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Microsoft Releases Security Patch Tools
by Arie Slob
Hello Windows users,
Microsoft this week released two security tools, Microsoft Personal Security Advisor (MPSA) and HFNetChk, to help both home users and businesses simplify security administration on Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 systems. These tools were designed together with Shavlik Technologies (a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner).
Microsoft Personal Security Advisor (MPSA) is an online tool for home and small business users that will scan your system and build a customized report on items such as: missing security patches, weak passwords, Internet Explorer and Outlook Express security settings, and Office macro protection settings.
To begin scanning your system, go to the MPSA Web site, and press the Scan Now button.
HFNetChk is a command-line tool that administrators can use to centrally assess a computer or group of computers for the presence or absence of security patches.
The tool can be used to assess patch status for the Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 operating systems, as well as hotfixes for Internet Information Server 4.0 (IIS), Internet Information Services 5.0 (IIS), SQL Server 7.0, and SQL Server 2000 (including Microsoft Data Engine [MSDE]), and Internet Explorer 5.01 or later.
You can download this (command line) tool from Microsoft [204KB].
Information on how to run this tool can be found in this Microsoft Knowledge Base article, while the FAQ is located in MSKB article Q305385.
To assist with hotfix installation without requiring multiple reboots, you can use the Qchain.exe [57KB] tool. You can use this tool to install multiple hotfixes at one time with only one reboot. For additional information about Qchain.exe, check Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q296861.
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Microsoft Security
Outlook View Control Exposes Unsafe Functionality
Microsoft has released patches, for security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Outlook which where first discovered on July 12. The vulnerability could run code of an attacker's choice via either web page or HTML e-mail.
Affected Software Versions
- Microsoft Outlook 98, Outlook 2000, Outlook 2002
More...
NNTP Service in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Contains Memory Leak
Microsoft has released a patch for a security vulnerability in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000. The NNTP (Network News Transport Protocol) service contains a memory leak, which could be used to deplete a servers memory.
Affected Software Versions
- Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
- Microsoft Windows 2000
More...
Recent Support BBS Postings
Taskbar icons - Windows 98
Hard Drive Browsing slows down.. - Windows 98
Uninstall MSN Messenger - Windows Me
Collapsing programs menus - Windows 2000
OE6 Attachments grayed out - Internet Explorer
Can you identify this Pentium CPU? - Hardware
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Web Site Updates
These pages were added/updated in the past week. Information on previously updated/added pages is available on the What's New? page for 1 month.
InfiniSource.com
Updated: Freeware & Shareware Links Unlimited (S-Z)
Added: Protect ALL Your Equipment From Blackouts, Surges, Spikes or Lightning.
Added: Is It An Invasion Of Privacy If Your Office Computer Is Monitored?
Windows-Help.NET
Updated: Microsoft Security: Outlook View Control Exposes Unsafe Functionality
Added: Microsoft Offers Online Security Scanning Tool: Microsoft Personal Security Advisor (MPSA)
Added: Microsoft Releases Network Security Hotfix Checker Tool
Added: Microsoft Security: NNTP Service in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Contains Memory Leak
Windows 2000
Added: Microsoft Offers Online Security Scanning Tool: Microsoft Personal Security Advisor (MPSA)
Added: Microsoft Releases Network Security Hotfix Checker Tool
Added: Microsoft Security: NNTP Service in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Contains Memory Leak
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Highlights
Protect ALL Your Equipment From Blackouts, Surges, Spikes or Lightning.
A useful alternative to system resource robbing Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS).
Read Full Article
Is It An Invasion Of Privacy If Your Office Computer Is Monitored?
What happens when judges, themselves, say its an invasion of privacy and disable the surveillance software on their own office computers?
Read Full Article
New E-mail lists
We have added a few new topics to our (commercial) e-mail lists, you may subscribe by placing a check mark in the lists you are interested in.
These lists are offered for rent via PostMasterDirect, and their income subsidizes our Web site and this free Newsletter. You have no fear that your e-mail address will be on SPAM lists, because PostMasterDirect is a leader in e-mail marketing. Any mail send to lists you subscribe to has to be approved by me, so I'll try to make sure that mailings to these lists stay "on topic".
How to Query the Microsoft Knowledge Base Using Keywords
This Microsoft Knowledge Base article describes how to more effectively query the Microsoft Knowledge Base by using keywords, including Microsoft product-specific keywords. By using keywords, you may be able to find the article or articles that may help to resolve your issue or question.
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18 Aug. 2001, Vol 4 No. 33
