Security Options for Windows Vista

tonybradley — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:29:00 GMT

With Windows Vista set to be unleashed on the consumer market in about a week, there is going to be a need for security and antivirus products. Although Vista is the most secure version of the Windows operating system yet, that doesn't mean it is impenetrable. Users still need to take basic security precautions. According to a report on Information Week, a number of vendors, including Microsoft, are providing free downloads or trial versions of their Vista-compatible security products. You can check out these products if you need antivirus and desktop security for your Vista PC:

Vista Flaw Discovered

tonybradley — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 17:27:00 GMT

Less than a month from its official release to corporate customers, a vulnerability was already discovered that affects Vista. According to Microsoft and others, the vulnerability can only be exploited if an attacker already has access to the system, meaning they would need to be physically sitting in front of the computer or have already compromised through some other means that would provide remote access.

According to F-Secure's Mikko Hypponen, "The bottom line is you couldn't use a vulnerability like this to write a worm or hack a Vista system remotely. It only has historical significance in that it's the first reported vulnerability that also affects Vista. It's a nonevent in other ways."

The media of course jumps all over the news, stating repeatedly how this is reportedly Microsoft's most secure platform ever. I think most would agree that it is, in fact, the most secure yet. However, "most secure" and "impenetrable" have entirely different meanings. There will still be flaws. Hopefully there will be fewer and hopefully those that are found will not be the type that allow an attacker to gain complete control of vulnerable systems remotely or the type that are easily exploited via a worm or other malware code. But, I am sure that this will by no means be the last Vista vulnerability we hear about.

The Edge : security, f-secure

Security Options for Windows Vista

Vista Flaw Discovered