MVP Jubo Security Blog : Microsoft Antimalware

Microsoft Malware Protection Portal

jubo — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:36:00 GMT

Just released: Microsoft Malware Protection Center portal. Will officially launch in July with additional features such as malware sample submission. If you think additional features would be useful then your feedback is welcome!

Source: Roger's Security Blog.

Reward for OneCare Beta testers

jubo — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 07:22:00 GMT

Nice surprise from Microsoft for the OneCare Beta testers. If you participated in the Beta test then you'll get an offer by email up to 60% off the regular price.

The next version, 1.5 will be released on January 30th, 2007. However, it's already pushed to my computers at home and working very nicely. This release will be rolled out to 17 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

More information at: Windows Live OneCare Team Blog.

See also: Windows Live OneCare web site.

Anti-Malware papers

jubo — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:09:00 GMT

Jeff Williams and Matt Braverman, of the Microsoft Anti-Malware Engineering Team, attended the Virus Bulleting conference in Montreal. Both were presenters and their papers are now avaialable for download at the Microsoft Download Center.

Jeff's paper, entitled "I Know What You Did Last Logon", was a look into monitoring software from the perspective of privacy and the boundaries of appropriate versus inappropriate use for such technology.

Matt's paper, entitled "Behavioral Modeling of Social Engineering-Based Malicious Software" focuses on malware that leverages social engineering to infect a computer.

Source: Anti-malware Engineering Team Blog

Windows Defender has been released!

jubo — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 11:04:00 GMT

Yesteday, Microsoft released their Windows Defender program. Windows Defender is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software.

Remember that you cannot install the program on pre-XP OSs. Read the System Requirements and read the Release Notes before installing the Windows Defender program.

More information at: Get Started using Windows Defender.

You can download it at the Download Center.

Good news about Windows OneCare and Windows Defender

jubo — Sat, 27 May 2006 18:33:00 GMT

It has been a while since I've posted here. Real life got in the way, I'm afraid. But there is some good news! First of all, as you may have read already, Windows Life OneCare has been certified by ICSA Labs and West Coast Labs and that's a pretty good mile stone!
Fore more information read the article at Anti-Malware Engineering Team Blog

Second, good news about Windows Defender! It's now localized and released in German! See the blog article: Windows Defender for German Speaking Markets is Available !

Now, if we only could get a Windows Life OneCare in English for the international audience...

Related links:

Windows Live Safety Center: Registry Cleaner and Spyware Detection!

jubo — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:36:00 GMT

Two new features has been added to the Windows Live Safety Center: registry cleaner and spyware detection!

Not all programs removes all traces on your computer and leaves something behind in the Windows Registry when you uninstall. This could make your computer run slow. Another reason is that is has spyware, unwanted software files that can do things like collect personal information or change the configuration of your computer without your consent.

Two very good reasons to check your computer at the Windows Live Safety Center, which is a free service!

More information about this at Windows Live Safety Center Blog.
Please, have a look at this article first: Speed up your PC by cleaning your registry.
Go here for a Full Service Scan.

Send a virus to Microsoft

jubo — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 19:27:00 GMT

Microsoft has streamlined their process for receiving samples of malicious software or spyware.

Samples sent to the following addresses will be automatically processed into the Microsoft Antimalware Team queue:

avsubmit@submit.microsoft.com (virus/worm/trojan/etc samples)
windefend@submit.microsoft.com (spyware samples)

Note that these use @submit.microsoft.com now, rather than @microsoft.com.

One reason for the change is to move the mail server they use for sample submissions outside the corporate SPAM and virus filters. In the past they have had issues with sample submission e-mails getting filtered, particularly on the SPAM side.

These addresses replace the old submission addresses:

avsubmit@microsoft.com (deprecated)
malware@microsoft.com (deprecated)
windefend@microsoft.com (deprecated)

As before, please use "False Positive" or "False Negative" in the mail subject line if possible to indicate the type of submission, and use password of 'infected' on the submitted .zip or .rar file.

Didn't you wish you could send Microsoft a virus? Then here's your chance... ;-)

Windows OneCare Live

jubo — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 09:28:00 GMT

Microsoft Announces Pricing and Licensing Details for Windows OneCare Live

Yesterday Microsoft announced final licensing and pricing information for its soon-to-be-released Windows OneCare^TM Live, the all-in-one, automatic and self-updating PC care service aimed at helping consumers more easily protect and maintain their PCs to keep them running well.

Microsoft® Windows OneCare Live will be available in June from retailers and via the Web for an annual subscription of $49.95 MSRP for up to three personal computers.

Microsoft also announced a promotional deal offering the first year of Windows OneCare Live service for $19.95 to beta customers who become subscribers between April 1 and April 30, 2006.

Windows OneCare Live is a subscription service with:

Anti-virus protection
Managed, two-way firewall
Anti-spyware protection
Microsoft Update integration
Automatic Updates
Windows OneCare Live advisories
Automated "janitorial" tasks
Virus scanning
Boot-time tracing
Backup and Restore of Important Files

More information, see: Microsoft Windows OneCare Live Fact Sheet

To sign up for the beta go to Windows OneCare Live.

See also: Windows OneCare Team Blog

At this moment it also works when you're "overseas", outside of the US and have an (US-)English version of Windows installed on your computer...;)