Technical Support Australia

Researcher: DDoS attacks on U.S. sites were from the UK

2009-07-16T05:44:00.001-07:00

There was at least the main server. It controls eight command-and-control server of botnets. According to estimates by the researchers. there were 167,000 computers from 74 countries participated in the attacks. Researchers at the Vietnamese security company BKIS have the origin of the beginning of the month out DDoS attacks against Web sites in South Korea and the USA. According to you, the server, which has coordinated the attacks in Britain. FTC.gov was experiencing "technical issues" on Monday and Tuesday that prevented many people from reaching the site, spokesman Peter Kaplan said. Other sites, including FAA.gov, Treas.gov and DOT.gov also experienced outages. The DOT has been experiencing network incidents since this past weekend.

The researchers described, as a main server computer have received eight command-and-control server of botnets controlled, since the first weekend in July. The websites of government authorities and companies had paralyzed BKIS writes in a blog entry. They managed to regain control of two of the server to take over. The researchers estimate that 167,000 computers infected with malicious software from PCs in 74 countries participated in the attacks. According to the botnet expert Joe Stewart from security company Secure Works, the estimate of BKIS is very high. Originally from a botnet expert with about 50,000 infected computers is assumed. The attacks were from the American Independence Day on 4 July around dozens of websites of government agencies in the United States and South Korea addressed. They also often led to temporary outages. The targets included the websites of the U.S. Trade FTC authority, the Homeland Security Department and the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Microsoft warns of zero-day vulnerability in Office Web Components

2009-07-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

There is an error in a spreadsheet of ActiveX control from OWC 10 and 11. An attacker can be manipulated via a website infiltrate malicious code and execute it. This affects Office XP, 2003 and 2007 and ISA Server 2004 and 2006. Microsoft has warned a zero-day vulnerability in Office Web Components (OWC). Microsoft issued an advisory Monday, warning of a new vulnerability in Office Web Components being actively targeted by attackers. It consists in the Spreadsheet ActiveX control from OWC 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and allows an attacker, through a rigged website and malicious code with the privileges of the logged on user.

The vulnerability affects Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3, Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3, Microsoft Office XP Web Components Service Pack 3, Microsoft Office Web Components 2003 Service Pack 3, Microsoft Office 2003 Web Components for the 2007 Microsoft Office system Service Pack 1, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 Standard and Enterprise Edition Service Pack 3, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006, Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 Supportability Update, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 Service Pack 1, Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting 2006. According to Microsoft Office Web Components are only available as an option along with Office 2007 installed. Moreover, the vulnerability does not have Outlook or Outlook Express to exploit, as both applications, HTML e-mails are only opened in a restricted security zone. As a workaround, Microsoft recommends that the ActiveX control to disable it. The vulnerability is a small scale already exploited. A patch is in the works.

Oracle: expansion through middleware

2009-07-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

Oracle 11g has in addition to its databases and business intelligence now Oracle has a more important pillars of corporate IT with the launch of Fusion Middleware. This will be his power position. The new enemy is quite clear IBM. Oracle provides with its product range "Fusion Middleware" as a market leader. This emphasized the two manager Alex Andrianopoulos Aisi and John at a customer event in Munich. How is the market leader really is ordered, will continue in the coming months, the numbers of researchers have found, but tend to just Americans, especially Larry Ellison, to appearances with pithy words and a lot of show.

Fact seems to be that Oracle has succeeded in large part from fragments of a powerful integration platform to build, which is now under the name "Oracle Fusion middleware" market. The 11g version is now presented, this integration being complete. Fusion Middleware was originally developed as a response to SAPs Netweaver platform on the market. Thus, the IT customers in the four main middleware products available - two more machine-like, two closer to the applications.

The first was IBM's Websphere and BEA Systems Weblogic, Netweaver, and the latter fusion. The Oracle product was comparatively puny, the database giant stood in the middleware under pressure to catch up. Through the acquisition of BEA Systems in January 2008, Oracle is able to become a major player in the middleware sector, you have now but two of four key offerings under the Oracle umbrella. Within six months after completion of the acquisition were all versions of Oracle BEA products in the market. With Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g is the integration of BEA and Oracle products was completed, it was in Munich. The competitor in this field is IBM. So, This will be interesting battle between two giants.

A security hole affects Internet Explorer 6 and 7 on Windows XP

2009-07-07T20:14:00.001-07:00

A vulnerability in the ActiveX control of Windows video was used to trap hundreds of sites in China. While waiting to find a patch, Microsoft recommends to disable this component in Internet Explorer. McAfee reports on his blog that hundreds of Chinese sites are infected by a Trojan horse that exploits a security hole in Windows XP. It is a vulnerability that Microsoft is in Streaming Video, an ActiveX control that is part of DirectShow. Security experts say criminals have been attacking the vulnerability for nearly a week. Thousands of sites have been hacked to serve up malicious software that exploits the vulnerability. People are drawn to these sites by clicking a link in spam email.

The vulnerability is exploited via Internet Explorer 6 and 7 on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, and may allow a hacker to take control of a PC remotely. Vista and Internet Explorer 8 would be spared. Microsoft Corp. has taken the rare step of warning about a serious computer security vulnerability it hasn't fixed yet. The vulnerability disclosed Monday affects Internet Explorer users whose computers run the Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating software. Microsoft released a security bulletin confirming the existence of the fault but does not mention the attacks revealed by McAfee and does not specify which version of Internet Explorer is concerned. Pending the publication of the patch, the U.S. publisher advises users working under Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to disable the ActiveX control in Internet Explorer.

YouTube is now hosting videos upto 2 GB

2009-07-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

To encourage sharing of better quality videos, including high definition (HD), YouTube now allows the online file of 2 GB, against 1 GB before. To enhance its HD (high definition), YouTube, owned by Google, has decided to increase the size of video files can be uploaded onto its platform. Videos can now reach the 2 GB, which is double what was allowed so far. However, if the size of videos increases, the other characteristic of the files remains unchanged: 10 minutes for no more than a video. It is therefore a better quality of content that is sought by Google.

Google also announced another of its service, Gmail, its message of increased capacity. It’s an interesting move as recently (September 2008) the upload limit was restricted at just 100MB and then bumped up to 1GB and now even more. The total number of attachments sent by Gmail from 20 MB to 25 MB Still the user to ensure that the email recipient has a mail accepting the receipt of messages of 25 Mo. The limit is typically 10 MB (20 MB for the versions of Yahoo and Hotmail).

P-Box: Microsoft and Prodware unite around a SaaS solution for SMEs

2009-07-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

P-Box will be available in September, the P-Box is a coproduction of the two companies that will offer professionals a turnkey Cloud include services and software for a monthly subscription fee. Microsoft and Prodware will propose at the beginning of the offer seamless and simple to encourage SMEs to take the step of Cloud computing.

This is the P-Box, an Internet security package which includes a series of ERP software, CRM as well as Office and Exchange. The P-Box is available in monthly rental from 990 euros for 5 user accounts. Offer 4 target sectors in priority (industry, commerce, services and construction) with a setting for each specific. Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. These services are broadly divided into three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). A cloud can be private or public. A public cloud sells services to anyone on the Internet. Prodware, who will be responsible for the marketing of the P-Box to its lean and hosting services as well as a backup antivirus and e-fax. It also included in the price of services for installation, training, maintenance and updating of the P-Box. Microsoft and Prodware have hit some 2 000 companies and 15 000 users.

Microsoft tackles security scams pop-up

2009-06-28T23:40:00.000-07:00

Many computers are facing the scams pop-ups issues. They have complained against several companies selling fake security software from PC. It is generally comes up with many fake alerts, messages and pop-ups. Their scam to convince their victims that their computer is compromised by showing on their screen a warning message. Who has ever seen on the screen shows a pop-up that prevents a serious problem in the Windows system software and offers a so-called miracle
to repair the fault, against a few tens of euros.

Microsoft have filed a complaint against several U.S. companies guilty of such fraudulent offers, and other criminals still anonymous. This pop-up uses a function called Windows Messenger (nothing to do with instant messaging from Microsoft), which is supposed to allow administrators to send messages to PCs connected to the same network. Under the pretext of having discovered a flaw, it proposes a complete verification of the system, then a software, capable of securing the
computer again.

There are many free fake antiviruses programs like Registry Cleaner XP Scan & Repair, Antivirus 2009, Malware Core, or WinDefenderXPDefender.com WinSpywareProtect. Of course, their actions are void. "This is a real scam consumers," said Rob McKenna, Attorney General of Washington State. "Users have to pretend to make a scan of their computer and forced to pay for software they do not need." Fake antiviruses programs pop-ups generates following warning messages :--
1. Your computer is infected by viruses attacks and scan your computer using this software.
2. Activate this security software now to sure that maximal protection is applied.
3. Critical System Error.
4. Your computer is infected.
5. Hijacked homepage to swp2009.com, spyprotect2009.com, sp-protect2009.com or obscure web page.
6. Flashing icons appear on your system tray (near of your system clock).

Alert messages could appear quite repeated, some IP addresses receiving more than 200 pop-up per day, explain the complaints. According to the American Computer Spyware Act, enacted in 2005, suspects are up 2 000 dollars in fines per offense, plus damages. In addition, individuals who feel aggrieved are invited to bring a complaint on their side, "said Microsoft.

For Microsoft, Internet Explorer 8 is faster than Firefox and Chrome

2009-06-25T00:35:00.000-07:00

In a study comparing the display speed of IE 8, Chrome and Firefox, Microsoft's browser is far better then rest of them. The comparison made by Microsoft will not fail to respond in the forums and blogs. To accompany the launch, this upcoming Internet Explorer 8, the publisher has measured the speed display browser compared to Chrome and Firefox. The tested versions of browsers IE 8 competitors are: 1.0 for the Chrome and Firefox 3.05.

Opera and Safari were not selected because of their low market share on Windows systems.Internet Explorer 8 is faster on 50% of tested sites. Grounds of the inadequacy of online tools typically used to measure the performance of browsers,
and especially those of the Java Script engine, Microsoft has developed its own methodology and testing tools. According to the results, Internet Explorer 8 would be the fastest on the display 12 of the 25 sites on 9 Chrome and Firefox on only 4.
Comparisons are inherently subject to controversy, especially as the previous tests, carried out by various actors, tended to classify Internet Explorer 8 from the slower browsers.

Firefox 3.1 beta 1, Chrome 2.0.158.0 (different versions of those tested by Microsoft) and the engine Webkit r40220 (used by Apple in Safari) were given away before. Internet Explorer 8 is more secured against the malware and phishing threats.
There is no need to install tools separately in Internet Explorer 8 and it is also more reliable and manageable as compared to Firefox and Chrome.

In its benchmark, the Redmond company has focused solely on the question of speed. The Acid3 test that evaluates the compliance of applications with the web standards defined by W3C, is often used as reference to evaluate the performance of browsers. Internet Explorer 8 gets a bad grade in compliance with the standards: 19 to 100. Firefox got 93, Opera 98 and Safari 10 the maximum number of 100.

Important steps for Computer Scanning and Optimization

2009-06-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

We should perform "PC Scan and Optimization" tasks on our computers over the specific time. "PC Scan and Optimization" helps to increase the computer performance and reliability. "PC Scan and Optimization" includes the various steps that should be performed in the systematic order. These are following steps that comes under the "PC Scan and Optimization" task :--
1. We should create a system restore point for the safety purpose.
2. We should delete all the temporary Internet files like temp, %temp%, prefetch files.
3. We should optimize the browser by deleting all the cookies, history and junk files.
4. We should scan the computer by using any updated antivirus program.
5. We should install and download the "Anti-malwarebytes" software program on the computer.
6. We should update "Anti-malwarebytes" software program.
7. We should scan the computer using the "Anti-malwarebytes" software program.
8. We should delete all the infected files after "Anti-malwarebytes" scanning result.
9. We should restart the computer in normal mode.
10. We should install and download "Superanti-spyware" software program on the computer.
11. We should update "Superanti-spyware" software program.
12. We should scan the computer using the "Superanti-spyware" software program.
13. We should delete all the infected files after "Superanti-spyware" scanning result.
14. We should delete all unwanted start-ups items by using the msconfig utility.
15. We should un-install all unwanted softwares from the computer.
16. We should perform the "Diskcleanup" task on the weekly basis.
17. We should perform the "Defrag" task on the monthly basis.
18. We should keep at least 5% free space on the 'C' drive.
19. Disable performance settings.
20. Turn off the indexing service.
21. Reduce the size of System Restore.

We can run the computer smoothly and properly by following all the above troubleshooting steps. These safety guidelines helps the user to run the computer smoothly and properly. We need to update all the security softwares on the regular basis which help to get the latest the definitions of various viruses, spywares and malwares etc.

Microsoft removes key limit for Windows 7 Starter

2009-06-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

Windows 7 is a upcoming version of Microsoft Windows. It is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, netbooks and media center PCs. Microsoft has stated that it plans to release Windows 7 on October 22, 2009. Microsoft confirmed on Friday that, with Windows 7, it will lift the limitation that the entry-level "Starter Edition" run no more than three applications at a time. With Windows 7, Microsoft is for the first time allowing the product to be used globally, as opposed to just in emerging markets. In particular, Microsoft is positioning it as its lowest-cost Windows 7 option for Netbooks.
Initially, Microsoft said it would maintain that restriction that users run no more than three programs at a time, however speculation has been growing that it would lift that limitation. "We believe these changes will make Windows 7 Starter an even more attractive option for customers who want a small notebook PC for very basic tasks, like browsing the Web, checking e-mail, and personal productivity," Microsoft said in a blog posting on Friday.
Although Microsoft is lifting the three-application limit, it notes that there are still a number of other differences between Starter and Home Premium, including the former's lack of support for Windows 7's cool graphics, multiple monitors, Windows Media Center or XP Mode, among other features.

Microsoft's Geneva identity cloud platform enters Beta 2

2009-06-05T03:37:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Monday released the Beta 2 of Geneva, its identity platform for the cloud, adding single sign-on capabilities across server applications and cloud-based services, and long-awaited support for SAML 2.0. Microsoft has added a number of new features around Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) 2.0 specification, including SAML interoperability with identity software from CA, Novell, SAP and Sun. In addition, Microsoft will add certification for the Liberty Alliance implementation of SAML 2.0 when the final code of Geneva is released at the end of 2009.

In the Geneva beta, which is being released publicly for the first time, Microsoft also is adding integration with SharePoint that provides SSO to the server from inside and outside corporate firewalls. Microsoft has also added in Beta 2 integration with Rights Management Services (RMS), which lets users set permissions, based on identity, that control actions such as copying and forwarding files. The company has linked Geneva and the Microsoft Azure cloud operating system to create SSO to cloud-based services.

Beta 2 is available now, and final shipment of the software is slated for year's end. Geneva is an open identity platform that includes federation services, development tools and gateway technologies. The identity platform's foundation is the claims-based access model and Security Token Service (STS) technology that Microsoft has been developing over the past few years as part of its industry effort to create a single identity system based on standard protocols.

Geneva is made up of the Geneva Server, formerly called Active Directory Federation Services 2.0; Geneva CardSpace Client, a smaller and faster version of the identity client now available with Vista; and the Geneva Framework, which was formerly, code-named Zermatt.

You can find all of our installation downloads and supporting documentation for each component of the Geneva platform on the “Geneva” Connect site. One of the most significant additions is support for the SAML 2.0 protocol. Microsoft had supported the SAML token format as part of its Identity MetaSystem, which is the foundation of the Geneva project. Support for the protocol helped cement interoperability with CA's Federation Manager and SiteMinder, Novell's Access Manager, SAP's NetWeaver and Sun's Open SSO and Fedlet software. Microsoft also has added a new claims transformation engine in Geneva Server.

"It includes extensibility to source claims from Active Directory and equal or other attribute stores. Geneva Beta 2 includes built-in Visual Studio templates that make it easier to build and deploy claims-aware applications. Three main pieces of Geneva would be licensed under Windows, but that the particular "ship vehicle" announcement would come at a later date.

Contact information does not appear in the address book in Outlook

2009-06-02T23:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, Contact information does not appear in the address book of Outlook. This issue cab be resolved by following steps:--
Step 1: Install the Outlook Address Book serviceWe should follow these steps if you are using "Microsoft Outlook 2002 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2003" :--
1. On the Tools menu, click on "E-mail Accounts" tab.
2. Click to select View or change existing directories or address books, and then click on "Next" tab.
3. If your Outlook Address Book is listed, click on "Cancel" tab, and then go to the steps in the "How to Mark Your Contact Folder for Use with Your Address Book" section.
4. If your Outlook Address Book is not listed, click Add.
5. Click to select Additional Address Books, and then click Next.
6. Click to select Outlook Address Book, and then click Next.
7. Click on "OK" tab when you receive the prompt that the address book you added will not start until you click on "Exit" from the File menu.
8. Click on "Finish" tab.
9. Click on "Exit" tab from the File menu, and then restart Outlook.
Installation of Outlook Address Book service for Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
1. On the Tools menu, click Account Settings .
2. Click on the Address Books tab.
3. If your Outlook Address Book is listed, click Close, and then go to "Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book." If your Outlook Address Book is not listed, click on "New" tab.
4 .Select Additional Address Books, and then click on "Next" tab.
5. Select Outlook Address Book, and then click Next.
6. You receive a message that states that the address book that you added will not start until you click Exit on the File menu. Click on "OK" tab.
7. Click on "Finish" tab. 8. Click on "Close" tab, and then restart Outlook.
Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book
1. On the File menu, point to Folder, and then click Properties for your folder name.
2. On the Outlook Address Book tab, click to select the Show this folder as an e-mail address book check box, type a descriptive name, and then click on "OK".
Step 3: Look for an e-mail address or a fax number
1. In the Folder list, select the Contact folder.
2. Double-click the contact to open the item, and then look at the e-mail address field and the fax numbers field.

How to create and configure an e-mail profile in Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003

2009-05-31T22:11:00.000-07:00

We should follow these steps to create a new e-mail profile in Outlook 2007 and in Outlook 2003 :--
1. Click on "Start" and then click on "Run".
2. Copy and paste the following command in the Open box and then press ENTER: Control panel
3. If you are in Classic View then double-click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box opens. Go to step 5.
4. If you are in Category View, under Control Panel, click on "Switch to Classic View" and then double-click Mail. The Mail Setup dialog box opens.
5. In the Mail Setup dialog box, click on "Show Profiles" tab.
6. On the General tab, under When starting Microsoft Office Outlook, use this profile, click Prompt for a profile to be used, and then click on "Add" tab.
7. In the Profile Name box, type the name that you want to use for the new e-mail profile, and then click on "OK" tab.
8. In the E-mail Accounts dialog box, click on "Add a new e-mail account" and then click on "Next" tab.
9. Click the appropriate server type for your new e-mail account, and then click on "Next" tab.
10. Type your account information in the required boxes, and then click on "Next" tab.
11. Click on "Finish" tab and then click on "OK" tab.
We should follow these steps to configure Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2003 so that it starts with a specific e-mail profile :--
1.Click on "Start" and then click on "Run".
2.Copy and paste (or type) the following command in the Open box and then press ENTER: Control panel
3.If you are in Classic View then double-click on "Mail" tab. The Mail Setup dialog box opens. Go to step 5.
4.If you are in Category View, under Control Panel, click on "Switch to Classic View" and then double-click on "Mail" tab.
5.In the Mail Setup dialog box, click on "Show Profiles" tab.
6.On the General tab, under When starting Microsoft Office Outlook, use this profile, click on "Always use this profile".
7.In the Always use this profile list, select the profile that you want to use, and then click on "OK" tab

How to troubleshoot sound problems in Windows XP

2009-05-29T00:13:00.000-07:00

We receive many reports from Windows XP users who is facing sound problems in Windows XP. We will provide all major symptoms that you may experience on your Windows XP-based computer.
Symptoms :--1. You do not hear sound from the computer's speakers or headphones. 2. A sound seems to be played, but you do not hear anything. 3. A sound is played, but it stops suddenly. 4. The sound skips or misses in some areas. 5. The sound is distorted or scratchy. 6. The computer stops responding when a sound is played. 7. The computer restarts when a sound is played. 8. You receive an error message when you try to play sound. Error messages could include the following :-- * MIDI output error detected. * No wave device that can play files in the current format is installed. * The CD Audio device is in use by another application. * WAV sound playback error detected. * Your audio hardware cannot play files like the current file.
Now, we will provide all troubleshooting steps to get rid off sound issues.Troubleshooting Steps :--
Method 1: Try another sound deviceMethod 2: Use the Windows XP Sound Troubleshooter.Step1: Start the Sound Troubleshooter1.Click on "Start" and then click on "Help and Support". 2.Under Pick a Help Topic, click on "Fixing a problem". 3.In the navigation pane on the left, click on Games, sound and video problems. 4.In the topic pane, on the right side, click on "Sound Troubleshooter".Step 2: Use the Sound Troubleshooter1.Click on the option that describes the problem that is occurring, and then click Next. 2.Repeat step 1 until your problem is resolved or until you have reached the end of the troubleshooting path. Method 3: Update your Media Player softwareMethod 4: Update sound drivers1.Click on "Start" and then click on "Run". 2.Type "dxdiag" in the Open box, and then click on "OK' tab. 3.Click the Sound tab. 4.Under Device, look for Name and under Driver, look for Provider. 5.Click on "Exit" tab.

Technical Support

2009-05-27T02:03:00.000-07:00

Technical support is mainly responsible for achieving high levels of customer satisfaction and retention levels. Technical support is a basically kind of services that is offered by the companies to help the customers over specific problems with their products. Technical Support may delivered by the different medium for example by the e-mail, by taking the remote, over the telephone or through any website.
Major companies is having own technical support team to assist the users for the product related problems. Technical support can be offered by different kind of technology depending the problem scenario for example if it is a general problem that it can be resolved over the phone or e-mail support but softwares related problems are generally resolved by the remote support. Remote support is one of the better way to provide the technical support. Remote Support makes things quite easy for the users.
Technical support may be delivered by the different medium that are the following :--1. E-mail Support2. Remote Support3. Telephonic Support4. Online Support5. Live Technical Support
Many companies offer technical support at free of cost but some of them are paid. It's demand is increasing day by day in the modern times. Many companies are offering the technical support to different companies across the whole world because it is not possible for every company to provide the technical support for their products. So, Outsourcing a technical support is becoming a big business now days. Many companies are locating their technical support center in the different countries at the lower cost. So, many companies are targeting the Asian countries especially India where they can find cheap setup and labour cost.
Technical Support are generally divided into three levels or tiers based on complexity of an issue :--1. Tier I : This is the first level of the technical support which is responsible for the very basic computer issues. Tier I technicians are responsible for gathering user informations and figure out main reason behind the user issue.2. Tier II : This is next higher level to Tier I which have more experienced and knowledgeable technicians as compared to Tier I. These technicians are specialist over specific products or services.3. Tier III : This is highest level of the technical support which is responsible to handle the miscellaneous and advanced problems. Tier III is not only assist the Tier I and Tier II technician but also provide the "Research and Development" to the new issues. 4. Tier IV : This level is not generally used across the world. Tier IV mainly deals with the hardware and software related issues.