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Full-featured task manager

MSD Tasks is a multifeatured program that allows users to keep track of a wide variety of things they need to do. Although the program could be better organized, we like the number of options and customizations it offers.

The program's interface is somewhat cluttered, with lots of buttons and drop-down menus. A few minutes of exploration allows users to start to make sense of the layout. While the bulk of the interface contains a calendar with scheduled tasks in it, much of the rest is composed of options for customizing how tasks are displayed in the calendar. We … Read more

Information eraser

Active@ Eraser provides users with a way to delete all traces of information from a computer. By matching this service with simple commands and fast results, users will have no trouble securing their computer.

The program's interface was simply laid out with all its necessary components on one screen. With a quick trip to the Help file to sort the process out, users will be deleting their data in a matter of minutes. Users begin by navigating through a simple file tree to the left of the screen that allows you to select entire folders for deletion or to … Read more

Hackers rumored to have cracked Windows 7 activation

Microsoft only just released final code for Windows 7 to manufacturers and the company is already facing a security risk.

The Windows Genuine Advantage antipiracy system in the Windows 7 Ultimate release to manufacturers (RTM) has reportedly been compromised by some Chinese hackers, according to a variety of Chinese forums, and first reported by Neowin.com.This means the user can fully activate the software offline without connecting to Microsoft's activation server.

The software's RTM code is generally the same as the retail code, which will be available to the public in October. PC makers tend to get … Read more

Single misplaced '&' caused latest IE exploit

A security hole in Internet Explorer that opened the browser to hackers since early July was caused by a single typo in Microsoft's code.

An errant ampersand ("&") took the blame for the exploit, admitted Microsoft in a blog published Tuesday at its Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) Web site.

Michael Howard, a security program manager at Microsoft, explained in his blog that the typo corrupted the code of an ActiveX control used by the browser. The control was created by Microsoft using an older library of code, which Howard admitted has flaws. Because of those flaws, the … Read more

Microsoft offers patches to ward off ActiveX attacks

Microsoft released an emergency patch on Tuesday to protect Internet Explorer users from a hole in technology used to build ActiveX controls and other Web application components that has been targeted in attacks.

A critical patch for all versions of IE will protect consumers, while a security update for Visual Studio will help developers fix the controls and components they built that could be affected.

Microsoft also has had discussions with Adobe, Sun, and Google about some components involving their software that are affected, said Mike Reavey, director of the Microsoft Security Response Center. He declined to elaborate.

Internet Explorer … Read more

Diller: We're not really deal junkies

PASADENA, Calif.--InterActiveCorp CEO Barry Diller says he ended up with a huge Internet conglomerate, but said that was never really his goal.

"I don't really believe in synergies," Diller said Friday, speaking at Fortune's Brainstorm: Tech conference here.

In the past few years, IAC has already spun off Home Shopping Network, Expedia, LendingTree, and Ticketmaster. He'd eventually like to see the Ask.com search and Citysearch local businesses stand alone as well.

"They are in formation, he said. "They are not sufficiently landed. I'm hopeful that they will be."

Fortune … Read more

Microsoft plugs critical DirectShow, Video ActiveX holes

Microsoft on Tuesday issued patches to fix critical vulnerabilities in DirectShow and Video ActiveX that have been targeted in attacks, as well as fixes for holes in Embedded OpenType Font Engine and Microsoft Publisher that could allow someone to remotely take control of the PC.

Overall, the six "Patch Tuesday" updates fix nine vulnerabilities in Windows, Microsoft Office, Internet Security and Acceleration Server, Virtual PC, and Virtual Server.

The three DirectShow vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to remotely run code on the machine if a user opened a specially crafted QuickTime file. Microsoft warned of exploits against one … Read more

Microsoft warns of attacks on new ActiveX hole

Attackers are exploiting a new critical ActiveX hole in Microsoft Office to take control of PCs by luring Internet Explorer users to malicious Web sites, Microsoft said on Monday.

The zero-day hole, the third one announced by Microsoft in less than two months, is in Office Web Components ActiveX controls used to display and publish spreadsheets, charts, and databases to the Web.

It affects Office XP, Office 2003, Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 and 2006, as well as Office Small Business Accounting 2006.

The security advisory details a manual workaround, or people can use Microsoft's Fix-It tool to … Read more

Microsoft warns of hole in Video ActiveX control

Microsoft on Monday warned of a vulnerability in its Video ActiveX Control that could allow an attacker to take control of a PC if the user visits a malicious Web site.

There have been limited attacks exploiting the hole, which affects Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Microsoft said on its Security Response Center blog.

This is the second DirectShow security hole Microsoft has announced in the past few months. The company has yet to provide a security update for a vulnerability announced in May that involves the way DirectX handles QuickTime files.

Since there are no by-design uses for … Read more

Astrological fortune tool

MB Muhurtha Astrology provides users with an astrological glimpse of several different aspects of their life. Using simple directions and diverse results, there is something here for anyone curious about Vedic Astrology.

The program's interface is inviting, yet challenging, thanks in part to a user's need to go online. While its radio buttons and easily filled-in blanks were friendly, users who do not know the latitude and longitude of their birthplace will have to follow a clumsy link to a Web site to find the answer. From there, though, the program provides answers in an easy-to-navigate fashion that … Read more