14 DAY TRIAL // Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is reportedly preparing a new software update for handsets running under its Windows Phone 7 operating system, one that should resolve some security issues on these devices.
The problem does not reside with the Windows Phone operating system, but involves a series of compromised security certificates from Comodo.
The software update was meant to close a loophole around these certificates. If left unpatched, the breach could leave Windows Phone 7 handsets open to phishing attacks or content spoofing.
“Fraudulent digital certificates are not a Microsoft security vulnerability” explained Microsoft Trustworthy Computing manager Bruce Cowper, WinRumors notes. “We have been working to develop a mitigation update for Windows Phones.”
The said certificates were requested for mail.google.com, www.google.com, login.yahoo.com (multiple ones), login.skype.com, addons.mozilla.org, login.live.com and a “global trustee.”
These certificates have been already revoked by Comodo, and updates for various types of devices and browsers were already issued. You can read more on the matter on Softpedia here.
Microsoft already delivered two software updates for its Windows Phone 7 users, but none of them included patches for this issue.
However, the new software update is expected to be targeted specifically at the Internet Exporer browser on Windows Phone 7.
For the time being, Microsoft did not confirm a specific release date for the new software update, though it did confirm its existence.
According to some of the latest reports on the matter, the Redmond-based software giant migth be gearing up for the release of this software update on handsets starting with May 3rd.
What remains to be seen is whether the security fix will be delivered over the air, or through the Zune software on user's desktop PCs, just as the previous updates for the platform.
This is only one of the many software update Microsoft has is store for Windows Phone 7 users for the ongoing year. In addition to the said software, the company plans the release of a major update for the platform sometime in fall this year.