Detecting weaknesses ...

Sometimes the real life is left. Efforts to improve stability and security for Microsoft's new operating system can make Vista unstable and generate new vulnerabilities.

New operating system, new vulnerability

Symantec experts have thoroughly tested network technology in Vista beta versions and they have discovered many security holes here. One conclusion may startle Microsoft and users are stunned: Vista's network technology is less stable than Windows XP, at least for the time being.

" Microsoft has removed a large number of old code and replaced it with completely new scripts. This can create a stable network in the long run, but in the near future, they will cause certain problems. ".

Source: CNET Expected to be widely released in January 2007, Vista is the most significant Windows upgrade for personal computers since XP. With Vista, Microsoft has focused its efforts on security, because the field is very hot during the past five years.

However, Symantec's report makes people doubtful about the "security enhancement" goal set by Microsoft, as well as the real barriers to achieving that goal.

The work of relations deteriorates?

Reacting to this report, Microsoft confirmed that Vista was developed with "the highest concentration". The issues pointed out in test versions of Vista cannot accurately reflect the quality and depth of networking features in the finished product.

Microsoft also stressed that Vista was the first guest operating system to go from A-Z Security development cycle, a process designed to detect vulnerabilities and error codes before delivery.

Being two longtime allies, the relationship between Microsoft and Symantec is seriously deteriorating. The two giants quickly turned into confrontants in the security field.

In late May, Microsoft introduced Windows Live OneCare, an online user security software package, and is also poised to launch a business product package. Meanwhile, Symantec sued Microsoft for "abusing data storage technology" that Symantec licensed Microsoft.

However, Symantec itself has to admit that after every beta, Vista's code is "a bit more stable". Errors that Symantec detected in build 5470 were in turn fixed in build 5471 and 5472.

In order to maintain and improve system performance and stability, Microsoft has developed Vista's network technology almost from zero. This option also helps the company to add many new features to the system. Vista, such as supporting Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).

Hunting for vulnerabilities

Source: SecurityLabs " We are not going to say that Vista's network platform is not secure at the time of release ," Oliver Friedrichs, director of new technologies at Symantec Security Response, said.

" Vista is one of the most important technologies released in recent years and the next time, but consumers need to understand the multifaceted aspects of a new technology ".

In addition to security holes, according to Symantec's report, many of the features supported by network technology can also put PCs in front of hackers.

For example, the fact that Vista is the first Windows operating system to support IPv6 also poses risks. This is the default technology standard that allows information exchange between different computer networks.

" IPv6 and its accompanying technologies can allow heacers to access the hosts of private intranets, which the admin does not know. They are almost invisible behind the firewall ."

According to Symantec's recommendations, businesses need to quickly upgrade security systems such as firewalls and intrusion detection tools to prevent this situation from happening.

However, Symantec's report is just a reference to Vista's security. Experts have only studied the new operating system at a very small scale. Moreover, this operating system has not yet reached the final perfection, so it will definitely change until release.

Thien Y