Fix Windows Vista Errors

Well according to recent data, Windows Vista is more secure than Windows XP and according to Microsoft statistics, Vista is actually more resilient to exploits than Windows XP.

Windows XP also has many more vulnerabilities within its own code. Almost half of the vulnerabilities attacked in XP were due to code within the OS itself. Whereas Vista code only accounted for 6% of the vulnerabilities attacked, the rest of the attacks were on third party software exploits.

So one good reason to upgrade to Vista is for clearly increased security. Microsoft has worked hard to release a secure OS and it looks like they have met those goals so far. Microsoft is also improving their own Malware removal tools, specifically the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT), which is currently a free download.

However, there are currently less users on Vista, so as it gains momentum, we can expect increased attacks and vulnerabilities. Will Vista security hold up in the future? Time will tell. But for now, it is a safe bet.

You can always further increase security of both Vista and XP by keeping automatic updates turned on, using anti-spyware/virus software and regularly cleaning the registry. Try the free registry cleaner below to fix errors and improve your PC performance.

Registry Cleaner Download - Fix errors and improve performance for Vista and XP

According to the latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report malware attacks on PC’s worldwide are becomming fewer. Could this be an indication that modern security measures are starting to beat the hackers?

“The total number of unique vulnerability disclosures across the industry again decreased during the first half of 2008, down 4% from the second half of 2007 and down 19% from the first half of 2007.

In contrast to the decrease in total disclosures, vulnerabilities rated as High severity increased 13% with respect to the second half of 2007, with roughly 48% of all vulnerabilities receiving a rating of High severity. This is still a 28% decline from the first half of 2007.” Microsoft said.

You can read more on the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report here or you can click the link below to run anti-malware product designed to be used with Windows Vista.

Run a Windows Vista anti-malware scan

Microsoft today released the remaining 31 language editions of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) to Windows Update.

Microsoft released SP1 last month in English, Spanish, German, French and Japanese. Now it’s available in lots more languages. Users can manually install SP1 (x86 and x64) versions of SP1 either manually via Windows Update or by downloading the standalone installer from the Microsoft Download Center.

On top of English, Spanish, German, French, and Japanese, users can now install Vista SP1 in 31 additional languages: Danish, Finnish, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Swedish, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (Hong Kong S.A.R.), Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Greek, Estonian, Hebrew, Croatian, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Serbian (Latin), Thai, Turkish, and Ukrainian.

The company also plans to release Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP in two waves defined by language support, according to a report last month. That account listed Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish versions as in the first wave.

Microsoft has stated that they have fixed a major bug in Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The Vista SP1 bug caused computers to go into a never-ending reboot cycle.

The fix applies to Microsoft’s Servicing Stack Update for Vista SP1. Users need to install the update before downloading SP1. “This fixes an issue that a small number of customers experienced when we first issued the SSU in February,” said a Microsoft spokesman.

An update for the SSU will stop this annoying little behavior from happening for Vista customers, to allow them to proceed with the Vista SP1 installation via Windows Update. Vista users who opt for the standalone download of Vista SP1 will avoid the whole SSU prerequisite check entirely.

In the first month following the release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008, Microsoft is already serving up a number of fixes for both operating systems, as it has issued eight security bulletins covering a total of 10 vulnerabilities.

The critical fixes remediated flaws in Microsoft Office, Windows and Internet Explorer (IE) that could allow remote attackers to install malicious code on a user’s machine.

Regarding the Windows desktop and server platforms, the critical vulnerability involving GDI — MS08-021 — will affect Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Professional x64 SP2, Windows Server 2003 SP1 and 2 plus the x64-bit edition, Vista and Vista SP1, plus Windows Server 2008.

Alongside the security related patches, Microsoft also released Service Pack 1 for the US and UK versions of Office Accounting 2008, and updates for Microsoft Office Genuine Advantage Notifications, the Outlook 2003 and 2007 junk email filters, Office 2007 (to fix an issue that could arise when installing SP1), and Windows Live Writer.

Microsoft has reversed field and opened public access to the latest beta build of Vista Service Pack 1. Users can now download Vista SP1 RC Refresh from Microsoft’s Web site. Users can install the beta via Windows Update, but Microsoft is providing a list of procedures users should follow to avoid problems.

While the company released the tweak on January 9, it originally restricted the download to approximately 15,000 steely-nerved beta testers. Two days later, the company was feeling more adventurous. Microsoft posted on Friday the latest code for open public consumption on its website along with a set of instructions for installing the update.

The refresh requires the same time-consuming, multiple-reboot process used by Vista SP1 RC in December. Also, users who have uninstalled that version must wait an hour before beginning the laborious update. “The installer service needs to clean up and complete the uninstall prior to installing the RC,” said instructions posted on the Web. “Failing to do this can result in installation errors when installing the RC version.”

Refresh is time-limited, with the deadline for uninstall being June 30, 2008. According to Foley, Microsoft still aims to have the official version of SP1 available within the first quarter of 2008.

On its Web site, Microsoft warned that it “does not recommend installing this software on primary or mission-critical systems.”

Click here to access the SP1 RC Refresh

Microsoft plans to issue two security updates for its Windows operating system products next Tuesday as part of its regular software patch cycle.

The bulletin affects a variety of operating system versions, including Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 service packs 1 and 2, Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, according to the company’s advance notification.

To be issued on January 8, the patches will address a remote code execution vulnerability and a local privilege escalation vulnerability.

The former is rated ‘critical’ on Vista and XP, ‘important’ on Windows Server 2003, and ‘moderate’ on Windows 2000.

Microsoft will also release five, non-security, high-priority updates on Microsoft Update and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), as well as two non-security, high-priority updates on Windows Update and WSUS. More information on the non-security updates will be available on Tuesday.