The ever-evolving tricks of hackers and security weapons in the new generation Windows operating system are the primary concerns of participants at the Microsoft Information Technology Forum in Spain this week.
The safety of Windows Vista is one of the most pressing issues for the American software company. Their operating system will have to face countless online “battles” against malware, simply because it is a new territory for virus authors and hackers to showcase their skills.
Army Roberts, the Director of Technology Security and Business at Microsoft, believes that online banks still cannot completely eliminate phishing, but many new features in Vista will reduce the chances of users falling into traps.
Some experts acknowledge that Vista has made significant progress and operates more efficiently, but Marcus Murray, a security consultant at TrueSec AB (USA), emphasizes that people should not think everything is perfect.
According to Roberts, a few security features were introduced in Windows XP Service Pack 2, including Data Execution Prevention mechanisms, utilizing both software and hardware capabilities to mitigate damage from denial-of-service attacks.
Meanwhile, the Windows Defender anti-spyware program will integrate with Vista through Internet Explorer 7. Additionally, the account protection function in Vista allows for greater control over individual access rights.
In his presentation titled “Why I Can Hack Your Windows Network in One Day“, Murray demonstrated the ability to infiltrate systems after downloading a few graphical user interface (GUI) tools. One of these tools is software for creating and managing Trojans.
After being automatically installed on the computer via email, the Trojan allowed Murray to gain full control of the system and install a series of other dangerous programs to perform tasks such as keylogging. A pop-up window in the lower right corner of Murray’s computer screen displayed the message, “A new victim has appeared.”
“Nowadays, almost anyone can become a hacker,” he said. “On average, 10% of users fall victim to phishing emails, and over 70% of computers are running some form of malware.”
Although antivirus technology is actively working, many Trojans are difficult to detect. Recently, three young Dutch individuals were charged with illegally controlling up to 1.5 million computers using tricks to switch to new versions as soon as the old malware was detected by antivirus programs.
Virus creators are increasingly interested in financial gain rather than proving “intelligence.” “This will change the way we protect users,” Roberts affirmed. “It’s not pleasant at all because you always have to be prepared to deal with potential threats.”
This week, Microsoft also reiterated that Windows Vista will support HD DVD and will not support Blu-ray technology.
The software giant stated that it has fully leaned towards Toshiba, even as more and more Hollywood studios support the format led by Sony.
However, Microsoft acknowledged that the first version of Windows Vista does not yet support HD DVD, but the company will soon provide this format at the appropriate time after Vista’s launch.
