How's things?
Bugs and Fixes: Critical Fixes for Windows, IE, Office
PC World - Sep 22, 2006
The company just shipped 12 bug patches--9 of them critical--affecting everything from Windows to Internet Explorer to Office apps. And unfortunately, things have not gone smoothly. In keeping with what is now a regrettably familiar pattern, hackers launched a zero-day attack on a hole that one of the fixes addressed, before the patch could be released. This exploit was designed to target the Windows "Server service," which handles file and printer sharing in Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 through Windows Server 2003 as well as in Windows XP SP1 and SP2... A Broken IE Fix Shortly after releasing a cumulative update for Internet Explorer 6. 0 SP1 that patched six critical holes, Microsoft discovered a problem. The new patch introduced a bug that crashed IE under certain circumstances--such as when running CRM (customer relationship management) applications like PeopleSoft and Siebel. At about the same time, eEye Digital Security, a security research firm, discovered that an attacker could take advantage of the crashes to commandeer a computer running Windows 2000 SP4 or XP SP1 (though not SP2). Two weeks later, Redmond released an updated patch. Grab the fixed fix, which includes the cumulative updates of the previous patch, over Automatic Updates or from Microsoft Security Bulletin MS06-042 (".
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127065-c,virusesworms/article.html
The shift toward hardware independence | Tech News on ZDNet
ZDNet - Sep 21, 2006
The growing number of mobile employees that work in a "virtual office" need, and are demanding, access to their files and data without being restricted to an individual PC or intranet. This evolution is the driving force behind the Software as a Service revolution. Functionality and flexibility without the costs
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a model of software delivery where the software company provides applications--such as CRM and sales force automation solutions, e-mail and collaboration software--which customers access through JavaScript enabled Web browsers. Users log in to specified Web pages for immediate and up-to-date access to their business application(s). These applications do not require desktop clients or downloads, freeing up device memory and increasing accessibility. Their potential often exceeds that of traditional boxed software by integrating the application with the Internet's communication capabilities, making it easy to instantly share data, such as customer information, calendars and other files. With a cost structure that fits the small business budget and services that meet their needs, smaller companies are finally reaping the benefits of applications that have typically been available only to big businesses that could afford to make large investments in hardware, software and IT staff.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6118152.html
Can Web-based applications outwit, outplay, outlast the desktop?
InfoWorld - Oct 2, 2006
“It’ll be fun,” he says. No access to my Microsoft Office apps, just the Web 2. 0 equivalents that seem to be popping up like gaffes at a Bush press conference. The point of this little exercise was to see whether anyone would seriously contemplate replacing desktop with Web-based productivity apps. And if not, how close are we? After all, whenever Google waves its hands in this direction, the pundits swoon. Not to mention that enterprises would save gazillions in licensing and desktop maintenance... I’ll be looking at additional applications on the. And before the flame mails start, let me be clear that my selection of apps for my WINO (Week of INternet Office) project are … personal. Which apps appealed to my particular style of working is partially based on features and partially on ease of use in the user interface -- I’m a creature of Office, and I don’t feel like spending the week staring at a Help menu.
http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/06/10/02/40FEbrowseapp_1.html
Second third-party fix out for Windows bug | CNET News.com
CNET News.com - Oct 1, 2006
The group, calling itself the Zeroday Emergency Response Team, or ZERT, created. People have a choice of third-party fixes. Security company Determina on Friday.
http://news.com.com/Second+third-party+fix+out+for+Windows+bug/2100-1002_3-6121630.html
With Online Friends Like These…
BusinessWeek - Sep 27, 2006
Microsoft's (MSFT) Internet Explorer, the most widely used Web browser, had the most attacks against it and accounted for 47% of all Web browser attacks. Symantec saw 38 new vulnerabilities in its software, a 52% increase over the past six months. Microsoft has addressed the problems as Symantec reported them and developed downloadable patches to shore up its systems. Mozilla, maker of the popular Firefox open source browser, had 47 vulnerabilities, an increase of 276%. Even Apple Computer's (AAPL) Safari browser, which is typically immune to many weaknesses shared by other more popular browsers, had 12 vulnerabilities. Most of those vulnerabilities were discovered by testers whose purpose is not to exploit them, but to help the companies protect their applications.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2006/tc20060927_746300.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_technology
Fool on the Street: Akamai Access [Fool.com] October 02, 2006
Motley Fool - Oct 2, 2006
Broadband, dude, broadbandAkamai is there, too, but its recent sales growth has approached 50%. Some of that surely owes to its early-2005... And Microsoft, a big customer in software downloads -- Akamai's network has delivered millions of beta copies of the Vista operating system -- seems likely to turn to Akamai when its. No wonder media is Akamai's largest segment, accounting for 38% of revenue, according to chief financial officer J.
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06100223.htm
SAP Eyes "Third Way" Software
BusinessWeek - Sep 29, 2006
How many of them understand their differentiators? According to Agassi: "About 10 per cent. As an example, he pointed to the way Apple was able to roll out its iTunes music store in just three months, based on an SAP backbone, whereas one-time digital music leader Napster took a year and was left behind. On a flying visit to Europe - he is normally based on the US west coast - the executive talked positively about the company's partnership with Microsoft and didn't miss the chance to disparage arch-rival Oracle. In recent years Oracle bought PeopleSoft and Siebel, both major players in business software, traditionally around HR and CRM respectively. SAP will continue to look for smaller acquisition targets - once upon a time that's how Agassi came into the fold - but he added: "We don't believe in buying customers. We want to see benefit the day after [any acquisition], not the day before," with a nod towards Oracle's approach. He also said Oracle customers must be "confused" about where the former PeopleSoft and Siebel products are being taken, saying "there is no real road-map"... As an example, he pointed to the way Apple was able to roll out its iTunes music store in just three months, based on an SAP backbone, whereas one-time digital music leader Napster took a year and was left behind. On a flying visit to Europe - he is normally based on the US west coast - the executive talked positively about the company's partnership with Microsoft and didn't miss the chance to disparage arch-rival Oracle. In recent years Oracle bought PeopleSoft and Siebel, both major players in business software, traditionally around HR and CRM respectively. SAP will continue to look for smaller acquisition targets - once upon a time that's how Agassi came into the fold - but he added: "We don't believe in buying customers. We want to see benefit the day after [any acquisition], not the day before," with a nod towards Oracle's approach. He also said Oracle customers must be "confused" about where the former PeopleSoft and Siebel products are being taken, saying "there is no real road-map". Oracle declined to respond to these comments when contacted.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2006/gb20060929_100437.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_global+business
See you later.
