software

A recently released security report from Microsoft warns that cyber crooks are digging deeper into computers in order to steal and control data. The Security Intelligence Report reveals that rogue security software ("scareware") was the biggest ... threat during the first half of this year. Worm Activity on the Rise In a recent report, Jeff Williams, Microsoft's Malware Protection Center principal architect noted that rogue security software is no longer the primary tool for hackers and that worm activity, particularly the Conficker and Taterf worm, are on the rise. Scareware usually ... (view more)

Microsoft says that not only will they benefit from sales of its new Windows 7 operating system (OS), but the local economy could benefit from it too. Microsoft hired research firm IDC Corp to conduct a study on the ripple affect of Windows 7 which ... launched on October 22nd this year. Estimates from the IDC study found that American companies could hire 25,000 additional workers through the end of 2010. Sales of Win7 Products Estimated at $110B Microsoft's launch of Windows 7 can affect tech companies that depend on Microsoft's software. Some companies make computer hardware, others produce ... (view more)

One of the most visible changes in Windows 7 is that the User Account Control (UAC) system has been made less irritating than with Vista. However, a security firm says that less hassle comes with a price. The UAC system, which debuted in Vista, ... means that once installed, software is not automatically able to run without restraint. Instead, when it wants to perform an action which will change Windows itself, a pop-up box asks the user for permission. The user must be logged in under an administrator account to give this permission. Vista Users: UAC Most Annoying The idea was to put a block on ... (view more)

Announcing Infopackets.com / Ashampoo $10 Software MEGA Deal! Ashampoo Celebrates 10 Years of Software Excellent by bringing 10 Days of Celebration to all Infopackets Readers! Details Effective October 21st to October 31st, 2009 you can buy almost ... all A+ quality Ashampoo programs for only $10 bucks EACH! All qualifying items are listed below with a brief description. To get the $10 deal, click on the Buy Now link on this page. This is truly a once in a lifetime deal and I can assure you when the deal is done, it won't be repeated! Note: For your convenience we have included links to previous ... (view more)

What's worse than downloading fake antivirus software and paying to "clean" your system of a virus that never existed in the first place? How about being locked out of your PC and having your files held for a $79.95 ransom? Malware Peddlers Up the ... Ante with Ransomware In the past, malware peddlers cashed in after coaxing innocent people into purchasing fake software they don't need. In an effort to spike profits, however, malware scammers are now upping the ante by infecting PCs and demanding users pay a set ransom to retrieve their files and documents. All it takes is 1 wrong click ... (view more)

Update 2011/06/16: We've managed to finagle yet another amazing deal for our readers! Act now and save a whopping 60% off Ashampoo Burning Studio 9 until June 28, 2011 (regular price $39.99 now only $15.99) -- proceeds support our website. This ... fabulous program is used to make CD, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs using your PC and is especially GREAT for beginners / intermediate computer users because it's SUPER EASY to use. A full 30 day money back guarantee is offered if you're not completely delighted! The full review of Burning Studio 9 is below. Details and link to discount offer are at the bottom ... (view more)

It's not often you hear about smartphones being infiltrated by hackers using phishing schemes, but a recent Research in Motion security fix is designed to prevent just that kind of issue. The Waterloo, Ontario-based Research in Motion, which ... produces the extremely popular BlackBerry smartphone, late last week issued a patch for a reported vulnerability which left many of its users susceptible to attack by phishing hackers. According to reports, the flaw could allow a remote hacker to fool a BlackBerry owner into visiting a malicious website with their handheld multimedia device. A BlackBerry ... (view more)

Microsoft has released free security software for Windows. But the company has confirmed it will only work with legitimate copies of the operating system. The software, once codenamed Morro , is now known as "Security Essentials." It's a replacement ... for OneCare, a previous Microsoft security product that was not free. Effective, but Falls Short of Rivals Independent tests of the finished product suggest it's a useful tool, though falls short of the protection offered by commercial rivals. One company testing it found Security Essentials detected 98.4% of malware and 90.9% of spyware ... (view more)

Just a few months after being slammed by a Texas federal judge for infringing on the patent of a Canadian company, a similarly critical lawsuit has, in this instance, gone Microsoft's way. Earlier this week a Rhode Island judge overturned a ... Singapore company's $388 million victory against the Redmond-based software giant. MS Accused of Piracy, using Antipiracy Software First filed in a Rhode Island federal court in 2003, the case involved Singapore-based Uniloc, which accused Microsoft of illegally incorporating its antipiracy technology with Windows operating system (OS) and Microsoft's ... (view more)

Microsoft is hoping to cleanse the Internet of malicious advertisements after filing a series of lawsuits against five companies accused of tricking innocent people into installing malware and spyware onto their computers. Microsoft has targeted ... DirectAd Solutions, Soft Solutions, qiweroqw.com, ote2008.info and ITmeter, claiming that these companies have used their advertisements to "distribute malicious software that peddles 'scareware' to unsuspecting Internet users." (Source: networkworld.com ) Scare Tactics Trick Users In a nutshell, scareware ads are dubious messages that "scare" ... (view more)