This update provides support for Wireless Protected Access, a new standards-based wireless security solution developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance. WPA is intended to replace the existing Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) standard, offering much more robust methods of encryption and authentication and resulting in a new level of protection for customers taking advantage of the wireless features of Windows XP.

Discover how Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) will improve Windows XP-based computers? ability to withstand malicious attacks from viruses and worms. With Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), Microsoft is introducing a set of security technologies that include: Network protection, Memory protection, Safer email and Safer browsing.

Wegen Problemen mit Patches hat Microsoft heute 3 Sicherheitspatches aktualisiert. Wobei neben Windows XP diesmal auch Windows 2000 und alle anderen Betriebssysteme betroffen sind. Bei den alten Versionen kann es zu unerwünschten Abstürzen und Bluescreens kommen. Leider werden die neuen Patches nicht mehr im Downloadcenter angezeigt und müssen daher manuell integriert werden, falls vorher bereits die fehlerhaften eingespielt worden sind. Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-042 nur für Windows 2000
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-043
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-045
Quelle: HW-Labs

The latest release for the X-Box is also a non-gaming release. Xbox Music Mixer is a Karaoke add-on to the gaming console, available for $40 and including a microphone, Microsoft hopes to appeal to more mainstream consumers than just hardcore gamers.
Another feature in the karaoke add-on is a picture viewer that enables pictures to be copied from a pc to the x-box and creating slideshows.
Perhaps this will be particular popular in Japan, given their affinity for karaoke bars? ;)

news.com.com

Your Computer Stops Responding (Hangs) When You Try to Bring It out of Standby or out of Hibernation by Using a USB Device ( KB 826959) Description:
This setup program installs Microsoft USB 1.0 / 2.0 upgrade files for Windows XP Home & Professional with Service Pack 1. It fixes an issue where the computer may lock up when trying to bring it out of standby or out of hibernation with external USB devices attached. Read More For more informations and download

I was just notified that there is also a build of longhorn that is not yet released to the public that who's version string reads For testing purposes only. Build 4050.private/lab06_demo.031019-1809., Yet that is about 9 days old because it was compiled on October 19, 20003 where as the build that was handed out at the PDC was Evaluation copy. Build 4051.idx02.031001-1340 and compiled on the 1st of October. The Microsoft employee said that Aero is still under heavy construction and security, to prevent any form of leakage, as the rep himself had never really worked with it.

View Screenshots and more info Here

MSN Messenger is an instant messaging program that lets you send instant messages with cool emoticons, send pictures and other files to your friends, call a phone anywhere in the world from your computer, see when someone is typing a message to you, page a contact's mobile phone, and much more. Click on Read More... for download links.

Thanks to Neowin.net we have the latest build of MSN Messenger version 6.1 Beta Build 150 and while you're there you might want to check out MSN 9 Beta Build 1601!.

Flirt, banter, gossip, or just catch up without saying a word.

On screen conversations that are more instant than e-mail and more discreet than phone calls.

A new updated version of the DirectX 9.0b Redistributable for Software Developers - Multilingual is available (35MB). This new package officialy dated 10/6/2003 and includes newer cabinets.

After announcing that customers will see the next service pack for Windows XP this year, Microsoft now says it will be a beta only, and that final code is still some way off. Just three days after a Microsoft vice president - who is in charge of Microsoft.com and Windows Update - told thousands of delegates at a conference in Florida that Service Pack 2 for Windows XP would be available by the end of 2003, the company has effectively retracted the comments and said that customers will see only a beta version of SP2 this year.

Microsoft have released more updates the 15 oct. than the single one posted at Neowin:

824141
825119
828035
826232 (Win2k only)
823182

Generally it is time to visit Windows Update.

Neowin.net reports that a security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft Windows and gain control over it. To attempt an attack, the attacker would have to be able to log on to the computer. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

I have searched around the web and found the following updates and fixes for Microsoft Windows XP:


Read More

Just got word that TechConnect have snagged Windows XP Service Pack 2 Build 1224!

Update: Just a quick update! TechConnect Windows XP Service Pack 2 Build 1224 is in fact Build 1213.

even though the links say: hirekmedia.hu/xpsp2-1224.exe

Thanks to MR Tech for the Info:

This update fixes a problem on your Windows 2000-based computer. When you try to play music, the computer stops responding and you receive the following error on a blue screen: Stop: 0x0000001E (0xC0000090 0xB73B4CF3 0x00000000 0xED27F6F4) Kmode_Exception_Not_Handled Address B73B4CF3 base at B7397000 Datestamp 3829162e - Kmixer.sys

A few weeks ago a big Windows XP download was been sighted on DELL´s FTP server, the 47 MB download had fixed issues reported in KB 823583 , Availability of a Processor Driver to Support Mobile Processor Power Management Features on Mobile Intel Pentium 4M Processors with Hyper-Threading Technology We were still wondering why this package was that big and [PM] started some investigation. And look what he found: A Windows XP Kernel Update, Build 1240, which is not reported in Microsoft Knowledge Base. Read More for more informations and download

Microsoft stellt für den Internet Explorer in den Versionen 5.01, 5.5 und 6.0 eine neue Patch-Sammlung zum Download bereit. Der Download enthält alle bisher verfügbaren Updates und schließt jüngst entdeckte Sicherheitslücken, die Microsoft als "kritisch" eingestuft hat.

Das Update schließt unter anderem ein Sicherheitsloch im Microsoft-Browser, das sich durch einen "Buffer Overrun"-Fehler auftun kann. Der Internet Explorer ist nicht in der Lage, von Servern verschickte "Object Types" in Pop-Up-Fenstern korrekt zu bestimmen.

Thanks to Neowin.net for the Info:

A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to execute commands on a computer running Windows Media Player 6.4, 7.1 or 9. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft.

A number of security issues have been identified in Microsoft® Internet Explorer that could allow an attacker to compromise a Microsoft Windows®-based system and then take a variety of actions. For example, an attacker could run programs on your computer when you are viewing a Web page. This vulnerability affects all computers that have Internet Explorer installed. (You do not have to be using Internet Explorer as your Web browser to be affected by this issue.) You should help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft.

Eine Kalifornierin verklagt Microsoft. Marcy Levitas Hamilton behauptet, dass sie durch Fehler in dem Microsoft-Betriebssystem finanziellen Schaden erlitten habe. Sie hat die Klage bei einem Gericht in Los Angeles eingereicht.

Die Klage enthält zwei Vorwürfe:
1. Microsoft hätte die Wettbewerbsregeln verletzt.
2. Microsoft hätte gegen zwei kalifornische Konsumentenschutz-Gesetze verstoßen.