Following the State of the Union address, 49 websites of the House of Representatives were hacked. The websites were defaced with clear anti Obama messaging. The websites were all managed by a single company. The incident occurred when the company was working on a system update.
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Archive for January, 2010
Twitter Website Adds Local Trends Data To Sidebar
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
Twitter added a new feature to give users more current information based on it’s aggregated behavior data. In the right hand navigation bar of the Twitter website, you will notice a new feature called “Trending.” This link allows you to select from a collection of geographic regions to see popular trends. Currently, only 15 U.S. cities and five non-U.S. countries are on the “Trends” list, but it is highly likely that Twitter will expand the aggregated data tools since there is overwhelming interest.
Cyberattack Targets Chinese Human Rights Websites
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
The websites of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), Independent Chinese Pen (ICPC), New Century News, Canyu and Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch (CRLW) were attacked on January 23 and 24 by hackers of an unknown origin.
A distributed denial of service (DDOS) brought down the websites for approximately 16 hours. At the height of the incident, the frequency of the attack was at 2GB per second. It was the most intense attack that their Internet Service Provider has experienced in the history of their business.
Prior to this DDOS attack, malware was installed on the server of the websites for CHRD and New Century News. Some of the attacks have coordinated with “sensitive” dates for the country of China.
How to calibrate a Macbook battery
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Apple computer batteries can be calibrated to perform better and last longer. This quick guide will help you calibrate your battery for a iBook, PowerBook, MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro.
Battery Calibration For iBooks and PowerBook G4
(Does not include PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD)
It is a good idea to calibrate your battery every 6 weeks to one month.
1. Fully charge your computer battery by plugging your computer into a powersource and charging to 100%. You will notice that the light on your power plug will turn from orange to green.
2. Disconnect your power adapter, and allow the computer to run on just battery power. Allow all the power to drain from your battery until the computer turns off as a result of no more power in the battery.
3. Once you have drained your computer battery of all it’s power, plug the computer back in and recharge it.
By fully charging and discharging the battery, you have performed a calibration that will extend the life of your Apple battery.
For more information about battery calibration for other models, consult the apple website. (PowerBook G4 (15-inch Double-Layer SD), MacBook (all models), MacBook Pro (all models), MacBook Pro (17-inch) (all models) and MacBook Air) http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1490
Air America Is Bankrupt
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Air America, a progressive talk radio service, that employs Al Franken and Rachel Maddow is filing for Chapter 7 and will “carry out an orderly winding-down of the business.”
At 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 25, Air America will no longer broadcast.
New Government Imposed Web Video Restrictions In Italy Cause Uproar
Monday, January 18th, 2010
The Italian Government recently passed new rules requiring users who upload videos to the web to seek approval through the Communications Ministry–a requirement imposed on large television broadcasters. Such laws will drastically reduce the freedom and innovations of web based communication.
Opposition party members in Italy have already denounced the new rules as an injury to freedom of expression. “The decree subjects the transmission of images on the Web to rules typical of television and requires prior ministerial authorization, with an incredible limitation on the way the Internet currently functions” stated Paolo Gentiloni, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party.
Other critics state that Silvio Berlusconi is not acting in the interests of the general public in the process of introducing such laws. Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister of Italy, is on one hand the controller of the state broadcaster RAI and on the other hand controls the largest private Italian broadcasting company, Mediaset. Such an apparent conflict of interests will place private business interests before the interests of the general public, critics assert.
AT&T Glitch Gave Access To Wrong Facebook Account
Sunday, January 17th, 2010
A Facebook user logged into Facebook from their mobile phone and gained access to another Facebook user’s account. The user was an AT&T subscriber, and a glitch in the network was the cause of the identity violation–revealing a very disconcerting flaw in security for the mobile web.
Currently it is unknown just how common (or uncommon) this error is. The access data mix-up may be an extremely rare flaw based on an extreme set of conditions or it could simply be under-reported. Some security experts have also noted that this flaw is possible with email and also with PCs as well.
AT&T commented on this issue stating that the network problem behind it is being fixed. This is not to say that other similar glitches may not arise as internet connectivity demands grow.
BW Points Out A Possible Partnership Between Apple and Microsoft
Sunday, January 17th, 2010
As Google readies it’s mobile hardware set titled Nexus One for the markets, Apple may be looking to support a less threatening search company. Hell has frozen over. The increasing tensions between Apple and Google, highlighted by the resignation of Eric Schmidt from Apple’s board, may lead Apple to entrust Microsoft’s Bing with it’s search functionality for the precious iPhone.
Apple has likewise moved into Google territory furthering the tensions between the two companies. With the 275 million dollar purchase of Quattro Wireless, Apple has embarked on a journey of discovery in the world of mobile advertising–trying to solve one of the big needs of the day–how to profitize the mobile web with an advertising model.
Microsoft Launches New Website For Business Licensing And Frustrates Customers
Monday, January 11th, 2010
Microsoft recently launched a new website dedicated to it’s most loyal demographic–business and corporate software customers. The website, Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center, was a consolidation of three important websites that would provide better security for it’s business customers. This new website would be the all-in-one place for bulk lincensing–to manage Microsoft Volume Licensing program agreements, download licensed products, and access volume license keys.
What started out as a desire for better convenience and security turned into a nightmare for Microsoft customers, who were unable to log into the new website and carry out normal business with Microsoft. The website had to be taken down and transactions were handled in a case by case basis as a result.
Source: CNET, Microsoft, Microsoft Australia Partner Network.
Site links:
http://blogs.msdn.com/auspartners/archive/2009/12/15/microsoft-volume-licensing-service-centre-vlsc-update.aspx
https://partner.microsoft.com/40046574