Windows update is getting a revision!

[ad#ad2-right]According to Computer World, dated Oct 31, 2008 and I’ll quote:

“Over the next couple of months, we’ll be rolling out another infrastructure update to the Windows Update agent (client code),” said an unidentified Microsoft employee on the Windows Update team’s official blog. “This update makes it possible for users to install more than 80 updates at the same time.”

[via Computer World]

Now if your like me and have several computers who need to be updated at a given schedule, you sometimes worry about these updates that come along that might just break your system. I have been using a program call Offline Updater, which does what Autopatcher does really nicely. So why is Microsoft sending out this patch? Two reasons, one they want you to be able to update your operating System without hurting your system integrity.

Now lets talk about the integrity of having to reboot your system. You see, every time you reboot the system, it causes the system hardware some strain.  It is something like having starting up a car, sooner or later you will have the starter go out, because of to much start up.

[ad#ad2-left]Second reason for this is, basically the update software needs to be update yet again for any security flaws or features that might be exploitable.  I am sure there are some and Microsoft probably knows about that we do not.   So that is the second reason, which it is the most obvious reason yet to push out another revision of the Windows update.

What about stopping the update from effecting your system.  The only way that I know of is to prevent Windows from checking for updates.  Which is simple:

Windows XP Version:

[Category View and Classic View]

<Start> / Control Panel / Security / Click Windows Updates

For Windows Vista:

<Orb> / Control Panel/ Security Center/ Windows Update / click “change Settings”

With both ways, you will be able to control four ways to handle Windows updating and they are:

  • Automatic Will download all necessary updates and install them without your permission or knowledge.  Note some of the updates will automatically reboot your system.  Most commonly they are set to do this every day in the 12am to 4 am period of time.   So when you wake up you would see an log in screen.
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  • Download updates but let me choice which ones to install and when –  This is most commonly used by people who don’t want to bother having to check manually.  It will check and download, then it will let you know.

  • Check for updates but don’t Download them –  This is like the previous one but this will only tell you.  The rest of the decision is in your hands not the computer.  This is good for people who have limited system resources, like Hard drive space.  It still reminds you like the previous one but won’t download any updates.

  • Never check for updates –  This is used for people who don’t want to be bothered with updates and have a way to update manually.  This is commonly used by businesses who have several systems on and don’t want to risk an update causing trouble or weigh down the companies internet by downloading updates un-necessarily.   This option is not to be messed with because it leaves your system with quite a lot of vulnerabilities.  You do this one if you have a set schedule to update each and everyone system. (Extremely Dangerous to do)

With what I talked about, I am hoping you find this useful and to share your discoveries with other people who might want to be able to change how Windows updates are handled on other systems.  If you have comments or questions, please post them in the comment section and someone will be more than glad to help you out.

Microsoft Windows Server Service Vulnerability (MS08-067)

A vulnerability has been identified in Microsoft Windows, which could be exploited by attackers to take complete control of an affected system. This issue is caused by an error in the Server service that does not properly handle specially crafted RPC requests, which could be exploited by attackers to crash an affected system or execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted request.

On Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, the vulnerability is only exploitable by authenticated users.

Note: This vulnerability is being exploited in targeted attacks.

[via FrSirt]

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This was just discovered and needs to let people know. I will do more research on it and maybe come up with a way to fix the problem. According to my sources there is a patch that will fix the problem!!

*UPDATE*
According to Microsoft:

This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in the Server service. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if an affected system received a specially crafted RPC request. On Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 systems, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability without authentication to run arbitrary code. It is possible that this vulnerability could be used in the crafting of a wormable exploit. Firewall best practices and standard default firewall configurations can help protect network resources from attacks that originate outside the enterprise perimeter.
[Via Microsoft Security Bulletin]

Is Spore Worth 49.99?

So I been doing a little digging and trying to find out what the heck people are complaining about and I found some great reviews telling me exactly why people hate EA.  They don’t necessarily hate Spore or Will Wright, but the Security around The Spore game.

So In a couple of these comments.  These reviews talk about Creating the creatures and All.  I’ll submit some of the reviews that I thought was relevant and let you decide for yourself.  I would however wonder the one big question?  Is Spore Worth the Money?   Here’s the details that I know of right now:

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  1. You can only install it 3 times before you have to call EA to get an override code.  (Although I heard rumors that if you unistall it, you will get a credit for an Install)
  2. You can not Install new hardware or upgrade your hardware because if you do, it’ll count as an install, According to this one person.
  3. The game only allows 1 login per Install.  So you can’t have more than one character and one universe according to this person.
  4. Part of the Copy Protection prevents you from taking your saved games off your computer and taking it over to your friends house, according to this Person.
  5. On the Mac Version, it tends to breaks subsequent versions of the system services according to this one person.

According to Amazon the reviews aren’t pleasant.  I tend to agree does this mean there are going to be even more people pirating it because they don’t want the DRM or Is EA going to send out a patch to fix this.  I am curious as to see how EA responds to all this NONE TOLERANCE to DRM.

After seeing all these reviews of Spore, I tend to agree with everyone.  I’ll probably wait and see before I buy my copy.  All the reviews however don’t look promising or even makes the games look like it wouldn’t be fun.