SMB 2.0 vulnerability does not affect Windows 7

Microsoft, upon investigation of new public reports of a possible vulnerability in the Server Message Block (SMB) implementation, has released an update (dated 18 September 2009) that includes information on the easy way to disable SMB 2.0, a first exploit for code execution released to small number of companies, ways that help prevent attacks, and the status of fixes. The original advisory 975497, published 12 days ago, warned about vulnerabilities in SMB that could allow remote code execution, which could indeed happen only with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, BUT NOT with Windows 7, as it was wrongfully reported (not surprisingly by a "security evangelist" working for an Internet security company. I can't help but wonder, is this just the first time?). SMB 2.0, of which CIFS—Common Internet File System is a "dialect"—is the file sharing protocol used by Windows-based computers and this new version is included in Windows Server 2008 and Vista as part of core networking improvements.

Windows 7 increasing adoption: there must be a reason

From what I've read on the Web and sometimes in the printed press, Windows 7 has gotten a great reception from all camps, namely, users of previous Windows versions and, interestingly enough, some (may be a few, may be a good number) Apple and Linux users. Notice that when I say "adoption" I don't mean to say "switching to". I can easily adopt Linux and Apple, if need be, since I can see their own obvious merits. I came across an interesting comment by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, aka The PC Doctor, a heavy user of different systems and OSes, in which he shares that his default OS is Windows (does not state which one, though), but simply because Windows is the most widespread OS and that it would take for the rest of the world to switch to Linux in order for him to follow suit. Adrian's attitude is simply "I’ve got better things to do with my day that to become a cheerleader for one corporation or another." Same here, though you may think why do I have a Windows 7 (and also a Windows Vista) blog. Well, simply because I "adopted" them as my everyday primary PC tools, after using Windows XP, 2000, 95, 3.1, DOS and my first computer experience: Apple Macintosh (beautiful machine and OS, I have to say).

The great new Nokia Booklet 3G comes with Windows 7

Unveiled at the annual Nokia World 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany, this past week, this mini-laptop (or "netbook"), less than one inch thick, runs up to 12 hours on a battery, has built-in 3G and Wi-Fi, and among many other features, it comes preloaded with Windows 7. With this bold move of choosing an operating system that even before its official launch is already a success, Nokia is meeting finally the challenge posed by Apple and Blackberry, as the mobile phone and the computer industries move towards convergence. The Nokia Booklet 3G includes Ovi, the global brand for Nokia's Internet services, a powerful way to access and create content and services from a mobile device, desktop computer or via the Web. The promotional video, neat, evocative, for this beautiful mini-laptop is not to be missed...