IE9 leads on Malware security: Report
December 27, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under Technology
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 beta Web browser beat the competition on malware protection, an NSS Labs report finds.
It’s one step forward and one back for security on Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. A malware security report by NSS Labs found Windows Internet Explorer 9 beta caught an exceptional 99 percent of the live threats, leading the non-IE pack by 80 percent. Mozilla Firefox 3.6 caught 19 percent of the live threats, down 10 percent from the NSS Labs test conducted in the first quarter of 2010. IE9′s protection includes SmartScreen URL filtering, which is included in IE8 as well as SmartScreen application reputation, which is new to IE9.
The report noted Apples Safari 5 browser caught 11 percent of the live threats, with overall protection declining 18 percent from Q1 2010. Google Chrome 6 caught just three percent of the live threats, down 14 percent from the Q1 2010 test and Opera 10 brought up the rearthe browser caught zero percent of the live threats. The report concluded the browser provides virtually no protection against socially engineered malware. From an initial list of 8,000 new suspicious sites, 1,209 potentially malicious URLs were prescreened for inclusion in the test and were available at the time of entry into the test. These were successfully accessed by the browsers in at least one run. On average, 124 new URLs were added to the test set per day. NSS Labs then assessed the browsers ability to block malicious URLs as quickly as they found them on the Internet, and continued testing them every six hours to determine how long it took a vendor to add protection.
Trends show Safari and Firefox converging at a protection rate just under 20 percent, indicating that while they share the Google Safe Browser feed, there is a difference in each browsers implementation. The report noted the mean time to block a site (if it is blocked at all) was16.4 hours, and noted Chrome (with a mean time of 17.8 hours) and Safari (nearly 37.5 hours) were above average at adding new blocks. With the exception of Opera, which failed to block a single malware download, all browsers blocked at least one malware download, according to NSS Labs data. It became obvious from this test and comparisons to the earlier test that Microsoft continues to improve their IE malware protection in Internet Explorer 8 (through its SmartScreen Filter technology) and in Internet Explorer 9 (with the addition of SmartScreen application reputation technology). With a unique URL blocking score of 94 percent and over-time protection rating of 99 percent, Internet Explorer 9 was by far the best at protecting against socially-engineered malware, the report concluded. The 89 percent zero-hour block rate suggests a far superior malware identification, collection, and classification method, the report noted. The test, conducted in September 2010, was the companys fourth test of Web browser protection against socially engineered malwarewhich the company said is the most common and impactful security threat facing Internet users today. This report followed the same Live Testing methodology as the tests conducted in Q1 2009, Q3 2009, and Q1 2010. The report contains empirically-validated evidence gathered during 11 days of 24 x 7 testing, performed every six hours, over 39 discrete test runs, each one adding fresh new malware URLs. Each product was updated to the most current version available at the time testing began, and allowed access to the live Internet.
remove google background
June 10, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Impressed by the background image on Google.com today?
Thanks to a new feature from Google, you can choose your own!
Last week, Google debuted a tool that enables you to put a background image of your choice on Google.com in place of Google’s bland white background.
Here’s how to add your own image:
Click “Add a background image and make Google your own” (under the search box).
Check out the absolute disaster of a background image in the above screenshot, not only is it just weird but it actually makes using Google.com really difficult, what on earth is that supposed to be anyway? …Moving along, here are some solutions to get around this Google background pic fiasco.
Use Google SSL instead of regular Google
Google SSL is the same as your regular Google.com except that all data sent between your browser and Google is encrypted through an SSL connection (note the https in the URL). As of this writing, Google SSL does NOT have the custom background images.
microsoft silverlight
June 4, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Microsoft’s Ballmer and Ozzie tag-team on mediocrity
Microsoft Silverlight is a browser plug-in that allows the Microsoft .Net developed internet applications to run smoothly on the browser. This plug-in basically enables the .Net internet applications to find a familiar environment to be able to execute in. The Silverlight plug-in is mainly developed so that it could help a browser display high definition video content, smoother browsing and better security features for the internet. Silverlight is usually used in conjunction with the Microsoft IIS that helps in smooth streaming.
A couple of days ago Nvidia demonstrated 3D video streaming on their new PC that is specifically optimized for 3D performance. The PC is called the Nvidia 3D Vision PC and it is capable of extreme 3D application execution.
The demonstration of the 3D video was done by installing Microsoft Silverlight for the browser and Microsoft IIS. After a little setup, an online 3D video started that showed intensely immersive graphics just like watching a running game or a render in 3D Studio Max. The experience was simply astonishing and the possibility of 3D video streaming in the future really boggles the mind.
Ballmer didn’t have a straight answer to this question from the floor, but provided a half-baked reply, “My guess is if it did, it would be blocked”, unclear about the Android part of the question.
What remains unanswered is why Microsoft will continue to develop a product that has no future, given that Microsoft lacks a stronghold in smartphone arena. He could’ve mentioned that SIlverlight would be available on iPhone as soon as Apple sanctions it. More so, he could have talked about their tie with Google for developing an Android port. Given these, Ballmer could have taken it to Nokia Symbian port.
That was a gift. You would expect the two men to enthuse about how Microsoft’s dominance with desktop Office was now including the cloud as well, how the Office Web Apps enable new opportunities for collaboration, how Microsoft’s investment in XML for Office was now enabling the same document to live both on the desktop and in the cloud.
Nope. Ozzie waffles about people being more connected. Ballmer “disputes the notion that everything is moving to the cloud”.
adobe flash player update
April 16, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Latest Huge Software Update: Adobe Flash Player Update
The web would not survive without Flash Players. Your whole web experience will be drained down the toilet if Adobe Flash Player on web is not installed on your browser yet. It is a bit frustrating sometimes when you borrow other people’s laptops or go to Internet Coffee shops and you need to go to a website to see something and it will prompt a message “Flash Player not installed.”
Adobe has been really up on its game to provide a Flash Player to add more spice to the websites. They have recently announced a big update on theirAdobe Flash Player. It is called the Adobe Flash Player Update 10.1. People are asking why they named it a 10.1 and did not update it to 11.0 instead since it’s a big update
What do you think?
You may visit get.adobe.com/flashplayer for more info and downloads
Germans should stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer
January 17, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Germany has advised its internet users to avoid using Microsoft Internet Explorer and opt for other browsing software due to security risks to Internet Explorer. The advice was issued by Federal Office of Information Security at a time when Microsoft has admitted that one of the reasons for the recent attacks on Google system was due to the flaws in security of Internet Explorer.
Microsoft’s German representative has rejected the advice saying that the people who attacked Google’s system had a specific agenda. Microsoft has said that steps have been taken to enhance the browser’s security. German officials still believe that Internet Explorer is not completely safe.
Germans should stop using Microsoft Internet Explorer was first posted on January 18, 2010 at 1:11 am.
Blackberry Outage December 22
December 23, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Technology
Blackberry Outage December 22,Blackberry Outage December 22 2009:A reported national Blackberry outage today December 22 is heating up Twitter. BBM and the Blackberry national outage today is trending on twitter with recent tweets including the following within the last 30 minutes (6:00 PM PST):
Blackberry outage is on a wide scale, and the only trending topic on Twitter is BBM … blackberry messenger much?
is there another bb outage? my bbm or internet is not working …. and neither is alot of my friends
Users report outages on T Mobile and Sprint.
[angry] that TMobile only told me that there was a “global outage” with bbm after i called … shouldn’t we get notifications for this?
called sprint its a 24hr outage on blackberrys … .. i need my bbm!
Others are taking amusement in how some people feel their social “life” is now in jeopardy until the outage is corrected.
Blackberry outage is still driving me crazy, but watching people freak out on the crackberry forums is amusing.
Stop fronting like you not sick over this # BBM outage too.
My social life is on hold. No BBM or Twitter from my BB.
Others have some insight about the ETA:
no they are having an outage thats affecting 50% of all bb users you cant use your browser or bbm and they have no clue when it will
Data Outage: From our sources, RIM says the problem wll be fixed within a couple hours to a day max.
Blackberry Outage December 22 was first posted on December 23, 2009 at 10:01 am.
Microsoft says EU may boost Google dominance
December 4, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Technology
Microsoft says EU regulators will hand Google more dominance of the Internet search business if they go ahead with planned regulations on Microsoft’s Windows operating system, the Financial Times reported.
The FT said on Saturday that the move by Microsoft was contained in a confidential last-minute submission to the European Commission aimed at heading off antitrust action.
A Commission spokesman said in response to the report: “The Commission will examine all the arguments outlined by Microsoft in their reply to the statement of objections.”
Microsoft officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Commission, which regulates competition in the 27-country European Union, has charged Microsoft with seeking to stymie rivals by tying the firm’s Web browser to its dominant Windows system.
Microsoft replied to the EU antitrust charges, a so-called “statement of objections”, on April 28. It is due to respond orally to the accusations in early June.
By bundling Internet Explorer with Windows, Microsoft shielded its browser from competition with rival products, harming innovation and reducing customer choice, the Commission had said.
Microsoft has said the Commission may order it to distribute other browsers with the operating system.
But the newspaper reported that Microsoft had questioned in its official response, a copy of which the FT had seen, whether such a proposal from the Commission would be legal.
The company claimed competition would be harmed in the Internet search market, the report said.
This is because two of the main rival browser companies, Opera and Mozilla, maker of the Firefox browser, have agreements with Google so their browsers automatically default to the Google search engine, as does Google’s browser, Chrome, it said.
Also, if the screen showing computer users their browser choices is created by the PC makers, Google could work directly with these manufacturers and have them set the search defaults in its favour, the paper cited the software company as saying.
Microsoft also contends that a requirement to distribute other browsers with Windows could infringe its brand rights and impose a potential intellectual property liability, the paper said.
Microsoft says EU may boost Google dominance was first posted on May 9, 2009 at 7:31 pm.
Why Wont My Parakeet Eat My Diarrhea
November 11, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
Why Wont My Parakeet Eat My Diarrhea :Amazingly, the number one search trend on Google at this hour is “why wont my parakeet eat my diarrhea.” It didn’t take long for me to realize that this sudden trend was inspired by the latest entry on one of my favorite websites ever, FailBlog. Ironically, the post is about a Google fail – if you go to google.com (or even use the Google search bar on your browser) and begin typing “why wo…” or “why won…” the first suggestion it gives you in the dropdown menu is “why wont my parakeet eat my diarrhea.” This is the sort of thing the raises many questions, but ultimately leaves the origin of the question to the user’s imagination. Who was searching on this question SO MUCH that it became the number one “why won’t…?” question suggestion on Google?
Why Wont My Parakeet Eat My Diarrhea:Amazingly, the number one search trend on Google at this hour is “why wont my parakeet eat my diarrhea.”
It didn’t take long for me to realize that this sudden trend was inspired by the latest entry on one of my favorite websites ever, FailBlog. Ironically, the post is about a Google fail – if you go to google.com (or even use the Google search bar on your browser) and begin typing “why wo…” or “why won…” the first suggestion it gives you in the dropdown menu is “why wont my parakeet eat my diarrhea.”
This is the sort of thing the raises many questions, but ultimately leaves the origin of the question to the user’s imagination. Who was searching on this question SO MUCH that it became the number one “why won’t…?” question suggestion on Google?
Verizon Android Release
October 27, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Technology
Latest news about Verizon Android Release, Verizon Droid price and Verizon Android phone release date. Momentum is building for the launch of Motorola Droid by Verizon. In fact this has been one of the great pre launch campaign that we have seen over the last few months.
Motorola Droid Specs
* Operating System: Android 2.0 (Eclair)
* Network: CDMA
* QWERTY Slider Keyboard
* 5 Megapixels camera with 4x digital zoom
* Music and video
* Battery life of up to 6 hours and 41 minutes
* Bluetooth: Stereo Bluetooth technology v2.1 + EDR
* WiFi: 802.11 b/g
* Web Browser: Webkit HTML5, Flash 10 support
* 3.5 MM Headset jack
* App Store: Android Market
* Interface: Backlight, light-responsive display, and virtual keyboard
* Display size: 3.7?; WVGA (480 x 854 pixels); 16:9 widescreen
* Weight: 6 oz
* Size (H X W X D): 2.4 x 4.6 x 5 in
* Antenna Type: Internal
* Accelerometer
* Processor Speed: 500 mHz
* Removable Memory: 16 GB microSD pre-installed; supports up to 32 GB microSD expndable
* Sensors: Proximity and ambient light
The Motorola Droid will be released on November 6.
Verizon Android Release was first posted on October 27, 2009 at 11:29 am.
Iphone Virus
August 5, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Technology
iPhone Virus News: possible iPhone Virus is to be unleashed Thursday. Two researchers, Charles Miller and fellow cybersecurity researcher, Collin Mulliner, have found an iPhone bug that could infect phones virally through SMS. The have plans to reveal the still unpatched iPhone bug at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas today. If you receive a text message with a single square character, you are advised to immediately turn off your iPhone, as they warn it means that someone has used the bug to take over your iPhone.
“This is serious. The only thing you can do to prevent it is turn off your phone,” said cybersecurity researcher Charles Miller. “Someone could pretty quickly take over every iPhone in the world with this.”
The two found the bug in the way the iPhone handles text messages. Once in control, the hacker has complete control over your iPhone, allowing them to make calls, visit websites, turn on the camera and more importantly they can keep sending the bug via SMS.
They have reached out to Apple, well over a month ago about this vulnerability but have not heard back. Back in 2007, Charles Miller also found a bug that allowed someone to remotely hijack the iPhone using the browser.
It’s not clear if Apple has included a fix in iPhone OS 3.1, which recently entered beta 3 stage, so will not be ready by Thursday. Be careful out there and maybe we’ll have more information this afternoon on a possible fix from Apple.
It’s not an iPhone virus, it’s just a security hole. Although Apple was notified by the iPhone SMS hack about 6 weeks ago, the company didn’t address this glitch and at the moment there is no patch that could fix it. According to the researchers, the iPhone SMS hack is possible thanks to a “serious memory corruption bug” caused by the way the iPhone handles an SMS.
Mulliner said that an similar SMS hack was found in the Android OS last week, and after only one day Google patched the security hole. Take that Apple! Why wouldn’t Apple patch the iPhone if the company knows about the security hole? What are these guys waiting? To hack every iPhone in the world? We’re waiting, but we’re not patient anymore.
Read more here:
Iphone Virus
