Ryan Naraine

Exactly a week after Microsoft announced a SSL vulnerability affecting key Windows products, malicious hackers unveiled exploits that could lead to widespread denial-of-service attacks . The exploit code, described in the underground as the “SSL Bomb,” could allow specially crafted SSL packets to force the Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems to block SSL […]

Moving to position the ICQ instant messaging client as a plug-and-play platform for a range of interactive features, America Online’s ICQ division on Tuesday announced the availability of application programming interface (API) for developers and a new ICQ Xtraz platform to easily integrate third party applications. With the launch of ICQ 4.0, the company is […]

Graphics design software specialist Macromedia has rolled out a fix for a denial-of-service vulnerability found in its ColdFusion MX 6.1 product suite. The San Francisco-based firm said the flaw affected all editions of ColdFusion MX 6.1 and all versions of ColdFusion MX 6.1 J2EE. In an advisory, Macromedia tagged the issue as “important” and recommended […]

America Online on Monday announced a deal with WeatherBug to integrate weather content on its AIM instant messaging platform and outlined plans to expand the capabilities of the popular chat application. WeatherBug, a brand of AWS Convergence Technologies, will be available as an optional download with AIM 5.5 and can be used to shuttle weather-related […]

Security researchers are warning of a buffer overflow security flaw in the Linux kernel that can be exploited to lead to privilege escalation attacks. According to an advisory issued by iDEFENSE, the vulnerabilities affect Linux Kernel 2.6.x; Linux Kernel 2.5.x and Linux Kernel 2.4.x. “Successful exploitation may allow arbitrary code execution with root or kernel […]

RealNetworks has made a dramatic overture to rival Apple Computer to form a “tactical alliance” in the digital music space, according to a report in the New York Times. The newspaper said the direct appeal was made by RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser in an April 9 e-mail correspondence to Apple chairman Steve Jobs where the […]

Microsoft’s eagerly anticipated Windows XP upgrade promises major security enhancements for customers but the company has already warned that Service Pack 2 (SP2) will break and disrupt existing applications. In this interview with internetnews.com, product manager in the Microsoft Developer Group Tony Goodhew discusses the thinking behind the security enhancements, the code changes that need […]

Microsoft’s attempts to put a human face on its corporate image took a small step forward with the unveiling of Channel 9, a Web site promoting dialogue between software evangelists and users. But problems with streaming video formats and Web browser incompatibility have left many users unable to access the site’s hybrid features. Channel 9, […]

A Microsoft developer’s vow to promote “change from within” has led to the software giant’s unprecedented release of an XML toolset to the open-source developer community. Rob Mensching, a Redmond employee who works on the Windows Installer XML (WiX) toolset in his free time, has convinced Microsoft to release the toolset and all of its […]

To support enterprises who struggle to comply with the maze of government regulations for record-keeping, IBM Monday rolled out three new software products to help track and manage internal e-mails and instant messaging conversations. IBM Content Management for Message Monitoring and Retention; IBM Lotus Workplace for Business Controls and Reporting and the IBM Tivoli Security […]

Looking to expand the premium content offerings in its JupiterImages division, Jupitermedia Corp. , the parent company of this publication, announced on Friday a $20.85 million cash deal to acquire New Jersey-based stock photography firm Comstock Images. Jupitermedia said it would finance the purchase with a credit facility of up to $12 million obtained from […]

A high-powered cybersecurity task force says software vendors must adopt patch management principles to ensure security patches are well-tested, small, localized, reversible and easy to install. The National Cyber Security Partnership (NCSP), a public-private task force that includes participation from the Business Software Alliance (BSA), issued its recommendations in a 123-page report (PDF file) aimed […]