Microsoft Serves the Official Version of the Hack Used to Access Windows Vista SP1
Do you remember a time when Windows Vista SP1 was not available as a public download? In the pre-Release Candidate Stages of Vista SP1, Microsoft restricted the access to the service pack only to selected testers.
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12.12.2007 Two Vista Registry Hacks
Thanks to rzalonis for this post in our forum. Here are two easy registry hacks for minor performance gains.
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17.4.2007 No More Registry from Vista SP1 and XP SP3 to Windows 7?
Windows 7 is the next iteration of the Windows operating system that will succeed Windows Vista. Following the availability of the latest Windows Client, Windows Vienna was the codename for the next version of Windows.
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16.1.2008 Microsoft Decries Vista PatchGuard Hack
Microsoft officials say they are unhappy that security software maker Authentium has decided to bypass the controversial PatchGuard kernel protection feature in its next-generation Vista operating system, and said that the tactic could lead to eventual problems for users of the company's software.
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27.10.2006 More information on the Vista SP1 activation hack
My post on the Vista SP1 activation hack has generated a lot of feedback (especially in the form of questions) from both individuals and other media outlets.
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12.2.2008 Microsoft could be teaching police to hack Windows Vista
Microsoft may begin training the police in ways to break the encryption built into its forthcoming client PC operating system Vista.
The news was revealed in a parliamentary committee session, where Professor Ross Anderson of Cambridge University warned MPs that if such a move was being considered then the police should start learning sooner rather than later.
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19.2.2006 Hack claims Vista to ship on December 5th
Veteran Zdnet hack and exiled Evertonian Colin Barker reports that Microsoft has lined up a surprise 5 December "general release date" for the consumer version of Windows Vista.
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14.10.2006 Researcher Reveals 2-Step Vista UAC Hack
A Web application developer has uncovered a two-step process (PDF) for exploiting Windows Vista's User Account Control, essentially by having a Trojan piggyback on what could be a legitimate download.
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17.5.2007 Microsoft Exec Rages Against Vista Upgrade Hack
Sarcasm can be a powerful tool, and a Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) executive recently wielded it against industry sources who claim that a loophole exists in one of the software giant's licensing policies.
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15.4.2008 New Vista OEM Activation Hack - Vista Boot by gkend
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this article on his blog and to our forum members to clecha, Nighthief and fitterphil120 for most of the findings. One again the “Chinese” come up with a new method to trick out the Vista Activation. We have seen Softmode and VistaLoader, however “ Vista Boot by gkend” does promise even more.
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21.5.2007 Hack Available to Download the Official Vista SP1 Straight from Microsoft
That's right! There is a hack available that will permit you to access, download and install the official release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 straight from Microsoft.
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17.10.2007 One More Reason to Upgrade to Vista: 6-Minute XP Hack Is Frightening!
Six minutes... that is all it took to hack Windows XP, and to completely take over the operating system. Nick McGrath, Director of Platform Strategy at Microsoft U.K., witnessing the XP hack first hand, described the effortless attack and compromising of the platform as "enlightening and frightening.
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13.11.2007 Anti-Hack Update For Windows Vista Rev from Microsoft
The release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 not only heralded a long-awaited update of the operating system, it also meant the end of two common Windows Vista anti-activation exploits - the Grace Timer exploit and the Paradox OEM BIOS activation crack.
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12.5.2008 Disable and Remove Half-Open TCP Connections Limit (to Unlimited) in Windows 7 and Vista SP2 with EnableConnectionRateLimitin Registry Key
Officially, the incomplete half-open outbound TCP connection attempts allowed at any one time is now unlimited by default in Windows Server 2008 and Vista SP2 (Service Pack 2), and Windows 7. Actually, the ability to limit or restrict number of half-open outgoing TCP connections system can create or establish is built into Windows Vista SP2 and Windows 7, however it’s disabled by default.
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8.6.2009 The Growth of the Windows Registry from 16-bit Windows to XP SP3 and Vista SP1
The Windows registry has been around since the 16-bit editions of Windows, and will continue to be a key component of the operating system even after Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Widows XP Service Pack 3, and even after Windows 7.
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18.1.2008 Vista SP1 Beta Build 6001.17036 v.652 Kills Hack to Download the Service Pack
Microsoft is making headway toward the final release of the first service pack for Windows Vista. A new beta build of the first refresh for the operating system is now live following the initial beta release.
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12.11.2007 Wise Registry Cleaner 1.9
Wise Registry Cleaner is one of the safest Registry cleaning tools available in the market today.
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8.4.2007 Wise Registry Cleaner 2.9.4
Wise Registry Cleaner is one of the safest Registry cleaning tools available in the market today.
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27.10.2007 Auslogics Registry Defrag 4.1.6.75
Auslogics Registry Defrag is an extremely useful program to keep your registry as compact as possible. As a result of keeping the registry defragmented and as small as possible, your computer performance will be much improved.
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18.1.2008 Want the Enterprise Version of Microsoft Windows Vista?
If so, you'll have to sign up for the Microsoft Software Assurance licensing program.
Businesses that want the Enterprise Edition of Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Vista operating system will have to sign up for its Software Assurance licensing program, the company announced today.
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Vista: Should I Install 64bit or 32bit Version?
Deciding which Vista version to install can be a difficult decision and can really limit what you can do with your system. Here are practical hints which should help a user decide which version to install. I decided to write this guide after installing 64-bit and 32-bit vista systems on several test boxes.
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12.1.2007 New Test Version of Windows Vista SP1 Available
But you won't get a download! Microsoft made a new test version of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 available. The Redmond company is in full throttle with the development of the first service pack for Vista as the refresh will be delivered for download to MSDN and TechNet subscribers by mid September.
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4.9.2007 Registry Tweaks to Enhance Your Windows XPerience
You may ask yourselves, why should this article be any different from all those tweaking tutorials around the Internet or, better yet, why should you read this when you can install a program that does it all for you?
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23.10.2008 Microsoft To Ship All OS Bits With Every Version Of Vista
Microsoft plans to market several versions of Vista but will distribute all of the OS bits with every product shipped so users can easily unlock and step up to more full-featured versions using electronic keys, sources said.
"No matter which edition you buy you get all the bits and a key to unlock it. Everyone will have all the bits," said one source familiar with Microsoft's plans. "Right now we maintain master images for each version of Windows XP and it's a lot of work. Now there's just one master image."
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9.1.2006 Microsoft: Vista is last version of Windows for 32-bit
It's the end of the line for 32-bit operating systems, Microsoft has proclaimed at its annual Windows Hardware Engineering conference.
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18.5.2007 Microsoft Says EU Version Of Windows Vista A Dud
Company officials say no PC manufacturers have chosen to license the special editions of its operating systems, which are available only in Europe, that lack the Windows Media Player media playback software.
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21.5.2007 Registry Tweaks to Enhance Your Windows XPerience VI
The moment has come once again to pimp your Windows XP with the skills of a power user and the tool that will always be at your disposal, Notepad. This article, along with the previous ones, will allow you to enhance and customize your operating system with advanced IT knowledge.
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29.11.2008 Windows Vista: Multi-Version Investments in Group Policy
As it turns out, the most "killer application" that utilized Active Directory back in 2000 was as the identity store for Exchange Server.
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15.12.2006 New Build of Vista SP1 Beta Available – Version 6.0.6001.16633
Microsoft is in full throttle with the evolution of Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Having released the first wave of pre-beta builds to a select pool of testers in mid July, the Redmond company is hard at work on the development of the operating system's first refresh.
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22.8.2007 Registry Tweaks to Enhance Your Windows XPerience - Part II
Allow me to start this article by recommending you read (if you haven’t already) the first part of this “tweaking series,” as it sets the ground rules that must be followed in order to get the job done right.
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24.10.2008Shipping Seven: The Registry
Could the registry be replaced? Sure, in software, pretty much any change is possible.
In practice though...If you were to
replace the registry, you would end up with something that pretty much looks exactly like the registry.
Go take a look at all the
programs on your hard disk that use the registry APIs in
in advapi32.dll...
winbeta.org - 16.01.2008
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 in the Wild
By now many of you may have seen reports of Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 in the wild. For a while, it was merely speculation (and several
good hints) towards Release Candidate Refresh 2 (RCR2) being the Release to Manufacturer (RTM) build. There has been a 'registry hack' going
around for a few days now to enable the option to download SP1 via Windows Update. This 'hack' is actually straight from Microsoft, which was
given to beta testers on Connect January 23rd.
According to Geeks Anatomy, Jeff DaVos (a Windows Vista SP1 beta program leader) has said
on the Connect news group that this is indeed the same release being used for RTM, and that “What you got is what we’re all running our
Vista machines here internally - we definitely RTM’d”.
Note: As I am sure Microsoft will say, using anything except for
files downloaded from Microsoft directly is a risk. If you plan to install SP1 via the registry changes, you are accepting this risk.
neowin.net - 08.02.2008
T-Mobile calls it a day for WAP
UK operator T-Mobile is disconnecting its CSD-WAP subscribers from July 9th, suggesting customers might like to switch to GPRS or something a little
more 21st century, and disposing of pay-per-minute internet access. Circuit Switched Data (CSD) was how mobile phones accessed data services in the
early days, or at least the technology that allowed them to try. Technically equivalent to a dial-up modem, it allows speeds of up to 9.6Kb/s, ideal
for downloading the latest news and reviews from the Mobile Internet.
The first WAP phones only had CSD, and it was the 9.6Kb/sec speed
that drove the creation of WAP itself: a desperate attempt to create a usable experience over such slow connections. But even the mono graphics and
text-menu content was painfully slow to use, and starkly contrasted with TV advertising in the UK, from Genie Internet, promoting the Mobile
Internet.
neowin.net - 11.06.2008
One year after Mac hack contest, Linux and Vista may be tested
One year after launching a controversial Macintosh hacking contest, the promoters of the CanSecWest security research conference are thinking about giving hackers another shot at cracking the Mac. Only this time,
they're looking to broaden the field.
Last year, show organizers invited attendees to hack into a Macintosh laptop with the
successful hacker winning the computer and a cash prize. But this year, they're talking about giving attendees three targets to choose from. "We're
thinking of having a contest where we have Vista and OS X and Linux ... and see which one goes first," said Dragos Ruiu, the principal organizer of
CanSecWest.
winbeta.org - 06.02.2008
Windows registry forensics guide: Investigating hacker activities
When analysing a compromised Windows system, investigators and system administrators can glean enormously useful information about attackers' actions
by looking through the Windows registry, a hierarchical database storing tens of thousands of settings on a modern Windows box. Whether an outside
attacker compromised the box, an inside employee engaged in nefarious activities, or malware inexplicably infected the machine, the Windows registry
contains wonderful gems of information for investigators. In this tip, we'll look at what information investigators can gather about user activity
via the registry. Next month, we'll focus on how investigators can pull useful registry information associated with the overall operating system.
winbeta.org - 06.06.2008
The registry edit that allows for Zune USB drive goodness
I was unaware that you couldn’t use the first-gen Zune as an external drive via USB without hacking it and now, apparently, the new firmware has
locked down that hack. I wouldn’t know, I hardly used my Zune since I didn’t have enough hard drive space on my MacBook to install
Windows, which I’ve done since my upgrade to Leopard and I finally got myself an external.
Oh, XP, how I’ve missed thee.
Nevertheless, the crafty folks over at the Zunerama forums have figured it all out and now you may resume using your Zune as a USB drive.
The usual disclaimers apply: backup your registry first; be very careful; and don’t blame us if things go wrong.
neowin.net - 15.11.2007
The Vista license śloopholeť that isnt
Ed Bott: Software licensing is often hard to understand. But that’s no excuse for so-called Windows experts to deliberately publish sensational
stories that turn the facts upside-down.
I’m talking about the fuss that Scott Dunn and Brian Livingston kicked up in
yesterday’s version of the Windows Secrets
newsletter, in which Dunn breathlessly proclaimed the existence of an “upgrade hack” in Windows Vista that “allows end users to
purchase the ‘upgrade edition’ and install it on any PC with no need to purchase the more expensive ‘full edition.’”
winbeta.org - 04.04.2008
Microsoft Silently Rolls Out Anti-Hack Update For Vista
The release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 not only heralded a long-awaited update of the operating system, it also meant the end of two common
Windows Vista anti-activation exploits - the Grace Timer exploit and the Paradox OEM BIOS activation crack. But those who think they can escape by not
updating to Service Pack 1 would be sadly mistaken.
That's because Microsoft has surreptitiously released an anti-hack detection update
via Windows Update. Those who chose to have Windows Vista install updates automatically would have this update installed and running by now. If you
chose to manually select updates to be installed, you should find this update listed.
neowin.net - 12.05.2008
VeriSign Raises .com, .net Registry Fees
VeriSign said late Thursday
that it would raise the
registry fees on both .com and
.net domains October 15 by as
much as 10 percent. The
increase is the first in eight
years, the company says...
betanews.com - 06.04.2007
Rumors: Microsoft to buy
Softricity
There are persistant rumors
all over the web since
yesterday, which say that
Microsoft would fear VMWare's
June products releases. To
compete with them, according
to those rumors, Microsoft is
in talks with Softricity, a
virtualization specialized
company, about buying
possibilities.
A source close to Microsoft
gave its comments about the
story: "It's coming down to
the final stretches,", but
also notes that it's not a
done deal yet, and that things
could still change.
If the rumor says
right, the deal would be
accomplished before the end of
the WinHEC 2006 (Windows
Hardware Engineers Conference)
event, which kicks in next
week.
The point
of buying Softricity is pretty
clear: Giving its Windows
Virtual Server products an
advantage over competing
companies' virtualization
products, along with adding
yet another feature to its
next flagship Operating System
Windows Vista, this feature
would allow application
developers to create a virtual
registry unique to their
application instead of using
the main system registry, and
to avoid DLL conflicts. These
new features in Windows Vista
would be another move in order
to get away from the
getting-old system registry
concept, a tendency that began
with the release of the
Microsoft .NET development
platform...
jcxp.net - 20.05.2006
8 top tips for IE 7
Don't like the way Internet Explorer 7 looks or works? Then change it. There are plenty of ways you can hack it, tweak it or just make it simpler to
use.
In this article, you'll find out how to speed up IE's display of Web sites, build your own Search Bar engine, get control
over how IE prints Web pages, navigate with several essential keyboard shortcuts and more. These tips work in both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Some
of the tips are quite simple to perform, while others are more advanced. Some even require Registry hacks.
winbeta.org - 17.12.2007
Windows Vista "NoDriveTypeAutoRun" Security Issue
CERT/CC has reported a security issue in Windows Vista, which can be exploited
by malicious people to bypass certain security settings.
AutoPlay is a feature designed to immediately begin reading from a drive
(e.g. run a setup file) when a media is inserted. According to Microsoft, this feature can be disabled for all drives by setting the value of the
"HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorerNoDriveTypeAutoRun" registry key to "0xFF". However, as Windows Vista
fails to properly handle the mentioned registry key, this may still result in programs being executed automatically when a media is inserted even with
the registry key value set to "0xFF".
Successful exploitation may result in execution of arbitrary code, but requires physical
access to a vulnerable system or that a user is tricked into inserting a malicious media (e.g. USB device).
winbeta.org - 22.03.2008
Those who can't hack (much), write
Since there have been computer intrusions, it seems, there have been crackers (that is, black-hat "hackers") wanting to write books detailing
What They Did. But often, the better the hack, the less the urge to write a book about it...
betanews.com - 14.10.2008
The ultimate tweaker's guide to Windows
But just because the operating system doesn't look and work the way you want doesn't mean that you're stuck with it as is. Windows is extremely
tweakable; if you dig a little, you'll find that you can customize it in almost any way you want.
To help you out, we've put
together this guide to tweaking Windows. It covers both XP and Vista and lets you do all kinds of things you might have thought were impossible --
replacing your boot screen, hacking the Control Panel, speeding up Windows Flip 3D and more. Look for the XP logo and Vista logo icons to see which
tips work in which OS.
The hacks vary in the expertise you'll need. In some cases you'll get down and dirty with the Registry,
so if you're not certain you know how to make a DWORD value, for example, read our story "The tweaker's guide to the
Windows Registry" first. (Be sure to read the instructions for backing up the
Registry before you attempt any Registry edits whatsoever.)
In other cases, you'll just have to dig into hidden corners of
menus and folders. But in all cases, you'll tell Windows exactly how you want it to behave ... and it will bow down to you, the master.
winbeta.org - 18.10.2007
TiVo Owners Uncover Storage Hack
Owners of Series3
high-definition TiVos will
soon be able to expand the
amount of programming they can
store on the digital video
recorder using an external
Serial ATA hard drive. While
the SATA ports have been on
the TiVo since the beginning,
a hack to activate them only
surfaced over the weekend...
betanews.com - 08.05.2007
Engineer Demonstrates iPhone Hack After Acknowledging Apple's Patch
Though security consultant
Charlie Miller went through
with a scheduled demonstration
late yesterday afternoon of
how he and his colleagues
discovered how to hack the
Apple iPhone to obtain
personally identifiable
information from it, he and
his company's Web site both
acknowledged that Apple had
patched the vulnerability...
betanews.com - 03.08.2007
What's In Your Registry?
One frequent TV commercial asks, "What's in your wallet?" I ask: What's in your computer that could expose sensitive data? Last week, I searched
my Windows Vista registry and turned up some disturbing stuff.
I found some surprising personal information there, such as name,
address and phone number; online account user names; software registration codes; and information identifying some online accounts. I wasn't looking
for any of this information. My search had initially been for something else. But the discovery of this information greatly disturbed me.
To be absolutely clear, none of this information was put there by Windows Vista. Third-party software or services were the culprits.
Andrew Jaquith, Yankee Group program manager for Security Research, said that the Windows registry makes "application developers' lives
easier. It provides a centralized API for reading and writing configuration settings. Instead of worrying about lots of
parsing and modifying .INI files scattered all over the hard disk, all you'd need to do is make a few Win32 API calls, and Windows takes care of
managing all of that information for you."
winbeta.org - 12.09.2007
Hack into a Windows PC; with Winlockpwn.
A security consultant, Adam Boileau, based in New Zealand has released a tool that can unlock Windows computers in seconds, via a Firewire port,
without the need for a password.
With this tool, called Winlockpwn, one could "unlock locked Windows machines or login without a password
... merely by plugging in your Firewire cable and running a command".
The hack, which affects Windows XP computers but has not yet been
tested with Windows Vista, was first demonstrated, at a security conference in Sydney in 2006, but Microsoft has yet to develop a fix. But now that a
couple of years have passed and the issue has not resolved, Boileau, decided to release the tool on his website.
neowin.net - 08.03.2008
New WMV PowerToy & registry key documentation
The birth of the VC-1 Encoder SDKs will reduce the need for these over the next few months, but Alex has updated his WMV PowerToy and also revised our
documentation about the registry key options.
Here's the new PowerToy. It mainly removes a few options that we determined weren't in the Format SDK 11 implementation, particularly
adaptive chroma search and default adaptive deadzone.
And here's the new, hopefully final registry key documentation,
reflecting the above and other useful tidbits we've learned.
winbeta.org - 09.09.2007
What does the Sarah Palin e-mail hack say about Yahoo?
There's an underlying issue in the debate raging about the reported hack into the Yahoo e-mail account of VP nominee Sarah Palin, and it actually has
very little to do with the governor: Is there an e-mail vulnerability we should know about?..
betanews.com - 18.09.2008
