An update has been released for Java 6 by Sun today. The newest update has 370 bug fixes which improves performance, fixes glitches and security flaws.

The offline installation of the Java Standard Edition Runtime Environment 6 Update 4 has a size of 15 MB while the online version package is a couple of megabytes smaller.

Those who want to upgrade do not need to delete the previous versions that are installed on their computers since if they are using 5.0 Update 6 or a later version, then all applets be executed using the latest version of Java environment.

The Register has the links on where to download the offline version and a link to the explanation on which bugs have been fixed.

Source: The Register

The final version of the first service pack for Windows Vista may be released in February 15 according to various sources. Microsoft declined a comment about the date and reiterated that the service pack will be released sometime in the first quarter of this year.

“That date is as good as any other. For all we know, they could make it available tomorrow,” said Micheal Cherry who is working for Directions on Microsoft as an analyst.

He added that, “Hopefully, they would keep the release of monthly patches separate from the release of a service pack.” He is referring to the next Patch Tuesday date of February 12.

Source: PC World

There are two software security suites I really dislike - one of them is Norton Internet Security and the other is McAfee Internet Security. Why? Because they are bloated applictions that make most computers run poorly once installed. Often they have been the cause of the problems I had to fix onsite.

A big problem I frequently come across with Norton and McAfee is that both of these products sink their hooks so deeply into a system and once the appliction becomes corrupted it can cause serious stability problems - often to the point where you cannot boot into Windows. To make matters worse, neither product can be uninstalled from Safe Mode easily which is obviously a problem.

Enter the McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool. This tool will remove the following McAfree Products:
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Criminal hackers are now actively targeting those who use a Mac machine according to the 2008 Security Threat Report Sophos.

“Cyber-criminals have begun to notice consumers’ growing attraction to Apple Macs during the past year. This trend has led to a number of viruses and malware created by hackers for the purpose of attacking consumers who purchase Mac computers. Mac users need to be aware that, while the threats that exist right now are few in number, they still need to take adequate measures to protect themselves,” said Mike Haro who is a security analyst at Sophos.

Various versions of the OSX/RSPlug Trojan were placed on websites to exploit Mac computers for phishing and identity theft purposes since two months ago.

Source: Vnunet

There is a new security vulnerability on the Skype application for Windows opeating systems according to heise-security.co.uk.

If an attacker succesfully exploit the hole, he or she will have complete control of the PC that he or she attacked. The attacker injects a code into a Dailymotion or Metacafe partner page to start his or her attack.

Skype has not released a fix for this issue so they have disabled a feature which lets a user attach a video to a message. Versions 3.5.x and 3.6x are affected. Metcafe videos are still available through Skype but Dailymotion video can no longer be accessed by Skype users.

Source: Heise Security

Apple Mac Pros now support the 64-bit version of Windows according to a post at macrumors.com.

This is noted in the installation instructions of the Mac Pros which says:

Important: You must use a single full-install Windows installation disc (Service Pack 2 is required for Windows XP installations). Do not use an upgrade version of Windows and do not install an earlier version of Windows XP and attempt to update it later to SP2 or later. Use only 32-bit versions of Windows. If you have a Mac Pro introduced in late 2007 or later, you can use a 64-bit version of Windows Vista.

However, Apple has not mentioned that these drivers will be available on the next OS X update which is 10.5.2.

Source: Mac Rumors

Have you started a business and had a few let downs on the way? Don’t let them get to you because I am going let you in on a little secret - Success is a series of failures.

The man who invented the light bulb “Thomas Edison” once said:
“I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.” That was quoted in 1921 and it is still good advice today.

If you have had a few of your own failures, here are 4 tips to get you on the right track again.
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The next Windows operating system will be released next year according to recent reports from different websites which cites TGDaily as the source of the news.

The OS may be released as early as fall of next year which is months ahead of the previous target date of the year 2010.

The first Milestone release of the OS has been given to testers and a second one may be released within four months. The third and maybe the last milestone release will be released a few months after the second release. The milestone releases must be finished before Microsoft makes a beta version of the OS.

Source: Electronista

A new attack code has been released by security researchers to security professionals.

The code crashes a user’s computer but it does not run any malicious software. However, a more dangerous version of the code may be released according to the article at PC World.

In order for this code to work, an attacker would have to send a packet to a user’s machine. That packet would allow the attacker to run an unauthorized code on the user’s PC.

This was patched by Microsoft last week in the MS08-001 update but enterprise users take time to test their computers when Microsoft releases these type of patches.

Source: PC World

A security vulnerability has been discovered for many Excel versions and Microsoft issued an advisory about it. The Windows versions that are affected are Excel Viewer 2003, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, and Excel 2003 with SP2. The Excel 2004 version for Mac is also affected.

Microsoft has not given a comment when they will release a patch or whether they are planning to fix it at all.

The malicious excel files can be downloaded from e-mail attachments and websites.

Microsoft said that users can protect themselves by scanning an Excel file, using an anti-virus software, before they open it.

Source: Techshout