Gemini » Software

Microsoft: Rootkit may case BSOD

Gemini — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:47:47 +0000

Redmond (ip-192.com): A hard-to-detect rootkit may be causing Windows XP systems to crash after applying patch MS10-015, according to Microsoft. As reported by ip-192.com (our stories are here and here), Windows users began flooding Windows support forums almost immediately after installing Microsoft's February security update, saying that their computers had been rendered unusable with a blue-screen-of-death (BSOD) error. Microsoft now says that malicious software may be to blame.

"In our continuing investigation in to the restart issues related to MS10-015 that a limited number of customers are experiencing, we have determined that malware on the system can cause the behavior," said Microsoft spokesman Jerry Bryant on The Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC). “We are not yet ruling out other potential causes at this time and are still investigating.”

Microsoft support engineers have actually driven to customer locations and picked up affected systems to analyze the data contained in crash files, according to Bryant.

Meanwhile, security company Kaspersky Lab has released a standalone utility to remove rootkit.win32.tdss. The website states that for Windows operating systems, the term rootkit stands for a program that infiltrates the system and hooks system functions (Windows API). By hooking and modifying low-level API functions, such malware can effectively hide its presence in a system. Moreover, rootkits as a rule are able to conceal in the system any processes, folders and files on a disk as well as registry keys described in its configuration. Many rootkits install own drivers and services (hidden as well) into the system.

The utility, tdsskiller.exe, can be found here, together with instructions on how to disinfect an infected system. The utility will only clean 32-bit systems.

1 Million Xbox Live Players Banned

Daniel — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:52:41 +0000

Redmond (ip-192.com): Microsoft has disconnected up to 1 Million Xbox Live gamers, claiming they have modified their consoles to play pirated games, according to a press release. "All consumers should know that piracy is illegal and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs violates the Xbox Live terms of use, will void their warranty, and result in a ban from Xbox Live," Microsoft said in a statement. "The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them.”

Xbox 360 consoles are equipped with Digital Rights Management technologies designed to detect pirated software, but some players have successfully modified their machines to circumvent DRM protections. The suspension prevents users playing pirated discs from using any of the Xbox 360's online features. However, they are still able to play all types of games offline.

While Microsoft did not disclose how they detect any manipulation on Xbox consoles, ZDNet reports that a non-standard hard drive is enough to get the console banned from Xbox Live.

The Xbox Live gaming service currently counts more than 20 million members, according to Microsoft. This means that Microsoft has banned up to 5 percent of Xbox Live subscribers permanently from using the service.

Oracle to buy GoldenGate Software

Eve — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:34:45 +0000

Oracle plans to buy privately held GoldenGate Software in an effort to beef up its portfolio of technology that helps clients to manipulate information in databases, the world’s third largest software maker announced today.

Oracle did not disclose any financial terms of the transaction. GoldenGate Software offers software that helps businesses analyze large quantities of information in databases and programs that can, for example, help banks detect fraudulent activities.

Over the past 5 years, Oracle has spent more than $34 billion buying about three dozen companies, the bulk of them privately held companies.

The software giant is also getting ready to close its $7.4 billion acquisition of hardware maker Sun Microsystems, pending antitrust approval by regulators in the United States and Europe.