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Legacy Microsoft Products Get Security Support

Shavlik Technologies is offering a free download of its network solution to detect security misconfigurations and missing critical updates in older installed Microsoft products. The solution is for networks running legacy Microsoft software that is not supported by Microsoft Update, according to an announcement issued by Shavlik.

Shavlik's NetChk Protect Limited searches for critical security patches and spyware. However, the free version does not install patches or remove spyware, according to the product's Quick Start Guide posted on Shavlik's Web site.  

Shavlik offers an upgrade to the free program that has additional tools, such as "automated remediation, intelligent patch targeting, and granular policy and compliance reporting," the announcement stated.

The product has its roots from Shavlik's work with Microsoft in 1999 to create a patch engine for the Microsoft Base Security Analyzer (MBSA) network security tool.

Microsoft stopped providing upgraded MSBA support for its Windows NT 4, Windows 2000 SP3 and lower, and Exchange 5.0 and 5.5 products, as described on the Microsoft TechNet Web site.

The current version of Microsoft's enterprise security solution is MBSA 2.0.1. Users who cannot use version 2.0.1 are encouraged at Microsoft's TechNet site to use the Shavlik NetChk Protect Limited solution instead.

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for the 1105 Enterprise Computing Group.