Germany Recommends it’s Citizens Flush Internet Explorer Down the Toilet

Due to the recent attacks on Google.cn, which exploited flaws in  Internet Explorer, Germany has recommended all of its citizens abandon Internet Explorer for any other browser. The German government specifically cited Internet Explorer 8,7 and 6, but that does not mean you should start using IE 5. Perhaps Germany should go a step

further and ban Internet Explorer completely.

Bill Would Give President Obama the Power to “Turn Off The Internet” During a Cyber Emergency

A revised version of a bill first introduced this spring would give the president the power to disconnect private sector computers (or servers) if there is a “Cyber Emergency” This basically means if the bill is passed the president can shut down any website based in the United States.

The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.

Section 201 of this bill also suggests that government will have the power to regulate critical private networks.

Probably the most controversial language begins in Section 201, which permits the president to "direct the national response to the cyber threat" if necessary for "the national defence and security." The White House is supposed to engage in "periodic mapping" of private networks deemed to be critical, and those companies "shall share" requested information with the federal government.

There has been lots of debate over this bill. Some are calling the bill “vague” and others say it is essential to protecting the nations digital infrastructure. What do you think of this bill? Post you comments below.

Windows Update Quietly Installs Firefox Extension

A routine update for millions of Windows based PC’s has quietly installed a .Net Framework Ad-On for Firefox.

Earlier this year, Microsoft shipped a bundle of updates known as a "service pack" for a programming platform called the Microsoft .NET Framework, which Microsoft and plenty of third-party developers use to run a variety of interactive programs on Windows.

The .Net update, like other updates, where pushed out via. Windows Update. A number of readers had never heard of this platform before Windows Update started offering the service pack for it, and many of you wanted to know whether it was okay to go ahead and install this thing.

The .Net update in the Firefox Add-Ons window has a greyed out uninstall button, therefore you may not uninstall it. The reason this is such major news is because this makes Firefox less secure, by allowing websites to install software without permission. Removal instructions are here.

United States Army Deploying Windows Vista on 400,000 PC’s

The United States Military is currently in the process of upgrading  hundred of thousands of their PC’s to the latest version of Windows, Windows Vista.

About 13% or 440,000 computers are in the process of upgrading to Windows Vista. The switch from Windows XP includes desktop computers on classified and unclassified networks.

The migration to Windows Vista in happening while they are upgrading from Office 20030 to Office 2007. The migration to Office 2007 started before the migration to Windows Vista. Currently half the Army’s PC’s have Office 2007.

The Army has been testing Vista since its release in late 2006 and expects that users comfortable with XP and Office 2003 will need time to adjust to the new "look and feel" of the upgrades.

“During this process, we are offering several in-house training sessions, helpful quick-tip handouts, and free Army online training,"Sharon Reed, chief of IT at the Soldier Support Institute

Vista has not been a huge success for Microsoft like Windows XP was. Reviews found that the Operating System was buggy and that applications and drivers did not work.

Given the Army bureaucracy and testing requirements, it's unlikely it would move to Windows 7 anytime soon, despite it's being rated as a better OS in terms of usability. Nevertheless, in response to the Army migration, Microsoft said in an e-mailed statement Friday that the switch from Vista to Windows 7 would not present the same challenges as moving from XP to Vista.