Ryan Naraine

Security and data storage software powerhouse Symantec has agreed to pay $36 million to settle an outstanding Internal Revenue Service tax claim, but a bigger bill related to its acquisition of Veritas is still hanging over the companys head. Symantec June 9 announced that the $36 million settlement takes care of a tax bill that […]

One month before the expiration of support for Windows 98, Microsoft says its simply “not feasible” to create patches for a critical flaw affecting the 8-year-old operating system. The vulnerability, patched for other Windows operating systems in the MS06-015 bulletin, exists in the way Windows Explorer handles COM (Component Object Model) objects but, although it […]

Malicious hackers are actively exploiting a flaw patched by Microsoft in its April batch of bulletins to hijack computers for use in botnets, according to a warning from malware hunters. Researchers at Exploit Prevention Labs, an Atlanta-based Internet security outfit, said several bot-seeding scripts are targeting the MDAC (Microsoft Data Access Components) flaw covered in […]

Microsoft plans to release a dozen security bulletins June 13 to provide fixes for a wide range of critical software vulnerabilities. The June batch of updates will include patches for a critical zero-day flaw in Microsoft Word and an Internet Explorer update that deals with the way the browser handles ActiveX controls. A Microsoft spokesperson […]

In the midst of consumer backlash and a stricter legal environment, two well-known adware vendors are merging operations under a new brand. 180Solutions, of Bellevue, Wash., and New York-based Hotbar on June 7 announced a definitive merger that takes effect immediately. The combined entity will carry the controversial Zango name. Zango is an ad-delivery application […]

Two new security-themed projects have been added to Microsofts Live Labs research stable. The two beta projects—Microsoft Live Labs Security Token Service and Microsoft Live Labs Relay Service—indicate a big push by the Redmond, Wash., software vendor to churn out experiments in computer security field. Live Labs, launched in January 2006 as a new Microsoft […]

Microsofts big push into the enterprise anti-virus market took another step forward June 6 with the release of a completely revamped Antigen e-mail security product suite. The release comes just over a year after Microsofts acquisition of Sybari Software and includes Antigen for Exchange, Antigen for SMTP Gateways, Antigen Spam Manager and Antigen Enterprise Manager. […]

Working feverishly through the Memorial Day weekend, Symantecs security response team completed patches May 27 for a “high-risk” worm hole in two enterprise-facing product lines. The flaw, which could allow malicious hackers to take complete control of a system without any user action, was discovered and reported by eEye Digital Security May 24. In an […]

Microsoft plans to make several significant tweaks to the next beta of Windows Vista to make a key security feature less annoying to users. In response to widespread criticisms that the implementation of the UAC (User Account Control) feature triggers too many privilege elevation prompt pop-ups, the software maker will make changes in Windows Vista […]

Mozillas Firefox browser has been updated to fix 13 security vulnerabilities, five rated critical. The open-source group on June 1 shipped Firefox 1.5.0.4, a security and stability release to correct flaws that could cause security bypass, cross-site scripting, system access and HTTP response-smuggling attacks. Security alerts aggregator Secunia rates the update as “highly critical” because […]