[H]ardNews 2nd Edition

Windows Security Flaw Is Severe:

Microsoft is working on a patch to fix the severe security flaw that we originally told you about a couple days ago. Be careful where you browse, it seems that every scumbag on the planet has set up sites aimed at compromising your system.

Unlike with previously revealed vulnerabilities, computers can be infected simply by visiting one of the Web sites or viewing an infected image in an e-mail through the preview pane in older versions of Microsoft Outlook, even if users did not click on anything or open any files. Operating system versions ranging from the current Windows XP to Windows 98 are affected.

Webtrends Behind White House Web Tracking:

It looks like Webtrends is in the hot seat over all of this White House web tracking flap this week. Webtrends says that no data was collected but the fact is that cookies like the ones used here were banned by the White House in 2003.

Unbeknown to the Bush administration, an outside contractor has been using Internet tracking technologies that may be prohibited to analyze usage and traffic patterns at the White House’s Web site, an official said Thursday.