/PRNewswire/ -- Nixle, the latest entrant into the field of instantaneous communications, is making rapid strides with police and municipal agencies nationwide - not to mention the thousands of citizens who have signed up to receive vital public safety messages.
Launched in March, Nixle counts nearly 1,000 cities in 46 states using or testing its system. Those cities include: Los Angeles, Baltimore, Virginia Beach, Chicago and Minneapolis. And prominent sheriffs' offices using Nixle include Oakland County (suburban Detroit), Napa County, Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City) and Santa Fe County.
Meantime, more than 30,000 residents of those cities have signed up to receive Nixle alerts - a total growing by the hundreds each day.
Nixle also is popular among many of the sheriffs and law enforcement personnel attending the National Sheriff's Association 2009 Annual Conference and, as a result, the association is using Nixle this year to communicate with conference attendees. More than 3,000 attendees from all fields of criminal justice are expected to be present at the conference, slated for June 20-24 in Fort Lauderdale. Janet Napolitano, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is keynote speaker.
"It is an excellent service and I believe it is a great benefit to the community," said Sheriff David Goad, president of the National Sheriffs' Association.
"Any tool that helps us improve public safety is worth using," said Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel. "People rarely go anywhere these days without access to a cell phone or the Internet. With Nixle, we're always able to relay important information, thereby improving the community's quality of life."
Nixle should be on the lips of many attendees because this year's conference includes seminars that focus on technology, such as "Law Enforcement Information Sharing and Emerging Technology" and "Community Engagement and Trusted Communication to Residents."
Earlier this month, Nixle served as the lead sponsor at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. About 80 cities signed on with Nixle in the wake of that event.
"Nixle came out of a need for a direct communication tool for police and official agencies to reach their communities. Depending on the media is not enough, and social applications are far too dangerous to put out official information," said Craig Mitnick, Nixle founder and CEO. "Nixle is the first tool to allow for a secure and trusted communication platform for sheriffs' departments and official agencies throughout country to communicate time sensitive information in real time over cell phones, email and the Web."
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Saturday, June 20, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Fastest, Most Accurate Texter Is Crowned at the LG U.S. National Texting Championship
/PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) hosted the third annual LG U.S. National Texting Championship, which concluded yesterday with 15-year-old Kate Moore from Des Moines, Iowa as the winner. Moore, who sends on average 500 text messages a day, took home the title of the LG U.S. National Texting Champion, along with $50,000 in prize money, after beating out more than 250,000 participants nationally.
The winning phrase was "Zippity Dooo Dahh Zippity Ayy ... My oh MY, what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine Comin' my way ... ZippittyDooDahZippityAay! WondeRful feeling, Wonderful day!" which Moore completed flawlessly in less than 60 seconds. The contestants used the new LG enV3 phone, the newest edition in the enV family, which features a full QWERTY keypad.
"When I heard the final phrase, I got so nervous and thought how can I finish that!" said winner Moore. "But apparently, my thumbs are faster than everyone else's! I'm so excited to be this year's champion."
Moore won the title of texting championship after beating step sisters Erin Fink, 15, and Morgan Dynda, 14, both from Pooler, GA. The two sisters and best friends drew gasps from the crowd as they went head to head in a semi-final texting showdown in which Dynda came out on top, placing her in the final round where she competed against Moore.
After Dynda won the first battle of the three round finals, Moore began to tear up. The level of stress increased and the battle became more dramatic. However, Moore remained strong and won the 2nd round. With the final round important to both girls, the one to flawlessly complete the final phrase, fastest, was Moore. When the judges declared Moore the winner, the crowed erupted in cheers as confetti fell to the floor. Moore's mom, in the audience, put her hands to her face and looked shocked as she watched her daughter win the competition and grand prize of $50,000.
The third annual LG U.S. National Championship took place over two days, with the final round and crowning of the winner in New York on June 16, 2009 at the NEP Studios. During the competition, players competed in various challenges, including Text Attack, Blind Texting, Pressure Cooker, and Text and Dodge. In each challenge, the contestants were typing in phrases on their LG enV3's exactly as they appeared on the overhead LG plasma screens with no typos or abbreviations, ultimately trying to be quicker than their opponents. An additional challenge included Text to Speak where contestants quickly decoded everyday text abbreviations into phrases. All three contestants were stumped by the acronym PAW (Parents Are Watching). This challenge supports another LG initiative, LG DTXTR, which provides an online tool for decoding text abbreviations. PAW is one of more than 2,000 acronyms currently on the site, which is an ever-expanding glossary where users can enter their own texting abbreviations to be included for others to learn.
Following national preliminary rounds that included more than 250,000 participants, the competition started off with 22 contestants who went through a "Sudden Death" round, resulting in 6 contestants that endured the various challenges to try and accumulate the most points for their texting skills. The three top contestants with the most points following the challenges competed in a final qualifying round. The top two contestants then fought to be crowned the LG U.S. National Texting Champion in the traditional style of the competition, a speed tournament.
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The winning phrase was "Zippity Dooo Dahh Zippity Ayy ... My oh MY, what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine Comin' my way ... ZippittyDooDahZippityAay! WondeRful feeling, Wonderful day!" which Moore completed flawlessly in less than 60 seconds. The contestants used the new LG enV3 phone, the newest edition in the enV family, which features a full QWERTY keypad.
"When I heard the final phrase, I got so nervous and thought how can I finish that!" said winner Moore. "But apparently, my thumbs are faster than everyone else's! I'm so excited to be this year's champion."
Moore won the title of texting championship after beating step sisters Erin Fink, 15, and Morgan Dynda, 14, both from Pooler, GA. The two sisters and best friends drew gasps from the crowd as they went head to head in a semi-final texting showdown in which Dynda came out on top, placing her in the final round where she competed against Moore.
After Dynda won the first battle of the three round finals, Moore began to tear up. The level of stress increased and the battle became more dramatic. However, Moore remained strong and won the 2nd round. With the final round important to both girls, the one to flawlessly complete the final phrase, fastest, was Moore. When the judges declared Moore the winner, the crowed erupted in cheers as confetti fell to the floor. Moore's mom, in the audience, put her hands to her face and looked shocked as she watched her daughter win the competition and grand prize of $50,000.
The third annual LG U.S. National Championship took place over two days, with the final round and crowning of the winner in New York on June 16, 2009 at the NEP Studios. During the competition, players competed in various challenges, including Text Attack, Blind Texting, Pressure Cooker, and Text and Dodge. In each challenge, the contestants were typing in phrases on their LG enV3's exactly as they appeared on the overhead LG plasma screens with no typos or abbreviations, ultimately trying to be quicker than their opponents. An additional challenge included Text to Speak where contestants quickly decoded everyday text abbreviations into phrases. All three contestants were stumped by the acronym PAW (Parents Are Watching). This challenge supports another LG initiative, LG DTXTR, which provides an online tool for decoding text abbreviations. PAW is one of more than 2,000 acronyms currently on the site, which is an ever-expanding glossary where users can enter their own texting abbreviations to be included for others to learn.
Following national preliminary rounds that included more than 250,000 participants, the competition started off with 22 contestants who went through a "Sudden Death" round, resulting in 6 contestants that endured the various challenges to try and accumulate the most points for their texting skills. The three top contestants with the most points following the challenges competed in a final qualifying round. The top two contestants then fought to be crowned the LG U.S. National Texting Champion in the traditional style of the competition, a speed tournament.
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Social Media Explosion
/PRNewswire/ -- Social networks are exploding in popularity. Forty-three percent of the online community now uses social networking sites, including Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn. This is up from 27 percent a year ago, reports The Conference Board and TNS.
The Consumer Internet Barometer, a quarterly report produced by The Conference Board, the global business membership and research association, and TNS, a global market insight and information group, surveys 10,000 households across the country and tracks who's doing what on the Internet.
More than half of social networkers log on at least once a day, and the majority log on several times a day. Interacting with family, friends and celebrities are among the main reasons people log on to sites like Twitter. The majority of users log on at home, although a quarter of social networkers log on at work, and 10 percent connect through their phone.
Social networking spans all generations. Today, about 19 percent of those age 55 and over visit these sites, up from just 6 percent a year ago. Women are more likely than men to use social networking sites (48 percent versus 38 percent), but usage has increased dramatically among both groups in just a year.
"Social media is here to stay," says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center. "Online social networks are more than just a fad among the younger generation. They've become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. They're an effective way to keep in touch with people, connect with friends and family, and network with colleagues. Social media will also transform marketing as we know it. They're powerful communication tools, and are becoming an essential part of successful marketing strategies."
"Social media has transformed the way individuals connect and communicate with one another," says Anita Watkins, Senior Vice President at TNS. "Smart marketers are utilizing this behavior to their advantage by setting up online communities in which consumers can freely interact, discuss and debate issues around products, services and brands in a natural way. Companies are listening in to these conversations and harnessing the power of influencers to co-create their marketing strategies."
Facebook Most Popular Site
The most popular site is Facebook, used by 78 percent of online households, followed by MySpace (42 percent), LinkedIn (17 percent) and Twitter (10 percent).
Both men and women use Facebook in equal numbers. However, women are more likely than men (47 percent versus 35 percent) to use MySpace. Conversely, more men than women (21 percent versus 15 percent) use LinkedIn. Across generations, Facebook usage is about equal, but when it comes to MySpace, those under 35 are more likely to have an account than their older counterparts.
When asked with whom they would like more access/interaction with, celebrities (15 percent) topped the list, with favorite company (14 percent), service providers (13 percent) and athletes/sports teams (11 percent) not far behind.
The top concerns of social networking members -- expressed by about 50 percent -- are viruses/malware, exposure of information to strangers and lack of privacy. Women tend to be moderately more concerned than men. Only 14 percent claim they have no concerns, compared to 22 percent of men.
Twitter Encourages Closer Connections
Members of Twitter, the real-time micro-blogging website, say their top reasons for "tweeting" are to connect with friends (42 percent), update their status (29 percent) and look for news (26 percent). They also use Twitter for work-related (22 percent) reasons. Two out of three Twitter users interact with friends. Thirty percent interact with family, 30 percent connect with celebrities, and 24 percent interact with other bloggers. Members of Twitter also are likely to interact with TV shows, employers, co-workers, companies/brands and TV anchors/journalists.
Among Twitter users, half report being introduced to the site by a friend or family member, and one out of three were introduced by a co-worker.
About This Survey:
The Consumer Internet Barometer is based on a quarterly survey of 10,000 households. A unique sample is surveyed each quarter. Return rates average 70 percent, which ensures highly representative data. Data is weighted as well to reflect the latest U.S. household demographic information. The latest survey was conducted during the second quarter of 2009. For more information, please email f.tortorici@conference-board.org or lynn.franco@conference-board.org.
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The Consumer Internet Barometer, a quarterly report produced by The Conference Board, the global business membership and research association, and TNS, a global market insight and information group, surveys 10,000 households across the country and tracks who's doing what on the Internet.
More than half of social networkers log on at least once a day, and the majority log on several times a day. Interacting with family, friends and celebrities are among the main reasons people log on to sites like Twitter. The majority of users log on at home, although a quarter of social networkers log on at work, and 10 percent connect through their phone.
Social networking spans all generations. Today, about 19 percent of those age 55 and over visit these sites, up from just 6 percent a year ago. Women are more likely than men to use social networking sites (48 percent versus 38 percent), but usage has increased dramatically among both groups in just a year.
"Social media is here to stay," says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center. "Online social networks are more than just a fad among the younger generation. They've become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. They're an effective way to keep in touch with people, connect with friends and family, and network with colleagues. Social media will also transform marketing as we know it. They're powerful communication tools, and are becoming an essential part of successful marketing strategies."
"Social media has transformed the way individuals connect and communicate with one another," says Anita Watkins, Senior Vice President at TNS. "Smart marketers are utilizing this behavior to their advantage by setting up online communities in which consumers can freely interact, discuss and debate issues around products, services and brands in a natural way. Companies are listening in to these conversations and harnessing the power of influencers to co-create their marketing strategies."
Facebook Most Popular Site
The most popular site is Facebook, used by 78 percent of online households, followed by MySpace (42 percent), LinkedIn (17 percent) and Twitter (10 percent).
Both men and women use Facebook in equal numbers. However, women are more likely than men (47 percent versus 35 percent) to use MySpace. Conversely, more men than women (21 percent versus 15 percent) use LinkedIn. Across generations, Facebook usage is about equal, but when it comes to MySpace, those under 35 are more likely to have an account than their older counterparts.
When asked with whom they would like more access/interaction with, celebrities (15 percent) topped the list, with favorite company (14 percent), service providers (13 percent) and athletes/sports teams (11 percent) not far behind.
The top concerns of social networking members -- expressed by about 50 percent -- are viruses/malware, exposure of information to strangers and lack of privacy. Women tend to be moderately more concerned than men. Only 14 percent claim they have no concerns, compared to 22 percent of men.
Twitter Encourages Closer Connections
Members of Twitter, the real-time micro-blogging website, say their top reasons for "tweeting" are to connect with friends (42 percent), update their status (29 percent) and look for news (26 percent). They also use Twitter for work-related (22 percent) reasons. Two out of three Twitter users interact with friends. Thirty percent interact with family, 30 percent connect with celebrities, and 24 percent interact with other bloggers. Members of Twitter also are likely to interact with TV shows, employers, co-workers, companies/brands and TV anchors/journalists.
Among Twitter users, half report being introduced to the site by a friend or family member, and one out of three were introduced by a co-worker.
About This Survey:
The Consumer Internet Barometer is based on a quarterly survey of 10,000 households. A unique sample is surveyed each quarter. Return rates average 70 percent, which ensures highly representative data. Data is weighted as well to reflect the latest U.S. household demographic information. The latest survey was conducted during the second quarter of 2009. For more information, please email f.tortorici@conference-board.org or lynn.franco@conference-board.org.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Asian Extortion Scheme
The FBI is currently aware of a nationwide attempt to extort ethnic business owners, mostly
of Asian decent, through telephonic threats of violence. The telephone calls appear to be originating from foreign countries. The caller acquires an adequate amount of open source information about the victim through Internet searches. This misleads the victim into believing the subject has personal knowledge about the victim. There have been no reported incidents of violence actually perpetrated to date.
Individuals who receive phone calls or e-mails containing threats of violence and their personally identifiable information (PII) are encouraged to contact law enforcement as well as file a complaint at www.IC3.gov.
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of Asian decent, through telephonic threats of violence. The telephone calls appear to be originating from foreign countries. The caller acquires an adequate amount of open source information about the victim through Internet searches. This misleads the victim into believing the subject has personal knowledge about the victim. There have been no reported incidents of violence actually perpetrated to date.
Individuals who receive phone calls or e-mails containing threats of violence and their personally identifiable information (PII) are encouraged to contact law enforcement as well as file a complaint at www.IC3.gov.
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'Ask InternetSafety.com' Launched in Honor of Internet Safety Month, Enabling Parents to Submit Questions about Online Safety
/PRNewswire/ -- A new 'Ask InternetSafety.com' feature launched on the company blog (blog.internetsafety.com) in honor of Internet Safety Month enables parents and other interested parties to submit questions about any aspect of online safety, ranging from Internet predators, pornography and social networking dangers to cyberbullying, 'sexting' and typosquatting. Questions submitted at blog.internetsafety.com/ask-internetsafetydotcom/ will be answered by the InternetSafety.com team. The top questions and answers will be posted anonymously on the blog to help others who have similar concerns.
The company has also assembled a panel of Internet safety experts to support the company's overall online safety efforts. Panel members include Donna Rice Hughes, President of Enough is Enough and internationally known Internet safety expert and advocate; Dave Ramsey, radio talk show host and online safety advocate; Craig Gross, founder of pornography addiction ministry XXXChurch; Kathy Peel, CEO of Family Manager Coaching; and Sameer Hindjua, founder of www.cyberbullying.us. Panel members and their credentials are listed on the InternetSafety.com site under the "Resources" tab.
The 'Ask InternetSafety.com' feature complements the blog recently introduced to provide a central source of information on the latest online safety threats and developments. Every day, blog administrators evaluate as many as 200 articles related to Internet safety issues and then distill the most important news to a few paragraphs several times a week. Recent blog posts have covered topics ranging from the firestorm over easy pornography access on Microsoft's new Bing search engine to a new study showing a correlation between provocative pictures posted on social networking sites and online solicitations of the girls who post them.
InternetSafety.com also distributes breaking news and news briefs related to online safety through Twitter and Facebook. Users can sign up for Twitter tweets, the company's Facebook fan page and/or an RSS feed on the "Follow Us" menu on the site's blog.
In addition, the company is posting an online safety tip every day during Internet Safety Month. On June 1, for example, the tip involved how to limit access to children's pictures on Facebook. Each tip is available through all of the company's Web 2.0 channels.
"Our goal is to serve as a central resource for people who are concerned about the less desirable side of the Internet, whether it's parents trying to protect their children or employers trying to control pornography use at the office," said InternetSafety.com CEO Forrest Collier. "By helping people stay informed as well as providing practical suggestions for handling Internet issues, we hope to make a contribution toward keeping the Internet safe for all users."
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The company has also assembled a panel of Internet safety experts to support the company's overall online safety efforts. Panel members include Donna Rice Hughes, President of Enough is Enough and internationally known Internet safety expert and advocate; Dave Ramsey, radio talk show host and online safety advocate; Craig Gross, founder of pornography addiction ministry XXXChurch; Kathy Peel, CEO of Family Manager Coaching; and Sameer Hindjua, founder of www.cyberbullying.us. Panel members and their credentials are listed on the InternetSafety.com site under the "Resources" tab.
The 'Ask InternetSafety.com' feature complements the blog recently introduced to provide a central source of information on the latest online safety threats and developments. Every day, blog administrators evaluate as many as 200 articles related to Internet safety issues and then distill the most important news to a few paragraphs several times a week. Recent blog posts have covered topics ranging from the firestorm over easy pornography access on Microsoft's new Bing search engine to a new study showing a correlation between provocative pictures posted on social networking sites and online solicitations of the girls who post them.
InternetSafety.com also distributes breaking news and news briefs related to online safety through Twitter and Facebook. Users can sign up for Twitter tweets, the company's Facebook fan page and/or an RSS feed on the "Follow Us" menu on the site's blog.
In addition, the company is posting an online safety tip every day during Internet Safety Month. On June 1, for example, the tip involved how to limit access to children's pictures on Facebook. Each tip is available through all of the company's Web 2.0 channels.
"Our goal is to serve as a central resource for people who are concerned about the less desirable side of the Internet, whether it's parents trying to protect their children or employers trying to control pornography use at the office," said InternetSafety.com CEO Forrest Collier. "By helping people stay informed as well as providing practical suggestions for handling Internet issues, we hope to make a contribution toward keeping the Internet safe for all users."
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Tuesday, June 9, 2009
TweetGrade Tames Twitter Universe to Help End Users Know Who They Can Trust
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Purewire, Inc., a SaaS-based secure Web gateway vendor that protects business and social interactions on the Web, today announced the launch of TweetGrade™ (www.tweetgrade.com), the authority in online user reputation on Twitter®. TweetGrade provides a quantitative assessment of a user’s reach and influence in the Twitter community, and it helps people understand a user’s online reputation, legitimacy and safety.
As the popularity of Twitter continues to skyrocket, criminals are taking note as well. Most recently, a "Best Video" scam attacked Twitter users, posting an update (or tweet) on compromised accounts that directed followers to a video prompting the purchase of rogue anti-virus software. Attacks such as this make it imperative to know the reputation of those people with whom you interact online. TweetGrade assures this trust by providing evidence of Twitter account legitimacy, protecting users from malicious or illegitimate accounts that attempt to send spam or spread malware.
The Purewire research team evaluated the use of Twitter to demonstrate the power of the TweetGrade service, and based on a seven-million user sample has found data that point to two overall realities:
First, many Twitter users abandon their accounts shortly after creating them, and a significant percentage show no signs of account activity.
* 40 percent of Twitter users have not tweeted since their first day on Twitter, evidence that the account was most likely created and subsequently abandoned.
* Approximately 25 percent of Twitter users are not following anyone, while two-thirds are following fewer than 10 people, evidence that the account was created but is largely dormant.
Second, Twitter is used more as a mass medium for receiving information, rather than as a way to interact with others. Proof is shown by evaluating the followers and friends of Twitter users:
* More than one-third of Twitter users have not posted a single tweet, and almost 80 percent of users have fewer than 10 tweets, evidence that while Twitter is billed as a great collaboration tool, a large number of users are there to consume content, not distribute it.
* Approximately 30 percent of Twitter users do not have any followers, and 80 percent of Twitter users have fewer than 10 followers, evidence that for many users, their posts are not being widely tracked or read.
* 50 percent of Twitter users are following more people than they have as followers, and another 30 percent of Twitter users are following the same number of people that are following them, evidence that users are aggressively trying to attract followers by hoping they will “follow back” but have been unsuccessful.
Additional details are available on the Purewire Web Security Blog located at http://blog.purewire.com/.
“There is a lot of noise on the Web, especially on Twitter lately with the buzz around Oprah, CNN and Ashton Kutcher. That makes it hard to wade through everything and understand who you’re interacting with online,” said Dr. Steve Webb, research scientist at Purewire, Inc. “Purewire is all about deciphering Web activity so that users know what and who they can trust, and TweetGrade is the first service that takes a comprehensive look at a Twitter account’s true legitimacy. Through our experience with PurewireTrust.org and our patent-pending Purewire Trust technology, we are able to offer Twitter users the transparency needed to identify and sort out the associated security threats.”
How TweetGrade Works
TweetGrade evaluates Twitter users based on their interactions on Twitter. The analysis is centered on a variety of inputs such as frequency and content of tweets, number of followers, number of those following and activity level. Users receive a simple letter grade that ranges from an 'A+' to an 'F' to verify their reputation on Twitter and are able to share their TweetGrade with the Twitter community with a simple push of a button.
Purewire is in the process of integrating TweetGrade reputations into a user’s Purewire Trust reputation. PurewireTrust.org launched in March at DEMO 2009, where the company received a DEMOgod award for its innovation. Purewire Trust builds reputations that protect individuals in user-to-user relationships for communication (such as social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn), collaboration (such as applications like Twitter) and commerce (such as classified sites, Craigslist and eBay).
Purewire is offering access to PurewireTrust.org and TweetGrade.com free of charge as a contribution to the technology community in support of the company’s mission to improve the online experience for both consumers and enterprises. As PurewireTrust.org becomes more widely used, Purewire can incorporate this security reputation into its Purewire Web Security Service, to better identify and block Web security threats.
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As the popularity of Twitter continues to skyrocket, criminals are taking note as well. Most recently, a "Best Video" scam attacked Twitter users, posting an update (or tweet) on compromised accounts that directed followers to a video prompting the purchase of rogue anti-virus software. Attacks such as this make it imperative to know the reputation of those people with whom you interact online. TweetGrade assures this trust by providing evidence of Twitter account legitimacy, protecting users from malicious or illegitimate accounts that attempt to send spam or spread malware.
The Purewire research team evaluated the use of Twitter to demonstrate the power of the TweetGrade service, and based on a seven-million user sample has found data that point to two overall realities:
First, many Twitter users abandon their accounts shortly after creating them, and a significant percentage show no signs of account activity.
* 40 percent of Twitter users have not tweeted since their first day on Twitter, evidence that the account was most likely created and subsequently abandoned.
* Approximately 25 percent of Twitter users are not following anyone, while two-thirds are following fewer than 10 people, evidence that the account was created but is largely dormant.
Second, Twitter is used more as a mass medium for receiving information, rather than as a way to interact with others. Proof is shown by evaluating the followers and friends of Twitter users:
* More than one-third of Twitter users have not posted a single tweet, and almost 80 percent of users have fewer than 10 tweets, evidence that while Twitter is billed as a great collaboration tool, a large number of users are there to consume content, not distribute it.
* Approximately 30 percent of Twitter users do not have any followers, and 80 percent of Twitter users have fewer than 10 followers, evidence that for many users, their posts are not being widely tracked or read.
* 50 percent of Twitter users are following more people than they have as followers, and another 30 percent of Twitter users are following the same number of people that are following them, evidence that users are aggressively trying to attract followers by hoping they will “follow back” but have been unsuccessful.
Additional details are available on the Purewire Web Security Blog located at http://blog.purewire.com/.
“There is a lot of noise on the Web, especially on Twitter lately with the buzz around Oprah, CNN and Ashton Kutcher. That makes it hard to wade through everything and understand who you’re interacting with online,” said Dr. Steve Webb, research scientist at Purewire, Inc. “Purewire is all about deciphering Web activity so that users know what and who they can trust, and TweetGrade is the first service that takes a comprehensive look at a Twitter account’s true legitimacy. Through our experience with PurewireTrust.org and our patent-pending Purewire Trust technology, we are able to offer Twitter users the transparency needed to identify and sort out the associated security threats.”
How TweetGrade Works
TweetGrade evaluates Twitter users based on their interactions on Twitter. The analysis is centered on a variety of inputs such as frequency and content of tweets, number of followers, number of those following and activity level. Users receive a simple letter grade that ranges from an 'A+' to an 'F' to verify their reputation on Twitter and are able to share their TweetGrade with the Twitter community with a simple push of a button.
Purewire is in the process of integrating TweetGrade reputations into a user’s Purewire Trust reputation. PurewireTrust.org launched in March at DEMO 2009, where the company received a DEMOgod award for its innovation. Purewire Trust builds reputations that protect individuals in user-to-user relationships for communication (such as social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn), collaboration (such as applications like Twitter) and commerce (such as classified sites, Craigslist and eBay).
Purewire is offering access to PurewireTrust.org and TweetGrade.com free of charge as a contribution to the technology community in support of the company’s mission to improve the online experience for both consumers and enterprises. As PurewireTrust.org becomes more widely used, Purewire can incorporate this security reputation into its Purewire Web Security Service, to better identify and block Web security threats.
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Young Adults Rely on the Internet for Economic News
/PRNewswire / -- Young adults rely heavily on the Internet for economic news, according to a nationwide study released today by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism.
More than half of the 400 interviewees aged 18 to 25 said they relied a lot on the Internet for business news, followed by television and the advice of family and friends. They also rated the Internet and television as more accurate than newspapers, radio and magazines.
The study was commissioned by the Reynolds Center with interviews conducted by the Behavior Research Center Inc.
Almost half of the young adults surveyed said they had made decisions in the last year based on economic news. Those included buying less, saving more and putting off going to college.
"Our study found that young adults clearly care about their long-term financial future and follow the economic news in its many forms," said Andrew Leckey, president of the Reynolds Center.
More than half said that the current economy has changed how they foresee their future lifestyle and career, "an extremely pessimistic finding," according to James E. Haynes, who directed the research.
Other findings included:
-- CNN was cited as the most trustworthy specific news source by 20
percent, while 9 percent chose Fox News.
-- One in five had discussed the economy on social networking sites. More
than half used Facebook, followed by MySpace at 40 percent. Seven
percent said they frequently used the micro-blogging site, Twitter.
-- Almost one-fourth used online financial tools, with bank Web sites
being the most commonly used.
A February study by the Reynolds Center of where all adults accessed business news found that more used television than newspapers, the Internet and radio combined.
The survey has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.
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More than half of the 400 interviewees aged 18 to 25 said they relied a lot on the Internet for business news, followed by television and the advice of family and friends. They also rated the Internet and television as more accurate than newspapers, radio and magazines.
The study was commissioned by the Reynolds Center with interviews conducted by the Behavior Research Center Inc.
Almost half of the young adults surveyed said they had made decisions in the last year based on economic news. Those included buying less, saving more and putting off going to college.
"Our study found that young adults clearly care about their long-term financial future and follow the economic news in its many forms," said Andrew Leckey, president of the Reynolds Center.
More than half said that the current economy has changed how they foresee their future lifestyle and career, "an extremely pessimistic finding," according to James E. Haynes, who directed the research.
Other findings included:
-- CNN was cited as the most trustworthy specific news source by 20
percent, while 9 percent chose Fox News.
-- One in five had discussed the economy on social networking sites. More
than half used Facebook, followed by MySpace at 40 percent. Seven
percent said they frequently used the micro-blogging site, Twitter.
-- Almost one-fourth used online financial tools, with bank Web sites
being the most commonly used.
A February study by the Reynolds Center of where all adults accessed business news found that more used television than newspapers, the Internet and radio combined.
The survey has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.
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Monday, June 1, 2009
Experts: Gumblar attack is alive, worse than Conficker
Updated May 29 at 11:25 a.m. PDT with more details, quotes throughout.
Gumblar, a new attack that compromises Web sites, has added new domain names that are downloading malware onto unsuspecting computers, stealing FTP credentials to compromise more sites, and tampering with Web traffic, a security firm said on Thursday.
The Gumblar attack started in March with Web sites being compromised and attack code hidden on them. The malware downloaded onto those sites came from the gumblar.cn domain, a Chinese domain associated with Russian and Latvian IP addresses that were delivering code from... http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10251779-83.html?tag=nl.e757
Gumblar, a new attack that compromises Web sites, has added new domain names that are downloading malware onto unsuspecting computers, stealing FTP credentials to compromise more sites, and tampering with Web traffic, a security firm said on Thursday.
The Gumblar attack started in March with Web sites being compromised and attack code hidden on them. The malware downloaded onto those sites came from the gumblar.cn domain, a Chinese domain associated with Russian and Latvian IP addresses that were delivering code from... http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10251779-83.html?tag=nl.e757
Jim Harper discusses Obama's cyber infrastructure plan on CNBC
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Saturday, May 23, 2009
Almost 30,000 Videos on YouTube Contain Comments with Links to a Malicious Web Page, Reports PandaLabs
/PRNewswire/ -- PandaLabs, Panda Security's malware analysis and detection laboratory, has approximately 30,000 videos on YouTube with comments containing links that point to a Web page designed to download malware. This is another example of how cyber-criminals are attacking popular Web 2.0 sites to distribute malware. Similar attacks have previously been seen, to a lesser extent, on sites including Digg.com and Facebook.
The comments are normally suggestive, claiming that the link will take users to a legal Web page with pornographic content. You can see an image here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/3548358349/.
However, when users click the link, they are taken to a page that spoofs the original and which is really designed to download malware. On this page, users will be prompted to download a file in order to view the video. If they take the bait, users will really be downloading a copy of the PrivacyCenter fake antivirus.
This malware, when run on a computer, pretends to scan the system, supposedly detecting dozens of (non-existent) viruses. It then offers users the chance to buy the paid version of the antivirus to clean their computers. The ultimate aim of cyber-crooks is to profit from the sale of this 'Premium' version of the fake software.
"The technique of using malicious comments on YouTube is not new," explains Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs. "What is alarming however, is the quantity of links we have detected pointing to the same Web page. This suggests that cyber-criminals are using automation tools to publish these comments."
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The comments are normally suggestive, claiming that the link will take users to a legal Web page with pornographic content. You can see an image here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/3548358349/.
However, when users click the link, they are taken to a page that spoofs the original and which is really designed to download malware. On this page, users will be prompted to download a file in order to view the video. If they take the bait, users will really be downloading a copy of the PrivacyCenter fake antivirus.
This malware, when run on a computer, pretends to scan the system, supposedly detecting dozens of (non-existent) viruses. It then offers users the chance to buy the paid version of the antivirus to clean their computers. The ultimate aim of cyber-crooks is to profit from the sale of this 'Premium' version of the fake software.
"The technique of using malicious comments on YouTube is not new," explains Luis Corrons, technical director of PandaLabs. "What is alarming however, is the quantity of links we have detected pointing to the same Web page. This suggests that cyber-criminals are using automation tools to publish these comments."
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Cybersecurity Groups Launch 'Chain of Trust' Initiative to Combat Malware
/PRNewswire / -- Three of the world's leading cybersecurity groups today launched a new initiative to combat malicious software (malware) by establishing a "Chain of Trust" among all organizations and individuals that play a role in securing the Internet.
Developed by the Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and StopBadware.org, the Chain of Trust Initiative will link together security vendors, researchers, government agencies, Internet companies, network providers, advocacy and education groups in a systemic effort to stem the rising tide of malware.
Applying many of the same approaches used to bring nuisance adware under control, the Chain of Trust Initiative aims to establish a united front against a threat that continues to grow exponentially. Kaspersky Labs recently reported that malware distributed through social networking sites is successful 10 times more often than scams distributed via email.
"Strong security in any one organization or sector is not enough to combat an agile, fast evolving threat like malware, which exploits security breakdowns between entities," said Ari Schwartz, ASC Coordinator and Vice President of the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT). "We all need to work together to build a system that can withstand and repel the next generation of exploits."
The first order of business in the Chain of Trust Initiative is to map the complex, interdependent network of organizations and individuals that make up the chain. Only by identifying all the vulnerable links and understanding how they connect to one another can malware fighters get a handle on the problem and begin to develop consensus solutions.
"Online safety and security is a shared responsibility that requires the involvement of governments, corporations, non-profit institutions and citizens," said Michael Kaiser, Executive Director of the NCSA. "The Chain of Trust Initiative will focus furthering the development of tools that provide better protections. However, we must also continue to ensure that all of us implement universal behaviors online that protect us against a multitude of threats."
ASC, NCSA and StopBadware.org will lead the mapping effort and jointly develop ideas and initiatives to form stronger bonds between links on the chain. Leaders of the initiative have already begun reaching out to key players and identifying critical areas for collaboration. In the next six months, the Chain of Trust Initiative will produce a paper tracking the results of the mapping project and propose initial recommendations to strengthen the chain.
"Organization and collaboration are our best tools against an enemy that doesn't play by any rules," said StopBadware.org manager Maxim Weinstein. "Just by nature of how the Internet works, malware distributors have a technological advantage, but we can respond by strengthening our shared networks and by better understanding our shared responsibilities."
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Developed by the Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and StopBadware.org, the Chain of Trust Initiative will link together security vendors, researchers, government agencies, Internet companies, network providers, advocacy and education groups in a systemic effort to stem the rising tide of malware.
Applying many of the same approaches used to bring nuisance adware under control, the Chain of Trust Initiative aims to establish a united front against a threat that continues to grow exponentially. Kaspersky Labs recently reported that malware distributed through social networking sites is successful 10 times more often than scams distributed via email.
"Strong security in any one organization or sector is not enough to combat an agile, fast evolving threat like malware, which exploits security breakdowns between entities," said Ari Schwartz, ASC Coordinator and Vice President of the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT). "We all need to work together to build a system that can withstand and repel the next generation of exploits."
The first order of business in the Chain of Trust Initiative is to map the complex, interdependent network of organizations and individuals that make up the chain. Only by identifying all the vulnerable links and understanding how they connect to one another can malware fighters get a handle on the problem and begin to develop consensus solutions.
"Online safety and security is a shared responsibility that requires the involvement of governments, corporations, non-profit institutions and citizens," said Michael Kaiser, Executive Director of the NCSA. "The Chain of Trust Initiative will focus furthering the development of tools that provide better protections. However, we must also continue to ensure that all of us implement universal behaviors online that protect us against a multitude of threats."
ASC, NCSA and StopBadware.org will lead the mapping effort and jointly develop ideas and initiatives to form stronger bonds between links on the chain. Leaders of the initiative have already begun reaching out to key players and identifying critical areas for collaboration. In the next six months, the Chain of Trust Initiative will produce a paper tracking the results of the mapping project and propose initial recommendations to strengthen the chain.
"Organization and collaboration are our best tools against an enemy that doesn't play by any rules," said StopBadware.org manager Maxim Weinstein. "Just by nature of how the Internet works, malware distributors have a technological advantage, but we can respond by strengthening our shared networks and by better understanding our shared responsibilities."
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Saturday, May 16, 2009
Revealing New Report on Monetizing Social Media Predicts Everyone Will Be Profitable Except Facebook
/PRNewswire/ -- A revealing new report on monetizing social media predicts everyone but facebook stands to make money under the current business structure of leading social networks. The study, the latest from ContentNext Media, Inc. and authored by renowned analyst Lauren Rich Fine, compares the top social network to a local mall, suggesting "it might be time to start charging rent" to be on the platform, as mobile carriers already do.
As things stand, "there's a real danger that application developers who use the facebook platform will become quite profitable while the host corporation will not," says Fine. "Advertising on social nets will never be commensurate with the amount of time people spend on them. And facebook has made several failed attempts at innovative marketing efforts that members loudly rejected."
Other findings from the report:
-- There has been more than $25.5 billion in social media M&A and
investment activity in 902 transactions over the past 27 months.
-- Gaming is the largest sub-category in VC funding -- with more than
$800 million raised.
-- Outside of gaming, excitement around virtual currency could come to a
screeching halt given the predominant "novelty" factor present in the
enthusiasm.
"The merging of social and mobile is upon us," adds Fine. "And there are proven successful strategies that social network companies can adopt from the mobile carrier model."
In her analysis last month of the mobile industry, Fine warned not to expect mobile growth to be a panacea. "Concern and confusion over costs and hardware could mute near-term growth," she cautions.
"The Changing Mobile Industry and What It Means for Media Executives" is part of ContentNext Media's highly regarded report series that also includes in-depth looks at digital music, online news and political sites, online fantasy sports, Web content-management systems, and a piercing dissection of the latest online ad forecasts.
"With this pair of reports, ContentNext Media continues its leadership role in identifying and analyzing the most important issues and opportunities in digital media," said Nathan Richardson, CEO of ContentNext Media. "Lauren's seasoned and deep insights into the financial nuances of the media industry, combined with our comprehensive expertise in the most important business trends and issues in the sector, create an unparalleled level of insight and advice for the unique challenges facing decision makers in the media industry today."
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As things stand, "there's a real danger that application developers who use the facebook platform will become quite profitable while the host corporation will not," says Fine. "Advertising on social nets will never be commensurate with the amount of time people spend on them. And facebook has made several failed attempts at innovative marketing efforts that members loudly rejected."
Other findings from the report:
-- There has been more than $25.5 billion in social media M&A and
investment activity in 902 transactions over the past 27 months.
-- Gaming is the largest sub-category in VC funding -- with more than
$800 million raised.
-- Outside of gaming, excitement around virtual currency could come to a
screeching halt given the predominant "novelty" factor present in the
enthusiasm.
"The merging of social and mobile is upon us," adds Fine. "And there are proven successful strategies that social network companies can adopt from the mobile carrier model."
In her analysis last month of the mobile industry, Fine warned not to expect mobile growth to be a panacea. "Concern and confusion over costs and hardware could mute near-term growth," she cautions.
"The Changing Mobile Industry and What It Means for Media Executives" is part of ContentNext Media's highly regarded report series that also includes in-depth looks at digital music, online news and political sites, online fantasy sports, Web content-management systems, and a piercing dissection of the latest online ad forecasts.
"With this pair of reports, ContentNext Media continues its leadership role in identifying and analyzing the most important issues and opportunities in digital media," said Nathan Richardson, CEO of ContentNext Media. "Lauren's seasoned and deep insights into the financial nuances of the media industry, combined with our comprehensive expertise in the most important business trends and issues in the sector, create an unparalleled level of insight and advice for the unique challenges facing decision makers in the media industry today."
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Cox's New Survey on Cyber-Safety Finds Many Teens Going Online Wirelessly Without Limits or Controls
/PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, Cox Communications, in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children(R) (NCMEC) and America's Most Wanted host and children's advocate John Walsh, will present the results of a new survey on the behavior of young people online. This year, the survey also looks at teen behavior using wireless devices.
Under the auspices of Cox's Take Charge! program, the partners are helping parents understand the potential dangers of the Internet and learn ways they can help keep their kids safer online. The initiative includes both the survey about teen behavior and a frank discussion with a teen focus group at the Cox Communications' Annual National Summit on Internet Safety.
WHAT: Cox Communications' Annual National Teen Summit on Internet
Safety
WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
-- Teen Summit at 9:00 a.m.
-- Virtual Media Conference at 10:45 a.m.
WHERE: National Cable & Telecommunications Association
25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW - Suite 100
Washington, DC 20001
Key results from the survey conducted by Harris Interactive among a representative sampling of U.S. teens between the ages of thirteen and eighteen years include:
-- Technology enabled: Ninety-one percent of teens have an email address
and 60 percent have an instant messenger screen name. Seventy-three
percent of teens have a cell phone and 59 percent have a digital
camera.
-- Acceptance of Social Networking: Seventy-two percent of teens
surveyed have online profiles on social networking sites where many
have posted photos of themselves and their friends, along with
personal information.
-- Conflicted over Safety: Most teens surveyed are aware and concerned
about the risks of putting personal information out in the open.
Fifty-nine percent say having personal information or photos on a
public site is unsafe, and 26 percent say they know someone who has
had something bad happen to them because of this. Still, 62 percent
of teens post photos of themselves on blogs or social networking sites
and greater than 40 percent name their school or the city in which
they live.
-- Prevalent Cyberbullying: More than one-third of teens surveyed have
been cyberbullied, perpetrated cyberbullying or know of friends who
have experienced or perpetrated it, and 68 percent think it is a
serious problem. About 4 in 5 teens (81 percent) think that bullying
online is easier to get away with or to hide from their parents than
bullying in person.
-- Engaging in Sexting: Nineteen percent of teens surveyed have engaged
in sexting -- sending, receiving or forwarding sexually suggestive
nude or nearly nude photos through text message or email. Sixty
percent of teens who sent sexts say they send photos to their
boyfriend/girlfriend, but 11 percent say they have sent sexts(1) to
someone they don't even know. Eighty-one percent of teen sexters are
under 18.
-- Online wirelessly: Nineteen percent of teens surveyed go online via
their cell phone and 19 percent say their parents are unaware. The
vast majority of teens (80 percent) whose parent know they go online
via their cell phone say they are not given any limits or controls --
far fewer than are given boundaries on their desktop PC or laptop.
"Teens are not only online, they are active in every nuance of cyberspace. Many have no controls over what they do online and of those who do, nearly 30 percent figure ways around the boundaries set by their parents," said John Walsh. "Those parents who have been vigilant over their kids' use of the Internet via their computers, haven't extended their watch to their kids' use of the wireless devices, which are increasingly offering predators all the access they need to our precious and vulnerable young ones. Teens are prone to choosing risky behaviors even though they know better, so parents must continue to regularly talk with their children and monitor their activities."
At the June 24th summit, Walsh will lead teen participants from Cox Communications' markets across the country in a discussion of cyber-safety and ways parents, guardians and teen mentors can help children stay safer online. Results of the survey and information from teen discussion at the summit will be presented immediately following during the live virtual media conference (details to be announced via media alert immediately prior); Walsh and select teens will be available to answer questions. Teens participating in the Summit will also deliver the news directly to Capitol Hill in meetings with members of Congress on June 25th.
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Under the auspices of Cox's Take Charge! program, the partners are helping parents understand the potential dangers of the Internet and learn ways they can help keep their kids safer online. The initiative includes both the survey about teen behavior and a frank discussion with a teen focus group at the Cox Communications' Annual National Summit on Internet Safety.
WHAT: Cox Communications' Annual National Teen Summit on Internet
Safety
WHEN: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
-- Teen Summit at 9:00 a.m.
-- Virtual Media Conference at 10:45 a.m.
WHERE: National Cable & Telecommunications Association
25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW - Suite 100
Washington, DC 20001
Key results from the survey conducted by Harris Interactive among a representative sampling of U.S. teens between the ages of thirteen and eighteen years include:
-- Technology enabled: Ninety-one percent of teens have an email address
and 60 percent have an instant messenger screen name. Seventy-three
percent of teens have a cell phone and 59 percent have a digital
camera.
-- Acceptance of Social Networking: Seventy-two percent of teens
surveyed have online profiles on social networking sites where many
have posted photos of themselves and their friends, along with
personal information.
-- Conflicted over Safety: Most teens surveyed are aware and concerned
about the risks of putting personal information out in the open.
Fifty-nine percent say having personal information or photos on a
public site is unsafe, and 26 percent say they know someone who has
had something bad happen to them because of this. Still, 62 percent
of teens post photos of themselves on blogs or social networking sites
and greater than 40 percent name their school or the city in which
they live.
-- Prevalent Cyberbullying: More than one-third of teens surveyed have
been cyberbullied, perpetrated cyberbullying or know of friends who
have experienced or perpetrated it, and 68 percent think it is a
serious problem. About 4 in 5 teens (81 percent) think that bullying
online is easier to get away with or to hide from their parents than
bullying in person.
-- Engaging in Sexting: Nineteen percent of teens surveyed have engaged
in sexting -- sending, receiving or forwarding sexually suggestive
nude or nearly nude photos through text message or email. Sixty
percent of teens who sent sexts say they send photos to their
boyfriend/girlfriend, but 11 percent say they have sent sexts(1) to
someone they don't even know. Eighty-one percent of teen sexters are
under 18.
-- Online wirelessly: Nineteen percent of teens surveyed go online via
their cell phone and 19 percent say their parents are unaware. The
vast majority of teens (80 percent) whose parent know they go online
via their cell phone say they are not given any limits or controls --
far fewer than are given boundaries on their desktop PC or laptop.
"Teens are not only online, they are active in every nuance of cyberspace. Many have no controls over what they do online and of those who do, nearly 30 percent figure ways around the boundaries set by their parents," said John Walsh. "Those parents who have been vigilant over their kids' use of the Internet via their computers, haven't extended their watch to their kids' use of the wireless devices, which are increasingly offering predators all the access they need to our precious and vulnerable young ones. Teens are prone to choosing risky behaviors even though they know better, so parents must continue to regularly talk with their children and monitor their activities."
At the June 24th summit, Walsh will lead teen participants from Cox Communications' markets across the country in a discussion of cyber-safety and ways parents, guardians and teen mentors can help children stay safer online. Results of the survey and information from teen discussion at the summit will be presented immediately following during the live virtual media conference (details to be announced via media alert immediately prior); Walsh and select teens will be available to answer questions. Teens participating in the Summit will also deliver the news directly to Capitol Hill in meetings with members of Congress on June 25th.
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Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Cyber-Criminals Create Specialized Search Engines to Lead Users to Malicious Web Sites, According to PandaLabs
/PRNewswire/ -- PandaLabs, Panda Security's malware analysis and detection laboratory, today announced that it has uncovered evidence that cyber-criminals are starting to create their own search engines and use them to lead users to malicious pages, often created for distributing malware.
This new trend underlines how cyber-crime is becoming increasingly professional. Previously, cyber-crooks would use malicious SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or "blackhat SEO" techniques to improve the ranking of their pages among popular search engines. Now, they are beginning to use their own search engines which lead users directly to pages designed to infect or defraud them. One such malicious search engine, detected by PandaLabs, has already received approximately 195,000 visits.
These search engines operate as follows: When users enter a search term, the engine returns just five or six results. Clicking on any of these results will redirect the user to a Web page created specifically to distribute malware. The pages may include content such as pornographic videos, which ask users to download the latest version of "Web media player" in order to watch the clip. However, the file downloaded is really the adware WebMediaPlayer. These pages are also being used to distribute fake antivirus programs. You can see an image here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/3504323344/
This technique is known as social engineering, and basically involves infecting users by enticing them to click a link or run a malicious file.
"We started searching for words and issues frequently exploited by cyber-crime, in this case swine flu, or celebrity names such as Britney Spears or Paris Hilton and this took us to pages created to distribute malware. But, we then found that even searching for our own names would reveal results that were in fact malicious pages," explains Luis Corrons, Technical Director of PandaLabs. "Strangely though, there is the occasional normal result among all the malicious ones. Perhaps this is to bolster the illusion that this is a genuine search engine."
To avoid falling victim to these attacks, PandaLabs advises users only to use trusted search engines, and to be wary of Web sites offering sensational videos or unusual stories.
"If on this kind of Web site you are asked to download a codec or any other kind of program to watch videos, there is a strong chance that it is really malicious code," warns Corrons.
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This new trend underlines how cyber-crime is becoming increasingly professional. Previously, cyber-crooks would use malicious SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or "blackhat SEO" techniques to improve the ranking of their pages among popular search engines. Now, they are beginning to use their own search engines which lead users directly to pages designed to infect or defraud them. One such malicious search engine, detected by PandaLabs, has already received approximately 195,000 visits.
These search engines operate as follows: When users enter a search term, the engine returns just five or six results. Clicking on any of these results will redirect the user to a Web page created specifically to distribute malware. The pages may include content such as pornographic videos, which ask users to download the latest version of "Web media player" in order to watch the clip. However, the file downloaded is really the adware WebMediaPlayer. These pages are also being used to distribute fake antivirus programs. You can see an image here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/3504323344/
This technique is known as social engineering, and basically involves infecting users by enticing them to click a link or run a malicious file.
"We started searching for words and issues frequently exploited by cyber-crime, in this case swine flu, or celebrity names such as Britney Spears or Paris Hilton and this took us to pages created to distribute malware. But, we then found that even searching for our own names would reveal results that were in fact malicious pages," explains Luis Corrons, Technical Director of PandaLabs. "Strangely though, there is the occasional normal result among all the malicious ones. Perhaps this is to bolster the illusion that this is a genuine search engine."
To avoid falling victim to these attacks, PandaLabs advises users only to use trusted search engines, and to be wary of Web sites offering sensational videos or unusual stories.
"If on this kind of Web site you are asked to download a codec or any other kind of program to watch videos, there is a strong chance that it is really malicious code," warns Corrons.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Swedish National Charged With Hacking and Theft of Trade Secrets Related to Alleged Computer Intrusions at NASA and Cisco
/PRNewswire/ -- Philip Gabriel Pettersson, aka "Stakkato," 21, a Swedish national, was indicted today on intrusion and trade secret theft charges, announced the Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello for the Northern District of California.
The five-count indictment includes one intrusion count and two trade secret misappropriation counts involving Cisco Systems Inc. (Cisco), of San Jose, Calif., which is a provider of computer network equipment and producer of Internet routers. According to the allegations in the indictment Pettersson intentionally committed an intrusion between May 12, 2004, and May 13, 2004, into the computer system and network of Cisco. During the alleged intrusion some Cisco Internetwork Operating System code was allegedly misappropriated.
The indictment also charges two intrusion counts involving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), including computers at the Ames Research Center and the NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division, located at Moffett Field, Calif. The indictment alleges Pettersson committed these intrusions on May 19, 2004, May 20, 2004 and Oct. 22, 2004.
Cisco and NASA cooperated in the government's investigation. Following the incident, Cisco reported that it did not believe that any customer information, partner information or financial systems were affected.
The Department of Justice will continue to work cooperatively with the Swedish authorities on the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum penalty for each charge of intrusion and theft of trade secrets is 10 years in prison, a three year term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI; U.S. Secret Service; NASA Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Computer Crimes Division; and numerous additional federal agencies. Mark L. Krotoski, presently at the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Paralegal Lauri Gomez and Assistant Netterie Lewis. CCIPS Senior Counsel Kimberly Peretti also assisted in the prosecution. The Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs has assisted on international coordination issues in the case.
The five-count indictment includes one intrusion count and two trade secret misappropriation counts involving Cisco Systems Inc. (Cisco), of San Jose, Calif., which is a provider of computer network equipment and producer of Internet routers. According to the allegations in the indictment Pettersson intentionally committed an intrusion between May 12, 2004, and May 13, 2004, into the computer system and network of Cisco. During the alleged intrusion some Cisco Internetwork Operating System code was allegedly misappropriated.
The indictment also charges two intrusion counts involving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), including computers at the Ames Research Center and the NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division, located at Moffett Field, Calif. The indictment alleges Pettersson committed these intrusions on May 19, 2004, May 20, 2004 and Oct. 22, 2004.
Cisco and NASA cooperated in the government's investigation. Following the incident, Cisco reported that it did not believe that any customer information, partner information or financial systems were affected.
The Department of Justice will continue to work cooperatively with the Swedish authorities on the case.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum penalty for each charge of intrusion and theft of trade secrets is 10 years in prison, a three year term of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI; U.S. Secret Service; NASA Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Computer Crimes Division; and numerous additional federal agencies. Mark L. Krotoski, presently at the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Paralegal Lauri Gomez and Assistant Netterie Lewis. CCIPS Senior Counsel Kimberly Peretti also assisted in the prosecution. The Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs has assisted on international coordination issues in the case.
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