Windows Vista Security

Article (55)

Microsoft says no need for emergency Virtual PC patch
Microsoft says it has no plans to patch the Windows Virtual PC environment, as it does not consider a recently-identified flaw to be a vulnerability.
Improve Windows 7 security by booting from a virtual hard disk
Booting into a virtualised operating system can protect your primary OS and data resident on a PC from malware. We explain how to pull off this trick in Windows 7.
Five registry keys to improve Windows 7 security
Learn about five Windows 7 registry keys that can improve your organisation's security by tuning PCs in ways that ensure users behave themselves!
MinWin: MIcrosoft's tiny and secure operating system
Learn about MinWin, a bare-bones version of Windows that Microsoft is working on to ease administration and security concerns.
Windows 7 security: the new Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
Discover Microsoft's Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, a security enhancement available in Windows 7.
Second security flaw strikes Windows 7
Windows 7 has only been with us for a few weeks, but Microsoft has already issued an advisory about a second flaw. Windows 7's Server Message Block is the culprit.
Patch Tuesday corrects serious Windows kernel flaws
Microsoft has issued six security bulletins to fix fifteen vulnerabilities, some of which effect the Windows kernel.
Windows 7 Security: AppLocker automation
We continue our look at Windows 7's standout security feature, AppLocker, by exploring its automation features.
Windows 7 Security: How to use AppLocker
Windows 7 was launched today, complete with the new AppLocker tool that makes it possible to restrict the applications users can install or access. Learn how to make the new tool work in this tutorial.
How secure is Windows 7 DirectAccess?
Windows 7's new VPN tool, DirectAccess, promises safer remote connections. We evaluate the new tool's strengths and weaknesses.
Microsoft updates Windows Server Update Services
Microsoft has updated Windows Server Update Services with new features that make it easier to deploy patches to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, as well as older Windows versions.
How to secure Windows 7
This extensive excerpt from the new book "Microsoft Windows 7 Unleashed" explains the new operating system's security features and how to use them.
This month's Microsoft patches land
Word, Excel, PowerPoint viewer, ISA and BizTalk servers are all safe again, as this month's Microsoft patch bundle lands.
Analyst: Microsoft's new security tool relies on outdated thinking
Microsoft's approach to security, as typified by its launch of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), relies on obsolete ideas and technologies, writes analyst Eric Ogren.
Can AppLocker ease desktop lockdown woes?
Angus Kidman examines the new AppLocker security feature built into Windows 7.
Taming User Access Control
Get the best from Windows Vista's User Access Control without annoying your users!
How to use Microsoft Baseline Security Analyser
Learn how to use Microsoft's free Baseline Security Analyser in this video tutorial.
Are Microsoft's new RSS handling features a security problem?
Future RSS support in Vista will add feed handling to many Windows applications, a level of integration that is powerful but also opens up new avenues for attack.
FIRST LOOK: Windows 7's User Account Control enhancements
Windows 7 does away with some of the most annoying things about Windows Vista's UAC and adds some welcome security improvements.
Windows 7 to lock down application permissions
Windows 7 will improve the way the OS handles unauthorised applications and allow the creation of fine policies to control the desktop.
Malware pretends to be Windows Security Center
A new piece of malware poses as one of Window's security defences.
What's new in Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer?
The new version of Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer adds features for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. But do the enhancements improve security?
Ten ways improve Vista's security
Vista is supposed to be oh-so-secure, but it can be made more secure with some simple actions.
BOOK EXTRACT: Service level security in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
Windows Service Hardening, a service level security feature in Windows Server 2008 and Vista, is reduces security risks by limiting enabled services and privileges. Find out how in this excerpt from "Hacking Exposed Windows."
PODCAST: NAP and Windows Vista security
Podcaster Brien M. Posey explains how to live with Vista, why admins should use NAP and how encryption in Vista can go sour.
PODCAST: How to configure user rights in Windows systems
This brief podcast explains user rights configurations in Windows.
Windows Vista's little surprises
Have a look inside Windows security guru Mark Minasi's latest book, Administering Windows Vista Security: The Big Surprises, with this excerpt from Chapter 1, "Administering Vista Security: The Little Surprises."
Microsoft to issue critical fixes for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
This month's patch Tuesday will see fixes for bugs in Office versions from 2000 onwards and several versions of Windows.
Book Extract: The finer points of Vista UAC
In this book extract from Hacking Windows Exposed we look at the finer points of Windows Vista's controversial User Account Control system.
What's more secure? Vista with SP1 or XP with SP3?
With Vista SP1 on the market and XP SP3 imminent, we look at which is likely to provide your business with the best security
Book Extract: Hacking Exposed Windows
In this book extrack from Hacking Exposed Windows : Microsoft Windows Security Secrets and Solutions you will learn about mandatory access control lists (MACLs) in Windows Vista
Windows 2008 flaws to be revealed
An Argentinian researcher has discovered flaws in Windows Server 2008
Microsoft releases nine Windows Vista updates
Microsoft has released nine updates this week for Windows Vista that range from fixing time zone issues to addressing problems in its dictionary.
Microsoft delivers critical Vista patches in June
This monthâ€™s Microsoft patches include some for Windows Vista. What do they tell us about the security features of the new OS?
Windows Vista's new crypto controls explained
Microsoft's Encrypting File System has undergone significant changes in Windows Vista, as Brien Posey explains.
Windows Vista: Using BitLocker on a non-TPM system Day Five
Learn how to use Windows Vista BitLocker on a computer without TPM and encrypt your hard drive with this step-by-step guide.
Windows Vista: Using BitLocker on a non-TPM system Day Four
Learn how to use Windows Vista BitLocker on a computer without TPM and encrypt your hard drive with this step-by-step guide.
Windows Vista: Using BitLocker on a non-TPM system Day Three
Learn how to use Windows Vista BitLocker on a computer without TPM and encrypt your hard drive with this step-by-step guide.
Windows Vista: Using BitLocker on a non-TPM system Day Two
Learn how to use Windows Vista BitLocker on a computer without TPM and encrypt your hard drive with this step-by-step guide.
Windows Vista: Using BitLocker on a non-TPM system Day One
Learn how to use Windows Vista BitLocker on a computer without TPM and encrypt your hard drive with this step-by-step guide.
Microsoft plans two Windows security updates
Microsoft plans to release security updates this week for critical flaws in various versions of Windows, including Windows XP SP2 and Vista.
Windows Vista's security features: One year later
We examine Microsoft Windows Vista's security features after one year on the market.
Windows Vista UAC an oil slick for energy firm
Microsoft touts Windows Vista UAC as a needed layer of security. But Omar Ghneim, network admin for EXCO Resources, says it's more disruptive than helpful.
Windows Vista's integrity mechanism explained
In Vista, the integrity mechanism brings a new level of User Account Control (UAC) in Windows Vista security.
More Windows patches this next week
In a preview of next week's monthly patch release, Microsoft said it plans to issue four more Windows updates on top of the ANI fix it rushed out this week.
Microsoft takes a blogosphere beating over Vista UAC
This week in Security Blog Log: Industry experts take Microsoft to task over a "very severe hole" in the design of Vista's User Account Controls (UAC) feature.
Windows Vista: Security issues to consider
Windows Vista is now in the wild. With its myriad new security features, are enterprises foolish not to adopt right away? In this tip, contributor Michael Cobb examines the security-related pros and cons of Microsoft's latest operating system and factors to consider before installing Windows Vista on your systems.
Inside MSRC: Microsoft explains security bulletins
Microsoft issued 12 new security bulletins in February. Christopher Budd of the Microsoft Security Response Center provides information about the most important fixes.
Vista exploitable, researcher says
Marc Maiffret, CTO and chief hacking officer of eEye Digital Security, said he has found a way to elevate system privileges by exploiting a flaw in Windows Vista.
Remote flaw in Vista could earn finder $8,000
VeriSign Inc.'s iDefense Labs is offering an $8,000 bounty to any researcher who finds a remotely exploitable flaw in Windows Vista.
Critical fixes for Excel, Outlook and Windows
Microsoft starts the year with security updates for Excel, Outlook and Windows. Three of the fixes are rated critical.
Microsoft investigates Windows Vista flaw
Local users could gain elevated system privileges and run malicious commands by exploiting an error within the Windows server library. Vista is among the OS versions affected.
Microsoft under fire over Vista promises, IE 7 security
Microsoft defended itself Friday against accusations of insincerity regarding its pledge to make Windows Vista compatible with third-party security software. The company was also forced to dispute a security firm's claim that the newly-released Internet Explorer (IE) 7 contains a flaw.
Microsoft: We're not out to crush security vendors
Stephen Toulouse of Microsoft's Security Technology Unit denies claims his company is trying to drive security vendors out of business through its own security initiatives.
Survey: Vista security skepticism swells
More than half of those who answered a recent survey say they have no current plans to deploy the upcoming Windows Vista OS.

News (15)

Zero-day flaw found in Microsoft Virtual PC
The Virtual PC technology that makes Windows XP mode possible in Windows 7 has a serious flaw that could let attackers exploit a guest machine.
Latest Microsoft patches triggering BSOD for some users: expert says a rootkit infecting atapi.sys may be the cause
One of last week's Microsoft patches is bringing on the infamous Blue Screen of Death for some users. Researchers say a rootkit could be to blame, while experts wonder if the problem indicates insufficient testing by Microsoft.
Microsoft issues 13 bulletins, repairing SMB flaws, Hyper-V problem in big update
Microsoft has issued 13 bulletins and repaired more than two dozen flaws. The recent Server Message Block flaws have been addressed, as has a hypervisor DoS vulnerability.
Microsoft to fix 26 flaws this week
Microsoft will issue 13 security bulletins this week, to repair 26 flaws, but recent server message block and IE flaws will not be repaired in this batch of downloads.
December dozen patches coming from Microsoft next week
Next week's batch of patches from Microsoft will include 12 fixes, one for an Internet Explorer display error.
Windows, Office for Mac flaws to be fixed on Patch Tuesday
Microsoft's advance notificiation of this month's patches says we can expect six downloads to correct isssues with Windows and Microsoft Office.
Microsoft issues interim patch for Server Message Block 0day
Microsoft's interim solution for a 0day effecting the server message block is to disable it until a complete patch can be issued.
This month's Microsoft patches explained
Get an in-depth explanation of this month's Microsoft patches in this story.
Microsoft warns of IIS attacks, admits to new SMB flaw
Microsoft has issued warnings about exploits targeting the IIS FTP zero-day and notified users of another new flaw - this time in its Server Message Block.
Microsoft confirms investigation into Vista flaw
Microsoft says it is investigating a flaw in Windows Vista's mail client.
Microsoft patches Windows TCP/IP, LSASS flaws
Attackers could exploit Windows TCP/IP, LSASS flaws to hijack targeted computers and do a variety of damage. Windows Vista is affected.
Windows Vista vulnerable to long-time attack method
A researcher explains that a well-known attack carried out through StickyKeys, can be exploited in Windows Vista.
Microsoft Vista voice trick: More amusement than concern
This week in Security Blog Log: Much is made of a technique that could trick Vista's voice command feature into running malicious code. But it doesn't look like much of a threat.
Microsoft nixes four patch bulletins
Eight security updates were originally scheduled for Tuesday, but Microsoft has decided to hold back on half of them.
Multiple Windows patches on tap next week
Microsoft will hand IT shops up to eight security updates for Windows, Visual Studio and Microsoft Office next week. Some fixes will address critical flaws.

Columns (2)

Measuring Vista's true security muscle will take time
Researchers are digging through the Windows Vista code right now, and when they find flaws we'll hear about it. But it's the ones we don't hear about that should keep us up at night.
Microsoft Vista could improve Internet security
Two new Microsoft Vista features -- Kernel Patch Protection and User Account Control -- could prove especially useful in preventing serious malware infections.

Tips (10)

Just how secure is Windows Vista?
Microsoft has touted Window Vista as its most secure OS ever, yet it has had its fair share of problems like recent attempts to bypass its memory protections. Does this make the OS a security problem? This piece argues Vista is just fine!
Will the features of Windows Vista SP1 encourage wider adoption of the OS?
Platform security expert Michael Cobb explains the benefits and drawbacks of Windows Vista Service Pack 1.
How Windows Resource Protection protects critical system resources
Windows Resource Protection (WRP) has undergone some changes since it's predecessor, Windows File Protection (WFP) was used to protect critcal Windows system files. Learn about WRP's evolution and what it means to the security of your Windows shop in this excerpt from "Hacking Exposed Windows."
Create a corporate security baseline for Windows Vista
Learn how to create a corporate security baseline for Windows Vista in this tip from Brien Posey.
Windows Vista: Inside User Account Control (UAC)
UAC is a new Vista security feature, and security expert Serdar Yegulalp shares his experiences, both good and bad, working with it.
How to recover from lost BitLocker PINS and startup keys
BitLocker drive encryption is great - but can't prevent data loss if you lose your PIN or startup key. This article explains how to regain your lost data.
What's new and improved in IPsec in Windows Server 2008
Improvements to IPsec in Windows Server 2008 include a simplified configuration console, server and domain isolation and IPsec's conjunction with NAP.
BitLocker: Windows data protection with whole-disk encryption?
Contributor Tony Bradley stacks BitLocker up against other encryption alternatives and reveals what Vista's data protection feature can (and can't) do.
Locate removable device IDs for Group Policy settings
This tip explains how to get Windows Vista to prevent the installation of specific types of hardware devices or to block the use of removable storage devices.
Windows Vista security flaws show progress, not perfection
Microsoft has touted Windows Vista as its most secure operating system ever. But if that's the case, why has it already been the subject of several high-profile security problems? As Ed Skoudis explains, despite its improvements, Vista's security posture is far from perfect.

General Content (1)

Vista's event viewer improves security management
Have a look inside Windows security guru Mark Minasi's latest book, Administering Windows Vista Security: The Big Surprises, with this excerpt from Chapter 1, "Administering Vista Security: The Little Surprises."

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