Where are the greatest Web-related security threats today? Analysis of Web Hacking Incidents Database (WHID) reveals that in 2009 social networks were at the greatest risk, malware and defacement remained the most common outcome of Web attacks, and SQL injection was the most common attack vector. Here’s a deeper dive on the findings and what you can do about them.

Microsoft is to give Windows users in the European Union the option of choosing another web browser to replace the default Internet Explorer (IE) from 1 March. The move is in line with a December 2009 agreement with EU competition authorities, who ruled that bundling IE with Windows abused Microsoft's dominant position to entrench its web browser.

Microsoft said it will soon will feed Windows 7 users an update that detects illegal copies installed using more than 70 different activation cracks. The update to Windows Activation Technologies (WAT), the anti-piracy software formerly known as Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), will be posted to Microsoft 's download site on Feb. 17, and offered as an optional upgrade via Windows Update later this month, where it will be tagged as "important."

Software maker says investigation shows the OS isn't an energy hog and doesn't issue false warnings about failing power cells. Microsoft is disputing Internet reports that claim its new Windows 7 operating system drains laptop batteries at an unusually fast rate or, at times, falsely warns users that their battery is about to fail.

Mozilla's new Firefox 3.6 is about 15 percent faster than its predecessor, Firefox 3.5, but still is a slowpoke compared to the current speed demons, Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome, benchmark tests show. According to tests run by Computerworld, Firefox 3.6, which Mozilla launched on Thursday , is the third fastest of five Windows browsers tested.

In my keynote Wednesday night at CES, the annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, I talked about a number of trends transforming the role that technology plays in our lives -- trends like the proliferation of ever cheaper and lighter HD screens, the combination of smart devices and powerful PCs connected to the cloud and the changing nature of television when combined with innovative software.

In the past seven weeks, more than 2 million people have downloaded the beta for Microsoft Office 2010. That's a whopping 40,000 downloads per day. It's a record breaking pace, surpassing the beta release for Microsoft Office 2007.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has gathered more ammunition in support of the coming Wi-Fi Direct specification set for availability around the middle of this year. An array of vendors will be demonstrating solutions based on the Wi-Fi Direct at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week, including Intel and Broadcom, which promises to let consumers easily network any number of devices wirelessly, including keyboards, headphones, video projectors, displays and even cell phones.

Although the rumored Microsoft tablet device wasn't in the offing, Microsoft at CES 2010 did reveal that Project Natal, which lets people use their body as a game controller for Xbox, will be out in time for the 2010 holiday season.

Microsoft has issued a document explaining how Windows Server 2008 R2 behaves differently. Windows Server 2008 R2 adds new features and extends technologies introduced in Windows Server 2008 to help increase the reliability and flexibility of server infrastructures. This downloadable Word document from Microsoft describes some of the new capabilities and management enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2 and how they can be used to provide greater control and increased efficiency.

News source: Server Management