Original Article By Nicole Perlroth at The New York Times

One more thing to worry about: Your brand-spanking-new computer could be infected with a virus that will raid your online bank account.

On Thursday, Microsoft said it had discovered several new computers, fresh from Chinese factory floors, that carried a particularly pernicious computer virus — one capable of invading bank accounts, starting computer attacks and creating back doors that allow criminals to have their way with infected machines.

Microsoft’s digital crime researchers purchased 20 new computers from different cities in China and discovered that four of them had been infected with viruses. In each case, the computers were running counterfeit versions of Windows software that were infected with the virus.

That virus, called Nitol, reported back to a command and control center hosted by the Web domain 3322.org, which is registered to Bei Te Kang Mu Software Technology. That domain, Microsoft’s researchers say, hosts 500 different strains of malware. Some are capable of switching on a victim’s microphone or Web camera. Others record victims’ keystrokes, giving cybercriminals access to their log-in credentials and online bank accounts.

Microsoft to open 'pop-up' stores on October 26

By Agence France-Presse, October 03, 2012 @ NDTV GADGETS

Scores of real-world Microsoft stores will "pop up" in the United States and Canada on October 26 to showcase the technology giant's latest gadgets including the new Surface tablet computer.

Microsoft websites on Tuesday promised that temporary, holiday season shops with a "curated collection of Microsoft's coolest products" would open their doors on the date.

"Microsoft is excited to expand on its existing retail footprint to deliver an assortment of best-in-class products and a premium retail experience to new locations," the US tech giant said in a statement when the shops were announced.

"The holiday stores continue to offer customers the opportunity to learn new technology skills and get the most out of their Microsoft-enabled devices."

The list of more than 60 locations for the shops known as pop-ups because they have short or seasonal commercial leases included in New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Vancouver and Toronto.

The company, which has been in the process of opening permanent retail stores in several US cities, is seeking to break into the competitive market for tablet computers with Surface, set to be released October 26.

Microsoft isn’t worried about Google stealing its Office customers

Eric Abent, Dec 27th 2012

Yesterday, we heard that Google is planning to steal away a significant amount of Microsoft Office’s consumer base. Those aspirations likely won’t come as much of a surprise, as we’ve seen Google attempting to grow its influence in the business space for a while, but apparently the big G isn’t yet at a point where Microsoft is worried. Despite the fact that Google said it’s going to try to take 90% of the Office customers who “don’t need to have the most advanced features of Office,” Microsoft’s general manager of business Julia White doesn’t view Google as much of a threat.