Office 2003 Tool: Add a Bilingual Translation Dictionary Service to the Microsoft Office System (May 14)
The download includes a set of files required to build and install a minimal Office System 2003 bilingual translation dictionary, available by using the research pane.
This tool accompanies the article, “Add a Bilingual Translation Dictionary Service to Microsoft Office System” available on MSDN. (available when clicking the download link)
The Translation Dictionaries article enables Microsoft’s partners – be they specialized ISVs or dictionary publishers – to create additional bilingual dictionaries and deliver these to users of Office within the familiar Office interface. With the help of this resource, partners can adapt dictionary content they already own and integrate it completely into Office 2003.
Once the new dictionary content is ready, the partner makes this available to the user for a one-time installation (e.g. from CD or the Web) to their hard drive. The user can then access it in the same way as the bilingual dictionaries which ship with Office 2003, i.e. through the Research Pane or by simply right-clicking on the word to be translated.
Download: Office 2003 Tool: Add a Bilingual Translation Dictionary Service to the Microsoft Office System
Deploying SharePoint Products and Technologies for Enterprise Collaboration (May 14)
Detailed discussion about the design and deployment of the Microsoft IT hosted collaboration platform. The platform supports personal storage, team Web sites, group and division portals, and enterprise services. With server farms centralized in three regional data centers, Microsoft saves both hardware and support costs.
Download: Deploying SharePoint Products and Technologies for Enterprise Collaboration
Project Server 2003: UPDATED MIGRATE.SQL (May 14)
The file Migrate.sql that was included on the Microsoft Office Project Server 2003 CD in the \SUPPORT\DATABASE folder does not support partitioning the Project Server database across multiple database servers when there are also multiple code pages across the database servers.
This download updates the file Migrate.sql and allows the Project Server 2003 database to be partitioned across multiple database servers that have multiple code pages.
The updated Migrate.sql supports all Project Server 2003 languages and is recommended to be used instead of the file included on the Project Server 2003 CD for all languages. The updated Migrate.sql is required for:
Any deployment using Hebrew.
Any deployment using more than one code page across partitioned database servers.
Download: Project Server 2003: UPDATED MIGRATE.SQL
New Security Bulletin! (May 11)
This update resolves a newly-discovered vulnerability. A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the Help and Support Center because of the way that it handles HCP URL validation. The vulnerability is documented in the Vulnerability Details section of this bulletin.
An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system, including installing programs; viewing, changing, or deleting data; or creating new accounts that have full privileges. However, significant user interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.
Important: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-015.mspx
Run: Windows Update
MapPoint Streets and Trips Construction Update (May 11)
Download the construction update to keep your maps current. Save the file in the Data folder, located where you installed the program files for MapPoint or Streets & Trips. For example C:\Program Files\Microsoft MapPoint\Data\
Download: MapPoint 2004 Streets and Trips Construction Update 2004
Download: MapPoint 2003 Streets and Trips Construction Update 2003
Download: MapPoint 2002 Streets and Trips Construction Update 2002
Download: MapPoint 2001 Streets and Trips Construction Update 2001
Sasser (A-E) Worm Removal Tool (May 11)
This tool will help to remove the Sasser (A-E) worm from infected systems. Once the tool has run—after the End-User License Agreement (EULA) is accepted—it automatically checks for infection and removes any of the targeted worms that are found.
Download: Sasser (A-E) Worm Removal Tool
Microsoft Reward Program Helps Lead to Information Resulting in Arrest Related to Sasser Internet Worm (May 11)
Microsoft Corp. today commended German law enforcement for its prompt arrest relating to the Sasser worm and confirmed that the company’s anti-virus reward program investigators had worked with informants on the case during the past week. German authorities were able to arrest the alleged perpetrator of the Sasser worm within seven days of its launch, based on fast action by local police and broad cooperation among German law enforcement agencies, the FBI and Secret Service in the United States, and Microsoft.
Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft, confirms with reporters an arrest in Germany of the alleged perpetrator of the Sasser worm virus.
“As this case demonstrates, we will move quickly to support law enforcement worldwide to identify and hold responsible those who break the law by launching viruses and worms targeted at our customers,” said Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft. “The information leading to this arrest resulted in part from Microsoft’s anti-virus reward program, as well as new technical and investigative techniques we have developed during the past year to address precisely this type of situation.”
Microsoft entered into a partnership last November to create a $5 million anti-virus reward program, supporting Interpol, the FBI, and the Secret Service. Aware of this program, certain individuals in Germany approached Microsoft investigators last week, offered to provide information about the creator of the Sasser virus, and inquired about their potential eligibility for a reward. Microsoft informed the individuals that the company would consider providing a reward of up to $250,000 if their information led to the arrest and conviction of the Sasser perpetrator.
View full Press Release: Microsoft Reward Program Helps Lead to Information Resulting in Arrest Related to Sasser Internet Worm
Exchange 2003 Guides and Recommendations (May 8)
Exchange Server 2003 Security Hardening Guide
This book guides you through the process of hardening your Exchange 2003 environment, including configuration recommendations and strategies for combating external threats.
Exchange Server 2003 Performance and Scalability Guide
This guide provides information about Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 performance and scalability.
Preview: Making Your Exchange 2003 Organization Fault Tolerant
“Exchange Server 2003 High Availability Guide” is an upcoming addition to the Exchange Server 2003 Technical Documentation Library. This preview chapter provides information about how to maximize the fault tolerance of you Exchange 2003 messaging system.
Slowing and Stopping E-Mail Viruses in an Exchange 2003 Environment
This document provides you with recommendations on how to fortify an Exchange environment against e-mail transmitted viruses and worms. Resources for the implementation details related to the recommendations are included. Suggestions are given on what to do when a virus attack occurs.
Sperry Software add-ins got updated! (May 8)
There were a number of bug fixes made to several of the add-ins, especially right around the time that Microsoft released Service Pack 3 for Outlook 2002 (more on that below). Here’s the list of recent bug fixes and version numbers;
Add Email Address v2.2.4 – Corrected problem when using custom categories under Outlook 2003.
Always BCC v1.4.1 – Similar to the above problem, two emails were being sent when using Word as the email editor.
Auto Print v2.2.7 – Fixed bug when printing multiple attachments all having the same name.
Follow Up Reminder v1.1.3 – Fixed a bug that caused two emails to be sent when using Word as the email editor.
Insert Date/Time v2.0.8 – Corrected intermittent problem that reported “InsertDateTime.AddMenuHook”, “Type Mismatch”.
Print On Demand v1.4.1 – Fixed a bug that caused HTML emails to list the attachments in one long line and also added the ability to clip the number of email addresses shown (to avoid wasting paper).
Random Quote Insert v2.0.0 – Added a button to the Outlook toolbar to allow insertion of quotes whenever they’re wanted not just when the email is sent.
Reply To All v1.0.26 – Fixed a bug that prevented the Reply To All Self Removal feature from working when the Reply To All Confirmation button was checked and HTML emails were the default format. Also fixed the bug where multiple copies of the email were saved (one in the Sent Items, one in the Outbox).
VCard Converter v1.0.8 – Corrected a bug that prevented the vcf files from being written to the save folder that the user picked, when the user did not assign a save folder immediately.
Watch Outlook Folders v1.4.5 – Forced notification message windows to be “on top” of other windows, even if Outlook is minimized.
To get these latest versions, just go back to your original order email to get the URL locations and download the add-ins again. It is necessary to uninstall the current version first, by going to Control Panel…Add/Remove Programs. Find the add-in in the list and select “Remove”. Then, install the new one by double clicking on the installation file. Outlook should be closed during this process. By the way, you can tell what version you currently have by going to Tools…Options, then finding the add-in in the list of tabs. The version number is in the Support frame.
Interested in Sperry Software add-ins? Just click here. If you see anything you like use “BH93RF24” to get a discount when ordering!
Spam filter, Exchange 2003 SP1 to launch at TechEd (May 6)
Look to late May for a bounty of new messaging tools from Microsoft, including the release of the IMF and the first service and feature pack for Exchange Server 2003.
The Intelligent Messaging Filter [IMF] will be released later this month, likely at Microsoft’s TechEd conference in San Diego, said Edward Wu, a product manager for Exchange Server at Microsoft, during a Webcast hosted by the company.
Wu said Microsoft is still reviewing whether IMF will be offered only to customers with Software Assurance, as it was originally intended, or whether it will be made available to all customers. A decision is expected at TechEd, he said.
The software runs on Exchange 2003 and uses the same Smartscreen technology that was recently added to Outlook 2003, MSN and Hotmail. IMF uses Bayesian analysis to learn to identify spam, and considers the whole message, not just a few key words, to identify spam.
The messaging filter has been in a limited beta for several months. It will come as welcome relief to enterprise customers who continue to fight the deluge of spam that flood their corporate networks.
“No one is satisfied with the antispam tools available today,” said Lee Benjamin, a consultant and chairman of the Exchange Server Boston User Group. “No vendor has a clear product strategy that deals with the problem.”
Wu also said Exchange Server 2003 will see its first service pack at the end of May. The service pack will be released in two parts. SP1 will contain the bug fixes and a second Web release will contain the new features.
View full article: Spam filter, Exchange 2003 SP1 to launch at TechEd
Exchange Server 2003 Administration Guide (May 6)
Geared toward the experienced IT administrator, this book shows you how to configure and manage Exchange Server 2003 organizations and servers. It also explains how to set up and use recipient policies, messaging, client access, mailbox and public folder stores, and Exchange clusters. It includes detailed appendixes on Exchange tools, services, store management, folder replication, and full-text indexing.
Download: Exchange Server 2003 Administration Guide
Sasser (A-D) Worm Removal Tool (KB841720) (May 6)
This tool will help to remove the Sasser (A-D) worm from infected systems. Once the tool has run—after the End-User License Agreement (EULA) is accepted—it automatically checks for infection and removes any of the targeted worms that are found.
After running, the tool displays a message describing the outcome of the detection and removal process. The tool can be safely deleted after it has run. Also, the tool creates a log file named sasscln.log in the %WINDIR%\debug folder.
Download: Sasser (A-D) Worm Removal Tool
Microsoft Offers Anti-Spam Capabilities to Distinguish Legitimate E-Mail (May 6)
Microsoft Corp. and IronPort Systems Inc. today announced initial success with the Bonded Sender Program, IronPort’s legitimate e-mail sender program to reduce the deluge of unwanted e-mail sent to Microsoft® customers. For the past five months, Microsoft has worked with IronPort Systems’s Bonded Sender Program (http://www.bondedsender.com/ ) legitimate e-mail sender program on its MSN® and MSN Hotmail® platforms. The Bonded Sender program, powered by IronPort and certified by TRUSTe, identifies legitimate senders of e-mail based on their adherence to program standards and the posting of a financial bond.
Programs such as safe lists reputation, rating and e-mail accreditation have emerged to help prevent good e-mail from accidentally being blocked by filters. Such programs reinforce the importance of allowing legitimate marketers to communicate with their customers and help ensure that customers can correspond with institutions and organizations such as banks, political groups and retailers. These approaches are the inverse of the early e-mail-blocking lists and avoid many of the pitfalls associated with those lists. Microsoft continues to evaluate a variety of programs for potential implementation on its MSN and Hotmail platforms.
“Because spam is our e-mail customers’ No. 1 complaint today, our technology arsenal must include a process that works in tandem with our filters to differentiate good e-mail from junk e-mail,” said Ryan Hamlin, general manager of the Anti-Spam Technology and Strategy Group at Microsoft. “Bonded Sender is an example of a program that effectively raises the bar on conduct for good e-mail senders, while simultaneously helping recipients such as Microsoft identify important messages that consumers have requested.”
View full press release: Microsoft Offers Anti-Spam Capabilities to Distinguish Legitimate E-Mail
MS to Help Zap Worms Automatically (May 6)
Microsoft (Quote, Chart) is working on a plan to include worm removal tools in a new feature called Microsoft Update that’s on schedule for release by this year’s end.
With the proliferation of destructive worms like Blaster, NetSky and Sasser escalating daily to pose an ever-greater threat to home users, Microsoft plans to release the new Microsoft Update as part of the larger Windows Update patch management platform.
Depending on the threat level of malicious worms, the software giant will automate the worm removal process. This goes beyond Microsoft’s latest moves to create disinfection tools to deal with major virus outbreaks.
Earlier this year, Microsoft distributed a detection and removal tool for Windows XP and Windows 2000 machines infected by the Blaster virus. The tool was released as a 317 KB download (3 to 5 minutes for dial-up connections) after ISPs complained that infected home users were “actively transmitting” the worm.
Last weekend, when the Sasser worm and several mutants started exploiting the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) vulnerability, Microsoft again released a removal tool for customers.
However, as security experts have repeatedly warned, home users need to be actively prodded into applying software fixes. A Microsoft spokesperson told internetnews.com that the company’s long term security vision was outlined in a recent executive e-mail issued by Chairman Bill Gates, where “significant investments” in four key areas were identified.
View full article: MS to Help Zap Worms Automatically
Gartner: Worms Jack Up the Total Cost of Windows (May 6)
Dealing with widespread worms like Sasser raises the cost of using Windows, a research analyst said Wednesday.
Mark Nicolett, research director at Gartner, recommended that enterprises boost spending on patch management and intrusion prevention software to keep ahead of worms, which are appearing ever sooner after vulnerabilities in Windows are disclosed.
“This is part of the carrying cost of using Windows,” said Nicolett. “The cost of a Windows environment has gone up because enterprises have to install security patches very rapidly, deal with outages caused by secondary problems with these patches, and deploy additional layers of security technology.”
Although he placed some caveats on his numbers, Nicolett said that informal surveys with Gartner clients indicate that simply moving from a no rapid patch deployment capability to an ongoing process that can respond quickly to vulnerabilities raises the cost of using business by about 15 percent.
View full article: Gartner: Worms Jack Up the Total Cost of Windows
