MS warns of new vulnerabilities

Microsoft has announced seven new vulnerabilities ranging from moderate to critical for both enterprise and consumer users.

The vulnerabilities may be exploited remotely, which could allow denial-of-service attacks, and could result in the loss of confidential data. Symantec has advised users to apply security patches for these vulnerabilities immediately.

The top four are the task scheduler, HTML help, Windows shell and IIS redirection vulnerabilities.

Microsoft`s MSN online division has bought e-mail search firm Lookout, which Associated Press reports is part of Microsoft`s efforts to improve its own search technology and compete with Google and Yahoo.

The report says San Francisco-based Lookout makes software that helps users search through e-mail stored in Microsoft`s Outlook mailbox. Lisa Gurry, an MSN director, is quoted as saying Lookout`s technology will be incorporated into its planned new MSN search offering.

Version 5.0 of the PHP general-purpose scripting language has been released by the open source PHP Group.

PHP is suited for Web development and the latest version released this week incorporates for the first time full object-orientation, Web services and XML support. Details of the final release are available on the PHP Web site.

An IBM-led group of companies has proposed a standard aimed at ironing out configuration problems in the installation of applications on business networks, reports ZDNet.

The XML-based specification, known as the Solution Installation for Autonomic Computing, was written by IBM, Novell and installation software companies InstallShield Software and Zero G Software.

The report says the installation technology in the specification is a spin-off of work done by IBM in its autonomic computing effort to create hardware and software that monitor and manage themselves as part of a distributed computing system.

D-Link has released a new wireless media device that delivers various media stored on PCs to televisions and sound systems anywhere in the home.

D-Link says the Wireless Network Media Player enhances the usability of both a home network and a home entertainment centre by creating a seamless connection between computers and consumer electronics.

The player connects to the television and/or sound system using standard cables. Thereafter it can be connected to a home network using 802.11g wireless, or through standard Ethernet cabling.

Irish software company, Clevercactus, has released a new product to create a private and secure environment to share files.

"The problem facing many people today is how to share their personal digital content privately and securely," says Paul Kenny, Clevercactus CEO. "Our new product, Share, is designed to allow people do this without complex set up or maintenance."

The product is available for free download for individual, educational and non-profit use, and will run on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

"Our technology allows people to create their own private and secure network to share with family, friends and colleagues, both across the Internet and local networks," says Kenny.