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Saturday, May 29, 2010

WARNING: Facebook Malware Attack on the Loose

WARNING: Facebook Malware Attack on the Loose

A Facebook phishing attack is on the loose this weekend — the third widespread attack on the site in the past three weeks. The attack attempts to steal your Facebook login credentials, install malware on your computer, and even get your home address.

The attack is spread via a “hilarious video” posted to Facebook walls, reports WebSense — when clicked, a form appears requesting your Facebook login.

The attack then returns you to Facebook, installs an app called “Media Player HD”, and asks you to download the “FLV player” — doing so installs malware on your machine. It gets worse: Depending on your location, you may also be presented with a contest to win an iPad … if you just enter your home address.

South Korea Expands Aid for Internet Addiction - NYTimes.com

South Korea Expands Aid for Internet Addiction - NYTimes.com

By CHOE SANG-HUNSUWON, South Korea — Neither had a job. They were shy and had never dated anyone until they met through an online chat site in 2008. They married, but they knew so little about childbearing that the 25-year-old woman did not know when her baby was due until her water broke.But in the fantasy world of Internet gaming, they were masters of all they encountered, swashbuckling adventurers exploring mythical lands and slaying monsters. Every evening, the couple, Kim Yun-jeong and her husband, Kim Jae-beom, 41, left their one-room apartment for an all-night Internet cafe where they role-played, often until dawn. Each one raised a virtual daughter, who followed them everywhere, and was fed, dressed and cuddled — all with a few clicks of the mouse.On the morning of Sept. 24 last year, they returned home after a 12-hour game session to find their actual daughter, a 3-month-old named Sa-rang — love in Korean — dead, shriveled with malnutrition.In South Korea, one of the world’s most wired societies, addiction to online games has long been treated as a teenage affliction. But the Kims’ case has drawn attention to the growing problem here of Internet game addiction among adults.More..._
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PC rooms, known as PC Bongs, are found all over every major Korean city. Young people spend hours in these rooms playing games like "Warcraft" and smoking cigarettes. Finding one of these businesses is easy in South Korea, simply walk around in any neighborhood. They are open twenty-four hours a day. A few years ago a young person died in one of these rooms after playing computer games for a couple of days straight.

John H. Armwood

Friday, May 28, 2010

Google Chrome 5 - At A Glance - Reviews by PC Magazine

Google Chrome 5 - At A Glance - Reviews by PC Magazine

This is a very thorough review of the excellent new Chrome 5 Browser, which was newly introduce for the MAC platform and updated for Windows and Linux.  Chrome 5 for MAC has become my browser of choice ending a six year run with Firefox which I uninstalled after two days of using Chrome.

Here is a link to my initial impression of Chrome 5 for MAC

John H. Armwood

Apple iPhone OS 4.0 Review

Apple iPhone OS 4.0 Review

Phone OS 4.0 was unveiled to the world in April by Steve Jobs, with a launch expected sometime in June. Immediately after the announcement of this new version, it was released to registered iPhone developers to begin testing their applications ahead of the launch.

I have been using OS 4.0 on my iPhone 3GS on a daily basis now, and I am pleased at what it has to offer. Here is a glimpse at the new features you can expect.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Google Chrome for Mac - Free Mac software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Google Chrome for Mac - Free Mac software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

In slightly more than a year, Google Chrome has surprised users and critics alike by acquiring a skyrocketing percentage of the browser market share. That attention and heavy usage is not undeserved. Chrome 5 is blazingly fast, more stable than previous versions, and introduces support for extensions, better bookmark syncing and management, browser preference syncing, and further HTML5 innovations. Full-screen viewing also debuts for Mac users in this version.
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Read my comments from a couple of days ago. I love this browser. It is a game changer.

John H. Armwood

Microsoft's Internet Explorer Isn't Dead in the Enterprise - PCWorld

Microsoft's Internet Explorer Isn't Dead in the Enterprise - PCWorld
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It is sad that Active X is still being used in some corporate environs tying them to outdated, legacy versions of Internet Explorer. Finally, with the success of Windows 7, many IT professionals are beginning to update their corporate platforms. Consumers have been ahead enterprise users in moving to Firefox, Safari, Chrome or Opera. Clearly their are better options than Windows Explorer.

During my more than two year stint in South Korea which ended in March I found that many Korean websites required Internet Explorer as a result of their dependence on outdated, full of security holes, Active X controls. This dependence on Active X has hampered the adoption of the Firefox or Chrome browsers or Apple's Mac computers from making a significant impact in the Korean market.

John H. Armwood

Why Microsoft Should Never Make a Windows 7 Tablet - PCWorld Business Center

Why Microsoft Should Never Make a Windows 7 Tablet - PCWorld Business Center
Microsoft had planned to enter the tablet market, but recently pulled the plug on its Courier prototype. Now, critics are claiming that Microsoft must develop something to challenge the Apple iPad and stake a claim in the tablet arena, or else. On the contrary, Microsoft should avoid the tablet frenzy and focus on its core strengths.

Apple MacBook/2.4GHz (Mid 2010) MacBook Review | Macworld

Apple MacBook/2.4GHz (Mid 2010) MacBook Review | Macworld

Pros

Faster performance
Longer battery life
Ability to output audio using Mini DisplayPort connection
New inertial scrolling

Cons

4GB is maximum recommended RAM configuration
No FireWire connectivity

Apple: Products Vs. Stock

Apple: Products Vs. Stock: "

On Wednesday, Apple overtook Microsoft as the world's most valuable technology company, at least by one Wall Street measure -- market capitalization. Michele Norris talks with Kyle Conroy, a student at the University of California, Berkeley about a table he's compiled that looks at how much money you might have today had you invested in Apple stock instead of buying Apple products, such as iMacs and iPods. We also hear from NPR's Robert Benincasa, who makes the same comparison for a number of other products.

(Via NPR Programs: All Things Considered.)

Facebook's Privacy Changes Get Mixed Reviews - PCWorld

After weeks of derision, Facebook finally unveiled a new, simpler privacy policy. The three big changes were: aggregating all privacy settings into one simple control; blocking unwanted visitors to your profile and others; and stopping third-party applications from sneaking into your personal information. The goal was to silence the crowd of detractors and regain Facebook's reputation as a safe place to network.

Then came the wave of opinions. The overwhelming reaction to Facebook's alterations was a sideways-thumbs-up. Good, perhaps better -- but not best.

Facebook Privacy Fixes: Your Guide to the Newest Changes

Facebook Privacy Fixes: Your Guide to the Newest Changes: "After feeling intense heat from its users regarding recent changes to its privacy policy, Facebook introduced new settings today. The streamlined settings are..

(Via PC World Latest Technology News.)

Facebook's new privacy settings

Facebook's new privacy settings: "

Facebook's new privacy settings explained through screenshots

Facebook claims its new privacy settings will make it much easier for users to control information, with fewer separate pages of options (eight, instead of 13) and fewer options needed to make all your information private: 15, instead of 50. It's also made many of the settings visible at a glance.

Here's the old first page of the privacy settings. It looks simple and friendly, but it doesn't tell you what your settings currently are, and you need to click through further to change anything:

Once you did click through, you were immediately plunged into a thicket of options:

The new privacy settings page gives you what are considered the main options in a chart form, and makes it possible to shift 18 settings with one click on a preset. So while the default options – see the top of this story – remain pretty liberal, hitting 'Friends only' closes a lot down quickly:

And this is what you get with the 'friends of friends' preset – note that some more sensitive information remains 'friends only':

It's also still possible to customise for yourself, of course:

Control of information that Facebook considers particularly important to make the site run smoothly is still separate – the 'basic directory information' bit, at the top. But it has restored the ability to lock down your 'connections' – your friends and 'pages', the things that used to be called fan pages – which was one of the more hotly discussed issues in the recent privacy controversy. Your profile picture still has to be shared with everyone.

The 'applications and sites' menu – one click down from the first privacy page – includes the search visibility options that used to be on the first page, and specific control of the 'instant personalisation' program that uses your Facebook profile to enhance the working of other sites – another key source of controversy. It also gives you the option to completely turn off Facebook Platform apps and websites.

A further level down is 'info accessible through your friends', which offers an insight into why Facebook Connect applications might make one nervous...

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Speed up your wireless network | Business Center | Working Mac | Macworld

Speed up your wireless network | Business Center | Working Mac | Macworld

How to diagnose and resolve Wi-Fi slow-downs

by Glenn Fleishman, Macworld.com

Wi-Fi networks are miraculous and devilish at the same time. They can seem miraculous in their ability to deliver high-speed network and Internet communication through walls and ceilings, and over long distances. But they don't always deliver the speeds they promise. When you're troubleshooting a slower-than-it-should-be network, the devil is in the details.

Do Facebook's new privacy settings let it off the hook? | The Social - CNET News

Do Facebook's new privacy settings let it off the hook? | The Social - CNET News

There was a distinct tension in Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's rhetoric as he unveiled major changes to the massive social network's much-maligned member privacy controls in a press conference on Wednesday.

Facebook reveals new privacy controls following intense criticism from users | Technology | The Guardian

Facebook reveals new privacy controls following intense criticism from users | Technology | The Guardian: "Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a simplified method for controlling privacy on the giant social network tonight, acknowledging it had become too complicated but insisting his company was not trying to force people to share their data.

The new controls – whereby a variety of different levels can be applied with a simple click of a button – will be rolled out across the 450m users of the worldwide network over the next few weeks, said Zuckerberg at a press conference at the company's headquarters.

The controls will offer four basic settings: share data with everyone, with 'friends of friends', 'friends only' or 'recommended' – which shares certain information, such as family information, with everyone but photos and videos only with friends of friends."


(Via .)

Apple, Microsoft now on nearly equal footing | Beyond Binary - CNET News

Apple, Microsoft now on nearly equal footing | Beyond Binary - CNET News

Apple has long been the little guy in the Mac vs. PC debate, but that’s no longer the case.

As of trading on Tuesday, Microsoft and Apple both have roughly equal market capitalizations of around $230 billion. By another measure—adding in debt and other factors—Cupertino has actually surpassed Redmond in total value.

The fact that Apple has reached this level of valuation represents a remarkable turn of events in the history of computing.

Apple, Microsoft now on nearly equal footing

Apple, Microsoft now on nearly equal footing: "The Mac maker is now worth more than that software maker in Redmond, depending on how you count things. CNET's Ina Fried takes a look at this historic moment in computing."


(Via CNET News.com - Personal Tech.)

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Mac Utilities: Do Uninstallers Work? - PCWorld

Mac Utilities: Do Uninstallers Work? - PCWorld: ""


Google Chrome browser for Mac leaves beta

Google Chrome browser for Mac leaves beta: "Google has announced the first stable release of Chrome for Mac users, now available for download.

(Via AppleInsider.)


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I have spent a few hours with Google's new Browser, Chrome for Mac. My initial impression is that it is extremely fast, in comparison to Safari and especially Firefox. There are plenty of extensions and themes. One important extension for many Mac users is the 1Password extension. There is a beta version of 1Password available at Chrome Beta Extension version 0.6.2
It works well enough even though it has some feature limitations in comparison to its full fledged Safari and firefox counterparts.

In conclusion do not hesitate to download Chrome. It is a significant leap forward in the browser wars.

John H. Armwood

Monday, May 24, 2010

Two Years Later, Apple Still Won't Fix Safari Hole - PCWorld

Two Years Later, Apple Still Won't Fix Safari Hole - PCWorld: ""



(Via .)

AppleInsider | Walmart to sell Apple's 16GB iPhone 3GS for $97

AppleInsider | Walmart to sell Apple's 16GB iPhone 3GS for $97

The new Hotmail gives Gmail a run for its money. - By Farhad Manjoo - Slate Magazine

The new Hotmail gives Gmail a run for its money. - By Farhad Manjoo - Slate Magazine: ""


Report Indicates Google Has Sterling Reputation - PCWorld

Report Indicates Google Has Sterling Reputation - PCWorld: ""


Facebook CEO admits to ‘bunch of mistakes' on privacy issue

Facebook CEO admits to ‘bunch of mistakes' on privacy issue: "Addressing mounting criticism over privacy, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted in a Monday column that 'we just missed the mark' and promisedthat 'a simpler way to control your information' will arrive soon."


(Via Top News.)

Good-Bye to Privacy? - PCWorld

Good-Bye to Privacy? - PCWorld: Learn about major new threats to your privacy, from social networks to advertisers to yourself.

Tom Spring,
the rest of this article is at PC World

Poisoned PDFs? Here's Your Antidote - PCWorld

Poisoned PDFs? Here's Your Antidote - PCWorld: ""



Erik Larkin, PC World

May 23, 2010 9:00 pm

Attacks employing poisoned PDF files have leaped to the top of the threat list, according to statistics from major security companies. Symantec reports that suspicious PDF files skyrocketed in 2009 to represent 49 percent of Web-based attacks that the company detected, up from only 11 percent in 2008. The next-most-common attack, involving a good old Internet Explorer flaw, was far behind at 18 percent. more...

Editing Word documents on an iPad

Editing Word documents on an iPad: "Even though there's no iPad version of Word, you can read and edit Word documents on your iPad if you're willing to accept a few compromises. Joe Kissell shows you how.

(Via Macworld.)

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Securing Your Facebook Privacy Settings

Securing Your Facebook Privacy Settings: "One wonders if Mark Zuckerberg and his fellow Facebook executives are wishing they could declare a do-over right about now, dating back to late April. That’s...

(Via PC World Latest Technology News.)

Analyst: Facebook Is Not The Enemy

Analyst: Facebook Is Not The Enemy: "

'Facebook is not the enemy' -- that's the message Daniel Castro has been trying to send to critics of the social networking site's privacy policies. Castro, a senior analyst with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, tells host Guy Raz why he thinks those critics are 'privacy fundamentalists.'

» E-Mail This    

(Via NPR Programs: All Things Considered.)

Facebook's Privacy Polices Under Fire

Facebook's Privacy Polices Under Fire: "

It's almost impossible to avoid Facebook -- nearly 500 million people are now on the social networking site. And critics say it's almost impossible to decipher the Internet giant's privacy policies. Host Guy Raz starts our exploration of privacy and Facebook by talking to Emily Steel of the Wall Street Journal. She reported last week how the site had been giving advertisers access to users' personal data.

(Via NPR Programs: All Things Considered.)