Microsoft is doing everything within its power to deter pirates from using unauthorized copies of Windows Vista. Its latest move disables a key feature in Vista, but is it enough to deter pirates? Microsoft's latest strategy is to disable the fancy Aero Glass user interface for pirated copies of Windows Vista. DailyTech

Vulnerability in Graphics Rendering Engine Could Allow Remote Code Execution.
Published: December 28, 2005 | Updated: January 3, 2006
The security update is now being localized and tested to ensure quality and application compatibility. Microsoft?s goal is to release the update on Tuesday, January 10, 2006, as part of its monthly release of security bulletins. This release is predicated on successful completion of quality testing.

Computer users are being alerted to a new flaw in Microsoft Windows which can be used to attack a PC.

BBC News

About:Buster removes the Home Search Assistant.

The remote exploitation of a buffer overflow vulnerability in the web-based Administrative Interface of the Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine product could potentially allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on a targeted system.

Symantec

McAfee Avert Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system.

Security experts have discovered a malicious program aimed at tricking users into clicking on phony search results on fake Google, Yahoo and MSN sites.

ZDnet

GhostWall is a firewall which allows you to restrict the communications between your computer and others. It is simply a firewall mainly designed to replace the standard Microsoft firewall with better features and performance.

Responding to the disclosure of a serious Web browser flaw, the Mozilla Foundation offered on Friday a temporary fix to protect Firefox and Mozilla users. The downloadable fix protects against attacks that take advantage of a new, unpatched flaw that could let attackers secretly run malicious software on users' PCs.

C]net

Your PC is under constant attack by viruses, Trojans, Internet-worms and other malware. Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal monitors all virus entry points leaving you with a clean and safe machine.

MS05-039 Scan 1.0 is a Windows based detection and analysis utility that can quickly and accurately identify Microsoft operating systems that are vulnerable to the multiple buffer overflow vulnerabilities released in the MS05-039 bulletin.

The problem could be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands. The issue is due to a memory corruption error when instantiating the "Msdds.dll" (Microsoft Design Tools Diagram Surface) object as an ActiveX control, which could be exploited by an attacker to take complete control of an affected system via a specially crafted Web page.

Neowin.net

Three days after Microsoft brought out 3 critical patches, exploit code has appeared for a plug and play-vulnerability. This is especially dangerous for Windows 2000 users. The vulnerability makes it possible to remotely control the PC by sending special data packets to the system.. Read on at Software Flash

Goes beyond traditional PC firewalls to protect your entire computer ? including your operating system and programs ? from hackers, spyware, and other Internet threats.

The beta version of Norton AntiVirus 2006 for Windows 2000/XP is now available for download.

Norton AntiVirus 2006 includes new improvements and features. Download the product now! Surf the Internet. Play your favorite games. Symantec is interested in your feedback and will give a FREE copy of Norton AntiVirus 2006 to the first 50 beta users who submit undocumented bugs. Winners will be notified via email.

Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) helps users control how their computers exchange data with other computers on the Internet or local network.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal is powered by a unique integrated technology for unknown virus searching, based on the principals of second-generation heuristic analysis. Because of this, the program is able to protect you from even unknown viruses. By using the integrated Control Center in Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal, it enables you to create a flexible schedule for the program components to be started and to automatically download and apply updates to your anti-virus databases via the Internet.

Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) helps users control how their computers exchange data with other computers on the Internet or local network.

ZoneAlarm includes five interlocking security services that deliver easy-to-use, comprehensive protection. Unlike any other security utility, it incorporates a firewall, Application Control, an Internet Lock, dynamically assigned Security Levels and Zones. Combined, these elements yield the strongest security possible.

Jetico Personal Firewall software provides you with security against hackers who try to access your PC when you are connected to the Internet. Having inherited the Open architecture principles from BestCrypt, the Jetico Personal Firewall allows you to construct a strong yet accurate security policy and provides clear control over your network connections.