World’s renowned anti-virus software company, Sophos, just proclaimed that Mac is definitely not a virus free solution as platform. The people at Sophos opine that Windows, if configured appropriately, may boast of a highly secure platform just like the Linux. Dr Jan Hruska, who is one of the co-owners of Sophos, spoke to the media persons from “silicon.com” (sister site ZDNet Australia) in this regard too, he commented that Mac is strictly not a virus-free platform. He also added that: "They are available and they are moving around – it is not as though the Mac is in some miraculous way a virus-free environment.The fact that most people do use PCs means you certainly do hear more about those attacks. It gives a false impression that somehow Apple Macs are all virus free." As we are aware, the “Open office Macro-virus” is skilled enough to infect Windows, linux and Mac. The co-founder’s opinions came in few weeks after the discovery of this deadly “viral software”. Their counterparts, Symantec antivirus, also made public that system users who work on OpenOffice should be cautious enough while handling the same. The well known PC antivirus expert, Hruska, made this clear too that Windows is as safe as any other popular Operating System. According to him Windows should be handled properly and thus carefully analysing the OS’s security system software. He opined that: "It is important to realise that there is no magic in Linux from a virus point of view. It is really the question of how that security is deployed. He judged that Windows and Linux serve different purposes when they are put into deployment by the users." Hruska explained that Windows and Linux have been used for different purposes and thus, according to him, this has considerably influenced their security record: "On Microsoft operating systems, which were traditionally used on the endpoint, everybody ran as an administrator, which meant that if the operating system has security built in, it is simply not used. Linux came from the server world and in those deployments there was a great deal of effort put in separating users and making sure users do not run as administrator. It is really from the point of view of usage that security on Linux is probably used more than security on single user operating systems like XP and Vista." The most proficient industry analyst at IBRS,James Turner, also threw some light on this topic : “I think it’s a spurious argument to say that any of the leading operating systems is more secure than any of the others. It almost doesn’t matter what OS you’re using – it all depends on the processes and people supporting the OS. And this is without even talking about the supporting network architecture around the OS. If you want to get nitty-gritty, then using the Common Criteria listings, Windows XP is certified to EAL4+ and Apple’s OS X is only at EAL3." Via: Softwaresilicon
Archive for: ‘February 2012’
Adobe’s Apollo enables developers to run Web programs offline
Now, developers can work from their home through Adobe’s Apollo. A leading independent maker of software programming tools, Adobe Systems Inc, has introduced new design tools to run offline on computer desktops and desktops and programmes, which can work on the web. The next generation of Internet software, named Web 2.0, will run on both online in web browsers and offline on desktop computers without re-writing the code. The company has also introduced a public test version of its software, code named Apollo, which helps programmers to write advanced programs called Rich Internet Applications (RIA) for desktop computers, even when they are not connected to the web. Apollo software will allow developers to take online applications and enable them to work offline from home. Apollo is also known as Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR), which allows independent software developers to build hybrid Web and desktop applications to run on an independent of Windows or Macintosh software. The software also brings to desktop computer programs to build rich multimedia applications. The test version of Adobe AIR includes following features: 1. It includes an embedded local database, which stores online data offline 2. The reading of Adobe Acrobat ".pdf" files is expanded with JavaScript programming, 3. The software is integrated with Adobe Flex, the company’s Rich Internet Application software development system. 4. Adobe AIR is an open source software, which allows developers to use and enhance the code in exchange for sharing any improvements Michele Turner, Adobe’s vice president of platforms, said, Especially data-intensive or multimedia applications stand to benefit in situations where local wireless connections fail. These capabilities allow programmers to create simple-to-use "drag-and-drop" software that runs both online and offline. Image Credit: Spittel & Digital back count Via: Reuters
Yahoo! patches Instant Messenger zero day flaws
World’s leading search engine provider, Yahoo! Inc. has released a new version of its Messenger, an instant messaging client to patch of zero-day vulnerabilities, which allow attackers grab control of a Windows PC with little or no help from the user. eEye Digital Security Inc. has reported the bugs in Messenger’s Webcam ActiveX controls with in less than 24 hours after the vulnerabilities were reported to Yahoo!. Yahoo! has posted the new version of Messenger on its site and urged everyone to download and install it. Computers of messenger users’ could be at risk, if they visit malicious websites or view other malicious HTML code. Then, attackers can exploit security flaws in the Yahoo Webcam ActiveX control, a software package, which is downloaded with Messenger. Since, Yahoo! has posted the patched edition, eEye has updated its advisory today with additional information on the vulnerabilities and how they could be exploited by attackers. Normally, said eEye, the two buggy ActiveX controls are used only when viewing or streaming webcam video content to and from Messenger. According to Yahoo security advisory, attacks would most likely come via malicious Web sites. Some impacts of the vulnerabilities might include the introduction of executable code, being involuntarily logged out of a chat and/or instant messaging session, and the crash of an application such as Internet Explorer. Image Credit: Back Office Via: ZD Net
Apple debuts Windows-compatible Safari Web browser
To gain popularity in the Windows Internet Explorer dominated web browser market, Apple has released a Windows compatible version of their Safari web browser. Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs said that the company would love to increase the market share of Safari. Safari was released a few years ago especially for Mac computers. The browser has a share of about 5% of the world’s browser market, with more than 18.6 million users. Internet Explorer can be termed as the giant of the industry with share of about 78%, followed by Mozilla’s Firefox having a share of 15%. The move of Apple to release Windows compatible browser can be termed as a way to boost the sales of the products sold under its flagship. Apple has also incorporated the browser in the company’s much anticipated iPhone. Windows compatible Safari will offer a better user interface, tabbed browsing, SnapBack, Form AutoFill, Built-in RSS, resizable text fields, private browsing and better security features. Apple also claims that the web browser is the fastest on any platform and loads pages up to 2 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and up to 1.6 times faster that Firefox 2. The application is available in Beta and can be downloaded from Apple’s official web page. Via: usatoday
IBM’s STEM software tracks disease path
The software vendor, IBM, has developed an advanced software technology, which will make easier to track the transmission of diseases around the world to the open source and public health communities. IBM’s software can quickly create an epidemiological model for how an infectious disease, like bird flu, is likely to geographically spread over time based on certain parameters including population, road maps, airport locations, travel patterns and bird migratory routes around the world. The software is known as, Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler (STEM), which is available through the Eclipse Open Healthcare Framework Project (OHF), hosted at the Eclipse Foundation, the non-profit foundation that guides the Eclipse open source community. Public health agencies and software developers in local communities can customize the models. The tool will help scientists and public health officials in understanding and planning more efficient responses to health crises. STEM is three years of global research including contributions from scientists from IBM’s Almaden, Haifa and Watson labs. STEM has following features: 1) It can run on any operating system: STEM is available on an open source, so communities can work together to build models and respond to emerging epidemics. 2)Tracking Around the World: A basic epidemiological model framework will be provided to public health agencies and software developers, who can customise and configure the models based on their specific geographic, health and relevant macroeconomic issues. 3)Plug-In Contributions: Users would be able to share the customizes epidemiological models they create as well as the plug-ins they build using Eclipse. Joseph Jasinski, IBM program director said, STEM allows public health officials to model the spread of a disease much like modeling a storm or hurricane — it’s like a health weather map. Until now, it wasn’t possible to play out health crisis scenarios on a global scale. STEM gives us the power to do that. Image Credit: Knowledge Base & Alpha Via: Money Control
Google ranked lowest in privacy ranking for comprehensive consumer surveillance
Time is not so far when Google will tell you what you want at what time. It is because of the strong database which Google is supposedly developing by comprehensive consumer surveillance. It may be beneficial for Google in sending relating ads to the users based on their online habits. However, it’s a serious breach of privacy. This is what I have learned from the recently released privacy ranking by Privacy International. In its first report entitled, ‘A Race to the Bottom: Privacy Ranking of Internet Service Companies’, the Privacy International has dropped Google to the bottom of the list which consists of internet bigwigs such as Apple, eBay, Microsoft and YouTube. The report has raised many eyebrows on Google’s privacy policy opening up an open battle between the search giant and rights group. The cyber rights group has come down heavily on Google because of its aggressive use of invasive or potentially invasive technologies”, market dominance and the size of its product range. The report based on six-month of extensive investigation by the rights group into the privacy practices of more than 20 net companies has placed Google in the bottom of the ranking for comprehensive consumer surveillance and entrenched hostility to privacy. Suppose, you use Google services say, Gmail, Desktop, Google Finance, Google Search, Picasa, YouTube etc, your online behavior will be monitored and kept in a database anywhere in the Google kingdom. From that database, Google can learn users’ tastes, fashions and habits. Criticising the report, Google said, We are disappointed with Privacy International’s report which is based on numerous inaccuracies and misunderstandings about our services.We recognise that user trust is central to our business and Google aggressively protects our users’ privacy. In an open letter to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the Privacy International Director, Simon Davies has explained, So do we have a vested interest in attacking Google? No. Some of the people we work with have Microsoft connections, but we work with many thousands of people as partners, collaborators and managers. One of our trustees, for example, works for a law firm that has Microsoft as one of its many clients. We agreed with this person that a legal document should be drawn up expressly fire-walling his professional from his private involvement with Privacy International. He went on saying, We socialise with Microsoft employees, but then again we socialise with employees of the UK Home Office, which in a recent celebrated chapter attempted to destroy our reputation following critical work on the UK ID card proposals. We are happy to reach out to anyone, regardless of their affiliation. Image Credit
Woodbine’s Volante POS systems offers wireless POS solution for hospitality and gaming
Woodbine Entertainment Group has developed Point of Scale (POS) system, named Volante for businesses enterprise. The company has developed the Volante in pure Java. Volante is an excellent POS software solution for a complex hospitality environment. Volante is able to integrate corporate activity with the powerful features of Internet computing. Volante will also run on the operating system of your choice, Linux, Unix or Windows, or Linux and Windows. Volante’s creative approach to wireless mobile computing makes it perfect wireless solution for venues like stadiums, trade shows, casinos, arenas, race tracks and outdoor sales areas where conventional POS terminals aren’t practical nor feasible. The entire POS software is loaded on the unit and it runs as terminal peer to peer, data syncing. Eddie Stutz, VP of Operations for Woodbine, Reliability is also very important, especially a system that can stand alone. We can’t have our system go down, who wants to find themselves in that situation? So having no down time at all is key. Volante has variety of other applications, including purchasing, rewards and retail, as well as the ability to integrate with Woodbine’s player-reward application. Woodbine has installed Volante at all their various venues, numbering some 200+ registers in a mixed Linux / Windows enterprise topology. Via: Horse Via: The Open Press
Microsoft releases much-awaited Windows Home Server RC
That’s right folks! Microsoft has now made available the much awaited Windows Home Server Release Candidate for all the code monkeys out there. A large number of people who took part in the WHS beta program were eagerly awaiting the release. The Release Candidate 1(RC1) is sure to entertain home users who have multiple Window-based computers in their network. Moreover, it features an array of Add-ins for Windows Home Server. The new platform offers automatic backup, shared space for media (pictures, video, and music), streaming services and remote access gateway to all computers in your home network. If we talk about the Windows Home Server as a development platform, it offers incredible opportunities for the hardware and software developers to come out with inventive solutions. Try it out and yes, don’t forget to report the bugs.
SonicWALL launches the first 16-way multi-core UTM security appliance, Network Security Appliance
A leading provider of Internet security solutions, SonicWALL Inc. has unveiled the industry’s first 16-way multi-core UTM security appliance, named SonicWALL Network Security Appliance (NSA) E7500, which makes deep packet inspection security productive and easy to manage in larger network deployments. The SonicWALL Network Security Appliance E7500 is designed to enable the highest level of Unified Threat Management (UTM) performance at its price point. The NSA E7500 is designed for campus networks, distributed environments and data centers. It is the industry’s first UTM appliance to provide the power sixteen processing cores in a single network platform. The UTM solutions provides high quality network performance, reduces the cost of organizations and protects against dynamic network threats. The NSA E7500 is designed to address these concerns and allows mid-tier and enterprise organizations to reap the benefits of deep packet inspection security throughout their networks. The NSA E7500 includes integrated security services including dynamic threat prevention, content filtering and application control. It also includes other features, which are given below: 1) Virtual private network (VPN) implementations and deployment flexibility, 2) Four high-speed gigabit Ethernet copper interfaces and four high-speed configurable SFP (small form-factor pluggable) ports 3) In-built secure wireless LAN functionality 4) Making the appliance an ideal solution for wired and wireless applications requiring high-speed access and heavy workgroup segmentation 5) It integrates standards-based VoIP capabilities, virtual local area networks (VLANs) and enterprise class-routing and QoS features for the deployment of flexibility and productivity enhancements. Douglas Brockett, vice president and general manager at SonicWALL, said, IT administrators are looking for performance, ease of management, insightful reporting and scalability to help them support their corporate financial goals. SonicWALL is rising to this challenge by being the first to deliver ultra high performance deep packet inspection in an appliance that can easily be deployed and integrated in any size of network. Many threats now originate within the LAN, so deep packet inspection across every interface on the network is essential. Image Credit: Clarity Tech & Sonic Wall Via: Managing & Automation
Microsoft unveils redesigned MSN portal for mobile phones
The software giant, Microsoft has unveiled a resigned MSN portal, which is optimized for mobile phones. The company’s new portal MSN offers news, sports information, entertainment features and access to services like e-mail, search, maps and instant messaging all on one page. The new platform detects the handset and optimizes the site for that device, adjusting things like font sizes for different screens, as users access the portal. According to Sterling Market Intelligence and Opus Research, it is expected that number of US mobile Internet users will become triple to 110 million in 2011 from the current 32 million. While according to Microsoft’s official report, the company will not place advertising on the portal right away but it is expected to have either banner, text or click-to-call ads in place this year. Phil Holden, Microsoft’s director of mobile Web services, said, We firmly believe there is an inflection point here. There’s a new battle, a new frontline developing on the mobile phone. Image Credit: Digit Futuristic Via: WASHINGTON POST