Subscribe to Windows IT Pro

Orin Thomas

Orin Thomas is a contributing editor for Windows IT Pro and a Windows Security MVP. He has authored or coauthored more than a dozen books for Microsoft Press, and he writes the Hyperbole, Embellishment, and System Administration Blog.
Email: orin@windowsitpro.com

My Latest Content
My Latest Comments



Author Articles

Conniptions and Cognitive Dissonance

By Orin Thomas, 05/11/2012

Mozilla and Google seem to be having conniptions over the fact that Chrome and Firefox won't be allowed to run as Desktop applications on Windows 8 RT, even though they will be ...

Comparative Review: Exchange Server e-Discovery

By Orin Thomas, 04/23/2012

Sherpa Software's Discovery Attender and Quest Software's Archive Manager go beyond the basic e-discovery functionality offered in Exchange Server 2010.

SQL Server Backup Comparison

By Orin Thomas, 04/21/2012

If SQL Server's native tools aren't meeting your database backup and restore needs, there are alternative tools you can use. Here's a look at how backup solutions from Acronis, ...

Exploits, difficulty, and zero day market value.

By Orin Thomas, 04/07/2012

“If it is so easy, why is there is more money in developing zero day exploits for Windows than OSX?” A common claim made by security researchers and commentators is that Windows ...

Schadenfreude, Malware, and Hubris

By Orin Thomas, 04/06/2012

Schadenfreude perhaps best describes the attitude of most Windows security experts to the OSX Flashback Botnet. For a long time security experts have argued that it was a matter ...

Digitally signed malware is becoming routine

By Orin Thomas, 03/28/2012

Even the bad guys are using code-signing certificates. According to a recent report by McAffe http://blogs.mcafee.com/mcafee-labs/signed-malware-you-can-runbut-you-cant-hide ...

Windows XP to Windows 8

By Orin Thomas, 03/27/2012

"The day that the last Windows XP computer is powered down is in the distant future" Even if you're running the latest "consumer preview" of Windows 8 on your day to day system, ...

Windows 8: Consumer versus IT Pro strategy

By Orin Thomas, 03/26/2012

"If consumers don't like it, IT departments won't be able to roll it out" Up to this point, Microsoft has been making the Windows 8 case more broadly for the "consumer" ...

System Center 2012 Suite

By Orin Thomas, 03/20/2012

A major overhaul in the Microsoft System Center suite helps IT pros configure and manage applications, services, computers, and VMs.

Grocking the Windows 8 Start Menu

By Orin Thomas, 03/05/2012

I've noticed a lot of consternation from friends about the new full screen start menu in the Win 8 preview. In reality it's a bit like the Office Ribbon. First reactions are ...

Installing Windows Server 8 and WSUS

By Orin Thomas, 03/01/2012

: @orinthomas The following is a quick video screencast showing the installation of Windows Server 8 and the WSUS server role. I haven’t put commentary on it yet – but it’s ...

BYOD and Internal Attacks

By Orin Thomas, 03/01/2012

: @orinthomas As you are no doubt aware, a decent percentage of attacks that occur on an organization’s infrastructure are initiated by people internal to the organization. Most ...

BYOD when someone gets fired

By Orin Thomas, 02/28/2012

: @orinthomas If a person is fired from an organization, you want to restrict their access to information as quickly as possible. Locking them out of their work computer and ...

Product Review: VMware Protect Essentials Plus

By Orin Thomas, 02/22/2012

The capabilities of VMware vCenter Protect Essentials Plus go well beyond what's available in tools such as the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA).

Privacy is the new security

By Orin Thomas, 02/21/2012

: @orinthomas Internet Explorer, through tracking protection lists, can protect you from websites that have a fairly wanton approach to your personal information. However ...

OSX 10.8 will block unsigned code. Windows can do this. Should it?

By Orin Thomas, 02/20/2012

: @orinthomas AppLocker and Software Restriction Policies have been around a long time on computers running Windows. With these group policies, you can lock down a system so that ...

Security and Rapid Mobile Application Development

By Orin Thomas, 02/20/2012

: @orinthomas When Microsoft created the Security Development Lifecycle, which is one model of secure software development, it required that security be considered from the ...

Traveling overseas? You'll need a visa and might need to disable your computer's encryption

By Orin Thomas, 02/15/2012

: @orinthomas A New York Times article recently told me something I didn't know about crossing borders with encrypted hard disks - namely that "both China and Russia prohibit ...

Piracy and Consumerization/BYOD

By Orin Thomas, 02/07/2012

: @orinthomas It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone to learn that the personal computers of a lot of people have what might be delicately termed "software sourced through ...

Data retention and 17th century aphorisms

By Orin Thomas, 01/29/2012

: @orinthomas “If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him” Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642) News ...



Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft group of companies. Windows IT Pro is used by Penton Media Inc. under license from owner.