[ISN] IE 7.0 and Attractive Alternatives

Thu May 4 04:16:18 EDT 2006

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1. In Focus: IE 7.0 and Attractive Alternatives

2. Security News and Features
   - Recent Security Vulnerabilities
   - Oracle Database Vault and Secure Backup Lock Down Access to Data
   - AttachmateWRQ To Acquire NetIQ
   - Name That Computer!

3. Security Toolkit
   - Security Matters Blog
   - FAQ
   - Instant Poll
   - Share Your Security Tips

4. New and Improved
   - Put Endpoints to the Security Test

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==== 1. In Focus: IE 7.0 and Attractive Alternatives ====
   by Mark Joseph Edwards, News Editor, mark at ntsecurity / net

Microsoft recently released Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0 Beta 2 for 
public download (first URL below). Even with the security and other 
improvements in IE 7.0, some people still think IE is substandard or 
that using IE is the equivalent of painting a target on your forehead. 
Still others have more scathing comments about IE: Industry luminary 
John Dvorak recently called IE a "dead albatross" in a column published 
on PC Magazine's Web site (second URL below). 
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   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=28F1D:4FB69

Dvorak thinks that trying to integrate the browser tightly with the OS 
was one of Microsoft's worst moves ever. That argument makes some sense 
given the number of security vulnerabilities that continue to be 
discovered in the browser. Dvorak thinks Microsoft should ditch IE and 
instead invest in Opera Software and make a large donation to Mozilla 
Foundation to help boost development of their respective browsers.

Such a move by Microsoft isn't likely. In fact, Microsoft is driving 
forward with IE tool proliferation. If you have a copy of IE 7.0, head 
over to Microsoft's "Add-Ons for Internet Explorer Web site at the URL 
below, where you'll find at least 63 third-party security-related tools 
arranged in four categories: Online Protection tools help guard against 
spyware and malware; Pop-Up Blockers are probably self-explanatory; 
Privacy tools help protect against exposure of your private information 
and guard against spyware and malware; and Parental Controls control 
online activity and help protect your children against a range of 
risks. Although the site claims to be for IE add-ons, you'll find many 
standalone tools, such as Microsoft Windows Defender and Lavasoft's Ad-
Aware.
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If IE 7.0 won't run on your particular platforms, then undoubtedly you 
know about Firefox ( http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=28F17:4FB69 ) and Opera 
( http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=28F1C:4FB69 ), and might opt to use those browsers instead. 
But do you know about Maxthon Browser, Tablane, and Avant Browser? 

Maxthon Browser, by Maxthon International, is designed on top of the IE 
engine and introduces a ton of new functionality not available in 
Microsoft's versions of IE. For example, Maxthon offers tabbed 
browsing, enhanced pop-up blocking, a quick way to delete private 
information that might be stored by the browser, enhanced drag-and-drop 
features, support for extensions and plug-ins, support for skins, 
support for many languages, and a whole lot more. In short, Maxthon (at 
the URL below) is what IE should have been years ago. 
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Two other browsers, which are also based on the IE engine and which, 
you might look into further are Tablane by Tablane Technology (at the 
first URL below) and Avant Browser, by Avant Force (at the second URL 
below). Tablane has some nice features, such as "lanes," which are a 
way of displaying multiple Web pages in a single view. Other features 
include support for Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds and a unique 
function that lets you use multiple search engines at once. 
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   http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=28F16:4FB69

Avant Browser claims to be "the fastest browser on Earth" and has many 
interesting features, some of which are similar to those found in 
Maxthon, such as enhanced pop-up blocking and privacy controls. 
However, Avant doesn't use the common tabbed interface--instead it 
displays many resizable windows inside the browser's single window 
interface. Look at the screen capture on the browser's home page to see 
what I mean. Avant Force also says that Avant has "no security holes," 
which is an extraordinary claim. I'm sure security researchers will 
eventually put that claim to many tests.

So even if you can't use the new IE 7.0 for some reason, several 
alternatives can enhance the functionality and security of your current 
installation of IE. Do some research and testing to see if any of the 
alternatives might fit your needs. 

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==== 2. Security News and Features ====

Recent Security Vulnerabilities
   If you subscribe to this newsletter, you also receive Security 
Alerts, which inform you about recently discovered security 
vulnerabilities. You can also find information about these 
discoveries at
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Oracle Database Vault and Secure Backup Lock Down Access to Data
   Oracle's new Database Vault provides more granular control over 
access privileges in Oracle Database. Oracle also announced the 
availability of its new Secure Backup, which encrypts data written to 
tape and works with Oracle Database and various file systems on various 
platforms. 
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AttachmateWRQ To Acquire NetIQ
   AttachmateWRQ announced that it will acquire security solutions 
provider NetIQ for approximately $495 million in cash, which equates to 
about $12.20 per share of stock. NetIQ, founded in 1995, will no longer 
be publicly traded. Instead the company will become a business unit of 
AttachmateWRQ. The transaction is expected to close within 90 days. 
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Name That Computer!
   Jeff Fellinge takes a look at how naming conventions and IP 
standards can help you quickly identify systems and compares the 
approaches that two everyday Windows tools take to resolve IP addresses 
to names. 
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==== 3. Security Toolkit ==== 

Security Matters Blog: Use the Command Line, Luke
   by Mark Joseph Edwards, http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=28F12:4FB69

   If Luke Skywalker were a security administrator, his most powerful 
tools might be command-line tools. If you think you can figure out how 
to terminate a bunch of processes, some of which spawn new processes 
when they're terminated, you might want to take the hacking challenge 
"Star Hacks, Episode V: The Empire Hacks Back" described in this blog 
article.
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FAQ
   by John Savill, http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=28F10:4FB69 

Q: How can I verify whether a domain controller (DC) is in a certain 
site?

Find the answer at http://list.windowsitpro.com/t?ctl=28F0F:4FB69

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==== 4. New and Improved ====
   by Renee Munshi, products at windowsitpro.com

Put Endpoints to the Security Test 
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