Almost all good news: 100 days of Windows 7
February 8, 2010
Source: REUTERS

MUNICH: Unlike politicians, operating systems (OS) don't get a honeymoon with the general public. Windows 7 has been on the market for almost 100 days now, so - as in politics - it's a good time to review how the software has performed so far. The results are largely positive.

First and foremost, Microsoft has to be pleased with sales, which have been brisk. Just a week after the Windows 7 launch Oct 22, 2009, the sales figures had already bested the company's expectations. "Compared with the start of Windows Vista, five times as many consumers have opted for the new operating system in the first five days," Microsoft reported.

Even better: despite millions of new installations, no major problems have been reported. "There have been astonishingly few problems with Windows 7," says Axel Vahldiek from German computer magazine c't. He'd know: his magazine fields questions from readers. Unlike the OS's predecessor, Windows Vista, the questions received by c't general involve minor issues.

That said, even the little things can rub nerves the wrong way. "The biggest problems are coming from older hardware," says Axel Vahldiek. If the manufacturer doesn't produce Windows 7-ready drivers, then the device will either refuse to work under the new OS or offer limited functionality. The difficulties are most prevalent in peripheral devices like scanners with SCSI ports.

The blame shouldn't necessarily be laid at Microsoft's door, though. The device makers sometimes make things difficult by design, Vahldiek explains. They might be speculating that those affected by problems will buy new hardware and throw their old devices out if they don't offer enough functionality. The hardware inside the PC usually works without a problem.

No major security holes have been identified yet. Microsoft clearly learned its lesson from the painful introduction of earlier operating systems. "From a security standpoint, Microsoft's Windows 7 has made significant progress over its prior versions XP and Vista," reports the German Federal Agency for Security in Information Technology (BSI). Attacks on the system itself have become so difficult that viruses are instead focusing on vulnerabilities in third-party applications.

The experts at the BSI nevertheless still see some room for improvement: given the strong protection mechanisms in Windows 7, it's a shame that Microsoft fails to preset all user accounts as "restricted".

The typical procedure instead requires that an administrator account be set up. This allows potentially vulnerable applications an unnecessarily high level of permissions. "The administrator account that Microsoft has conveniently added for managing user accounts nevertheless fails to represent an effective barrier here."

The BSI's grades for Windows 7 are better for the protection of user data using the BitLocker hard drive encryption function. This has been reworked to be significantly more user friendly. Then again, it is also only available in the two most expensive versions of Windows 7: Ultimate and Enterprise.

Because bugs are an inherent part of any software release, especially for software as complicated as modern operating systems, users can expect updates and improvements to start arriving shortly after publication.

In the past, Microsoft has typically rolled up the improvements into multiple Service Packs (SP). No information is available yet on when "SP1" for Windows 7 can be expected, says Microsoft spokeswoman Irene Nadler.

That's okay for now, though. Unlike with XP and Vista, users of the new system can also get by just fine with the existing product until SP1 arrives.

US faces 'serious' cyberspace threats: Advisor
February 8, 2010
Source: ET AGENCIES

WASHINGTON: The United States faces "serious and significant" threats within cyberspace, the White House's top counter-terrorism advisor has said, adding it was an issue of national security.

"The threats and the vulnerabilities within the cyber domain are serious and significant," John Brennan told NBC, adding a cybersecurity board had been set up at the White House. "It's a very complex and complicated challenge, but we are working very closely with the private sector."

Last month a row over Internet freedom erupted between China and the United States as Beijing denied any state involvement in cyberattacks on Internet search engine Google.

President Barack Obama said he was "troubled" by Google's statements it had been attacked by China-based hackers, and demanded official answers.

The US Internet giant has threatened to abandon its Chinese search engine, and perhaps end all operations in the country over the cyberattacks. It has also said it is no longer willing to bow to Chinese government censors.

"We're looking at these issues from the standpoint of espionage, from governments, from different individuals, whether they be hackers or terrorist organizations," Brennan said.

Facebook removes Microsoft banner ads from site
February 8, 2010
SOURCE: REUTERS

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook is taking full control of display ads on the world's No. 1 social networking website, cutting short an exclusive deal that had allowed Microsoft Corp to manage part of that business.

However, Microsoft -- the exclusive provider of Web search on Facebook -- will continue to sell text-based search ads on the website as the partners extended the arrangement beyond 2011, when it had been due to expire. A Facebook spokesman declined to say how long the deal has been extended.

Microsoft also said it will further integrate its Bing search engine into Facebook while expanding its reach beyond the United States.

Facebook, which counts nearly 400 million users, said its own display ads feature interactive aspects and can target viewers based on their personal information, making them better suited to its social networking service than Microsoft's standard Web banner ads.

"Ad formats that feature social actions perform better and provide a better user experience since they are more consistent with the look and feel of Facebook," the company said in a statement. "This combination of targeting and social relevance is the primary driver behind the shift in strategy."

Facebook said it stopped displaying Microsoft banner ads in some international markets recently, and following additional talks with Microsoft, has agreed to stop running the banner ads across all of Facebook. The change will take place over the next 30 days.

Facebook has long sold its own display ads on users' profile pages and other parts of the site, but the company allowed Microsoft to sell banner ads in certain sections of its website in 2006. The deal, which was extended in 2007, runs until 2011.

A Facebook spokesperson would not provide details on whether the advertising deal with Microsoft entailed any revenue sharing agreement, or whether Facebook would pay Microsoft a fee for altering the deal early.

The news comes as Facebook has increased its focus on its financial performance. In September, Facebook said it had become free cash flow positive -- meaning that the company makes enough money to cover the costs associated with running the service -- ahead of schedule.

Microsoft said on its corporate blog on Friday that searches will bring up information from Bing beyond just links to websites. The search engine will expand worldwide, beyond the United States, it added.

Facebook, which lets users connect and share information with friends online, has emerged as one of the Internet's most popular destinations and is increasingly challenging the Web's established powerhouses like Yahoo Inc and Google Inc.

Microsoft invested $240 million in Facebook for a 1.6 percent stake in the company in October 2007.

On Thursday, Facebook said it expected to reach 400 million active users of its site within the week, representing a gain of 50 million new users since December.