Gates addresses spam, security flaws at Comdex - News - Security

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Gates addresses spam, security flaws at Comdex

By Ina Fried, 0
November 17, 2003
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Gates-addresses-spam-security-flaws-at-Comdex/0,130061744,120281084,00.htm

Addressing a more button-down crowd than in past years, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates attempted Sunday in the U.S. to usher in a new era of computing he dubbed "seamless computing."

Gates' annual Comdex address, his 20th, was designed to outline the promise of new software as well as the pitfalls of spam and security threats. Despite the challenges, Gates made his case that breakthroughs will make computing a more painless and rewarding experience.

Gates kicked off his talk showing a few slides from his first keynote 20 years ago. At the time Microsoft was focused on software that presented no surprises, software that was understandable and trustworthy.

Only about half that work is done, Gates said. "Those key attributes of software are still what we are focused on today," he said.

In contrast to the MGM Grand Garden Arena where Gates has spoken in recent years, Sunday's address took place at the significantly smaller Aladdin Theatre. This year's Comdex show is expected to draw about 50,000 attendees, down from about 200,000 in 2000.

In conjunction with Gates' speech, Microsoft is showing off a handful of new products, including a new version of Tablet PC known as Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2004. The software, which will be available as a free upgrade for Tablet PC owners in the middle of next year, features improved handwriting recognition and a redesigned input panel as well as new ways for software developers to include ink-recognition capabilities in their applications. Jim Allchin first described the upgrade, code-named Lonestar, at a developer conference last month.

Aiming to counter the growing threat from unsolicited e-mail, Microsoft is also adding more powerful antispam software to its messaging programs, including the server-based Exchange software, PC-based Outlook 2003 and Internet-based Hotmail. With Exchange, Microsoft is adding an Intelligent Message Filter that will ship in the first half of next year and promises to give network administrators greater tools to block spam from corporate servers.

On the desktop side, Microsoft is using its SmartScreen technology, which is already part of Outlook 2003, to filter spam. The idea is for the software to "learn" what messages a given PC user considers junk.

The company is also showing off a new version of its Internet Security and Acceleration server, software designed to help companies secure the software code running in their information technology network. Microsoft plans to offer the software on a test basis starting early next year, with a final release due in the middle of 2004.

The new version is the first major upgrade to ISA Server, which debuted in 2000 and offers firewall and Web caching functions, along with enhanced security. Microsoft said the new software will have improved management functions and have stronger VPN (Virtual Private Network) capabilities.

Microsoft is pitching the software as another effort to "secure the perimeter" of corporate networks against attack.

As in past years, the keynote featured a humorous video of Gates and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. This year was a spoof on "The Matrix," with Ballmer as the Neo character and Gates as Morpheus. In his role, Gates tried to arm Ballmer with an integrated innovation pill to let Ballmer hold his own in a rapidly changing world.