This Issue Sponsored By
Expect more from Group Policy! AutoProf Policy Maker
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===============
1. In the News
- Microsoft Web Site Deflects Weakening Virus Attack
2. Announcement
- Work with SQL Server?
3. Event
- New Web Seminar--Realizing the Return on Active Directory
4. Contact Us
- See this section for a list of ways to contact us.
==== Sponsor: AutoProf Policy Maker ====
Expect more from Group Policy! AutoProf Policy Maker
By using Group Policy to manage all aspects of desktop customization, you can consolidate client images, eliminate cumbersome logon scripts, bring settings under management, and integrate reporting and planning. AutoProf's new Policy Maker Professional completes Group Policy, allowing you to use Group Policy as your single desktop management system. Manage Office and third-party application preferences, TCP/IP and shared printers, drive mappings, shortcut configurations, Outlook profiles, registry settings, folder creation/cleanup, environment variables, and more. Over 25 hardware (WMI Query, CPU, RAM, etc.), software (OS, Terminal Session, system/user language, etc.), and identity (IP/MAC address range, OU, site, domain/workgroup, etc.) filters manage application of software and settings/preferences to users and desktops. Click here to learn more and for a free software download and trial:
http://www.AutoProf.com/ads/Update_WinInfo_Prim_2004_02_02.html
==== 1. In the News ====
by Paul Thurrott, [email protected]
Microsoft Web Site Deflects Weakening Virus Attack
A variant of the computer virus that knocked SCO Group's Web site off the Internet earlier this week had no effect on Microsoft's Web site yesterday, causing security experts to describe the virus, MyDoom.B, as "poorly written." Analysts were concerned that the MyDoom variant would flood the Internet's DNSs with requests for Microsoft's Web site, making the site unavailable to users. But unlike the earlier attack on SCO's Web site, the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on Microsoft's Web site never really got off the ground.
"It seems like the attack was poorly coded and a complete failure," Jack Sebbag, Canadian general manager and vice president of Network Associates, said. "It had less than 4000 or 5000 PCs trying to attack the Web site. It's basically become an absolute nonissue for Microsoft." By comparison, the original version of MyDoom infected millions of PCs and was able to use hundreds of thousands of them as zombies to attack the SCO Web site. Meanwhile, Microsoft had taken steps to prevent the MyDoom.B attack from succeeding, although for security reasons the company is remaining tight-lipped about what it did to prevent a disruption. "While we are unable to discuss the specific remedies we took to prevent the DDoS attack, we did make it a priority to ensure that Microsoft Web sites, such as Windows Update, remained fully available to our customers," a Microsoft spokesperson said late yesterday.
With MyDoom.B activity dwindling, security experts are already looking to the next attack, which will likely be another variant of what's already described as the worst email virus attack ever perpetrated. "There may be a MyDoom.C or MyDoom.D," Sebbag warned, if only because the perceived success of MyDoom will likely inspire malicious attackers to launch similar assaults on firms they don't like. The creators of MyDoom clearly attacked SCO because it is involved in a high-profile and high-stakes battle with Linux backers such as IBM and Novell. Microsoft--well, Microsoft is Microsoft. Who's next?
==== 2. Announcement ====
(from Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)
Work with SQL Server?
Subscribe to SQL Server Magazine and gain access to a valuable treasury of SQL Server tools and content. You'll receive 12 print issues along with access to the entire online article archive, endless code listings, valuable tips and tricks, and more. Bonus--the System Table Map Poster and Subscriber Benefits Card. Subscribe today!
https://secure.pentontech.com/nt/sql/index.cfm?promocode=psep2142pc
==== 3. Event ====
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine)
New Web Seminar--Realizing the Return on Active Directory
Join Mark Minasi and Indy Chakrabarti for a free Web seminar and discover how to maximize the return on your Active Directory investments and cut the cost of security exposures with secure task delegation, centralized auditing, and Group Policy management. Register now and receive NetIQ's free "Layered Security Architecture" white paper.
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/activedirectoryroi
==== Sponsored Link ====
Argent
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=========
- Microsoft Web Site Deflects Weakening Virus Attack
- Work with SQL Server?
- New Web Seminar--Realizing the Return on Active Directory
- See this section for a list of ways to contact us.
By using Group Policy to manage all aspects of desktop customization, you can consolidate client images, eliminate cumbersome logon scripts, bring settings under management, and integrate reporting and planning. AutoProf's new Policy Maker Professional completes Group Policy, allowing you to use Group Policy as your single desktop management system. Manage Office and third-party application preferences, TCP/IP and shared printers, drive mappings, shortcut configurations, Outlook profiles, registry settings, folder creation/cleanup, environment variables, and more. Over 25 hardware (WMI Query, CPU, RAM, etc.), software (OS, Terminal Session, system/user language, etc.), and identity (IP/MAC address range, OU, site, domain/workgroup, etc.) filters manage application of software and settings/preferences to users and desktops. Click here to learn more and for a free software download and trial:
http://www.AutoProf.com/ads/Update_WinInfo_Prim_2004_02_02.html
by Paul Thurrott, [email protected]
A variant of the computer virus that knocked SCO Group's Web site off the Internet earlier this week had no effect on Microsoft's Web site yesterday, causing security experts to describe the virus, MyDoom.B, as "poorly written." Analysts were concerned that the MyDoom variant would flood the Internet's DNSs with requests for Microsoft's Web site, making the site unavailable to users. But unlike the earlier attack on SCO's Web site, the Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on Microsoft's Web site never really got off the ground.
"It seems like the attack was poorly coded and a complete failure," Jack Sebbag, Canadian general manager and vice president of Network Associates, said. "It had less than 4000 or 5000 PCs trying to attack the Web site. It's basically become an absolute nonissue for Microsoft." By comparison, the original version of MyDoom infected millions of PCs and was able to use hundreds of thousands of them as zombies to attack the SCO Web site. Meanwhile, Microsoft had taken steps to prevent the MyDoom.B attack from succeeding, although for security reasons the company is remaining tight-lipped about what it did to prevent a disruption. "While we are unable to discuss the specific remedies we took to prevent the DDoS attack, we did make it a priority to ensure that Microsoft Web sites, such as Windows Update, remained fully available to our customers," a Microsoft spokesperson said late yesterday.
With MyDoom.B activity dwindling, security experts are already looking to the next attack, which will likely be another variant of what's already described as the worst email virus attack ever perpetrated. "There may be a MyDoom.C or MyDoom.D," Sebbag warned, if only because the perceived success of MyDoom will likely inspire malicious attackers to launch similar assaults on firms they don't like. The creators of MyDoom clearly attacked SCO because it is involved in a high-profile and high-stakes battle with Linux backers such as IBM and Novell. Microsoft--well, Microsoft is Microsoft. Who's next?
(from Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)
Subscribe to SQL Server Magazine and gain access to a valuable treasury of SQL Server tools and content. You'll receive 12 print issues along with access to the entire online article archive, endless code listings, valuable tips and tricks, and more. Bonus--the System Table Map Poster and Subscriber Benefits Card. Subscribe today!
https://secure.pentontech.com/nt/sql/index.cfm?promocode=psep2142pc
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine)
Join Mark Minasi and Indy Chakrabarti for a free Web seminar and discover how to maximize the return on your Active Directory investments and cut the cost of security exposures with secure task delegation, centralized auditing, and Group Policy management. Register now and receive NetIQ's free "Layered Security Architecture" white paper.
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/activedirectoryroi
Comparison Paper: The Argent Guardian Easily Beats Out MOM
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;6480843;8214395;q?http://www.argent.com/products/download_whitepaper.cgi?product=mom&&Source=WNTTextLink
4. ==== CONTACT US ====
About the newsletter -- [email protected]
About technical questions -- http://www.winnetmag.com/forums
About product news -- [email protected]
About your subscription -- [email protected]
About sponsoring UPDATE -- [email protected]
==============
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About product news -- [email protected]
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