Microsoft has gone into the lion's den, demonstrating
some of the early work it has done on the second beta version of
its IE7 at the 'Hack in the Box' security conference in Kuala
Lumpur.
It is the first time that Microsoft has presented ahead of a
product release specifically to get feedback from a hacker-specific
group - or as Microsoft prefers to call them, the 'security
research community."
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The company is now working to engage the "community" in the future
by making presentations at more hacker conventions and giving
attendees a chance to critique some of Microsoft's work before
products are released.
Hackers at the show even gave Microsoft some credit for showing
them some new security features on the Web browser and seeking
their views on the software, a Beta 2 version of which is expected
towards the end of the year.
One new feature in the Web browser is that it runs in higher
security "protected mode" by default, with lower user privileges.
All downloads and other packages are automatically dropped in the
temporary Internet files folder, so rogue programs can't be
deposited on the hard disk.
Courage. Audacity. Cojones. You have to admire Microsoft's
conciliatory approach, ironically in the week an unpatched flaw in
the Jet Database Engine within Microsoft Office comes to light. But
a long-term love-in with hackers - come on!