeting organizations that use these collaboration tools.  As a result IT Pro’s are concerned about users opening back doors to attackers by simply opening an email attachment, running a macro or using add-ins that contain viruses or other malicious software.

The 2007 Microsoft Office release is the most secure version of Office we have released to date and comes with many new security features.  To help customers deploy these features quickly and easily we have released the

2007 Microsoft Office Security Guide.  The guide is based on real-world experience from key customers, government agencies and Microsoft security experts.  We also include a GPO Accelerator tool as part of the guide that will allow you to deploy Office security settings in minutes not days!

So if you are in the middle of a deployment or are about to deploy check out this guide because it will save you heaps of time!

More Info about 2007 Microsoft Office Security Guide
Download 2007 Microsoft Office Security Guide
Download GPO Accelerator Tool