Microsoft have now released an “out of band” security update that addresses the vulnerability in Internet Explorer that was responsible for the attacks on Google China recently. The security issue lead to German and French authorities recommending alternative browsers, such as Firefox or Chrome.

Now, with this patch, users minimise the risk of exposing themselves to harmful code found on infected sites. If you are a Vista or Windows 7 user and you have automatic updates on, then the patch will download automatically. If you haven’t activated automatic updates, or you wish to manually update, either visit the update.microsoft.com website or, if you are a Vista or 7 user, go to Start -> All Programs -> Windows Update. Download the update Internet Explorer KB 960714 patch.

More information can be found here at the Microsoft Security site.

It has been reported both by the BBC and The Register that a bug in IE, namely “Zero Day”, was part of the cause for the security issues at Google’s Chinese offices. Following these reports, the German authorities have suggested users to switch to a different browser as Microsoft are yet to release a fix, although they have released a Security Advisory.

If you are using Internet Explorer 8, your operating system is Windows 7 and you are fully patched and updated (run Windows Update to find out), you are least at risk. For all users, we suggest performing the following to minimise any impact to your machine(s):

• Ensure that Windows is fully patched and updated. If you are using older versions of Internet Explorer, we highly recommend updating to version 8.
• Check to make sure your anti-virus is up to date too.
• To maximise protection, you could change your Internet Explorer security settings to “High”. You may have to add legitimate sites to the “trusted sites” list as high security settings may even block legitimate content.
• Be wary of the sites you are visiting and the adverts you are clicking on. If you are unsure at any stage and you are a supported client, call us for assistance.
• Alternatively, you can use a different browser. Google Chrome is fast and easy to use, while Firefox is the favourite for many.

We are keeping an eye on this one and will post updates to this story as and when they are released. If you are a supported client, call or e-mail us if you have any concerns or questions with regards to the above.

As we approach the end of 2009, we have a lot to look forward to in 2010, especially on the Microsoft front. We all experienced the release of Windows 7 earlier this year, with businesses already upgrading to take advantage of all the new features, promising to be more user-centric and easier to work with. Not only that, but some companies are making the most out of their Windows 7 purchase by upgrading to Server 2008 R2 and benefiting from features such as Direct Access*. Not to mention a range of other features including the Active Directory Recycle Bin, improved management tools and virtualisation support, including Live Migration.

Next year will see the release of three new products – Office 2010, SharePoint Server 2010 and Exchange 2010. Communication and efficiency will be the key behind these products, making it easier for team members to communicate and collaborate, no matter where they are based. Today I will focus on Office 2010.

Office 2010

The beta version of Office has been available to download for a little while now, and it boasts some cool new features. For example, Outlook 2010 will be able to manage multiple mailboxes from multiple services, including Hotmail and GMail. Also, there will be strong integration with SharePoint for collaboration purposes. Exchange 2010 will also work seamlessly with Outlook, allowing voicemails and faxes to be sent directly to your inbox.

PowerPoint 2010 need no longer be a simply case of slide after slide of text – there will be some advanced image editing features included, as well as the ability to add video.

Closing a Word document that you haven’t saved since you started working on it 3 hours ago can be a nightmare – Word 2010 boasts a feature that allows you to recover draft versions of recently edited files so that you can jump back to the most recently drafted version. Also, if more than one user needs to work on a document, you no longer need to edit, save, send, open and vice-versa – with an Instant Messenger application, or Office Communicator 2007, more than one user can work on a document at the same time, allowing for greater efficiency and collaboration.

Excel 2010 newest feature is caled Sparklines – the creation of small charts within a single cell that allows you to quickly identify patterns within your data and spot trends at a glance. The integration with SharePoint 2010 will also be greatly improved, allowing team members to share business critical data quickly.

From the screenshots, Office 2010 is looking great – however, Office Ribbon lovers will be eager to know that the Office Ribbon is back. However, Office 2010 is set to make things easier by allowing users to customise their ribbon to suit the way they work.

No release date has been given yet, but expect news in the early part of 2010. In the meantime, why not give it a try yourself? I’ve been testing the beta and I’ll say one thing – if you have been running 2007, the layout will be familiar and getting around will be easy. If you are running 2003, you have a learning curve ahead of you but you’ll get used to the new look in no time at all.

*Direct Access feature only with Windows 7 Ultimate / Enterprise

Following on from my post yesterday, it seems as though the issue, dubbed “Black screen of death”, has been narrowed down to a Malware issue, and not a security update as previously reported. Microsoft have written a brief report on what they believe is the cause.

Prevx are still offering their “fix” from their website, together with instructions on how to run the tool. However, should the fix not work, some users have had to resort to reinstalling Windows.

BBC News have reported on an issue with Windows 7 whereby when a user logs in, all he / she is presented with is a black screen with the “Computer” desktop icon, no taskbar and no other icons. This has also affected Vista and XP users, and has apparently been caused by a security update that was released on the 25th November.

If you are suffering with this problem, Prevx have released a fix that may or may not work which can be found at their blog here*. Microsoft are currently investigating, and have suggested users are to contact Microsoft Customer Support line should they experience an issue. If you are a C Data supported client, then do contact us if you are experiencing any problems highlighted in this blog.

*Please note that C Data are not responsible for content found on external sites. Using this tool is at your own risk.