RSA was great last week - security was clearly top of mind for the attendees, and I fielded a number of different questions last week about how Microsoft protects our customers. Some are pretty straightforward around how the various Windows 7 security technologies work, but many have focused on how we actually deliver protection to customers on an ongoing basis.

One question that comes up more than I would have ever expected is: Who gets security updates?

There seems to be a myth that Microsoft limits security updates to genuine Windows users.

Let me be clear: all security updates go to all users.

Not only do all security updates go to all users' systems, but non-genuine Windows systems are able to install service packs, update rollups, and important reliability and application compatibility updates. In addition, the users of non-genuine Windows systems can also upgrade a lot of the other software on their computer. For example Internet Explorer 8 has numerous security- oriented features and improvements, and it is available to all users.

This isn't to say that all updates are available to non-genuine PCs. Other value-adding updates and software may or may not be blocked, at Microsoft's discretion. On Windows Vista, available updates can be accessed through the Windows Update control panel. On Windows XP, a non-genuine Windows system can access updates through Automatic Updates, but they cannot get to any of the optional updates which are only available through the Windows Update and Microsoft Update websites.

Keeping a machine up to date is one of the first steps in helping ensure that they remain reliable, compatible, and safe from threats when they are online. Some of the most famous incidents of malicious software infection have come after security updates were publicly available from Microsoft - Blaster, Zotob, Conficker and Sasser, just to name a few.

I hope this clears up some confusion. Rest assured that we at Microsoft are committed to making sure that security updates are available to all of our users to help ensure a safe online experience for everyone.

Brandon Leblanc of the Windows Experience Blog introduces a new Windows 7 related site called ‘Talking About Windows’ that showcases members of the Windows Team’s experience building the next version of Windows along with customer testimonials.

“I get the extreme pleasure of exclusively revealing a new Microsoft community website on Windows today specifically designed for IT Professionals: Talking About Windows.

Talking About Windows is a new website that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Windows 7 from the Microsoft engineers who helped build product as well as showcasing real IT Professionals talking candidly about their implementations and experiences in considering a more modern OS. This is done through a series of videos hosted within the Talking About Windows Website.“

Learn more here

Related:

• Springboard Series Blog - Commentary, share community best practices and keep informed about Windows.
• Windows 7 Blog for Developers - The ‘one stop shop’ on the road to get yourself familiar with what Windows 7 has to offer for developers.
• Windows 7 Engineering - Conversation with Steven Sinofsky and Jon DeVaan around the successor to Windows Vista.

 

I get the extreme pleasure of exclusively revealing a new Microsoft community website on Windows today specifically designed for IT Professionals: Talking About Windows.

Talking About Windows is a new website that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Windows 7 from the Microsoft engineers who helped build product as well as showcasing real IT Professionals talking candidly about their implementations and experiences in considering a more modern OS. This is done through a series of videos hosted within the Talking About Windows Website.

Through Talking About Windows, IT Professionals can listen as our engineers discuss why certain product decisions and feature trade-offs were made in Windows 7 from the likes of Mark Russinovich – a Technical Fellow here at Microsoft (and founder of Windows Sysinternals) - as well as Jon DeVaan, Senior Vice President for the Windows Core Operating System. A great line-up of videos with the people behind Windows 7 can be found at Talking About Windows to with more on the way!

I thought it would be neat to also showcase a special viral video for Talking About Windows I think you will enjoy (feel free to embed on your site!):

Talking About Windows – BitLocker to Go

Talking About Windows also features videos of IT Professionals offering real-world commentary on their Windows deployment and adoption experiences as well.

If you’re an IT Professional, you can also take part in conversations on the Talking About Windows website via the comments section for each video. After all – it’s about “talking about Windows” right? If you then want deeper information I recommend you visit probably one of the single best resources on the web for IT Professionals on Windows – the Springboard Series on TechNet.

In combination with Talking About Windows and the Springboard Series – IT Professionals have a great deal of resources to help them consider their options and learn more about Windows 7!

By the way Stephen Rose, who sits down the hall from me and is our community manager for IT Professionals, helps you to navigate the site when you get there.

The Conficker worm computer virus updated itself late Wednesday, bringing a new threat to the millions of PCs currently infected by it.

The discovery was made by Internet security company Trend Micro, who stated in a press release that the ybercriminals behind the notorious Conficker worm may finally be gearing up for more serious attacks.?

As many as 12 million computers could be infected by the worm. Microsoft is offering a $250,000 bounty for its creator.

The worm can be used to steal data from computers. It can also control infected computers to be used in what is called a otnet.The army of computers in the botnet can then be used by a hacker to launch cyberattacks against anything from Web sites to government computer networks.

Such an attack was launched against the U.S. Pentagon in 2007 by Chinese hackers. The Pentagon was forced to temporarily shut down its network and lost an unknown amount of information.

The activation of the Conficker worm came the same day (Wednesday) as reports of cyber spies infiltrating the U.S. power grid. The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese and Russian spies were behind it, leaving software in the system that could shut down the U.S. electric grid.

Canadian researchers also discovered late last month the Chinese ?hostNet?a spyware system that is being used to monitor and steal documents from 1,295 computers in 103 countries. Among their targets were the Dalai Lama, the media, and hundreds of government and private offices.

Whether the Conficker worm has any connection to the other attacks is yet to be known.

On Oct. 26, 2008, just three days after the discovery of the worm was announced by Microsoft, Chinese hackers created a toolkit that would allow anyone to exploit the system gap. The kit was originally sold for $37.80 but was later made available for free download.

The surprisingly rapid spread of the Conficker worm is attributed to its ability to pass between computers on USB memory sticks. It is also able to invade computer networks. The worm spreads through vulnerabilities in Microsoft? operating system, Windows?lthough an update is now available to repair the vulnerabilities.

The update of the worm was originally suspected to be taking place on April 1. According to Trend Micro the new variant of the worm, known as WORM_DOWNAD.E, runs using a random file name and random service name. It updated itself through P2P communications. The new file was discovered in the Windows Temp folder.

Its effects are yet to be known.

Strangely, according to a BBC report, researchers from the Symantec internet security company said the new update has instructions for the worm to remove virus itself on May 3, 2009, yet a gap in the machine will remain open so that its creators can still control the compromised PC

VMware vSphere is the industry's first (yes, I know, Hyper-V is also on the same market and I really love it :)) cloud operating system, transforming...

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Windows Vista provides some fun animation and effects to the Windows Desktop, (Flip 3D and Alt-Tab-2D). Windows 7 adds further pizzazz with a set of entertaining visual cues that makes working with Windows a great time on the PC. Let’s check some of them out!

Click image to enlarge

Aero Peek – Allows you to see behind windows revealing the desktop without the need to minimize windows by simply placing your mouse pointer in the right hand corner of the screen.

Tip for this visual effect: (Windows Key + Space)

Click image to enlarge

Aero Snaps - For persons who often do data comparisons with content from two windows on screen, Windows 7 has made this a cinch by simply making it possible to drag the window to opposite sides of your screen; automatically each window will fill its half of the screen.

Tip for this visual effect: (Windows Key + arrow)

Click image to enlarge

Aero Shake - Grab a window title bar, shake it and all windows behind the active window will minimize to the Taskbar, shake it again and all windows will return to the screen.

Desktop Slideshow – This is not really a time saver, but if you want to use up some idle time at work before the clock hit’s 5 P.M. here’s is a nice feature of the Windows Desktop you definitely will enjoy. In 7, Microsoft provides in addition to window colour, the ability to choose pre-packaged themes that matches the bundled wallpapers. Glass colour options have increased from 8 in Vista to 16 now in 7. The Personalization explorer supports changing your desktop wallpaper automatically at timed intervals or you invoke it manually by right clicking the desktop and click the ‘Next Desktop Background Picture’ contextual menu option. You can selectively choose different wallpapers you would like to be added to the slideshow, you can even create your own themes and save them. The Personalization explorer itself is more centralized providing a one stop approach to customizing your Desktop Background, Sounds and Screen Saver while you are at it. Let me show you how to setup a Slideshow and Save a theme in Windows 7.

Right click Desktop > click Personalize

In the Personalization shell, click Desktop Background 

Hover over wallpaper and check the box that appears, do this for more than one wallpaper.

Then click in the ‘Change picture every:’ list box and select a timed interval > Save Changes.

You can also save custom backgrounds and Aero Glass colour by simply selecting the ‘Save theme’ in Personalization.

The Windows Team has promised additional improvements to the effects in Windows 7 Release Candidate expected May 5th. This includes Alt-Tab thumbnail supporting full preview’s of windows when invoked. You can get more themes and backgrounds online if you are not satisfied with the pre-bundled collection at the Windows 7 beta Personalize your PC website.

Related:

In depth look at the Windows 7 Taskbar and Start Menu

Resources:

Desktop Experience in Windows 7
A few more changes from Beta to RC…
Some Changes Since the Beta for the RC

Previously:

Windows Explorer – What’s new in Windows 7?
Networking made easy with HomeGroups in Windows 7
Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade – Unlocking more benefits with less effort
A Look at Windows Backup and Windows Update in 7
Playing with Windows Media Player 12