New Microsoft Security Toolkit to Take Aim at Shared-Computer Users
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Microsoft is readying a new security tool to add to its arsenal. The newest member of Microsoft's growing security-focused product family is the "Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP," according to beta testers who requested anonymity. The toolkit, which is currently in private beta test, is designed for users who are sharing computers in businesses and homes. It is especially focused on users of shared computers in libraries, cafés, schools and other similar environments, testers said. What unites these shared computers is the fact that there seldom is a dedicated systems administrator managing them. As a result, they tend to be prime targets for all kinds of malware. According to beta testers, the following tools are part of the toolkit: The entire toolkit should be about 5 MB in size, testers said. The Windows Disk Protection tool also will require 1 GB or more on the shared computer's hard disk as free disk space. The toolkit will work with the Windows XP Service Pack 2 release of XP Home, Professional or Tablet. It won't run on older versions of Windows, Windows Server, Windows XP x64 or Windows XP Media Center. It's not clear when Microsoft plans to release the final version of the toolkit. But Microsoft is likely to make the toolkit available for free, testers said. Microsoft did not provide a request for comment by the time this article was published. Certain elements within the new Shared Computer Toolkit also could find other uses. For example, the Restrictions Tool could be used as another parental-control layer on a family PC. The Windows Disk Protection Tool could find use as a supplemental software-testing tool, which will prevent unwanted changes being made to a shared computer's hard disk, testers said. The Shared Computer Toolkit is just one of a burgeoning number of security add-ons from Microsoft. Microsoft is beta testing a Windows anti-spyware product. It is just starting to beta test an anti-virus/anti-spyware bundle, code-named "A1," which it will offer as an MSN-branded security service. Microsoft also launched earlier this year a free malware-removal tool, code-named "Titan," to help users better secure their systems. The forthcoming Shared Computer Toolkit should not to be confused with another Microsoft product, called the "Microsoft Security Toolkit," which is a collection of all service packs and critical security patches for the Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems.
(This is an updated version of an article which appeared in the May 5, 2005, issue of the Microsoft Watch newsletter. Want to see what other Microsoft news nuggets you might have missed? Sign up today for a free two-week trial subscription to Microsoft Watch.) |
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