Interesting Software and System News

[rdmaloyjr]

Klingon Antivirus

Sophos developed a free antivirus program for members of the Klingon empire. 
http://www.sophos.com/klingon-anti-virus/

There is a version of Klingon Antivirus for Earthlings.
Sophos Threat Detection Test

[YoKenny]

What works with Win 7, and what doesn't., A list of security apps and tools.

Avast home edition 
Version 4.8
Date tested: May 11, 2009
No problems encountered.

http://www.calendarofupdates.com/updates/index.php?showtopic=19508

[.: L' arc :.]

-= Very useful info.. Thanks..

[Lisandro]

Update on Windows 7 Beta Expiration Date

Recently Microsoft sent an e-mail to various Windows 7 Beta users stating that Windows 7 Beta will expire on August 1, 2009. On June 1, 2009, the PC you’re using to test the Beta will begin shutting down every two hours.

http://www.askvg.com/update-on-windows-7-beta-expiration-date/

[bob3160]

Update on Windows 7 Beta Expiration Date

Recently Microsoft sent an e-mail to various Windows 7 Beta users stating that Windows 7 Beta will expire on August 1, 2009. On June 1, 2009, the PC you’re using to test the Beta will begin shutting down every two hours.

http://www.askvg.com/update-on-windows-7-beta-expiration-date/

This is why you should update your Beta version to the RC version.
It will not expire till 2010.

[bob3160]

Ultimate Boot CD for Windows v3.50

WinUBCD is a collection of great freeware Windows utilities. The CD includes many different types of utilities so you will be prepared when disaster strikes. The WinUBCD uses Bart's PE which allows you to create a custom CD that will boot into a CD based Windows environment with network support. Perfect for recovering deleted files on your harddrive without accidentally overwriting them or scanning a virus infected system. This project currently has 40+ utilities included in the download. Utility groups such as Anti-Virus, CMOS password recovery, password finders, file recovery, MBR backup and recovery...

Changelog
Feature- Explorer as Shell (by Hilander999 & Joshua)
Feature- Hashcheck received some updates to help speed it up
Feature- BTS Drivers now have compatible LAN, WLAN, and graphics drivers. Mass Storage, LAN, and WLAN drivers are included in UBCD4Win, only Mass Storage & LAN are enabled
Feature- VC++ 2008 Runtime, Avira 9 requires this
Feature- New "cleanup tools" section, noted as CT in added software
Feature- New "dynamic" plugin for Kaspersky, handles versions 7 and 8. Compatible with XP and Vista 32/64
Added- CT: ATF Cleaner
Added- Autorun Eater
Added- CT: AVG Remover
Added- CT: ComboFix
Added- Easeus Partition Master HE 3.0.2
Added- Commercial: Easeus Partition Master Pro MulitBoot plugin
Added- Commercial: Kaspersky Internet Security
Added- MalwareBytes AntiMalware
Added- NetCat (it's back!!)
Added- CT: Norton Removal Tool
Added- CT: SDFix
Added- Vipre
Updated- All Anti-Spyware and Anti-Virus definitions updated 4/19/09
Updated- 7-zip 4.65
Updated- aSquared
Updated- AusLogic Defrag 1.6.24.355
Updated- Avira Antivir 9.0.0.386
Updated- CCleaner
Updated- CPU-z 1.5.0
Updated- MB: DBAN 2.0
Updated- Dead Pixel Tester 2.5.0
Updated- Defraggler 1.7.0.124
Updated- DiskCheckup
Updated- Double Driver
Updated- Explore2fs
Updated- ExpressBurn ?
Updated- Filezilla
Updated- FireFox 3.0.6
Updated- FreeCommander
Updated- GPU-z 0.3.2
Updated- HWPnP 1.0.24
Updated- IPSniffer
Updated- Keyfinder 2.0.6.75
Updated- MemTest 1.0.0.1
Updated- MB: MemTest86 3.5
Updated- Nero InfoTool 5.3.3
Updated- NotePad++ 5.1.4
Updated- nPOPuk ?
Updated- Opera 9.64.10487
Updated- Paragon HD Manager 8 Commercial plugin fix
Updated- Passwords Pro 2.5
Updated- PDF Reader 3.0.2009.1506
Updated- Prime95 25.8.3.0
Updated- Recuva
Updated- R-Linux 4.2
Updated- SpeedFan 4.37.0.236
Updated- SpyBot
Updated- SIW 2009.2.24
Updated- Super AntiSpyware
Updated- TestDisk 6.11
Updated- TrueCrypt 6.1.1.0
Updated- UltraVNC
Updated- UnixUtils
Updated- Unknown devices TXT files updated
Updated- VNC Server
Updated- MB: Windows Recovery Console (BTS drivers support)
Updated- xplorer2
Removed- AVG AntiSpyware
Removed- AdAware SE
Removed- Kaspersky 6 support
Removed- Kaspersky individual plugins (now one that supports 7 &
Removed- UBCD4Win driver pack, BTS now covers these devices
Removed- Fix-IDE removed because Fix-HDC has a much better success rate

Download
Setup:


------------ CODE SAMPLE ----------
http://projects.securitywonks.net/projects/download.php?file=32
-----------------------------------




------------ CODE SAMPLE ----------
http://download20.securitywonks.net/file-downloads/ubcd4win/UBCD4WinV350.exe
-----------------------------------




------------ CODE SAMPLE ----------
http://www.pcinfo4u.net/UBCD4Win/UBCD4WinV350.exe
-----------------------------------

[Omid Farhang]

Latest av-comparatives test has been released...

http://www.av-comparatives.org/comparativesreviews/main-tests

see where is avast!, need more works.

[Lisandro]

Latest av-comparatives test has been released...

http://www.av-comparatives.org/comparativesreviews/main-tests

see where is avast!, need more works.

Yeah, not that a good test for avast. Room for improvement.

[DavidR]

avast is not alone in taking a hit in these retrospective tests, if you check back through the historical tests, the Retrospective test sets back most AVs in the test to some degree and I guess is weighted (not by av-comparatives) towards those AVs with heuristics.

Despite explanation in these forums by the author and the description in the report I still don't see the real world purpose of this test for those that keep their AV fully up to date, see image.

[Lisandro]

Turn On Protected Mode in Windows Vista
Protected Mode is enabled by default in Internet Explorer 8 on Windows Vista for all security zones except the Trusted Sites and Local Intranet zones. As mentioned earlier, this feature is designed to provide enhanced user and system protection by limiting the ability of the application to access areas of the file system and registry.  These limitations are designed to help isolate the Internet Explorer process and limit the ability for a malicious website or other software from utilizing the browser to damage user information or harm the system.  However, users can disable the mode, which reduces overall security. For this reason, Microsoft recommends using Group Policy to ensure that Protected Mode is enabled in all of the Web content zones for the browser, except the Trusted Sites and Local Intranet zones, and prevent users from disabling it.

Turn on Protected Mode: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\<zone>   Enabled

* This setting only works in Internet Explorer 8 with Windows Vista.

[Omid Farhang]

Turn on Protected Mode: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\<zone>   Enabled

* This setting only works in Internet Explorer 8 with Windows Vista.

Not Windows Vista Home Premium / Home Basic / starter  :'( :'( :'( :'(

[bob3160]

Omid,
You could always install Win 7 RC   that would upgrade you to the top of the class. 

[YoKenny]

Turn on Protected Mode: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\<zone>   Enabled

* This setting only works in Internet Explorer 8 with Windows Vista.

Not Windows Vista Home Premium / Home Basic / starter  :'( :'( :'( :'(

I guess that you need to tell my Vista Home Premium system that it is not supposed to have Protected Mode: On in the Status Bar. 

[Marc57]

Turn on Protected Mode: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Internet Control Panel\Security Page\<zone>   Enabled

* This setting only works in Internet Explorer 8 with Windows Vista.

Not Windows Vista Home Premium / Home Basic / starter  :'( :'( :'( :'(

I guess that you need to tell my Vista Home Premium system that it is not supposed to have Protected Mode: On in the Status Bar. 

Same here, works fine for me, This also works on IE 7 with Vista.

[calcu007]

You need to have the UAC enabled too