Month: May 2014

Microsoft patches Internet Explorer bug (even for Windows XP)

Dan Uff May 6, 2014 0

Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) was racing to issue a fix for the Internet Explorer browser bug that security researchers discovered this past weekend. Starting Thursday, PC users will get an automatic update for Windows to keep hackers from hijacking machines.

The bug, which affects many version of the browser, allows hackers to take total control of your computer if they manage to slip malware into your PC. That means you'd have to click on a bad link and visit an infected site with the Internet Explorer browser to get it.

There were concerns that many PC users would be left exposed to hackers, because Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP. But the company on Thursday reconsidered and issued a fix for XP users too.

"I think this underscores the importance of this patch," said Trey Ford, a strategist with security firm Rapid7.

Source: CNN/Money, Microsoft

CNN/Money: Bill Gates no longer Microsoft's biggest shareholder

Dan Uff May 6, 2014 0

In the past two days, Gates has sold nearly 8 million shares of Microsoft (MSFT,Fortune 500), bringing down his total to roughly 330 million.

[caption id="attachment_8363" align="alignright" width="200"] Photo: Getty Images[/caption]

That puts him behind Microsoft's former CEO Steve Ballmer who owns 333 million shares.

Ballmer, who was Microsoft's CEO until earlier this year, was one of Gates' first hires.

It's a passing of the torch for Gates who has always been the largest single owner of his company's stock. Gates now spends his time and personal fortune helping run the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation.

The foundation has spent $28.3 billion fighting hunger and poverty since its inception back in 1997.

Via: CNN/Money

Security

E-Mail attachment issue in iOS 7.1.1 – Apple is aware, promises a fix

Dan Uff May 6, 2014 0

If you send email attachments on your iOS device, please be aware that they are not being encrypted before being sent. This bug was found by Security researcher Andreas Kurtz. An error that he found and he had revealed last month in a security bulletin to all corporations and businesses.

Apple is aware of the problem and is working on a fix. In the meantime, it is recommended that you send attachments with care.

 Apple, Inc.

EXCLUSIVE: iTunes Match having issues for days

Dan Uff May 2, 2014 0

An issue with iTunes Match seems to have cropped up in the last few days, according to this thread posted on Apple's Discussion boards.

The issued stems from when the user goes to use the service. The service gets "stuck" during the normal gathering process. This problem seemed to have started back in April and hasn't let up since.

The issue is affecting both Macs and PCs.

We will continue to monitor the situation (as I need to update some stuff) and issue updates as necessary.