windows

According to new research, three in every four computers with a particular nasty form of malware are running Windows XP. The report was compiled by Avast Software. The study looked at operating system rootkits in particular. Rootkits are by ... definition extremely stealthy software that cannot be detected by most forms of anti-virus or anti-malware protection, and thus are very difficult to remove. There are several ways in which a rootkit can operate stealthily. One way is to disguise malicious files by compromising the file management system, such as Windows Explorer. In this way, the ... (view more)

There's a rumor floating around that Microsoft may drop the "Windows" name altogether. But few are putting much stock in it. The claim comes from a story covering this week's Worldwide Partner Conference, at which a Microsoft representative said ... that while Windows 8 is being targeted to run on desktops, notebooks, netbooks and tablets alike, the system after that may be designed to run on all types of hardware, including smartphones and even the Xbox 360 video game console. The report claims that insider sources suggest there's more to the announcement: "Microsoft is seriously considering ... (view more)

A new rumor suggests that Microsoft will allow Windows 8 users to run Xbox 360 games on a PC. It would represent a fusion of two very distinct gaming platforms, and could threaten the distinctiveness of the Xbox 360. It's also a rumor that should be ... taken with a grain of salt. The rumor comes to us from popular tech blog Engadget, which reports that there exist references in Windows 8's kernel code that appear to tie the operating system (OS) to the Xbox 360 video game console, produced by Microsoft. (Source: engadget.com ) Xbox 360, Windows 8 Connection Unclear It's still very much unclear ... (view more)

Tomorrow is the second Tuesday of the month, which means it's Microsoft Patch Tuesday . This month's patches address 22 software vulnerabilities and are associated with four security updates that address flaws in Microsoft Windows and Visio 2003. ... Without applying the patches, PCs remain vulnerable to attacks. Only one of the security updates has been marked "critical." So far, this is the third-most number of fixes offered in a single month for 2011. The number of fixes this month (22) is behind 34 patches issued in June and the record-breaking 64 vulnerabilities addressed in April ... (view more)

Microsoft security experts are having their credentials called into question after sending out premature warnings to users urging them to protect themselves against a new form of covert malware. The Trojan was believed to be so indestructible that ... only a reinstallation of the entire Windows operating system would remove its presence. Microsoft first took notice of the Trojan (called Win32/Popureb.E.) sometime last week. After weighing its potential for harm, security officials reasoned that it contained a rootkit hiding beneath an infected machine's boot sector. Trojan Swaps Write Operation ... (view more)

According to a new rumor making its way through the industry, Microsoft will release its RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version of Windows 8 next spring -- April 2012, to be exact. That would correspond with another recent rumor which suggest that ... the full release of Windows 8 will be on store shelves come the fall or holiday of 2012 . The most recent report comes courtesy of Mary Jo Foley, a prominent tech blogger and Microsoft expert for ZDNet. According to Foley's source, who she says is a trusted one, Microsoft is on track to release to manufacturing all versions of Windows 8 by April ... (view more)

Digsby Build 91 Beta Digsby is a multiprotocol Internet Messaging (IM) client that lets you chat with all your friends on AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Google Talk, and Jabber with one simple to manage buddy list. It's also an email notification tool that ... alerts you of new email and lets you perform actions such as 'Delete' or 'Report Spam' with just one click. http://www.digsby.com Kensington TrackballWorks for Windows 1.1 Beta Kensignton's new TrackballWorks BETA Software for Windows enables trackball customization, including customizable button functions, pointer speed/acceleration, and scrolling ... (view more)

A Microsoft executive has hinted that Windows 8 could be released next fall. But it's not clear if the comments are based on genuine insider information or if they merely represent speculation. The comments came from Dan'l Lewin, a corporate vice ... president responsible for Microsoft's relationships with other businesses, both major firms and start-up companies. Regarding the Windows timescale he said, " ... if you look at the crystal ball and just say what happened in the past is a reasonable indicator of what our forward looking timelines will be .... we've made the point about having a ... (view more)

Mike Delman, Microsoft VP of Global Marketing for Interactive Entertainment Business, recently revealed to the Seattle Times that Xbox Live will soon be integrated with Windows 8, making it available to users via PC for the first time. The Xbox Live ... offering for PCs falls in line with Microsoft's new plan to begin live television , expected to make its way to Xbox 360 consoles this fall. "Live has been successful on the Windows Phone and Live will be built into the PC. It will be the service where you get your entertainment," said Delman. (Source: latimes.com ) Billions of Entertainment Hours ... (view more)

SoftPerfect Network Scanner 5.2 SoftPerfect Network Scanner is a free multi-threaded IP, NetBIOS and SNMP scanner with a modern interface and many advanced features. It is intended for both system administrators and general users interested in ... computer security. The program pings computers, scans for listening TCP/UDP ports and displays which types of resources are shared on the network (including system and hidden). http://www.softperfect.com Preferred Filter Tweaker for Windows 7 4.2 Windows 7 uses its own codecs for decoding several audio and video formats. Using third party DirectShow ... (view more)