QuickTips Index
'Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Outlook' Spam
Spam / phishing attack email titled 'Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Outlook' (or sometimes 'Critical Update for Microsoft Outlook') allegedly from Microsoft Customer Support claiming to link to a Critical security update for Outlook and Outlook Express
'Statement Request' Spam
Spam / phishing attack email titled 'Statement Request' with link that runs rep_7330.exe, an executable program
Microsoft DirectShow QuickTime Parsing Arbitrary Code Execution
Extremely Critical Security Advisory Microsoft DirectShow QuickTime Parsing Arbitrary Code Execution
Creating a New User Account in Windows Vista
A step-by-step quick tip to walk through the steps for creating a new user account in Windows Vista and assigning it a secure password to protect it.
What is Two-Factor Authentication?
Two-factor authentication. A brief overview to answer the question 'what is two--factor authentication' and help reader's understand this security mechanism.
User Account Control: Behavior of Elevation for Administrators in Admin Mode
A brief explanation of the Behavior of the Elevation Prompt for Administrators in Admin Approval Mode setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
User Account Control: Only Elevate Executables That are Signed and Validated
A brief explanation of the Only Elevate Executables That are Signed and Validated setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
User Account Control: Detect Application Installations and Prompt for Elevation
A brief explanation of the Detect Application Installations and Prompt for Elevation setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
User Account Control: Behavior of the Elevation Prompt for Standard Users
A brief explanation of the Behavior of the Elevation Prompt for Standard Users setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
User Account Control: Allow UIAccess Applications to Prompt w/o Secure Desktop
A brief explanation of the Allow UIAccess Applications to Prompt for Elevation Without Using the Secure Desktop setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
User Account Control: Virtualizes File and Registry Write Failures to Per-User
A brief explanation of the Virtualizes File and Registry Write Failures to Per-User Locations setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
User Account Control: Run All Users, Including Administrators, as Standard Users
A brief explanation of the Run All Users, Including Administrators, as Standard Users setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
User Account Control: Only Elevate UIAccess App Installed in Secure Locations
A brief explanation of the Only Elevate UIAccess Applications That are Installed in Secure Locations setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
User Account Control: Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator Account
A brief explanation of the Admin Approval Mode for the Built-in Administrator Account setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Security Options - User Account Control settings.
Password Policy: Store Passwords Using Reversible Encryption
A brief explanation of the Store Passwords Using Reversible Encryption setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Account Policy - Password Policy settings.
Password Policy: Password Must Meet Complexity Requirements
A brief explanation of the Password Must Meet Complexity Requirements setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Account Policy - Password Policy settings.
Password Policy: Minimum Password Age
A brief explanation of the Minimum Password Age setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Account Policy - Password Policy settings.
Password Policy: Maximum Password Age
A brief explanation of the Maximum Password Age setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Account Policy - Password Policy settings.
Password Policy: Minimum Password Length
A brief explanation of the Minimum Password Length setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Account Policy - Password Policy settings.
Password Policy: Enforce Password History
A brief explanation of the Enforce Password History setting in Windows Vista Local Security Policy - Account Policy - Password Policy settings.
Prepare Your Hard Drive For Disposal
Deleting data or even formatting a hard drive before selling or disposing of it is not good enough. The data can still be recovered. This article describes the steps you need to take before getting rid of a hard drive.
Prepare Your PC for BitLocker
BitLocker is a great tool for encrypting and protecting data, particularly on notebook computers. However, BitLocker requires a specific hard drive configuration that most people won't have by default. The BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool automates the repartitioning process to get the computer ready for BitLocker encryption.
[SA10962] Apache Directory Traversal Vulnerability
Jeremy Bae has reported a vulnerability in Apache running on cygwin, allowing malicious people to view arbitrary files on a vulnerable system.
Don't Close That Pop-Up Window!
Pop-Up windows often appear to look like normal message windows. Users may feel that simply clicking "No" or "Close" or clicking on the "X" in the upper corner of the box are sufficient to make it go away. But, doing so may unwittingly download the very malware you are trying to avoid.
What is ASLR?
What is ASLR? This brief article will answer that question and explain the advantages of Address Space Layout Randomization