According to CNet Microsoft readies for the release of a patch to eliminate a security flaw in Windows Messenger. The issue resided in the ability that allowed any Web site to grab a visitor's IM nickname and buddy list. The release of the patch is scheduled sometime "early next week". "In order to implement the fix, customers will have to upgrade to the next version of MSN messenger," a representative for Microsoft said on Friday. Check with the MSN Messenger site from time to time. Microsoft also promised that users will receive an automated info as soon as they fire up the software. Read more...

This update resolves two common issues with the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) and is discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) Article Q314862. The first issue causes BITS to stay in ?Pending Start? state for 2 minutes after the machine boots. The second issue causes BITS not to work in certain cases where the machine has been upgraded from Win98/WinMe to Windows XP. Download now to resolve these issues.

Neowin.net This update provides a solution for corporate administrators who download Dynamic Update, and is discussed in Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) Article Q314582. Corporate administrators can download Dynamic Update 1.2 to a network installation share, so users can install Windows XP with the updates included in Dynamic Update 1.2.

Activewin.com This one isn't yet listed on the security website and some people are having trouble finding it. It is supposedly on Windows Update. (If anyone has a direct link please e-mail it .)

"Security Update, February 7, 2002 (Internet Explorer 6) 2454 KB/ Download Time: < 1 min The "07 February 2002 Cumulative Patch for Internet Explorer" update eliminates all known security vulnerabilities affecting Internet Explorer 6, as well as six new vulnerabilities, and is discussed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-005. Download now to protect your computer from these vulnerabilities, the most serious of which could allow an attacker to run code on your computer."

The Java Language Conversion Assistant provides the quickest, low-cost method of moving existing Java Language applications to C# on the .NET Framework. These applications can then be extended to produce and consume XML Web Services and to take advantage of the benefits of the .NET Developer Platform, such as ASP.NET, ADO.NET, and Microsoft Windows® Forms.

Microsoft has released a patch that resolves the "Unchecked Buffer in Telnet Server Can Lead to Arbitrary Code Execution"" security vulnerability in Windows 2000 and Interix 2.2, and is discussed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-004. Download now to prevent a malicious user from causing your Telnet server session to fail, or from running unauthorized code on your computer.

My buddy MaltiBRD over @ Windows- Betriebssysteme.info send me some screenshots from the Internet Explorer 6 SP1. Read More....

IEXBeta.com have a IE6 SP1 Beta download link! So be quick before the server gets hammered.

Microsoft Internet Explorer development team has just released a new english beta build 1330 of Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 that is strictly reserved to the lucky Microsoft beta-testers and any leaks!!! LOL

Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 (build 6.0.2813.3000) Date 5th of Feb 2002

Microsoft released a patch for games that are secured with SafeDisc and now it must work good under Windows XP.
This is what they said:
Problem: When running a restricted user account with fast user switching under Windows XP, some games will not start correctly. The game requests that the original disk be placed in the drive, even if it is already present. To fix this issue, download and run the file below.
This software will not alter or patch any component on your system, it will only change the startup state of the system component needed to start your game from start on demand (on game load), to start at boot (on Windows XP start).
For more information and a direct download link click on Read More...

Microsoft have a new Windows Mediaplayer Bonus Pack for WINXP.

HFNetChk is a command-line tool that enables an administrator to assess patch status for computers that are running Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP, as well as hotfixes for Internet Information Server 4.0 (IIS), Internet Information Services 5.0 (IIS), SQL Server 7.0, SQL Server 2000 (including Microsoft Data Engine [MSDE]), and Internet Explorer 5.01 or later. Version 3.31 is an updated version of 3.3 that will properly identify SQL Server 7.0 systems.

Activewin.com are reporting that Microsoft Internet Explorer development team has just released a new english beta build 1330 of Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1 that is strictly reserved to the lucky Microsoft beta-testers.

I guess a leak is due soon. Remember last time.

According to a BugTraq Mailing List Archive post by Richard Burton the messenger software MSN Messenger (and Windows Messenger on XP) can be used to obtain personal information about a user from any website (in any domain). Read more...

Problem: When running a restricted user account with fast user switching under Windows XP, some games will not start correctly. The game requests that the original disk be placed in the drive, even if it is already present. To fix this issue, download and run the file below. This software will not alter or patch any component on your system, it will only change the startup state of the system component needed to start your game from start on demand (on game load), to start at boot (on Windows XP start). Download Microsoft Games SafeDisc Windows XP Fix Source: Microsoft

After waiting for the new release of Powertoys XP from Microshaft, it was to much disappointment when I visited the download page for the software. Press 'Read more...' to erm...read more

Hi all

just got off the phone with microsoft support and their sending me a new Dual Strike Gamepad free of charge! Nice

So keep those comments coming that's the only way Microsoft will do anything to fix this problem. what amazes me is that if you went to your local car dealer and he sold you a brand new car that had faulty brakes would you say thanks or would you take it back and tell them you want the problem fixed. which is only right so why do we let companies like Microsoft get away with it. well the design is good! crap build.

and on a side note you peeps out there with Intellimouse Explorer Optical/Wireless and Intellimouse Gold Mice products better watch out the Microsoft support person let it slip there getting lots of returns!LOL

The ODBC .NET Data Provider is an add-on component to the .NET Framework. It provides access to native ODBC drivers the same way the OLE DB .NET Data Provider provides access to native OLE DB providers. The ODBC .NET Data Provider is intended to work with all compliant ODBC drivers but only the following drivers have been tested with the ODBC .NET Data Provider:

· Microsoft SQL ODBC Driver
· Microsoft ODBC Driver for Oracle
· Microsoft Jet ODBC Driver

In this episode of The .NET Show, we talk with Lance Olson and Erik Olson, two of the developers that have spent a lot of time developing "Terrarium," a multiplayer ecosystem game developed using the .NET Framework. We discuss with them some of the challenges they faced building the peer-to-peer infrastructure. Since this application actually transmits code from one machine to another, we also discuss how to take full advantage of the security model of the .NET Framework.

January 2002 (Q311401)
The information in this article applies to: