Ford preps anti-hacking tech for in-car WiFi

Ford is developing anti-hacking technology in a bid to make upcoming in-car Wi-Fi systems resistant against drive-by downloads and other forms of computer security attacks. The next generation of Ford SYNC, a built-in vehicle comms and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft, will come with secure Wi-Fi access and a built-in browser running on top of a Windows CE operating system. The technology is due to debut in the 2011 Ford Edge and 2011 MKX Lincoln later this year and adds extra capabilities to existing SYNC technology, which allows Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and media players to link into in-car systems. The wireless tech has allowed devices to be operated by either voice commands or in-car controls since it was introduced in 2008. Ford has recognised that wireless systems in cars need to be accompanied by improved security features. Encryption will be used to protect the Wi-Fi network, with firewalls used to segment the vehicle's operational processors from entertainment and information systems. The Wi-Fi network, delivered via a USB-based modem, will use WPA2 encryption by default. Anti-malware protection will also be added to the MyFordTouch driver interface system, Dark Reading reports. Sukhwinder Wadhwa, manager of the Sync platform and technologies at Ford, said the vehicle maker views security as integral to the delivery of extra service, not something that it bolts on as an afterthought.

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/12/ford_in_car_secure_wifi/

Free porn on 'tube sites' puts a big dent in industry

The adult-entertainment industry is in a tailspin, shattering the notion that it is one of the few recession-proof industries. The slump is especially stinging because technology — which helped adult-entertainment enterprises reap riches through innovations such as video streaming, webcameras and online payments — is contributing to the misery. DVDs and online pay sites, which make up the majority of porn-related sales, are in a free fall largely because of the rise of so-called tube sites. Knockoffs of video-sharing site YouTube, the sites serve up snippets of free porn that is often pirated. (Google's YouTube has done its best to bar explicit content.) Some 1,000 tube sites — double those of a year ago — have put a sizable dent in the estimated $13 billion porn industry, prompting a flurry of copyright-infringement lawsuits. Most tube sites run ads to make money. "We're dealing with the perfect storm: declining DVD sales, rampant piracy, free content and a weak economy," says Steven Hirsch, founder of porn heavyweight Vivid Entertainment. He says its DVD sales plunged 20% last year. "This is the worst I've seen in this industry in 25 years." The wide range of free content available — be it pirated video content or amateur-shot footage — will "continue to have a negative impact on premium providers' ability to attract and retain paying customers," says a recent report by market researcher XBIZ. It says initial orders of DVD titles by distributors have sunk, on average, to 1,500 to 2,000 now, vs. 5,000 to 6,000 in 2005.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-03-02-porn02_ST_N.htm

Stadium Events strikes again!

Some of you may be aware that an auction on eBay several weeks ago saw an old NES bundled with some random games sell for a staggering $13,105 USD (approx. £8,744 GBP). That's because one of the games was a copy of Stadium Events; a track and field sports title from Bandai. What's so special about Stadium Events, you may ask? Released across Japan, North America, and Europe between 1986 and 1988 it was one of the first titles that utilised The Family Fun Fitness mat as the primary control method. Production copies were limited before Nintendo stepped in and bought the American rights, renaming it World Class Track Meet and bundling it with the Power Pad, which makes the pre-rebranded game one of the rarest across all platforms. A few days ago, a new listing has sold for over three times the amount compared to the previous auction. Yep, it was Stadium Events again. The auction only lasted 10 days but that was more than enough to gather the attention of collectors. The seller had listed the item with a start price of $0.99 USD but amazingly, it took just twenty three minutes for the bids to reach four-figure numbers. Eight hours into the auction and the bids had reached five-figure numbers. When the auction ended last week, the bid that won the item was a massive $41,300 USD (approx. £27,545 GBP). What makes this an even bigger seller than the console bundle has undoubtedly got to be the fact that it's still factory-sealed and relatively "new".

Source: http://retro.nintendolife.com/news/2010/03/rare_nes_game_sells_for_usd41300_on_ebay

Sony warns PS3 console users of ‘bug’

Sony on Monday warned millions of PlayStation 3 owners not to use their consoles as it struggled to fix a major software bug. The electronics group said owners of the latest “slim” versions of the PS3 did not appear to be affected by the problem, which has crashed and frozen older consoles. It remained unclear how many consoles were affected but Sony, which has sold more than 25m units of the older consoles, said it hoped to resolve the problem within 24 hours. “If you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data,” it said in a blog note. The bug is the most serious reported for the PS3, which has had a good reliability record compared to the rival Xbox 360 made by Microsoft. The PlayStation 3 is at the forefront of Sony’s online consumer electronics strategy, helping to drive sales of films and games from its PlayStation Store. The console is also central to promoting its Blu-ray standard, the successor to the DVD.

Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7af39246-2562-11df-9cdb-00144feab49a.html

Nexus One in trigger-happy 999-dialling bother

Google's Nexus One handset is dialling 999 when the user tries to pick up voicemail or call a freephone number, thanks to an over-enthusiastic update. The update, which was put out at the end of January, is supposed to recognise any number that might be an emergency call and connect it to the local services. But the numbers listed include "111" and "0800": the former of which is the voicemail number for O2's GiffGaff brand, while the latter is the UK's code for free calls. The updated firmware will connect the user with the local emergency services whenever a call is made to 911, 112, 999, 000, 08, 118, 111, 120, 122, 110, 119, 995, and 0800. This intercept happens at the phone handset, and a customer who requested support from Google was told to ask his network operator for a different voicemail number, so it seems the problem isn't easily solved. Some users have reported numbers starting "0800" are being connected to the emergency services: when we tried it we didn't have that problem, though one has to ask why Google feels it necessary to call up the emergency services when one dials 0800 as we've been unable to find a country in which that is the existing number to call for help.

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/23/nexus_one_999/

Rogue antivirus program comes with tech support

In an effort to boost sales, sellers of a fake antivirus product known as Live PC Care are offering their victims live technical support. According to researchers at Symantec, once users have installed the program, they see a screen, falsely informing them that their PC is infected with several types of malware. That's typical of this type of program. What's unusual, however, is the fact that the free trial version of Live PC Care includes a big yellow "online support" button. Clicking on the button connects the victim with an agent, who will answer questions about the product via instant message. Symantec says the agent is no automated script, but in fact a live person. This lends an "air of legitimacy" to the program, said Marc Fossi, a manager of development with Symantec Security Response. "Obviously if they've got live tech support, it must be real," he joked. The tech support doesn't help much, though. According to Symantec, the support staff simply try to convince victims to shell out between US$30 and $100 for the product. Rogue antivirus has been a major headache for users over the past year. It is often installed via annoying pop-up ads that try to convince the victim that something is wrong with their PC.

Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9156638/Rogue_antivirus_program_comes_with_tech_support

Google Hoping 'Buzz' Not Another Social Media Fizzle

SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)--Google Inc. (GOOG) calls its new social media product "Buzz." If the service goes the way of the search giant's earlier forays into social networks, it may fizzle. On Tuesday, Mountain View, Calif.-based Google unveiled Buzz, which incorporates updates, photos and links into its already popular Gmail service. By adding the features, Google is hoping it can essentially transform Gmail into a social platform with enough clout to challenge leader Facebook Inc. "There has always been a giant social network beneath Gmail," said Google product manager Todd Jackson, when he formally unveiled Buzz at the company's campus. Google's interest in social media is understandable. Though it's unclear how much money companies like Facebook and micro-blogging phenomenon Twitter Inc. will make, they are attracting a huge following among Internet users. Those users potentially can be transformed into audiences for advertising, Google's core business. Google wants to capitalize on Gmail's 176 million users, a population that instantly gives Buzz a powerful installed base. Google hopes Buzz's new bells and whistles will give those users more reasons to use Google to communicate with friends--and potentially give Google more opportunities to sell ads. Google hopes Buzz will come integral to users' lives, like Facebook and Twitter have. To that end, the search company is making it possible to post and view updates from Google's mobile Web site or Buzz mobile software application. Google also plans to "wire" Buzz into other Google Web sites, such as Google Wave, a collaboration service Google began testing publicly last year.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100209-717524.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

Google (Voice) solves universal translation soonish

Google has managed to get some decent press by announcing that, in a few years, it might be able to translate speech - something iPhone owners can already do. The Times picked up the story, and breathlessly reports that such a development could "transform communications among speakers of the world's 6,000-plus languages" - nice to know that those sticking to the medium of mime will be unaffected. Anyone unwilling to wait the "couple of years" for Google's solution will just have to download the Jibbigo iPhone application, or join the US army. Comparisons to Douglas Adams' creation the Babel Fish are inevitable, though The Times credits Google with creating a text translation tool while neglecting to mention the rather-earlier version from AltaVista named after the unfortunate fish ("unfortunate" as it was forced to live in the user's ear). Also ignored in the popular press coverage is the fact that DARPA, our favourite mad-scientists-for-a-better-tomorrow funding body, has been pouring money into machine translation for years in the hope of enabling US soldiers to ask questions before shooting. The DARPA money has been going into TransTac (Spoken Language Communications and Translation Systems for Tactical Use), and largely the International Centre for Advanced Communication Technologies (interACT) - specialists who've been working in the field for a while and whose spin-off product is an iPhone app that translates spoken English into Japanese or Spanish.

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/08/google_translation/

Google reveals nonexistent Chrome tablet - The GPad

Google has unveiled a series of image and video mock-ups of a tablet PC based on its Chrome OS, the still-gestating operating system centered around its Chrome web browser. Mountain View uncloaked its tablet "concept UI" early last week - two days before Steve Jobs announced Apple's long-awaited tablet, the unfortunately named iPad. Google user interface designer Glen Murphy hoisted the mock-ups onto the Chromium Projects site, home to the open source incarnations of Chrome and Chrome OS. Murphy calls these "visual explorations of how a Chrome OS tablet UI might look in hardware." With a series a still images, he explores various software keywords, tool menus, and application launchers as well as a UI that puts multiple browser windows on the same screen. Chrome OS is essentially a Linux-based operating system that runs a single local application: Google's browser.

Source: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2010/02/02/google_chrome_tablet_mockup/

Google mystery server runs 13% of active websites

The Google Web Server - custom-built server software used only by Google - now runs nearly 13 per cent of all active web sites, according to the latest survey data from the web-server-tracking UK research outfit Netcraft. Netcraft data has the Google Web Server (GWS) running nearly 11 million active sites - i.e., sites with recently updated content. This total includes not only sites run solely by Google, but also sites the company operates on behalf of third parties via services like Blogger, Google Docs, and Google App Engine. Apache is still the most prevalent web server, with nearly 44m active sites, and Microsoft servers are second with nearly 14m. But the Google Web Server tops all others and trails Microsoft by a mere 3m sites - despite being unavailable for use outside what Mountain View has called "the Google Network," a worldwide proprietary infrastructure that amounts to a private internet. Google does not discuss GWS. In the past, some reports have indicated that it's based on Apache. But in a 2007 web post, über Googler Matt Cutts indicated otherwise. "That's not correct," he wrote. "I believe GWS is a custom web server, not a modified version of Apache."

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/29/google_web_server/

Service cracks wireless passwords from the cloud

A security researcher has unveiled a low-cost service for penetration testers that checks the security of wireless networks by running passwords against a 135-million-word dictionary. The WPA Cracker is a cloud-based service that accesses a 400-CPU cluster. For $34, it can run a password against all 135 million entries in about 20 minutes. Those willing to wait 40 minutes can pay $17 to access the system at half mode. In addition to operating in the cloud, the service is also notable because its dictionary has been set up specifically for cracking Wi-Fi Protected Access passwords. While Windows, Unix and other systems allow short passwords, WPA pass codes must contain a minimum of eight characters. Its entries use a variety of words, common phrases and "elite speak" that have been compiled with WPA networks in mind.

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/12/07/cloud_based_password_cracking/

Once impenetrable PS3 cracked wide open

The first hacker to successfully jailbreak the iPhone says he has pulled off yet another modding marvel, this time penetrating the previously impervious PlayStation 3 gaming console. The hack by 20-year-old George Hotz, aka geohot, is significant because the PS3 was the only game console that hadn't been hacked, despite being on the market for more than three years. The feat greatly expands the functionality of the box by allowing it to run unrestricted versions of Linux and a wide range of games that are currently forbidden. The hardware and software designer told El Reg it took him five weeks to develop the hack using a combination of modifications to the console's hardware and software. "Basically, I used hardware to open a small hole and then used software to make the hole the size of the system to get full read/write access," he said in an interview. "Right now, although the system is broken, I have great power. I can make they system do whatever I want." The first three weeks were spent trying attacks to directly access memory of the console. He eventually settled on his current approach after realizing software approaches alone were insufficient.

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/25/playstation_cracked_wide_open/

Pirate Bay's VPN goes public: Ipredator

As governments around the world consider proposals to hand surveillance powers to the entertainment industry and twitchy cops, the Pirate Bay is striking back. Its new €5/month IPRedator service is an encrypted VPN that you can use to hide your traffic (whatever it may contain) from prying eyes. The name comes from Sweden's adoption of IPRED (the "IP Rights Enforcement Directive," a punishing piece of anti-Internet legislation). I've been looking for a reliable VPN to use on public hotspots -- this might just be it. Ipredator is currently using the same platform as several other VPN franchises including Relakks, which means it's not really anything we haven't seen before. The servers are maintained and provided by Pirate Bay affiliates though, which may be more trustworthy to the average BitTorrent user than a random VPN provider. That aside, we were told by former Pirate Bay spokesman Peter Sunde that contrary to what the legal page states, no logs of any kind are kept by Ipredator. The text that is in there is a left over from the standard template they got from the provider of the VPN platform. And, according to Sunde, there will soon be even more advantages and added security to Ipredator.

Source: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/20/pirate-bays-vpn-goes.html

German government warns against using MS Explorer

The German government has warned web users to find an alternative browser to Internet Explorer to protect security. The warning from the Federal Office for Information Security comes after Microsoft admitted IE was the weak link in recent attacks on Google's systems. Microsoft rejected the warning, saying that the risk to users was low and that the browsers' increased security setting would prevent any serious risk. However, German authorities say that even this would not make IE fully safe. Thomas Baumgaertner, a spokesman for Microsoft in Germany, said that while they were aware of the warning, they did not agree with it, saying that the attacks on Google were by "highly motivated people with a very specific agenda". "These were not attacks against general users or consumers," said Mr Baumgaertner. "There is no threat to the general user, consequently we do not support this warning," he added. Microsoft says the security hole can be shut by setting the browser's security zone to "high", although this limits functionality and blocks many websites.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8463516.stm

Google-China Row Could Reflect A New Era Of Internet Control

In its first public reaction to the Internet row between Google and the Chinese government, Beijing today reasserted its right to control the Internet and strengthen what it calls "Internet management." China's position, which comes amid attempts by many authoritarian regimes to control the web, has led some commentators to question whether a new trend toward local or state control over the Internet is developing. Experts say the case, where Google has threatened to shut down its operations in China because of government censorship and cyberattacks against rights activists, reflects the clash between local or national interests and the forces of globalization. Silvio Waisbord, an expert on media and globalization and the director of graduate studies at George Washington University, says we are witnessing "another round of a very long battle between the forces of globalization -- media globalization -- and one of the few governments [China] that actually has tremendous political and economic power to stand up to the demands of those interests." "This is not a new battle that Google is having in China, and I'm sure this is not going to be the last battle of this struggle," he says. "Regardless of how this issue actually gets solved, I think that [battle] is going to continue."

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/GoogleChina_Row_Could_Reflect_A_New_Era_Of_Internet_Control__/1929782.html

'Doomsday Clock' Moves Away From Midnight but Only by 1 Minute

The world can breathe a sigh of relief today... kind of. A group of international scientists this morning announced that they are moving the hands of the symbolic "Doomsday Clock" away from midnight -- or the figurative apocalypse -- but only by one minute. The clock, which is maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, was designed to reflect how close civilization is to "catastrophic destruction." First set at seven minutes to midnight, the clock has been moved only 18 times since its creation in 1947. The group, which includes more than a dozen Nobel laureates, last moved the hands of the clock in 2007, from seven to five minutes before midnight to reflect the threat of a "second nuclear age" and the challenges presented by global warming.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/doomsday-clock-moves-midnight-minute/story?id=9560729

Pat Robertson Haiti Comments Spark Uproar

On his Christian Broadcasting Network show yesterday, Rev. Pat Robertson said that the nation of Haiti has been devastated by a large earthquake because its people "made a pact with the devil." "Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," Robertson said. "They were under the heel of the French ... and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, 'We will serve you if you'll get us free from the French.'" "True story," he continued. "And the devil said, 'OK, it's a deal.' Ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after another." Robertson is infamous for such inflammatory statements. And not surprisingly, the reaction to the controversial pastor's comments has been harsh.

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/14/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6096806.shtml

Tablet PC mania hits

Hot new tablet computers are shaking up the stodgy computer industry — possibly giving consumers reason to buy yet another PC. Dell (DELL), Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) each unveiled tablet PC models at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Each features a touch-screen that eliminates or reduces the need for a keyboard. Apple (AAPL) is expected to come out with its own tablet later this month. Apple declined to comment. It's too soon to say whether the new computers will be a hit. Many models are pricey, and older attempts at tablets have not sold well, says Allen Nogee, a tech analyst at researcher In-Stat. But the buzz suggests that their time may have come. "More people (are) adapting to small, touch-screen devices, like the (Apple) iPhone ... and more people (are) attracted to netbooks," Nogee says. That makes them more willing to embrace portable, touch-screen computers, he says. "Is there a market above smartphones and below netbooks? Obviously, we think there is," says Philip McKinney, a vice president at Hewlett-Packard.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-01-07-tablet-computers_N.htm

'Pirate' music site allowed 21 million downloads, court told

Alan Ellis, 26, was the founder of the Oink website which had around 200,000 members and allowed 21 million downloads before it was closed down in 2007. Teesside Crown Court heard that the site was free to join, by invitation only with members able to propose a friend, but users had to pay a donation of at least £5. Peter Makepeace, prosecuting, told the jury it was not a case against “some poor minnow who has taped a record one night and circulated it to their friends”. The site was set up in May 2004 and hosted in Norway, but switched to Amsterdam eight months later after the music industry asked it to cease. Mr Makepeace said when the website was taken down, there were approximately 200,000 active members with access to around 200,000 audio files. Police found donations from around the world in several of Mr Ellis's Paypal accounts, amounting to almost 300,000 US dollars, the court heard.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6946708/Pirate-music-site-allowed-21-million-downloads-court-told.html

Google Introduces Nexus One, Its Rival to the iPhone

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google stepped up its attack on the smartphone market on Tuesday, introducing a new touch-screen handset called Nexus One that is widely seen as a rival to Apple’s iPhone. Google also said that it would sell the Nexus One, which it called a superphone, exclusively through a new online store. Google, which earns the vast majority of its revenue from advertising, said it was dipping its toes in the direct retailing business not to reap profits from the sale of phones but to broaden the availability of handsets running its Android software. “There is an opportunity to make some margin on the unit sales, but that’s not the objective here,” Andy Rubin, a vice president of engineering in charge of the Android technology, said during a press conference at Google’s headquarters here. “Our primary business is advertising.” Consumers will be able to buy the Nexus One for $529 unlocked or for $179 with a two-year calling plan from T-Mobile. Google said that the Nexus One would be available on Verizon Wireless in the United States and on Vodafone in Europe later this year. It said it hoped to add other devices and carriers to the direct-to-consumer program in the future. Some analysts said they were impressed by the speed of the Nexus One and by some of its capabilities. Google has voice-enabled all text boxes in the device, so a user can, for example, compose an e-mail message by speaking into the phone rather than typing. But they expressed disappointment that Google had not done more to shake up the industry by, for example, subsidizing the phone through profits from advertising.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/technology/internet/06google.html?ref=technology