Hackers seeking source code from Google, Adobe and dozens of other high-profile companies used unprecedented tactics that combined encryption, stealth programming and an unknown hole in Internet Explorer, according to new details released by the anti-virus firm McAfee. “We have never ever, outside of the defense industry, seen commercial industrial companies come under that level [...]
Archive for January, 2010
Smartphones need smart security practices
As vice president of IT at Windsor Foods in Houston, Stephan Henze has to stay one step ahead of the latest IT trends. That’s why he’s spending a lot of time thinking about securing and deploying smartphones enterprisewide. The company had only a few-dozen smartphones just a short time ago, but IT now manages about [...]
Attack code used to hack Google now public
The dangerous Internet Explorer attack code used in last month’s attack on Google’s corporate networks is now public. The code was submitted for analysis Thursday on the Wepawet malware analysis Web site, making it publicly available. By Friday, it had been included in at least one publicly available hacking tool and could be seen in [...]
Gag prize awarded in Apple Tablet scavenger hunt
Technology blog Valleywag says it has a winner in its Apple Tablet scavenger hunt offering prizes to anyone who can provide proof the mythical device exists. And the winner is: Apple? That’s right; Gawker Media’s tech blog is awarding a prize to Apple attorney Michael Spillner of the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe for [...]
UK jury clears operator of Oink BitTorrent search engine
In a blow to the entertainment industry, a U.K. jury on Friday acquitted the operator of a popular BitTorrent search engine that enabled people to download music. Alan Ellis, 26, was charged with conspiracy to defraud, according to one of his solicitors, Simon Rose of the firm Morgan Rose Solicitors. Ellis, of Middlesbrough, England, ran [...]
Mass Effect 2 viral ad attracts 100 applications
Electronic Arts (EA) Australia is claiming a win for its viral marketing campaign for its upcoming gaming title, Mass Effect 2. The company received about 100 ‘applications’ for a fake advertisement offering positions as “Biotic Powered Super Soliders”. EA, via its marketing agency Razor, posted a job ad on Seek.com.au asking for candidates for a [...]
Google Upgrades Security on Gmail
Gmail users around the world are getting an important security upgrade. In a blog post Tuesday night, Google said it will begin using Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, technology to encrypt all traffic carried on its free Web-based e-mail service. HTTPS is a popular Internet protocol that combines the standard HTTP Web protocol with [...]
GPS tool to warn speeding drivers
Drivers who install a global positioning system in their cars will soon be able to see what the speed limit is on every road they travel, thanks to a $2.3 million information project. From the end of this month, speed limits will be listed for every road in the state on new or updated GPS [...]
OpenStreetMap attracts 200,000 volunteers
A volunteer-led project to create an open-source map of the entire earth, calledOpenStreetMap, has amassed over 200,000 contributors since its inception, the founder announced in a blog entry. The project has attracted over 100,000 users since last March alone, noted founder Steve Coast. He predicts that, given this rate of growth, the contributor base will [...]