Yahoo gets Binged

As expected, Microsoft and Yahoo just issued a joint announcement that explains how Microsoft will provide the search engine and Yahoo will sell the ads in the brave new world of second place search.

Details here.

Two more IE patches released: stick with Firefox, please

As I anticipated a few days ago, Microsoft has just released two Out of band patches and one security advisory for Internet Explorer.

If you are running the Windows 7 Release Candidate, you’re vulnerable, but the Windows 7 RTM version is clean.

SANS Storm Center has full details.

This is another screwed up patch-of-a-patch that didn’t work, only this time there are hundreds – probably thousands – of third-party programs that are affected. Brian Krebs in the Washington Post steps you through the Keystone Kops aspects.

In spite of what Brian says – and, yes, you should apply the security patches one of these days – you’re safe if you stick with Firefox. Just don’t do anything weird online, like allowing a web page to install a program, OK?

We remain at MS-DEFCON 2: Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don’t do it.

The guys at the Black Hat Conference in Vegas this week are going to have a field day.

Microhoo coming soon

Industry insider Kara Swisher reports that a Microsoft-Yahoo deal should be announced within the next 24 hours:

Sources said Microsoft search technology will be used on Yahoo sites, although it is not clear if it will be branded as “powered by Bing” … In addition, sources said Yahoo would still sell search ads on its sites and on Bing too, although Microsoft’s AdCenter advertising sales technology will be underneath it.

This makes the deal much smaller than ones previously envisioned, which included Microsoft taking over both Yahoo’s search and its text-based search advertising businesses, in exchange for large payments and guaranteed revenue.

Apparently there’s no big infusion of cash involved.