Vista Voices

THU 01 FEB. 2007 |Featured in: App Security

Taking the IE 7.0 Plunge

I decided to take the plunge and upgrade one of the PCs chez Stanley to use IE 7.0 the other day.

Like many people I had avoided using IE over the past couple of years in favour of Firefox, which appears to be more secure than IE even if that security is predicated on its smaller market share and therefore less reason for it to be targeted.

MON 23 OCT. 2006 |Featured in: App Security

Data Theft, Indian Style

I wonder how many regular visitors to this site caught the Channel 4 documentary the other night on data theft? Intrepid reporter Sue Turton went undercover posing as a business woman wanting to obtain personal details of potential marks, in an effort to see how leaky call centre security was.

FRI 06 OCT. 2006 |Featured in: App Security

Scrap Cars and Exploits

Pop quiz. You run IE in your business and another flaw is found in the software, which could be exploited by hackers. Microsoft say they won’t release a patch immediately, leaving your version of IE vulnerable to attack. Do you install a third party fix to address the problem or wait until Microsoft release an “official” patch?

WED 04 OCT. 2006 |Featured in: App Security

Blind Patch Ballet

Like many people this morning I undertook the regular automatic update of my PC with three fixes from Microsoft. It’s a bit like ballet as you nimbly install your patches, reboot your machine and dance around the room with fingers crossed hoping the PC will reboot and come alive again.

WED 13 SEPT. 2006 |Featured in: App Security

Would you like a patch with the beta code, sir?

Even though it is still in beta, Microsoft Vista is receiving patches to fix security holes.

TUE 22 AUG. 2006 |Featured in: App Security

Scumbags (alleged) Prey on Good Samaritans

This story got my goat. Apparently some individuals have been cashing in on people’s good will to send funds to victims of the Katrina hurricane.

Reported a few months ago, these cases are now proceeding through the US judicial system.

MON 21 AUG. 2006 |Featured in: App Security

Its Official – Laptops get Nicked

Regular readers will be only too aware that I rattle on a bit about laptops getting nicked. We had one the other day containing licence data from the Florida Transportation Department. Well it is now official, 81% of US firms have lost at least one laptop containing sensitive data in the last year.

FRI 18 AUG. 2006 |Featured in: App Security

No Tickets, No Security.

Travelled in to London the other day to visit the esteemed boss of ITProportal (*prone* I am not worthy etc). As I pitched up at the railway station I was greeted by a sign in the ticket office that read “We are not selling tickets here”.

THU 17 AUG. 2006 |Featured in: App Security

Don't Patch me up in August

Patches in August? Almost as dangerous as a visit to your local casualty.

WED 16 AUG. 2006 |Featured in: App Security