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Speaking yesterday at the Black Hat Security Conference in Las Vegas, Microsoft has now introduced a new group of security related programs that share advanced information with partners about upcoming security threats.
As many in the tech industry know, within hours, and sometimes minutes of monthly security patches being released, exploits are already booming for the security holes fixed by these updates. The Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) will allow security software providers to provide protection to their customers quickly and effectively.
"The introduction of these new programs helps address evolving online threats and provides more practical guidance to assess and manage risk," said Andrew Cushman, director of security response and outreach at Microsoft. "In the race between exploit and protection, Microsoft is committed to shifting the advantage to the security industry. The Microsoft Active Protections Program gives security software providers the information and resources they need to help better protect customers."
Along with the MAPP, Microsoft also plans to roll out its new Exploitability Index in October of 2008. The Exploitability Index will allow providers to determine what exploit is more dangerous and allow them to prioritize the security releases to their customers.
"As security threats become more sophisticated, the global security community must combine its resources and work together to provide maximum security protections to worldwide Internet users," said George Stathakopoulos, general manager of security engineering and communications at Microsoft. "No one organization can counter online attacks alone. Therefore, we must use the combined strength of the industry, partners, customers and public organizations to build a more secure environment for everyone."
With the release of MAPP and Exploitability Index, hopefully we’ll see more computers protected in a quicker and more efficient method against the new threats that are emerging each day.

Link: Guest editorial by George Stathakopoulos
Link: BlackHat Security Conference

Microsoft has kicked off a research project to create software that will take over when it retires Windows. Called Midori, the cut-down operating system is radically different to Microsoft’s older programs. It is centred on the internet and does away with the dependencies that tie Windows to a single PC. It is seen as Microsoft’s answer to rivals’ use of "virtualisation" as a way to solve many of the problems of modern-day computing.
Although Midori has been heard about before now, more details have now been published by Software Development Times after viewing internal Microsoft documents describing the technology. Midori is believed to be under development because Windows is unlikely to be able to cope with the pace of change in future technology and the way people use it.

News source: BBC News

The Olympic content will reach 77 territories where digital rights have not been sold, or have been acquired on a non-exclusive basis, the International Olympic Committee said Monday. The IOC did not release financial details of the deal.
The package from Beijing will include highlights, news and daily clips of the competitions and will be directed primarily to Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
"For the first time in Olympic history we will have complete global online coverage, and the IOC will have its own broadcast channel and content production facilities," said Timo Lumme, the IOC’s director of television and marketing services.
Internet users outside the 77 territories will blocked from seeing the clips through a technology called "geo-blocking."
The IOC made online broadcasting available to a handful of territories four years ago in the Athens Olympics, and to 23 territories for the 2006 Turin Olympics.

Apple kicked off rumours of an iPhone nano a year ago in a United States Patent Application.
Despite Apple selling out of the devices in various US states on a daily basis and the recent release of the 2.0.1 firmware, to update a few performance issues, the rumour of a new iPhone Nano has ignited once again this week.
The Daily Mail in the UK has sparked rumours of a possible iPhone Nano in time for this years Christmas season. Citing industry sources the paper claims the product will be launched in the UK at up to £150 for pay-as-you-go customers by O2. This would go some way to explaining why the iPhone hasn’t been released on PAYG yet and why industry experts predict it will arrive on PAYG by Christmas.
According to the paper one expert suggested the nano phone would have a touch wheel on the back and display on the front so that numbers would be dialed from behind. This backs up the images in the Apple patent but what does Neowin think, a cheap iPhone Nano for Christmas or a load of hot air?

View: Apple iPhone