Microsoft preps Windows security scanner

NEWS

As part of a push to regain the public trust, Microsoft plans to release a wizard-like program to help home software users and network administrators protect their computer systems from outside attack. Called the Baseline Security Advisor, the program will scan Windows computers for unpatched programs, weak passwords, and vulnerabilities in the operating system and in several Microsoft products. "Our goal is to allow (home) users to check their own machines," said Jason Shaw, lead product manager for Microsoft. "Company administrators can also use it to check their entire network." While Microsoft has still not announced the product, the software titan showed off an early version of the scanner at its booth at the RSA Conference 2002 in San Jose, California. Shaw said the program will be available for free download from Microsoft's Web site in March. The scanner is the latest move by the software giant to beef up Windows security. Microsoft was stung by a series of embarrassing flaws in 2001 that demonstrated how vulnerable some of the company's products were to outside attack. In mid-January, chairman Bill Gates wrote a memo exhorting the company's employees to smack bugs to earn customer's trust in Microsoft software. While other companies have come out with scanners, none has the reach of Microsoft. Many other scanners are also designed to sniff out vulnerabilities in other software. "It won't matter what we do now and in the future if people don't trust computers," Craig Mundie, Microsoft vice president and chief technical officer for advanced strategies and policy, said during a Wednesday afternoon keynote address. "This is not a new initiative at the company; there has been a lot of people at it for a long time." Microsoft has trained more than 9,000 of its programmers and developers in secure coding techniques since last fall, Mundie said. The company has also had outside security consultants pick through the source code for Windows, the .Net Web services framework and .Net server. "For all of us, this cycle really has no end," Mundie said. "Programmers today are still human beings, and despite training them, it is difficult to get them to look to the future." Sometimes the effort to better secure against attack makes it difficult for software users to take full advantage of the software they receive. For example, Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows XP, includes the company's Web server software, IIS 5.1. Unlike past versions, the Web server is turned off by default, protecting the software user from potential security problems posed by a Web server. The new Microsoft Baseline Security Advisor (MBSA) adds user education and an additional check for Windows users who want to ensure that their systems are up-to-date on patches from Microsoft, are using good password policy, and are aware of any insecure settings. Unlike many vulnerability scanners, the MBSA doesn't take the role of an attacker and look for vulnerabilities. Instead, the scanner acts as an expert administrator looking for problems on the Microsoft security checklist. The MBSA downloads a 700KB vulnerability and patch database from Microsoft that the company has created in Extensible Markup Language, or XML. XML is a popular Web standard by which businesses can easily exchange data between employees, customers, partners and suppliers. The software giant intends to maintain the database and provide the software for free. Considering that Microsoft has a group studying the feasibility of diving headfirst into the security marketplace, a full-featured service may also be in the works.

For all security-related news, including updates on the latest viruses, hacking exploits and patches, check out ZDNet UK's Viruses and Hacking News Section. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the Security forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

34 minutes ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

1 hour ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

2 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

2 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

3 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

3 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

3 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

3 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

3 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

7 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

8 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs

Just to be clear, nobody knows what is in the text of ACTA, here is a photograph of the text of ACTA http://twitpic.com/8h9iju as submitted to the...

8 hours ago by ewallace on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

Unfortunately main issue is that ASUS is refusing to accept that they make some mistake on this version of asus Transformer prime. 1 - GPS sensor...

9 hours ago by fgvrg56 on Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Wi-Fi & GPS problems?

@Marcus A fair question. Just talked with Archos which said it was working on an announcement for next week....

10 hours ago by Ben Woods on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Any update on this, considering the claimed "first week of February"?

11 hours ago by via Facebook on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Bill Goodrich : Just as al_langevin pointed out, with Windows Server 2008 there is no Services for Macintosh anymore. It's gone, not available....

20 hours ago by apexwm on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility

Replying to an old topic that I'm currently facing with my CEO (who is on a Mac). Our servers are primarily Windows Servers, office is about...

1 day ago by txtrainguy on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility

Sure, that makes perfect sense. Pay wrong-doers money and thank them for breaching your security and pointing out your flaws, that would surely...

1 day ago by k0tcs3 on US indicts Romanian over NASA climate change hack

I think he's referring specifically to Android apps, as Apple do regulate their App Store, but Google seem to let any old crap onto the Android store!

1 day ago by Random_Error on RIM: BlackBerry will keep 'garbage' apps out of store

Keep the crap apps out?! How will they compete with Android and Apple's claim to fame of having so many life changing apps? I wonder if the media...

1 day ago by Paul Fezziwig via Facebook on RIM: BlackBerry will keep 'garbage' apps out of store

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Microsoft preps Windows security scanner

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Verisign aims to make Web services trustworthy

Security comes of age at RSA conference

Ofcom to make it easier to change broadband service

Google set to build backbone of its 1Gbps fibre network

Nicira reveals network virtualisation details

Post your comment

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Networking

Ofcom to make it easier to change broadband service

Google set to build backbone of its 1Gbps fibre network

Nicira reveals network virtualisation details

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Test Analyst - Business Intelligence /Data Warehousing

Test Analyst - Business Intelligence /Data Warehousing

Technical MI Manager - 50-60k - Leeds

Inside ZDNet UK

A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

2012 Predictions: VCE FastPath, VI SAN Probe & Hadoop

BlackBerry Bold 9790

Case study: How cloud enables growth

Ten factors that make Ubuntu 11.10 a hit

Toshiba Portégé Z830-10P Review

BT's archive: Pictures from the vault

News & Analysis

Reviews

Blogs

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features

ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Infrastructure / Networking

Microsoft preps Windows security scanner

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Post your comment

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Networking

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Inside ZDNet UK

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features