============================================
Active Directory-Based Access Control for UNIX, Linux and Mac http://www.centrify.com/request.asp?o=1&c=9&f=4 Visit our sponsor, who brings you WinInfo Daily Update:
==== SPONSOR: Centrify DirectControl
================ Active Directory-Based Access Control for UNIX, Linux and Mac
      Learn how to strengthen security and simplify your IT infrastructure by leveraging Microsoft Active Directory as a single point of administration for user accounts and access control for your UNIX, Linux, and Mac servers and workstations. This white paper also explains how Centrify DirectControl's unique solution gives you the ability to see, and control, who has access to which systems in order to satisfy regulatory requirements.
      http://www.centrify.com/request.asp?o=1&c=9&f=4
==== IN THE NEWS
======================      Learn how to strengthen security and simplify your IT infrastructure by leveraging Microsoft Active Directory as a single point of administration for user accounts and access control for your UNIX, Linux, and Mac servers and workstations. This white paper also explains how Centrify DirectControl's unique solution gives you the ability to see, and control, who has access to which systems in order to satisfy regulatory requirements.
      http://www.centrify.com/request.asp?o=1&c=9&f=4
     by Paul Thurrott, thurrott@windowsitpro.com
Finally, Microsoft Ships Windows Defender
Almost two years after it purchased GIANT Company Software for its best-of-breed antispyware solution, Microsoft has shipped its own nonbeta version of the product. Now called Windows Defender, the free add-on protects Windows XP users against spyware and other malicious software. A version of Defender will be included in Windows Vista as well.
Microsoft purchased GIANT Company Software in December 2004, shortly after shipping XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), which included pervasive security features. At the time, Microsoft said its version of the GIANT tools, then called Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware, would complement the features in XP SP2.
Over time, Microsoft renamed Windows AntiSpyware to Windows Defender, added the application to Vista, and built connections between Defender and related products such as Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0, which was released last week, and Windows Live OneCare, Microsoft's subscription-based PC-health solution.
Windows Defender is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions and supports Windows Server 2003 SP1, XP SP2, and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. You can download a free version of Windows Defender at
     http://www.microsoft.com/defender/
Mozilla Ships Firefox 2.0 ... It's a Dud
Today, Mozilla will officially unveil Firefox 2.0, the latest version of its Web browser and, increasingly, a credible challenger to Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE). Unfortunately, some of Firefox's more trend-setting features have been delayed to a later release, and the new release suffers as a result. What's left is pretty unimpressive.
Disclaimer: I've been a Firefox user and advocate for a long time--so long, in fact, that I used the browser when it was still called by its Phoenix code name. Although I'll likely provide a longer review on the SuperSite for Windows in the days ahead, I think it's relevant to supply a few first impressions here.
I don't like it. The new Firefox "visual refresh" replaces the previously clean Firefox UI with muddy and vague-looking icons. So, one of the first things I did was download a theme that returned the old Firefox 1.5 look and feel. The built-in phishing protection is truly third-rate. There are two antiphishing options: Mozilla's weak blacklist-based protection (yes, seriously) and Google's antiphishing technology, which is both poorly rated and a privacy nightmare. The new Options dialog box is a miasma of choices, some of which are hidden in embedded tab controls. It's ugly, confusing, and illogical.
Firefox doesn't offer many truly neat features. It does include improved tabbed-browsing functionality and puts a Close Tab button on each tab. The browser features inline spell checking, handy for blogging, and a session restore feature that helps users recover from browser or system crashes. The new Add-ons Manager is simple and effective. But honestly, that's about it.
Firefox 2.0 is free, but it's a woefully minor improvement over Firefox 1.5 that suffers from various incompatibility problems, especially with themes and other add-ons. I wouldn't recommend this new version, to be honest. I'll be sticking with Firefox 1.5 at least for now. I recommend you do the same, or switch to the surprisingly solid IE 7.0.
Although Mozilla hasn't yet changed its Web site to reflect the new release, you can find the final version in the company's FTP site. The US English version is available at
      http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/
Editor's Note:
Make Your Mark on the IT Community! Nominate yourself or a peer to become an "IT Pro of the Month." Winners will receive over $600 in IT resources and be featured in Windows IT Pro magazine and the TechNet Flash email newsletter. It's easy to enter--accepting October nominations for a limited-time! Submit your nomination today:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/itpromonth
======================================================
NOTE FROM MARK MINASI:
New Interoperability Show: TechX World
I wanted to pass along some information about a show that I'm not speaking at, but that looks like a good deal. It's a $129, one-day interoperability road show from Penton, the folks who publish 'Windows IT Pro' magazine, the periodical that I write columns for.
If you're like most folks, "interop" isn't just a buzzword, it's a daily headache. If we all used the same OS, directory service, and database engines, then life would be a lot easier, but most of us can't. Worse yet, interoperability information can be hard to come by, because no vendor is excited about helping you use someone else's products.
In response to that, Penton has put together a show with four tracks, each geared to a solution. One track features Dustin Puryear, who talks about making Windows, Linux, and UNIX work together. The second track offers a day with Gil Kirkpatrick, an Active Directory (AD) expert, who will speak about integrating AD with other LDAP directory services. At the same time, database techie Randy Dyess explains how to solve data-interoperability problems by making different databases replicate amongst one another and produce integrated reports, as well as how to integrate dissimilar relational database engines. Last, but not least, popular Windows IT Pro veteran author Michael Otey tackles what might be the single best new IT technology of the past few years--virtualization. TechX World is coming to Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas in the next few weeks. You can find more information at
      http://www.techxworld.com/
==== EVENTS AND RESOURCES
=============New Interoperability Show: TechX World
      http://www.techxworld.com/
How will compliance regulations affect your IT infrastructure? Help design your privacy, security, and retention and retrieval policies to make sure that your organization is compliant. Download the free eBook today!
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/ebooks/sherpa/compliance/?code=1015emailannc
==== FEATURED WHITE PAPER
=============      http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/ebooks/sherpa/compliance/?code=1015emailannc
Help your small- or mid-sized business protect one of its most valuable assets--business information. Easily store, manage, protect, and share information with hardware designed with the needs of your business in mind. Manage IT without the large staff and extensive training--learn how today!
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/emc/smbs/?code=1025featwp
Special Offer: Download any white paper from Windows IT Pro before October 31 and enter to win a Casio Exilim Card Camera! The more you download, the more chances to win! Visit http://www.windowsitpro.com/whitepapers for a full listing of whitepapers and contest rules.
==== ANNOUNCEMENT
=====================      http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/emc/smbs/?code=1025featwp
Get $40 off Windows IT Pro
      Subscribe to Windows IT Pro today and SAVE up to $40! Along with your 12 issues, you'll get FREE access to the entire Windows IT Pro online article archive, which houses more than 9000 helpful IT articles. This is a limited-time offer, so order now.
      https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu206Auw
==== CONTACT US
=======================      Subscribe to Windows IT Pro today and SAVE up to $40! Along with your 12 issues, you'll get FREE access to the entire Windows IT Pro online article archive, which houses more than 9000 helpful IT articles. This is a limited-time offer, so order now.
      https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu206Auw
About the newsletter -- letters@windowsitpro.com
About technical questions -- http://www.windowsitpro.com/forums
About product news -- products@windowsitpro.com
About your subscription -- windowsitproupdate@windowsitpro.com
About sponsoring an UPDATE -- emedia_opps@windowsitpro.com
==== BY THE WAY
=======================About technical questions -- http://www.windowsitpro.com/forums
About product news -- products@windowsitpro.com
About your subscription -- windowsitproupdate@windowsitpro.com
About sponsoring an UPDATE -- emedia_opps@windowsitpro.com
Be sure to add WinInfo_UPDATE@list.windowsitpro.com to your list of allowed senders and contacts.
Take a look at all of our technology newsletters:
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/email/
This email newsletter is by the same people who create Windows IT Pro Magazine every month. Check it out!
      http://www.winnetmag.com/rd.cfm?code=00ep204xeb
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/
==== MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT
==============      http://www.windowsitpro.com/email/
      http://www.winnetmag.com/rd.cfm?code=00ep204xeb
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/
You are subscribed as %%$email%%
You are receiving this email message because you subscribed to this newsletter on our Web site. To unsubscribe, click the unsubscribe link: %%UNSUB_HREF%%
View the Windows IT Pro privacy policy at
      http://www.windowsitpro.com/aboutus/index.cfm?action=privacy
============================================       http://www.windowsitpro.com/aboutus/index.cfm?action=privacy
Windows IT Pro is a division of Penton Media Inc.
221 East 29th Street, Loveland, CO 80538
Attention: Customer Service Department
Copyright 2006, Penton Media Inc. All Rights Reserved.
