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Vol. 13, #10 - Mar 10, 2008 - Issue #664
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Special VIPRE Beta Invitation
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- Editor's Corner
- VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Public Beta Invitation
- iPhone And Exchange Integration: OK, Now I Want One
- Spyware Seems Even Worse Now, What's Your Experience?
- Quote Of The Week
- Admin Toolbox
- Admin Tools We Think You Shouldn't Be Without
- Tech Briefing
- Bill Gates joins LinkedIn
- Jeremy Moskowitz's Latest Group Policy Newsletter
- Tip: Troubleshooting Terminal Services Connection Problems
- Special Report: Virtualization And The Changing Windows Desktop
- Relying On Built-In Vista Features For Application Support
- Tip: Improve Sharepoint 2007 Design And Navigation With Managed Paths
- Tutorial: Microsoft Security Assessment and Testing
- Windows Server News
- Special VIPRE Beta Invitation
- Windows 'Workstation' 2008 Trumps Vista
- Microsoft Unveils IE8 Beta 1
- WServer Third Party News
- Double-Take Software Announces Support for Windows Server 2008
- BCAP Now Exclusive Sunbelt Partner in Australia and New Zealand
- Print Manager Plus 2008 Packs Powerful New Features
- WServerNews FAVE Links
- This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff.
- WServerNews - Product of the Week
- BOOK: Administering Windows Server 2008 Server Core
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Brand New Licensing Option: Home Site License
During our surveys we found many of you have a lot of PCs at the house.
Those so called '3-packs' do not cover it for you! So we invented a whole
new license: The Home Site License. For a yearly subscription of $49.95 you
can install CounterSpy on as many PCs in one residence as you want. It gets
better. Subscribe to the Home Site License now and you will be upgraded at
no extra cost to VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware when it comes out! This is
a great way to cut down on your PC expenses. Don't renew your existing
McAfee, Symantec or Trend antivirus anymore and get this exciting new Home
Site License now:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-CS-Home-Site-License
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Editor's Corner |
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VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware Public Beta Invitation
Well, we're getting close. The VIPRE public beta has been released. It's
an exciting time for us. Over the last few years, we have been building an
all-new security solution. VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware is a completely
new product that combines antispyware, antivirus, anti-rootkit and other
technologies into a seamless, tightly-integrated product. With its
next-generation technology, VIPRE provides powerful protection against
today's highly complex malware threats, without the performance and
resource headaches of traditional antivirus products. At VIPRE's core is
an antivirus and antispyware detection engine that merges the detection
of all types of malware into a single efficient and powerful system.
The new technology was developed exclusively by Sunbelt, without building
on older generation antivirus engines. We are looking for Beta testers
that are willing to run VIPRE on a machine that's not 'mission critical'.
The complete invitation and how to get your hands on this beta sits as
the first item in the Server Section. Why Server? Well, this is the same
code that will be the agent of VIPRE Enterprise and we'd love your help
finding and crushing the remaining bugs!
iPhone And Exchange Integration: OK, Now I Want One
At Apple's iPhone SDK press conference, some spectacular news was revealed.
"Microsoft has come up with a much more advanced architecture, where the
iPhone can work directly with the Exchange server in a more reliable and
affordable way. We're building Exchange support so you get push email, push
calendaring, push contacts, global address lists, and the ability to remote
wipe it. The same email app, calendar app, and contact apps that customers
really love will get information directly from the Exchange server. So no
new apps on the iPhone for using Exchange."
Both enterprise and SDK are going to be delivered in one update, the iPhone
2.0 software update. Beta release available now, in the hands of thousands
of developers and hundreds of companies. "We need the feedback," Jobs says.
Shipping to every iPhone customer in late June, and it's a free software
update. So now I'm ready for one. The story is at Engadget and Macworld:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-iPhone-Update
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-iPhone-Liveupdate
Spyware Seems Even Worse Now, What's Your Experience?
Spyware Infections Carry Big Costs for Small Businesses, CompTIA Survey Finds.
Typical incident takes 20-plus hours to report, repair.
A single spyware infection on a work computer can impact the productivity of
the typical small business employee for two-and-a-half days, according to
research commissioned by the Computing Technology Industry Association
(CompTIA).
A survey of employees at businesses with 10 to 200 computer users found that
more than one in four computer users reported having their productivity
impacted by a spyware infection during the past six months. Of these, more
than one-third reported multiple spyware inflections.
Even more alarming, users of spyware-infected computers reported "living
with" the problem for 18 work hours - more than two full workdays - before
getting it repaired. They did so even though they realized that their work
productivity was reduced due to the problems associated with spyware. Users
estimated their productivity was reduced by 21 percent when the spyware
problem was first noticed; and was reduced by 32 percent when the problem
was at its peak.
On top of the delay in reporting a spyware infection is the time it takes
to fix the problem. A survey of PC-support professionals servicing small
businesses and who had fixed at least one spyware incident during the past
year reported spending an average of 2.8 labor hours per infected PC.
That's more than 20 hours of reduced worker productivity for each spyware
incident at a small business. CompTIA commissioned Kotler Marketing Group
of Washington, D.C., a consulting firm specializing in value-based selling,
to conduct the survey to better understand the frequency and cost of
problems such as spyware, viruses and network and server downtime among
small businesses.
Alex commented: "We all know spyware is bad and it's out there, but this
latest study even surprised me. These are alarming stats, more alarming
than I would have thought (one in four PCs infected in the past six months?).
The repair stats I'm not surprised at, these seem in line with what one
would expect. Your thoughts? Alarming stats or a picture of reality?
Send me your feedback at the email address below:
Quote Of The Week
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
-- Aldous Huxley
Thank you for being a WServerNews subscriber. Please
tell your friends about us. They can subscribe here:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-Subscribe
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Brand New Licensing Option: Home Site License
During our surveys we found many of you have a lot of PCs at the house.
Those so called '3-packs' do not cover it for you! So we invented a whole
new license: The Home Site License. For a yearly subscription of $49.95 you
can install CounterSpy on as many PCs in one residence as you want. It gets
better. Subscribe to the Home Site License now and you will be upgraded at
no extra cost to VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware when it comes out! This is
a great way to cut down on your PC expenses. Don't renew your existing
McAfee, Symantec or Trend antivirus anymore and get this exciting new Home
Site License now:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-CS-Home-Site-License
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Tech Briefing |
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Bill Gates joins LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a popular business-oriented social networking site that I have
been on for quite a while now. I've found it to be a good way to connect
with other folks in the tech business. Last week, Microsoft became a premier
advertiser on the site and Bill Gates joined the LinkedIn community. Around
the same time, LinkedIn added a mobile version of the service that you can
access from your smart phone or handheld device and also added "presence"
(status indicators). Invite me as your friend on LinkedIn! Read more at:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-LinkedIn
Jeremy Moskowitz's Latest Group Policy Newsletter
He started with: "The Group Policy Preference Extensions are out. But are you
ready to install them? Find out in this quick GPanswers.com newsletter how
to install them on your client systems and verify they've been installed.
Also, sign up for Jeremy Moskowitz's Group Policy Tip-of-The-Week and
Newsletter announcement list if you're not already in the club." Click here:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-GPanswers
Tip: Troubleshooting Terminal Services Connection Problems
Having a problem with your Terminal Services connection resource limits? Find
out how a registry key can help troubleshoot the issue. (registration required)
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-TS-Problems
Special Report: Virtualization And The Changing Windows Desktop
Trends like virtualization and Software as a Service are changing the classic
Windows desktop. This Special Report defines the new terms and addresses the
options that Windows managers might consider for virtualizing the desktop and
planning their near-term technology needs. (registration required)
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-Virtualization
Relying On Built-In Vista Features For Application Support
Virtualization is taking over the datacenter at all levels. Organizations
are greening their datacenters by transforming physical servers into virtual
machines, but there is no better return on their investment than with
application virtualization. Find out more in this tip! (registration required)
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-Vista-Application-Support
Tip: Improve Sharepoint 2007 Design And Navigation With Managed Paths
Managed paths give Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 admins a
powerful yet easy mechanism for building a collaboration environment. But
to be successful, you'll need an understanding of all your business groups.
This tip explains how:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-Sharepoint-2007
Tutorial: Microsoft Security Assessment and Testing
In the third chapter of SearchWinSecurity.com's security assessment and
testing tutorial, learn what to focus on during the testing phase, how to
give your VPN a penetration test and how to test Group Policy and domain
controllers:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-MS-Security-Assessment
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Windows Server News |
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Special VIPRE Beta Invitation
Recently you may have received a special CounterSpyNews issue with a
survey about antivirus (AV) products. Thanks to the many thousands
that sent in their answers. We have some results to share with you!
A large percentage of you were not happy with existing AV software
because it slows down your (multiple) PCs, the existing AV products
are resource hogs and the scan times are too slow.
You as a user are facing a rapidly increasing amount of threats on
the Internet. Cyber criminals are getting more devious by the month,
they are blending different kinds of malware to penetrate PCs. So you
need better tools to protect you. And ideally all that extra protection
does not bog down your PC to a snail's pace. Well, we have some good
news.
Over the last few years, we have been building an all-new security
solution called VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware. VIPRE is a completely
new product that combines antispyware, antivirus, anti-rootkit and
other technologies into a seamless, tightly-integrated product. With
its next-generation technology, VIPRE provides powerful protection
against today's highly complex malware threats, without the performance
and resource headaches of traditional antivirus products.
At VIPRE's core is an antivirus and antispyware detection engine that
merges the detection of all types of malware into a single efficient
and powerful system. The new technology was developed exclusively by
Sunbelt, without building on older generation antivirus engines.
We are looking for Beta testers that are willing to run VIPRE on a
machine that's not 'mission critical' and might potentially crash.
Here are some questions many people asked while doing the surveys:
Q: When I run VIPRE, do I still need CounterSpy?
A: No, VIPRE does both antispyware and antivirus in one single product.
You need to uninstall CounterSpy before you install the VIPRE beta.
Q: What is the difference between the two?
A: VIPRE is a full-fledged antivirus + antispyware solution that also
scans your email for viruses. CounterSpy does not scan email and does
not have full antivirus functionality.
Q: If I already own CounterSpy, can I upgrade to VIPRE when it
comes out?
A: Yes, and you only pay the difference! That means for just $9.95
you have a complete antivirus + antispyware solution that does not
slow down your computer! VIPRE subscriptions will be $29.95 per year
with just $39.95 for a 3-user license, and a brand new licensing
model called a 'home site license' where for $49.95 you can install
VIPRE on as many machines you want in a single residence. All these
subscriptions include a year of threat definition updates, software
upgrades, and live US-based toll-free technical support.
Q: When is Vipre going to be available?
A: Within the next couple of weeks. In the mean time, continue to
run, buy and recommend CounterSpy. You and your friends need the
protection now and the upgrade is just the price difference
between the two.
Please keep in mind that this is beta-quality software. Unlike other
companies that provide production quality version 1.0 out there for
free and call it 'beta', this software really -is- beta and you can
expect to encounter bugs, memory leaks and other issues, some of which
could cause system crashes. This beta software should not be installed
or used in a production environment or on any PC for which system crashes
would be considered unacceptable. If you do encounter a crash and are
prompted to send crash information to Microsoft, please do so -- Sunbelt
does receive that crash data from Microsoft, and the data helps us fix
crashing bugs in VIPRE. Please post any problems, questions or issues
to the VIPRE Beta forum, and NOT to Sunbelt tech support.
Following installation VIPRE 3 will prompt you to either enter a
registration key or start a 30 day trial period for the software.
Please use the following key to activate the product:
6TBKF-F5X7C-5FP8K-D66RV-R987G
This is a special key generated for use during beta testing and will
expire in a few months time. Do NOT use your current CounterSpy
registration key to activate VIPRE 3 -- use the beta key instead.
We recommend that you disable your existing antivirus product while
running VIPRE (although it's technically possible to run both VIPRE and
another antivirus product at the same time, it does create the possibility
of performance issues).
Q: Where do I get the BETA?
A: You can go to Sunbelt's Beta Forum (Link below) and do the following:
- Register on the forum by clicking registration and filling out
the form choosing to participate in VIPRE Antivirus.
- You will get a confirmation email with a link, click the link
to finish registration
- You will now see VIPRE 3.0 Antivirus Consumer Beta forum
- Click on Downloads and Updates to download the latest version,
make sure to read the instructions in that section.
- REMEMBER (!) Before installing the VIPRE beta you HAVE TO
Uninstall CounterSpy on that machine before you install the VIPRE beta.
Forum Link to get the beta:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-VIPRE-Beta
Windows 'Workstation' 2008 Trumps Vista
New benchmarks find that even Windows Server 2008 when used as a workstation
gives Vista a gory thrashing, performance-wise. Read more at the InfoWorld
enterprise desktop Blog:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-Workstation-2008
Microsoft Unveils IE8 Beta 1
Microsoft took the wraps off Beta 1 of its upcoming Internet Explorer 8
Web browser, which offers anticrash protection as well as several other
news features. The beta is available for both Windows XP and Vista users.
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-IE8-Beta-1
eWEEK has a slide show with a bunch of the main screens:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-IE8-Slideshow
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WServer Third Party News |
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Double-Take Software Announces Support for Windows Server 2008
Double-Take(r) Software (NASDAQ: DBTK), a leading provider of continuous data
protection and recovery software, announced today that it will support
Microsoft Windows Server 2008. As enterprises start adopting the newest
Microsoft platform, Double-Take Software will provide top-notch solutions
to protect business critical data and applications on the new platform.
BCAP Now Exclusive Sunbelt Partner in Australia and New Zealand
Sunbelt Software, a leading provider of Windows security software,
announced Business Continuity Asia Pacific (BCAP) as the exclusive
distribution partner in Australia and New Zealand for Sunbelt Exchange
Archiver (SEA). The partnership opens additional channels for Sunbelt
and enables BCAP to exclusively distribute the enterprise-class email
archiving solution to their extensive network of resellers and end users
in the Australia and New Zealand markets. More at this press release:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-BCAP-Sunbelt-Partner
Print Manager Plus 2008 Packs Powerful New Features
Print Manager Plus 2008 now features complete Active Directory integration
with Windows Server 2008 plus all previous Windows Operating Systems and
tools to reducing the hidden costs of printing in your network.
Print Manager Plus 2008 includes the industry's first native Active Directory
integration and compatibility with Windows Server 2008, and all previous
Windows Operating systems. The 2008 version continues its distinction as
the only product in the industry to offer complete support for every
printer and plotter manufacturer on the market.
CEO William Feeley said, "It marks a milestone in the development of all
print management solutions that corral the accounting of and cost of
printing, helping our customers cut printing related costs by up to 75%."
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-Print-Manager-Plus
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WServerNews FAVE Links |
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This Week's Links We Like. Tips, Hints And Fun Stuff.
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WServerNews - Product of the Week |
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BOOK: Administering Windows Server 2008 Server Core
I have it here sitting on my desk. Microsoft's new GUI-less Server Core is
a command line version of Windows Server 2008 that offers better security,
reduced size, and faster access. Inside this comprehensive guide, you'll
find everything you need to quickly master this sleek new version. Packed
with instructions and practical examples, this book teaches you how to
operate in a windowless environment, including using all the commands,
creating BAT files, working with scripts, using registry hacks, managing
remote systems, and more. Includes best practices, 52 indispensable command
line tricks, and an alphabetical list of all the commands:
http://www.wservernews.com/080310-W2K8-Server-Core
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