Computers

Last Tuesday Microsoft released a Security Bulletin (MS09-002) for critical vulnerabilities which affected its Internet Explorer browser. The vulnerability exists because of improper error handling when accessing deleted objects and allows remote code execution through a specially crafted website.

This week a few websites in China started to actively exploit this vulnerability and the malware (jc.exe & wininet.dll) is detected as Spyware/Virtumonde. The websites involved in this example have been blocked by Panda’s Identity Protect Technology, which will block Panda's users before reaching the exploit sites.

   We recommend applying Microsoft's patch immediately.

For those of you who own web domains, you know that you need to keep track of your expiration dates. If not, some enterprising person is going to grab them. It appears this is the case with a site Microsoft used for an Office promotion.

I just noticed in the latest Microsoft Press Pass that they are starting a campaign today called "The Ultimate Steal". The deal is only for students, but the savings are substantial. For less than $60, you get Office Ultimate 2007. As with all deals, there are a few conditions.

Does Microsoft ever test the emails they send? I got an email this morning about the automatic renewal for Microsoft Live OneCare. I purchased this subscription for my father last year. I appreciate the proactive reminder notice as I had forgotten about this. Since my father passed away, I decided not to renew the subscription. The only thing that would have made this experience enjoyable was if the last screen read “April Fools”. It didn’t.

I’m not the best with dates so imagine my surprise when someone told me Congress changed Daylight Savings Time. I didn’t think much about it until I considered how many software programs automatically adjust the times. The problem is if your programs were written before the law was passed, you probably have an issue. This year, Daylight Savings Time starts 3 weeks early and lasts a week longer. You need to check your devices and software to see if patches are available. And yes, this applies to Canadian readers as well.