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Whatacrock
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Microsoft Adds New Browser Security Features in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1

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Microsoft Adds New Browser Security Features in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
HTTP Strict Transport Security added to Internet Explorer 11

Microsoft is working to make Edge browser in Windows 10 one of the fastest, most stable, and most secure apps on the market, but at the same time, the company doesn’t want to neglect Internet Explorer, which continues to be available on older versions of Windows.

Today, the company has announced that Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 has just received HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) for more effective protection against man-in-the-middle attacks.

HSTS was already available in Internet Explorer on Windows 10 and in Microsoft Edge, but with this update, Windows 7 and 8.1 users are getting it too. The new feature is being shipped via KB3058515, an update included in this month’s Patch Tuesday rollout.

“Site developers can use HSTS policies to secure connections by opting in to an HSTS preload list, which registers websites to be hardcoded by Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and other browsers to redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS. Communications with these websites from the initial connection are automatically upgraded to be secure. Like other browsers which have implemented this feature,” Microsoft explains.
The Windows 10 advantage

While it’s good to see Microsoft add such security improvements to Internet Explorer 11 on older versions of the OS, there’s no doubt that the company hopes that everyone would eventually migrate to Windows 10, which is offered free of charge to those on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

Needless to say, there are lots of security updates waiting for you in Windows 10, so Microsoft Edge should become the preferred browser for everyone who decides to upgrade.

Edge will be offered alongside Internet Explorer at first and will become the default browser, but Microsoft has already indicated that, at some point in the future, it could remove the old browser and keep Edge the only option. This can only happen when the new Edge engine becomes good enough to tackle any compatibility issues that might arise with company apps and websites.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsof ... 3883.shtml
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DesertJerry
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Don't want Win10?

Post by DesertJerry »

Go here for info and a download to prevent the automatic installation of Win10 on your Win 7 or 8.1 system: http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/173961- ... indows-81/ :D
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Re: Don't want Win10?

Post by Whatacrock »

Thanks for link, DesertJerry.

From the screenshots already seen am not going near this one with a barge pole. Windows 8.1 is bad enough but looks better running Classic Shell. Not one for the crappy apps.....
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Re: Don't want Win10?

Post by TheAPGuy »

Well those are just there to cover their own butt in case something happens. Our agreement license is pretty much the same thing but, with a lot more words. "Its not our fault if Microsoft's own updates screw up your computer."
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Microsoft Planning to Buy AMD - Rumor

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Microsoft Planning to Buy AMD - Rumor

Rumor has it that in an effort to start its chip design operations, Microsoft may acquire Advanced Micro Devices, according to a source close to KitGuru. It appears that Microsoft initiated the talks several months ago, claimed the source. Talk results remain unclear.

Apparently this move, if true, will hit a vast swath of industry major players across the globe as AMD is itself the only hardware supplier to Microsoft’s own Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation. Apple also uses AMD tech when it comes to the professional graphics cards included in the Mac Pro and some MacBook models.

The source also claims that Microsoft has developed some chips for its own hardware and failed to produce competitive solutions for the company and has relied numerous times on companies like AMD and Nvidia to make viable chips and hardware.

As this is unofficial it’s only normal to state that current negotiations remain unclear, especially about Microsoft’s exact proposal to AMD, but it’s good to keep in mind that Microsoft’s operating funds are $95.3 billion in cash while AMD is capitalized right now at around $1.81 billion, so the possibility of an offer that AMD can’t refuse from Microsoft is still very much possible.

As rumors went around these days for AMD to split its CPU manufacturing department, and probably to sell it, prove an irrefutable fact: AMD’s current value today is three times lower than the company that bought ATI Technologies in 2006.

Microsoft already paid AMD around $1.26 billion for all of its Xbox One chips, as each chip is costing Microsoft $100 with a current 12.6 million units already sold since its launch. We can safely assume that Microsoft is hypothetically easily buying AMD each year it orders chips from the company.

A potential acquisition would save the company important sums of money yearly and would use it’s infrastructure to produce chips for smartphones and tablets.
Microsoft won't rush things

The one impending factor that actually stops Microsoft from buying AMD is not money but the structure of AMD itself as the company does not produce exactly what Microsoft needs except the accelerated graphics which is the main and only truly profitable department of AMD.

With the recent launch of the Radeon Fury X, such a move will simply destroy AMD financially making it unprofitable even for Microsoft. Time has to pass for this to happen, if ever.

The consequences for such an action would be mildly put, enormous, in an instant Sony and Apple would be confronted with an unacceptable situation of either developing its own hardware or put money in Microsoft’s pocket’s every time a PlayStation or iMac is being sold. Turning to ARM and Imagination Technologies would be possible but entire industry infrastructures and supply-chain standards would have to be changed.

This just shows how fragile is the balance kept in the IT industry, held there only at the will of the major players like Microsoft and Samsung. A similar move from Samsung or even Sony would start a complete chaos with smaller companies and even larger ones like Apple that depend on companies like AMD to provide excellent products with enough profit to build a solid brand.

This rumor can prove to be fake as Microsoft or AMD have not commented on the article yet. Previous rumors started by Reuters of AMD splitting up have proven wrong before. But even when rumors are wrong they can seriously affect AMD's image and show some underlying weakness.

We'll keep you in touch as the situation unfolds.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/microsof ... _hotlatest
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Some Think That the “Get Windows 10” App Is a Virus That Won’t Go Away

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Some Think That the “Get Windows 10” App Is a Virus That Won’t Go Away

Microsoft rolled out the Get Windows 10 app on June 1 in order to let Windows 7 and 8.1 users know that the new version of its operating system is available free of charge, but since this program showed up all of a sudden on users’ computers, some believe that their PCs actually got infected.

This is how posts like this one are published online, as some people are afraid that the Get Windows 10 is some sort of malware that cannot be removed from their computers even if they are running fully up-to-date antivirus software.

“I booted up my computer today and there was this Windows 8 icon in my notification area. I clicked it and then it said get windows 10 for free!! I know not to trust this stuff, but my antivirus (Avast) doesn't detect it!!!” a post dated June 1, the day when Microsoft deployed the tool of Windows PCs, reads.
Poor communication?

Needless to say, this isn’t a virus and is actually supposed to let you take advantage of a great promo, but it’s a little bit worrying that pushing such a tool out of nowhere to users’ computers could make some think that they got infected.

Obviously, Microsoft most likely didn’t expect this to happen, and although the number of those who think that its app is a virus is very small, it could be a sign that the company should have adopted a different approach in order to let users know about the app that was supposed to land on their computers and remain in the system tray until Windows 10 comes out.

Aside from those who think that this is a virus, there are also users who do not agree with Microsoft’s strategy to put software on their computers without asking first. Many call Microsoft’s app “adware” because it advertises Windows 10, but keep in mind that it does no harm to your computer and it can be removed at any time.

If you don’t want the Get Windows 10 app to show up on your computer anymore, simply remove the KB3035583 update from your computer and you’re good to go.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/some-thi ... 6471.shtml
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Re: Some Think That the “Get Windows 10” App Is a Virus That Won’t Go Away

Post by Whatacrock »

How to Remove the Windows 10 Upgrade Notifications on Windows 7 and 8.1

As we told you in the past, Microsoft quietly downloaded and installed a Windows 10 upgrade notification tool on all computers running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, and as of this morning, this application started displaying messages to entice users to reserve their free copy of the new OS.

While this is quite a great tool for those who want to make the switch to Windows 10, it’s not that awesome for users who want to stick to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 for a little longer, so how on Earth are we supposed to get rid of these notifications showing up on our desktops every once in a while?

Well, it’s all because of the update that Microsoft installed on our PCs. So to remove the notification tool, all we have to do is remove this update completely.

To do this, launch Control Panel, click on Programs > Programs and Features, and in the left side of the screen hit the “View installed updates” section.

Look for KB3035583 in the list, right-click it and hit the remove option. If you don’t want to be bothered again in the future, just hide it and no other notifications will be displayed because the update won’t be installed again on your PC.
What’s KB3035583?

According to Microsoft, KB3035583 is an update that “enables additional capabilities for Windows Update notifications in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.” The company, however, isn’t saying anything about Windows 10, so it’s hard to consider it an upgrade notification for Windows 10.

Windows 10 is projected to launch in just a couple of months, so it might be a good idea to get rid of the update if you don’t want to see the same notification over and over again for the next two months.

But, on the other hand, if Windows 10 is on your upgrade list for 2015, it’s better to just reserve your free copy of Windows 10 from the notification showing up on your desktop and just wait for the new OS to become available.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-R ... 2872.shtml
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IBM unveils 'breakthrough' computer chip

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IBM unveils 'breakthrough' computer chip

A chip which is two generations more advanced than today's designs has been made using transistors just three times wider than a strand of DNA.

It is more powerful than any chip currently in existence, and could be in machines within two years.

The ultra-dense chip squeezes in four times as much computing power as the best silicon chip currently available.

Creator IBM says it was made possible by using silicon-germanium in the manufacturing process, rather than pure silicon.

The material means transistors can switch faster and use less power, allowing for a more dense chip.

Smaller chips mean more computing power for devices ranging from mobile phones and smartwatches, to laptop and desktop computers.

So-called 'Moore's Law' says that the number of transistors per square inch on chips should double every two years.

While IBM has demonstrated the possibility of creating a chip with seven-nanometre transistors - down from the current 14 - it is still in the advanced research stage and is not consumer ready.

For size comparison, a red blood cell is approximately 7,500 nanometres in diameter.

http://www.skynews.com.au/business/tech ... hip_100715
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Adobe warning after software firm hacked

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Adobe warning after software firm hacked

Software maker Adobe says it is fixing a critical flaw revealed by the spectacular attack on Italian surveillance company Hacking Team.

Sunday's breach sent hundreds of gigabytes of Hacking Team's internal data coursing into the public domain.

Although the focus has largely been on the Milan-based company's email correspondence, Hacking Team also appears to have lost control of the surveillance software used to spy on its targets.

Security researchers say malicious actors have wasted little time in looting the stricken company's electronic arsenal and are now adopting Hacking Team's tools for their own attacks.

One such tool is aimed at taking advantage of a previously unknown bug in Adobe Flash Player to hijack targeted computers.

Adobe Systems says it hoped to patch the bug later on Wednesday.

http://www.skynews.com.au/business/tech ... acked.html
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Microsoft’s Killing Another Windows Version Tomorrow

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Microsoft’s Killing Another Windows Version Tomorrow

Windows Server 2003 reaches end of support on July 14

After Windows XP, whose support officially ended on April 8, 2014, Microsoft is getting ready to kill off another Windows version, this time specifically aimed at businesses.

Windows Server 2003 reaches end of support on July 14, so the software giant will officially roll out the latest batch of updates tomorrow as part of this monthly Patch Tuesday cycle. After that, customers who are still using it could become vulnerable to attacks in case unpatched security holes are found in the operating system, as Microsoft will no longer fix them.

As was the case with Windows XP, custom support for Windows Server 2003 will also be offered, but needless to say, it comes at a price. The exact cost of extended support is not available, but for Windows XP, companies had to pay approximately $200 for each PC in the first 12 months after EOS.
Plenty of companies still using it

Unsurprisingly, the world isn’t yet ready to give up on Windows Server 2003, and a study conducted by Dell shows that no less than 20 percent of Australian and New Zealand businesses will still be running this OS version on their servers tomorrow, when support comes to an end.

"Customers are in a position where a lot of them are going to be living with Windows Server 2003, without Microsoft support, and that places them into some level of risk around security compliance, auditing, and just around being able to support their environments," Dean Gardiner, Dell datacentre and cloud practice lead, told ZDNet.

What’s more, 23 percent of the businesses claimed they had absolutely no reason to upgrade, while 40 percent of those who are still running Windows Server 2003 explained that they delayed the upgrade because of application support requirements. 29 percent pointed to the final price of the process as the main reason for sticking to WS 2003.

With WPC 2015 to debut today, expect Microsoft to talk a lot about this important milestone that’s being reached tomorrow, especially as many assume that Windows Server 2003 machines will become the main target for hackers in the next few months.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/microsof ... 6715.shtml
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