Week in review: Got Real ID?

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The feature is activated when a user turns on "Coherence mode," which hides the Windows desktop and integrates Windows applications into the Mac OS X desktop and application dock. Parallels called the Coherence feature "completely customizable," stipulating that when Coherence is enabled, users will be able to choose how to load and run Windows applications, as well as select display options for Windows features like the task bar and Start menu.

On the heels of Vista's release, some may be left wondering if Windows is getting cheaper or more expensive. Well, both.

There are all sorts of factors that go into one's sense of whether the leading operating system "feels" more pricey or less expensive--the cost of other PC components and what gets bundled into the operating system are just a couple of them.

Roughly speaking, the Microsoft product sells for the same price it has had for years. While Microsoft has kept prices roughly flat, inflation means that in absolute dollars the price of Windows has declined somewhat. An upgrade to Windows 98, for example, cost $109 in 1998. But in 2007 dollars, that's $137, according to a Federal Reserve Web site. Today, a copy of Vista Home Basic upgrade costs $99.

On the other hand, because the prices of other computer parts have dropped substantially over time, Windows has become a relatively more expensive part of the average PC. In 1998, for example, the typical desktop cost around $1,100, compared with $650 today, according to figures from NPD Group.

Fixing a hole
Multiple flaws in commonly used technical support tools can open Windows PCs to cyberattack, security experts have warned. The vulnerable tools are often used by Internet service providers, PC makers and others to provide support functions such as remote assistance. The tools, provided by SupportSoft, contain multiple vulnerabilities, according to the warning.

US-CERT lists nearly 40 companies and other organizations that have shipped the affected software. Some have addressed the problem, while others are still listed as vulnerable or unknown. Those that have yet to fix the SupportSoft issue include IBM and Internet access providers BellSouth, Comcast and Time Warner, it said.

On its end, Microsoft is investigating two recently disclosed security vulnerabilities that affect Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Vista. The vulnerabilities aren't considered high-risk, yet they affect the latest releases of Microsoft's Web browser and operating system software.

The IE vulnerability, which also affects IE 6, could be exploited in phishing attacks, scams that try to trick people into giving up sensitive information such as credit card data and Social Security numbers. The Windows issue is due to a problem with a component that does not properly validate user permissions.

Meanwhile, a new attack technique increases the risk of commonly found bugs in Oracle's database software, a security researcher has warned. It was previously thought that an attacker needed high-level privileges on the database to exploit so-called PL SQL injection vulnerabilities. With a new attack technique, that's no longer true, said David Litchfield, a database security expert with NGS Software.

Litchfield, who has had Oracle in his crosshairs for some time, detailed his technique, dubbed "cursor injection," in a paper that was originally published last weekend and discussed at the Black Hat DC event. Examples of attack code that takes advantage of the tricks have already appeared, Litchfield said.

Also of note
Hoping to get a jump on Google and other competitors, Adobe Systems plans to release a hosted version of its popular Photoshop image-editing application within six months...Oracle has agreed to buy Hyperion Solutions for $3.3 billion, in a move to expand in the area of performance management systems...Hewlett-Packard's top ethics and privacy executives say a now-infamous investigation into boardroom media leaks was a "wake-up call" that prompted a shake-up in the company's operations.

[PCCRomeo]

Wonderful...

I can't even keep up with my drivers license, let a lone "two" of
"them". What about the other 60 million people in the US that
aren't licensed drivers or illegals? They (illegals) are the ones that
need to be watched...

[qwerty75]

Maybe I am an optimist

Assuming Bush actually gives up the white house in January 2009, and doesn't try to claim a "unspecified but totally verified mass terrorist threat on election night", hopefully the next president will be thoughtful, restrained and actually believes in freedom. Three things that does not describe Bush.

The candidate that actually campaigns against all this dictatorial behavior of Bush will win in a landslide. Although it may take decades to fix the damage Bush & co, has wreaked on our country and the world.

If there is a hell, there is already a first class ticket reserved for Bush, Cheney, Gonzalez, et al.

[LAUTAY6]

Re: Got real ID?

This whole thing is a joke. The 9/11 Commission
is and was a farce. The digital ID concept is just one more step into fascism and I do not buy it!

When are we all going to remind these clowns that they are supposed to be working FOR US; we the people??

They all need to be fired! That means from the top, all the way down. These people have done enough damage to this country. Meaning, our "employees" in D.C.

[Ragingdemo]

DHS Is a Bad Joke ..

Dear Friends. I almost want some lowlife from DHS to step foot on my farm and tell Me that I must have some BOGUS ID ! Not because I'm some Crazed Idiot. But rather because there day of reckoning in nearly before them and when it is finally learned that NO TERRORIST ATTACK took place on 9/11 they will be disbanded and given jobs at local area Parks sweeping up or at the Zoo cleaning up after Chimps seeing as they had experience with that while Bush was in office.Any REAL American that gets there ID because they were Ordered to should line up on the Medication line at there local Pychic hospital. DHS has been perpetrating the most Disgraceful ongoing list of felony's on the American people WE have seen in years {Iran contra} and should hope and pray WE do NOT ask for the MONEYS they stole as pay checks Back from them ... Or Incarcerate them for Fraud.