Microsoft is warning of a new attack targeting PowerPoint…..

Just days after patching four bugs in PowerPoint, Microsoft is warning of a new attack targeting its presentation software. “We’ve been made aware of proof of concept code published publicly affecting Microsoft Office 2003 PowerPoint,” wrote Microsoft Security Program Manager Alexandra Huft in a Thursday blog posting. “The reported proof of concept may allow an attacker to execute code on a user’s machine by convincing them to open a specially-crafted PowerPoint file.”

I wanted to let you know that we’ve been made aware of proof of concept code published publicly affecting Microsoft Office 2003 PowerPoint. We are currently investigating this report. The reported proof of concept may allow an attacker to execute code on a user’s machine by convincing them to open a specially-crafted PowerPoint file. We are not aware of any attacks attempting to use the reported vulnerability or of customer impact at this time.

Its pretty obvious that something is wrong over at this Redmond giant. Ever since Bill Gates left, Microsoft has been having a lot of problems externally and internally. And now one of their biggest money spinner in Germany is losing their CEO, Jürgen Gallmann. Tsk tsk, losing good staff is never a good thing.

According to German news agency DPA, Jürgen Gallmann, 44, will clear out his desk at the end of the year and remove his name from under the words CEO Germany from the door. Both he and Vole are keeping quiet about the exact reasons.

Jürgen Gallmann leaves Microsoft Germany source

You can now download the Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) Beta 2. It is a new standard for Windows backup and recovery.

Data Protection Manager (DPM) v2 is the next generation of Microsoft’s data protection platform - and the backup/restore tool that administrators of Microsoft networks have been asking for.

DPM “v2? sets a new standard for Windows backup and recovery — delivering continuous data protection for Microsoft application and file servers to a seamlessly integrated secondary disk and tape solution on the DPM server. DPM enables better backups as well as rapid and reliable recoveries for both the IT professional and the end-user. DPM significantly reduces the costs
and complexities associated with data protection through advanced technology for enterprises of all sizes.

Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager Beta 2 source

Tesco wants to sell you a cabbage and a set of software before you checkout. That’s their gimmick to get more money into their coffers.

Andrew Simms, policy director at the New Economics Foundation, has likened the company to “some massive invasive predator that kills off other species”, namely independent shops, well established petrol stations and insurance companies. The jolly blue,white and red leviathan of a company has now revealed plans to take on Wal-Mart across the Atlantic in the U.S and rival Microsoft in a war on software. Will we be seeing Tesco Value Software in the not too distant future? Is Sir Terry Leahy a mastermind at the game of Monopoly? Are Tesco becoming a soul-less money making conglomerate that is rapidly losing it’s identity? The answer to all the above is probably yes.

BBC says : Tesco said its own-brand software range, which will also include a CD/DVD burning tool, would be available in 100 of its stores from later in October.