21st April 2008 Archive

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Microsoft: Finding flaws on our website is OK

ToorCon 'Hate the vuln, love the finder'

In a first for a major company, Microsoft has publicly pledged not to sue or press charges against ethical hackers who responsibly find security flaws in its online services. The promise, extended Saturday at the ToorCon security conference in Seattle, is a bold and significant move. While researchers are generally free to …

Software & Security 21 Apr 06:02
Chinese hackers call off CNN attack

Keeping the flame alive

Chinese hackers have postponed a planned attack on CNN.com. The assault was planned as a response to criticism of China in the Western media that has accompanied the Olympic Torch procession. Chinese policy in Tibet, as well as the nation's poor human rights record, has come under the spotlight as Western activists have …

Software & Security 21 Apr 08:17
P2P searches touted as tool against child abuse

Senator places blind faith in Fairplay

A Democrat Senator has proposed monitoring peer-to-peer networks for illegal files. Senator Joe Biden proposed the plan at a Senate Judiciary sub-committee hearing about child exploitation on the net. Sen Biden tabled a bill to increase resources for regional computer forensic labs and boost tools available to fight online …

Software & Security 21 Apr 08:54
Prime yourself for security on the web

Food for thought on how to approach web security

Web security is an interesting topic. It's the kind of thing we think we know all about yet, when you sit down and consider all the dimensions, it's pretty hard to nail them all in one go. The trouble is, each time you start, some new threat has emerged and moves the goal posts. It doesn't have to be this way though, as our …

Software & Security 21 Apr 09:11
Friends Reunited killer gets life

Midsummer murder

An Italian who travelled to the UK to kill his wife's lover, after she reconnected with her teenage sweetheart through the Friends Reunited website, was jailed for life last week. Francesco Matta, 56, was sent to prison for a minimum of 11 years after a jury found him guilty of murder at Exeter Crown Court, Sky News reports. …

Software & Security 21 Apr 09:57
Microsoft beta tests Office subscription software

Albany arrives

Microsoft has launched a private beta test of a subscription version of its Office and security software. Dubbed Albany the package includes Office Live and OneCare - Microsoft's bundle of security and anti-virus products. It is aimed at consumers rather than businesses - Microsoft is already trialling similar offerings for …

Software & Security 21 Apr 09:58
Why is Ruby on Rails so darn slow?

'Weird and hard to understand'

Tim Bray, the co-creator of XML turned Ruby on Rails enthusiast, has told developers to face up to lingering performance problems in the scripting stack. In a keynote at the Silicon Valley Ruby Conference last week, Bray called Rails "a big deal, a hot deal". And the Sun Microsystems director of web technologies is walking it …

Software & Security 21 Apr 11:02
Shrinking patch windows hit by automated attacks

Quick and dirty exploit peril

The length of time between the development of security patches and the development of exploits targeting the security holes they address has been dropping for some time. Hackers exploit this period of time - the so-called patch window - to launch attacks against unpatched machines. Typically, exploits are developed by skilled …

Software & Security 21 Apr 12:33
US crunch hits India

Satyam lowers guidance

The US slowdown rolled into India this week with outsourcer Satyam forecasting that revenue growth in 2009 will be well down on the 40 per cent plus rates it has become accustomed to. The company today forecast full year 2009 revenues of $2.65bn to $2.69bn, a rise of 24 to 26 per cent on the previous year. After seeing annual …

IT Channel 21 Apr 12:54
Satyam ups the ante for World Cup tech

1966 and all that

Satyam hopes to kick its way into Europeans' affections through a services deal it struck with Fifa last year. The India-based services provider signed up as Official IT Services Provider to the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups last November, ensuring its name will be plastered all over the tournaments alongside mega brands such …

IT Channel 21 Apr 15:09
Delayed Debian developers get thumbs up

Door open to further delays

Incoming Debian developers who'd been waiting months for the official nod to join the project have finally been approved. The delay of up to four months provoked a storm of protest from frustrated Debian participants and even prompted questions over the Linux-based operating system's future. Incoming Debian Project Leader …

Software & Security 21 Apr 18:40
Western Digital uncages ferocious VelociRaptor data hunting drive

Clever girl...

Western Digital is today launching the first model of a new line of ultra-swift hard drives, which the company says is the fastest SATA HDD available. The new VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS hard drive can store 300GB of data. Certainly not huge, but twice the space of the Raptor X model it will eventually replace. Obviously Western …

Enterprise 21 Apr 19:54
Microsoft kicks out third Windows XP service pack

That Vista/Server 2008 look

Microsoft has released to manufacturing Windows XP Service Pack 3. The fresh software disgorgement will be made available for download through the Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center services on April 29. SP3 wraps up all previous Windows XP fixes and throws in some new features that bring management in-line with …

Software & Security 21 Apr 19:58
Blue Coat pockets Packeteer for $268m

I'll get my...

WAN optimization specialist Blue Coat is to lay down a hefty $268m to purchase its rival, Packeteer. The proposed deal comes after Packeteer rejected an unsolicited bid from hedge fund firm Elliott Associates LP in early March to purchase the company for $200.6m. Elliott owns about 9.8 per cent of Packeteer, and said it made …

PC Builder 21 Apr 21:57