Have Laptop Will Travel

Microsoft Beta Tests Outlook Express Replacement

Originally posted on July 19, 2006 @ 9:41 am

Microsoft Corporation opened Windows Live Mail Center to public beta testing on Tuesday July 18, 2006, providing the first look at the e-mail client that will eventually replace Outlook Express.

Formerly titled Windows Live Mail Desktop, the code is based on Windows Mail, the e-mail application that will be bundled with Windows Vista when that Operating System ships in sometime early 2007.

The Windows Live Mail Center client lets users access Microsoft’s Web-based e-mail service Hotmail, which is now called Windows Live Mail, regular POP3 e-mail and other Web based e-mail clients like Google’s Gmail, all within one interface.

This new mail client also displays RSS feeds and newsgroup threads and messages.

Pretty neat I think. Maybe Microsoft is starting to get the big picture? Scary.

You can download the Windows Live Mail Center here.

Open-Source Disk Encryption Software

Originally posted on May 27, 2006 @ 2:56 pm

Many of my geek friends use an array of Linux flavors (Debian, Fedora, FreeBSD, Gentoo, Knoppix, Mandrake, OpenBSD, RedHat, Slackware, etc.) and have their hard drives encrypted for added protection and security.

I also have some friends who don’t use Linux and prefer Windows, shame on you, hehe… but that’s ok because at some point we all have to use Microsoft Windows in our personal or business daily lifes.

It seems lately I’ve been asked a lot if I can recommend an easy solution to encrypt hard drives under Windows. Well today I have a great recommendation: Truecrypt.

TrueCrypt is Open-Source, free and runs under Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux. What more could you ask for?

Some of the key features in TrueCrypt include:

  • Creates a virtual encrypted disk within a file and mounts it as a real disk.
  • Encrypts an entire hard disk partition or a device, such as USB flash drive.
  • Encryption is automatic, real-time (on-the-fly) and transparent.

Something a lot of people will find interesting about this program is it provides two levels of plausible deniability, in case an adversary forces you to reveal the password:

  1. Hidden volume (steganography)
  2. No TrueCrypt volume can be identified (volumes cannot be distinguished from random data).

TrueCrypt uses multiple encryption algorithms: AES-256, Blowfish (448-bit key), CAST5, Serpent, Triple DES, and Twofish. Mode of operation: LRW (CBC supported as legacy).

To find out more, visit www.Truecrypt.org today!

Mozilla Patches 13 Firefox Flaws

Originally posted on July 27, 2006 @ 12:58 pm

Get FirefoxMozilla Corporation updated its Firefox browser today to patch 13 vulnerabilities, 8 of them judged “critical” by the Mountain View, California open-source developer.

Firefox 1.5.0.5 is a security update that is part of Mozilla’s ongoing program to provide a safe Internet experience for their customers.

Mozilla recommends that all Firefox users upgrade to this latest version, so if you use Firefox, which you should be, go grab the latest update.

Visit the Official Firefox download page for more information.

Microsoft to Show Vista At Hacker Conference

Originally posted on July 11, 2006 @ 10:52 am

Microsoft plans to detail the security features of its upcoming Windows Vista operating system at the Hack In The Box Hacker Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia September 18-21, 2006. The Hack In The Box conference will host two speakers from Microsoft.

Microsoft's Dave Tamasi and Douglas MacIver

The first, Dave Tamasi, a lead security program manager at Microsoft, will give a presentation on security engineering in Vista. The talk will include a discussion about features suggested by hackers and other security-conscious members of the computing community, in addition to security improvements made on Vista.

The second speaker, Douglas MacIver, a penetration engineer at Microsoft, will review Vista’s BitLocker Drive Encryption and the company’s analysis of threats and attempts to penetrate the security feature.

Speaking of security and hacking, remember today is Microsoft Patch Tuesday, so go grab your updates. Depending on what you have installed on your Windows box, you will be downloading 7 to 9 critical updates for various Windows Operating Systems and also various Microsoft Office products.

Microsoft Loses Office Patent Appeal

Originally posted on June 19, 2006 @ 5:02 pm

Back in 2005, Microsoft was told to pay Carlos Amado $6.1 million for violating Amado’s patent, which covered technology to link spreadsheets and databases. Amado developed the technology while at Stanford University, and patented it in 1994.

The 2005 ruling had stayed an injunction against using the technology pending appeal, but had ordered Microsoft to put into escrow money to cover sales of additional infringing products. Currently, Amado’s attorney said that the escrow account contains over $65 million. That’s a lot of cash.

As of last week, the original verdict which was handed down by federal court in 2005 in favor of Carlos Amado was upheld by a United States Court of Appeals. That’s exciting news for Carlos and bad news for Microsoft. It looks like Carlos will be sitting pretty for a very long time.

I wonder how much of the $65 million he will actually receive and how much of it will go to his lawyer. Either way Microsoft will be taking a pretty big hit in the pocket.