NSS Labs suggests Microsoft’s Internet Explorer offers the best protection against socially engineered malware

A new report from NSS Labs suggests Microsoft’s Internet Explorer offers the best protection against socially-engineered malware.

NSS Labs, an independent, information security research and testing organisation released its findings in a report (PDF) entitled “web browser security socially-engineered malware protection.” NSS claim that Internet Explorer 9 beta caught “an exceptional” 99% of all live threats. NSS suggests this is due to Microsoft’s new application reputation system in IE9. The results lead the pack by 8.5%.

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 also fared well, catching 90.2% of all live threats. This is a 5% improvement from Q1 2010. The closest competitor was Firefox 3.6 at 19.5% followed by Safari 5 at 10.9% and Chrome 6 at 3.4%. Opera caught 0% of the live threats, providing virtually no protection against socially-engineered malware. NSS describes Microsoft’s results in the report:

It became obvious from this test and comparisons to the earlier test that Microsoft continues to improve their IE malware protection in Internet Explorer 8 (through its SmartScreen Filter technology) and in Internet Explorer 9 (with the addition of SmartScreen application reputation technology). With a unique URL blocking score of 94.5% and over-time protection rating of 98.7%, Internet Explorer 9 was by far the best at protecting against socially-engineered malware. The 89% zero-hour block rate suggests a far superior malware identification, collection, and classification method.

Microsoft was understandably upbeat over the report, the software giant issued the following statement:

With Malware the most common and impactful security threat facing internet users today, Internet Explorer 9 Beta has delivered a robust set of built-in security, privacy, and reliability technologies that allow you to browse in total confidence and control. Security and privacy are of paramount importance to the Internet Explorer team, we are continuing to improve our offerings including announcing the latest privacy protection update in Internet Explorer 9.

Microsoft revealed earlier this month that the IE9 beta has clocked up over 15 million downloads. Internet Explorer 9 beta made its debut on September 15 to a fanfare of Gorillaz appearances and anticipation of Microsoft’s new look browser. The software giant is currently preparing for a release of Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate (RC) in early 2011. The company recently unveiled a new “Tracking Protection” feature for Internet Explorer 9 and in-doing so revealed a new build of IE9. WinRumors understands this build is very close to what will become the final RC code ready for early 2011. The build features square tabs and minor UI enhancements to the address bar buttons in Internet Explorer 9. Microsoft is widely expected to deliver the RC build of IE9 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in a few weeks time.

Image Credit: NSS Labs

Microsoft demonstrate new Windows7 based Slate devices at CES

Microsoft will demonstrate new Windows based Slate devices at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

The software giant is expected to show-off a number of new devices from key hardware partners. The New York Times reports that the company will show devices built by Samsung and Dell. The Samsung device will be a similar size and shape to Apple’s iPad and include a “unique and slick keyboard that slides out from below for easy typing.”

Both the Dell and Samsung devices will run Windows 7 with a custom UI on top for accessing multimedia functions. Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, is expected to introduce both devices during his CES 2011 keynote.

Microsoft has promised a “major revamp” of Windows for slate applications, that will come in the next version, Windows 8. The New York Times suggests that Ballmer may show off a Windows 8 based Slate but WinRumors understands this is not the case. The software maker may show off a future Tablet/Slate concept device but will not refer to Windows 8 specifically. Microsoft is currently in the planning and preperation stage for Windows 8 and is compiling early milestone builds for product functionality.

Microsoft has been criticized for its slow response to Apple’s iPad device, introduced in April this year. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, previously said Windows 7 based Slates would be available “as soon as they’re ready” when questioned earlier this year. The iPad sold three million units in its first 80 days of release and is currently selling approximately 4.5 million units per quarter, Bernstein Research estimates.

Microsoft Chairman, Bill Gates, said earlier this year that the company has a lot of different tablet projects it is pursuing. Microsoft canceled their internal Courier project shortly after the release of the iPad. The project was an innovative new tablet concept that had promised to combine a dual screen book design with finger and stylus input. The leaked promotional materials demonstrated various concepts that would have brought an unparalleled productivity tool to the market. Most media outlets and analysts felt the move to cancel the device was a mistake

Microsoft released 2.0 Antivirus tool

Microsoft has finalized and released the second version of its free anti-virus tool, Security Essentials.

The final release, build 2.0.657, has been released to the web and introduces several new features. Context menu scanning, heuristic scanning, remove quarantined files after a certain date and the ability to enable a network inspection system to protect against network-based exploits are all included.

Microsoft introduced Security Essentials, its free anti-virus software, in September 2009. Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is designed to work on Windows XP, Vista and 7 and protects end users against virus threats and spy ware. MSE is Microsoft’s free anti-virus and anti-spyware product that replaced Microsoft’s paid Windows Live OneCare subscription service which was withdrawn last year. The software giant made a u-turn in licensing recently when it announced Small Businesses can now download and install the product on up to 10 PCs. Previously, businesses were unable to install the software legally due to a End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) restriction.

Security Essentials 2.0 is available at Microsoft’s download site.

Two new iPhone game applications

Microsoft has released two new iPhone game apps today and an Android music streaming application.

The “decision engine” has revealed the holiday themed applications in time for Christmas. The first application, named Snowboard Hero, is available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad owners. The game allows you to snowboard on four steep runs. The second application, named Powerboat Challenge, is available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad owners. The game is a simple powerboat challenge that allows players to complete courses and upgrade their boats to bigger engines.

Microsoft has also developed an Android application that streams 100 different holiday tunes. The application is available until January 2, 2011. Although iOS and Android are covered, the software giant seems to have completely forgotten about Windows Phone 7. The applications are available on rival platforms but not Microsoft’s own. Some commenters on Microsoft’s Bing blog pointed out the admission. “Where is the WP7 stuff??? Kind of ironic that I need to own an Apple product to use a Microsoft one” wrote one, “Where’s the WP7 love…kinda feelin’ left out,” wrote another.

Microsoft is said to improve on Kinect Xbox 360 and block sex games

Microsoft is said to be working on improving the accuracy of the Kinect Xbox 360 add-on whilst promising to block sex games using the device.

Microsoft Kinect developers are currently working on creating an improved compression and switching technology that will allow the Kinect to process larger amounts of data to the Xbox 360. The current issue with Kinect is that the USB controller interface is only currently using 15 MBps when it is capable of around 35 MBps according to Eurogamer.

Microsoft is currently working on ways to improve the USB bandwidth without affecting other devices connected to the Xbox 360. The software giant could also double the depth the sensor uses to detect movement. The sensor currently works at 30 frames per second and with a 320×340 resolution limit. Eurogamer suggests that at 640×480 the Kinect could begin to detect fingers and hand rotation and effectively quadruple its accuracy.

In other Kinect news, Microsoft said it will block software developer ThriXXX from releasing new Kinect software on the Xbox 360. ThriXXX had planned to offer a sex game that allow players to use hand gestures, voice commands and objects to stimulate sexual acts. In a statement to the media, Microsoft said it would not condone such a game for Kinect. “This isn’t the first example of a technology being used in ways not intended by its manufacturer, and it won’t be the last,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “Microsoft did not authorize or license its technology for this use.”

Good Start For Microsft Windows 7 Phone

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Marketplace is off to a good start, according to research firm IDC.

The Marketplace has reached 4,000 apps in just two months since launch and IDC analyst, Al Hilwa, believes this is a sign that the company’s app portfolio is growing. “The Windows Phone 7 Marketplace reaching 4,000 apps two months after launch has to be one of the most rapid ramp-ups in recent times, reaching this milestone faster than Android, which took from October 2008 to March 2009 to reach about the same level,” wrote Hilwa in a research note on December 19.

“We can say that for a company that just a few months ago was an also-ran in mobile, having 10 smartphones released in 30 countries is not a trivial achievement,” Hilwa wrote, according to eWeek. “I would not be surprised if Microsoft had the third largest app portfolio in the industry by the middle of next year.”

Microsoft is still refusing to confirm exact sales figures for Windows Phone 7. The company now has over 18,000 registered Windows Phone developers and has promised developer payments in January. Early estimates, based on Facebook usage, show that around 120,000+ devices have been sold so far.

Microsoft is planning to release a Windows Phone 7 OS update in early 2011. Microsoft is officially saying that the update is due in early 2011 but WinRumors understands Microsoft officials will detail the upcoming changes at CES. Windows Phone 7 is a key part of Microsoft’s long term mobile strategy and we expect the software giant to detail a second bigger update in February at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain. Microsoft’s second update will introduce enhanced developer controls for applications and updated Silverlight components. Microsoft’s first update recently leaked in a video of the company’s implementation of Windows Phone 7 copy and paste.

Microsoft will focus heavily on PC gaming in Windows 8

Microsoft will focus heavily on PC gaming in Windows 8 according to recent reports.

TechRadar says that an anonymous source at Microsoft has confirmed the software giant will focus on PC gaming in the next generation operating system. “Windows 8 will represent a real new push into PC gaming,” the source told TechRadar. “Gaming will be a key component for the whole OS.”

Microsoft has been criticized for its efforts with PC gaming in Vista and Windows 7. The software maker recently hired the founder of VoodooPC in what many believe is a move to focus on PC gaming as a priority in Windows.

Microsoft has also promised a “major revamp” of Windows for slate devices in Windows 8. Microsoft is currently in the planning and preparation stage for Windows 8. The software giant is expected to share more information and beta bits next year. Steve Ballmer has described the next release of Windows as the company’s “riskiest product bet”. It is understood that Microsoft will feature deep cloud integration into the future OS to realise its vision of “three screens and a cloud”. Microsoft’s Dutch PR team posted in October that Microsoft was “on course for the next version of Windows” and that it would take around “two years before Windows 8 is on the market"