Author Archives: halberenson

You can’t defeat SPAM when legitimate mail looks like SPAM!

Posted on August 4, 2012 by halberenson

One of the subtle changes in Microsoft’s new outlook.com replacement for Hotmail is that the messages about suspicious mail have changed.  In Hotmail messages are simply described as suspicious, in outlook.com it is now clearly stated that the “sender failed our … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Phishing, Privacy, Security | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Microsoft, Linux, and Patents

Posted on July 26, 2012 by halberenson

One of my readers asked if I’d speculate on why Microsoft won’t disclose the 237 of its patents it thinks Linux violates.  Given news this week of Amdocs agreeing to license Microsoft’s Linux related patents (via a patent cross-licensing deal) I … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft | Tagged , , , , | 76 Comments

And now a word from our sponsor

Posted on July 24, 2012 by halberenson

With summer well upon us I’m finding it hard to summon up the motivation to make blog postings.  For example, the Office 2013 preview announcement coincided with a two week driving trip.  And now I’m suffering from new puppy-induced sleep … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments

Skydrive vs. NAS vs. Windows Home Server vs. Windows’ Shares

Posted on July 6, 2012 by halberenson

No, this isn’t a blog entry about comparing these options though someone would do the world a service by writing a good one.  This is a blog entry about the strategic realities of these four mechanisms for sharing and backing … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Tumblr is back on my good side

Posted on July 5, 2012 by halberenson

In a piece I wrote a couple of weeks ago I’d brought up the problem of Tumblr hosting phishing/malicious web sites.  Well after a few days of my feeding examples to Tumblr’s support team, and they taking down the sites, I haven’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Phishing, Privacy, Security | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The upcoming Vanity Fair article on Microsoft

Posted on July 5, 2012 by halberenson

I probably won’t comment much on the upcoming Vanity Fair piece on Microsoft, but did want to add some observations on the review system (which it seems VF is going to emphasize). The basic concept of a curve-based review system … Continue reading →

Posted in Microsoft | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Acknowledging the aQuantive Mistake

Posted on July 3, 2012 by halberenson

Yesterday’s announcement that Microsoft would write-down the 2007 acquisition of aQuantive raised my opinion of Steve Ballmer another notch.  Steve makes mistakes, but he also owns up to them.  So let’s travel back and see how Microsoft got into this … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Should someone buy RIM?

Posted on June 29, 2012 by halberenson

My friend and former co-worker David D’Souza has been agitating for some time for Microsoft to buy RIM.  I’m always arguing against the move.  It’s not that RIM doesn’t have some good assets, it’s that cleaning up the financial mess and … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Critics of the Microsoft Surface just don’t get it

Posted on June 25, 2012 by halberenson

The commentaries about the recently unveiled Microsoft Surface Tablet/”Ultrabook”/PC thingies is revealing.  Particularly the few from OEM executives, and the larger number from supporters of the status quo.  My summary of them: They don’t get “it”.  No not the Surface … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments

Four reasons we are losing the fight against Malware

Posted on June 24, 2012 by halberenson

It’s one step forward two steps back in the fight against Malware.  Every time it seems like we are making progress it becomes apparent that we keep attacking the tip of the iceberg and below the surface Malware is thriving.  So … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Security | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments