Desktop Management Depot

DNS flaw threatens Windows shops

dnielson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:54:29 +0000

July’s highly publicized DNS flaw had the security world scrambling as a team of researchers worked to protect Windows shops against a cache poisoning vulnerability. In this month’s What’s Hot in Windows Security podcast, learn more about the origin of the DNS flaw, how you can defend your Windows network against related exploits and where we stand now in terms of correcting the flaw.

Highlights:

(0:47) Windows DNS cache poisoning attack plagues Windows shops

(2:13) Early information leak increases security risks

(3:04) How close are we to a resolution?

(3:37) How can you protect yourself against this attack?

(4:57) What level of damage can this flaw cause?

Access control and endpoint security in Windows networks

dnielson — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:02:25 +0000

Have you experienced an issue with access control in your Windows network? Have you ever worried about business-critical data stored on a laptop computer? How about threats posed by remote users? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this month’s ITKE roundup podcast could help you improve security in your Windows IT shop.

Highlights:

(0:27) The latest security news from the world of Windows

(2:17) How can I prevent malware infections in my Windows environment?

(3:37) How can I prevent users from accessing data on network endpoints?

(4:37) How can I defend Windows network against threats posed by remote users?

NAP and encryption can improve Vista security

dnielson — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:11:21 +0000

In this podcast, Brien Posey discusses how to live with Windows Vista, including why admins should use NAP in Vista, why they should use a Windows Server 2008 controller and how encryption in Vista can go wrong.

Highlights:

(0:42) How can NAP aid Windows security?

(1:33) Why should admins who run Vista use a Windows Server 2008 domain controller?

(2:12) How do you set up a Windows Server 2008 domain controller in Vista?

(2:30) Is there a downside to encryption in Vista?

(2:56) Data loss horror stories

Configure user rights in Windows systems

dnielson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:27:59 +0000

If you look at 100 different Windows shops, chances are you’ll see 100 different configurations with 100 sets of unique problems. Because of this, many admins are forced to configure Windows user rights in their own special way to get their desired user permission settings. In this podcast, learn about some user rights configuration issues that your peers have experienced in their organizations.

Highlights:

(0:53) Can I change my domain policy to add new machines with different access permissions?

(1:51) Why can users who are not admins modify network files?

(2:47) How can I force a privilege refresh in Windows Vista?

Antivirus incompatibilities in Windows XP SP 3

dnielson — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:27:07 +0000

This month, security expert Kevin Beaver joins us to share his experiences with Windows Vista and XP SP3. Hear about what could go wrong with Vista and XP SP3, including antivirus incompatibilities. Also, beware of what kinds of common security issues could be going unchecked in your Windows network. Are you up to date with Windows patches? Is your Windows shop configured properly? Are your Windows servers secure? Find out in the June installment of our “What’s hot in Windows security” podcast series.

Highlights:

(0:41) The latest info on Windows XP SP3 and why you should keep up with security testing

(4:30) Security demons that might be in your organization

(7:11) Windows 7’s potential impact on the security landscape

XP SP 3 delayed again…are XP users at risk?

dnielson — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:46:18 +0000

The May 2008 installment of our “What’s hot in Windows security” podcast series covers the latest delay for Windows XP SP3, with security expert Kevin Beaver. Learn about what caused this delay, what the XP security landscape will look like once SP 3 is finally released, as well as the latest on Vista implementation within enterprises and Microsoft bugs.

Highlights:

(0:36) Windows XP SP 3 delayed…again

(1:50) The post XP SP 3 security landscape

(3:20) The state of Windows Vista implementation among enterprises

(4:57) Microsoft mislabels Skype as malware

(6:04) A bug in Microsoft can be exploited in Web apps that run IIS and SQL Server

(7:17) The seriousness of the IIS and SQL Server bug

How to manage user rights, patches and Group Policy

dnielson — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:11:39 +0000

In this installment of our Ask the Security Expert Roundup podcast series, we explain how you can learn to manage user rights, Windows patches and Group Policy in Windows by visiting our IT Knowledge Exchange, a forum driven by the security pro for the security pro.

Highlights:

(0:57) How do I know if my Windows patches have been implemented?

(2:17) How can I allow folder access but prevent folder deletion?

(4:35) What settings should I use to deny accidental file deletion in a shared folder?

(6:03) How can I restrict software installation with Group Policy?

Critical patches for IE and Office released

dnielson — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:50:01 +0000

The April 2008 install of our “What’s hot in Windows security” podcast focuses on this month’s Microsoft patch release, the potential for new anti-rootkit technology and Windows Vista. Security expert Brien Posey discusses this month’s most critical security vulnerabilities, March’s rare out-of-cycle security patch and the incompatibilities of Vista SP1.

Highlights:

(0:46) Microsoft released five critical patches in April

(2:41) March’s out of cycle set of patches

(4:03) Is more Microsoft anti-rootkit technology coming soon?

(5:20) Continuing incompatibility woes of Windows Vista

New service packs for Windows Vista and XP

dnielson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:54:58 +0000

In the March 2008 installment of our “What’s hot in Windows security” podcast, Kevin Beaver joins us to share his thoughts on the latest service pack news for Windows operating systems, specifically Vista SP1 and XP SP3. What kind of effect will Vista SP1 have on implementation? What should users expect to see in XP SP3? What will happen to XP SP3 once XP is removed from shelves this summer? Also, find out what Windows users can expect to see at the annual RSA conference in San Francisco this April.

Highlights:

(0:44) What should Windows users get out of RSA in San Francisco this April?

(2:31) The Vista SP1 blacklist

(3:31) Will SP1 blacklist hurt Vista implementation?

(4:06) Windows XP SP3 features

(5:04) When should we see a final version of XP SP3?

(5:22) Will the end of XP’s retail life cycle hurt SP3 implementation?

Group Policy Object security in Windows

dnielson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:26:33 +0000

Learn about Group Policy Object (GPO) security in this month’s “Ask the Security Expert” roundup. We discuss how to use GPOs to manage Windows user rights, making changes at the Organizational Unit (OU) level and how a GPO could hinder VPN security testing.

Highlights:

(1:07) Using GPOs to manage Windows user rights

(2:22) How to make changes at the Organizational Unit (OU) level

(3:17) Granting access to specific users with Group Policy

(5:15) Is a GPO blocking my VPN security scan?