MS responds to IE zero-day exploit

Microsoft has issued a warning with pre-patch workarounds in response to the release of a zero-day exploit that targets users of its Internet Explorer (IE) browser, reports eWeek.

The response was issued less than 24 hours after the French Security Incident Response Team published a proof-of-concept exploit that could be used to target IE users.

An error in the way IE handles a particular COM object could allow remote code execution if a user visited a malicious Web site.

Microsoft says it plans to release a security bulletin with patches for the flaw, either through the monthly update process or with an out-of-cycle release.

In the absence of a patch, Microsoft has published workarounds and guidelines to help block known attack methods.

Sun Microsystems is to open an office dedicated to open source matters.

A News.Com report says the move signals a new elevation of the collaborative programming philosophy within Sun.

The report says embracing open source software has been one strategy Sun has used in an effort to recover the influence and profits it enjoyed in the technology spending spree of the late 1990s.

In June, Sun began releasing its Solaris version of the Unix operating system as open source software in a project called OpenSolaris.

Apple Computer has issued an update to fix a Mac OS X 10.4.2 security patch that prevented the operating system from running 64-bit applications.

According to eWeek, the corrected patch is available from Apple`s Web site or through Mac OS X`s Software Update feature.

Apple says the new version of the 2005-07 security update resolves an issue affecting 64-bit applications. The first version of the security update included only a 32-bit version of a crucial system component.

Nintendo will start selling its smallest handheld game player next month as Sony prepares for European sales of its PlayStation Portable after releases in Japan and the US, reports Bloomberg.

According to the report, the Game Boy Micro will go on sale in Japan in mid-September, later in the month in the US and in Europe in November.

Nintendo says Game Boy Micro weighs only 80g, but has the same processing power as the bigger Game Boy Advance models and plays the same game titles.

Nokia`s upcoming N91 music phone is to include functionality for Apple Computer`s iTunes music service, reports Reuters.

The report observes that music phones previously produced by Nokia have been seen as competitors to Apple`s iPod music player and iTunes service.

Nokia`s N91 multimedia phone is to be available before the end of the year and will feature a 4GB hard drive and be capable of running on high-speed 3G and wireless LAN networks.