Lauren 10PIB2 Fieldtrip (Assignment)

A FORMER EMPLOYEE at the fashion house Gucci faces possible prison time for allegedly tampering with its computer network after being fired from the company.
Prosecutors allege that Sam Chihlung Yin, 34, committed an array of computer crimes against the fashion label after having been fired as an network engineer for its US branch. They say he secretly created a ficticious user account while he was employed, then used it to access Gucci's computer systems after he was fired, shutting down some of its servers and networks, and deleted data.

The intrusions cost Gucci more than $200,000. Yin has been hit with a 50-count indictment, which includes offences like computer tampering and identity theft. If found guilty Yin potentially faces years in prison, although his motivation seems to have been revenge rather than financial gain.

It's alleged that Yin created a virtual private network (VPN) token in the name of a fake employee and took it with him when he was fired. He then allegedly emailed the Gucci IT department, which activated the VPN token giving Yin access to its network and computer systems.

Prosecutors claim that Yin used the VPN access and his familiarity with the Gucci network to wreak havoc. He's accused of doing things like deleting virtual servers, shutting down the storage area network, and deleting a disk containing corporate email accounts from a server.
Businesses fear this kind of insider attack, as it is very difficult to defend against somebody who has such a deep knowledge of their systems.

But it sounds as though this particular attack might have been avoidable if Gucci's IT department had their brains in gear.

by : Asavin Wattanajantra

source : theinquirer.net

Takeaway: The folks over at Engadget have brought us the exclusive news that the iPhone has been successfully unlocked. There were previous successes, but they all involved various hardware trickery. Well, no longer. The iPhone can now be successfully unlocked via applying simple software. The hack was apparently done by the iPhoneSIMfree.com team who called up Engadget [...]

The folks over at Engadget have brought us the exclusive news that the iPhone has been successfully unlocked. There were previous successes, but they all involved various hardware trickery. Well, no longer. The iPhone can now be successfully unlocked via applying simple software.

The hack was apparently done by the iPhoneSIMfree.com team who called up Engadget to prove their claim that they have cracked Apple’s iPhone SIM lock system. It appears that the six-man team has been working literally non-stop since launch day.

The iPhoneSIMfree team has yet to disclose how they will distribute this hack, but you can probably be assured that details will be revealed in short order. And no, apparently, Engadget didn’t retain a copy of the software.

Excerpt from Engadget:

Again: we can confirm with 100% certainty that iPhoneSIMfree.com’s software solution completely SIM unlocks the iPhone, is restore-resistant, and should make the iPhone fully functional for users outside of the US.
“Installation notes” on this Hack:
The unlock process took only a couple of minutes. From our end it was totally painless.
Once you put your new, non AT&T SIM in the device, you have to go through the usual activation process. This can, of course, be done by anyone anywhere with the right tools (like iASign or iActivator).
We tested with an active T-Mobile SIM — after the hack was finished and we reactivated we immediately got full bars and the T-Mobile carrier info popped up in the top bar.
Everything is otherwise the same, except the menu system now has a couple more options. The root menu has Carrier settings where you can select your preferred network if you don’t want to roam.
The General -> Network menu now has an EDGE network settings area where you can input your carrier’s APN and username / password. We put in our T-Mobile info, and were immediately online. (Apparently these hidden menus were added in the 1.0.1 update, they tell us. How convenient!)
Visual voicemail isn’t in the cards — sorry. That was, of course, to be expected because it’s a special AT&T network-specific feature right now. When you hit the voicemail button you are taken immediately to your carrier’s default voicemail line though, and that works just like it would on any other phone.
Everything is confirmed as working on a non-AT&T network: SMS send / receive, Internet (including Safari, Mail, Google maps, etc.). YouTube doesn’t work out of the box, but that’s to be expected. If you’re not on AT&T, you have to manually activate YouTube — here’s the guide on how to do that. (YouTube is the only app you have to activate like this.)
We know, it’s kind of crazy, but this isn’t a hoax.
No, sorry, you can’t have our unlocked iPhone.
For the video, gallery of images, and the rest of the other details, you can check out the original Engadget post, iPhone unlocked: AT&T loses iPhone exclusivity.

Now, if only wriggling out of the compulsory two-year iPhone contracts was that easy. Ouch.

The only question left is: How come it took so long?

by : Paul Mah

source : techrepublic.com

TEL AVIV (Reuters) – German business software company Software AG (SOWG.DE) will pursue more acquisitions and is seek to expand its cooperation with market leader SAP AG (SAPG.DE), its chief executive said on Tuesday.

"We are very active in pursuing potential acquisitions and we always have a number of acquisitions on our radar screens," Karl-Heinz Streibich told Reuters during a visit to Israel, where media has speculated it is seeking to buy a company.

"It is possible that we will make an acquisition this year."

Streibich said Software AG makes a small-to-medium size deal almost every year.
"Whether the big one will happen this year or not, this is not predictable," he said, adding that the company planned to make a large acquisition every two-to-four years.
A large deal would be similar to that of IDS Scheer, an IT consultancy Software AG acquired about two years ago for 480 million euros, he said.

IDS Scheer is a partner of Germany's SAP.

"They have a very long-standing relationship with SAP and therefore we work together with SAP and look where there are areas where we can expand our activities," he said.

"We are looking to make more deals together...we have a number of customer deals together and we are looking to improve our mutual business by combining our activities wherever it makes sense from a customer's point of view."

Software AG -- which provides software for companies to integrate new and legacy IT systems, and also for transactional databases -- bought seven companies for a total of more than $1.2 billion in the past few years.

It has acquired three companies in Israel, where it employs 360 people.
Streibich said Software AG "has some Israeli companies on the radar screen," but added the main reason for his visit was to see customers.

"When there is something which would make sense for us we would be happy to buy an Israeli company again," he said. He declined to comment on specific companies.

Israeli financial newspaper Globes reported last week that Software AG, as well as Nokia, had expressed interest in acquiring GigaSpaces Technologies, an infrastructure software firm. Globes estimated the sale price at $50-$100 million.

Software AG head of mergers and acquisitions Fredric Hanika was recently in Israel and told Reuters the company was interested in technologies that mobilize the business process and enable companies to build cloud computing. GigaSpaces developed a platform to facilitate migration to cloud computing.

Though there has been repeated market speculation of a possible takeover of Software AG by SAP, Streibich said the company was secure from a hostile takeover since 30 percent of its shares belong to a foundation created by its founder.

"We are a company which is buying companies ourselves. We are consolidating the market," he said.

Its plan is to double revenue every five to seven years, with 50 percent of growth coming from acquisitions and the rest from organic growth.

by : Tova Cohen

source : news.yahoo.com

When CNET Download.com opened its doors in 1996, it was home to 3,000 small shareware and freeware applications. Online software distribution was still in its infancy. What a difference a near-decade makes! Since 1996, we've watched the rise of instant messaging, digital audio and the MP3 format, file sharing, spyware and antispyware, and the open-source movement, just to name a few. And we've watched as online software distribution has gone from pipe dream to reality. These 10 applications best represent the top trends in downloading over the past decade.

1. ICQ

Today instant messengers are ubiquitous, but when ICQ ("I Seek You") was first released in 1997, it was truly the first of its kind. Though competitors such as Yahoo Instant Messenger and AIM have since encroached on ICQ's territory, this chat client remains enormously popular with international users, and it has remained one of Download.com's most popular applications since its launch.

2. Winamp


Arriving fast on the heels of the emerging MP3 digital format, Nullsoft's Winamp was one of the darlings of the burgeoning digital audio scene in the late '90s. This free audio player quickly gained popularity, becoming one of the most popular files on Download.com, and Nullsoft was eventually acquired by AOL in 1999.

3. Napster

Who doesn't remember this controversial file-sharing kingpin? Developed by Northeastern University student Shawn Fanning, Napster was a groundbreaking application that enabled users to share MP3s painlessly for the first time through a peer-to-peer network. Napster has since been sued, shuttered, and reborn as a subscription music service, but its legacy remains.


4. Firefox

Developed by the open-source Mozilla project in 2003, Firefox was the first browser to show the promise of breaking Microsoft's stranglehold on the browser market. Lightweight, secure, and packed with useful features, Firefox exemplifies the promise of the strengthening open-source movement.



5. WinZip

When CNET Download.com launched in 1996, WinZip was among the first programs in our library, and in the past nine years, it has remained near the top of our Most Popular list. The reason is simple: For many years, WinZip was an essential utility. You couldn't download or send large files without it. Even the fact that Windows XP now has built-in ZIP support hasn't diminished its popularity. The keys to WinZip's success are its simplicity and its singularity of purpose: it does one thing--compressing and decompressing files--and it does it very well.


6. iTunes

Apple's music player and organizer makes our top 10 list for the sheer beauty of its product design. iTunes is not only a full-featured media player and library in its own right, it's also the gateway for Apple's iPod and popular music store, creating an elegant and simple interface for buying and organizing music. If only all software were this easy to use.



7. Ad-aware

Almost as soon as there was software to download, there was adware coming along for the ride. Lavasoft did its part to hold the line with Ad-aware, a spyware scanner and remover. Its simple interface and excellent results have gained the program acclaim over the past five years, including a recent monopoly on the No. 1 slot in Download.com's Most Popular list. We wouldn't download files without it, and apparently, neither would most of you.



8. Skype

If Internet signals can travel over a phone line, then voice calls can travel over the Internet, right? With a Voice-over-IP (VOIP) program such as Skype, they certainly can. The prospect of making free calls to folks all over the globe has persuaded millions of people to install the software; the ease of use and surprising voice quality have earned Skype a loyal user base and accolades that include a CNET Editors' Choice and a Webby.


9. RealPlayer

Ten years ago, the Web was full of static content. The 1995 debut of RealPlayer changed all that. Streaming audio and video in a free media player was a bold step forward into making the Internet a viable entertainment platform, and RealNetworks was there. Today the software plays almost every media format, and the online music store sells tunes compatible with most MP3 players--even the iPod. RealPlayer hasn't always been at the head of the class, but it was there first, and it keeps adapting to the developing world of online media.



10. Adobe Acrobat Reader

Bridging the gap between print and Internet publishing, Adobe's portable document format (PDF)
lets publishers distribute their articles, newsletters, and documentation online without worrying about formatting problems or unauthorized alterations. By giving away the Acrobat Reader early on, Adobe helped create a nearly unassailable market position. If you want to read magazine archives or software manuals online, you need Acrobat Reader--as its nearly seven-year occupation of the Most Popular list can attest.

by : Kelly Green Morrison and Karen Whitehouse

source : cnet.com

Are you puzzled when using PowerPoint sometimes? In this article, I will list some small PowerPoint tips. Maybe they are all common, but practical ones. Hope these tips will make you convenient in your work and life.

1. How to Resize Pictures

You can size pictures in PowerPoint by clicking the picture with the mouse and dragging it to a new size. If you don't want to "stretch" the picture (keeping the horizontal aspect ratio the same) but enlarge it, hold the Crtl key when changing the size. You can also click the corner of the picture and enlarge it and the aspect ratio will remain the same.

2. How to Use Scanned Photos in PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you may want to add your own scanned photos into a slide to spice up your presentation. But very large pictures can slow down you slide show when they start to load. Even if a picture takes only a few seconds to load, it can throw off your entire presentation, as well as your timing. Recommend using smaller sized photos to help your slide show run exactly how it should.

3. How to Use Graphics with Text Efficiently

While working in Microsoft PowerPoint, you may decide to use text over graphics. This can either make or break your presentation, depending on how well you select your font and color. When working with text and a full color, it can be very difficult to pick the right color and font style. However, when working with a picture that only contains a few colors, text on top of it can spice up the slide�s appearance.

4. How to Record a Narration in PowerPoint

You can record a narration into a PowerPoint slide easily. Do this:
* Go to the Slide you wish to add a narration to.
* From the Insert menu select Movies and Sounds.
* Click Record Sounds.
* When ready, click the Record button (the red circle).
* When finished recording, click the black Stop button.
* Click OK.

5. How to Add a Background Sound to a PowerPoint Slide

To add a background sound to a PowerPoint slide, follow this:
* Open the Insert menu.
* Select Movies and Sounds.
* Click Play CD Audio Track.

6. When Using AVI files with Presentations

Using an AVI file with a presentation may spice it up, but it can also ruin it. Make sure to keep your AVI file normal size. A movie playing that is viewed too big will not have anywhere near the quality that a smaller viewed movie will.

7. How to Convert Your PowerPoint to DVD

You can use Windows Movie Maker, but you may not be able to keep the animations and sounds in your presentation. Another choice is to use a professional tool to help you do this easily. Here I recommend the Wondershare PPT2DVD. With a high conversion quality, you can do it easily.
More information you can go to http://www.ppt-to-dvd.com

Small PowerPoint tips but useful. Welcome to share more tips here!

by : Alex Smith

source : selfseo.com

For this third beta version of Opera 10, the Norwegian Opera Software publisher indicates its focus on performance and stability. A performance that does not necessarily measure the speed JavaScript, Opera 10 beta 3 posting on the SunSpider test results lower than Firefox 3.5, Safari 4.0 and Google Chrome. Opera 10 is not the best on this benchmark, but after all the advance as Microsoft, JavaScript speed is not everything, especially Internet Explorer 8 is much more down to that level …

In terms of stability, Opera Software announced the appearance of crash logger and promise a more robust browser. No more details and to check whether the stability of the browser in case of crash of a tab. The browser is in any case already provided a mechanism for rehabilitation after crash with all the tabs.

For Opera 10 beta 3, the aesthetic was refined and in particular at the level of tabs. It is thus possible to display thumbnails of tabs and, more generally, not just tabs at the top of the browser, but also to the right or left of the navigation screen. The display of thumbnails it remains optional.

Note that for this beta 3 of Opera 10, the time has come internationalization with availability in 38 languages. It should also be noted that technology Opera Unite to convert just any machine in client and server to exchange data, is still not integrated into the beta for Opera 10. Unite Opera is still in alpha.

Recall that its rendering engine Presto 2.2, Opera 10 beta passes Acid3 test completely like Safari 4.0 and Google Chrome, claims a gain in speed display in the order of 40% compared to Opera 9.6. Speed Dial, which displays thumbnails of Web sites to open a new tab is now more customizable HTML formatting is supported in Opera Mail email client. For those who want to try latest edition of Beta go to our Opera 10 Beta 3 download page.

source : softwaretipspalace.com

It's easy enough for a cellphone accessory company to just put out an external battery -- and Dexim's got plenty of those in its catalog. But for them, "just a battery" isn't good enough -- so let's look at two of their products that add a bit more value to the spare-battery category.

First up is the P-Flip, which brings new meaning to the term "multitasking:" it's a 2000 mAh lithium polymer external battery AND a docking station AND a desktop stand, all in one. Plug it into your computer to charge both the iPhone and P-Flip (while synching your iPhone in the process), then remove it and go about your business, safe in the knowledge that the P-Flip will give you up to 6 more hours of talk (or 10 hrs. video/gaming, or 40 hrs. music).

The package includes a TPU hardshell bumper case that's still slim enough to fit in the P-Flip without removing it first. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! You can download a free, full customizable clock app, throw away your old digital alarm clock, and keep your phone/P-Flip on the nightstand.


Speaking of iPhone cases and external batteries: someone at Dexim had the brainstorm "Hey, let's put 'em together!" (Worked for chocolate and peanut butter -- right, Reese's?) The result was the Super Juice power case for the iPhone 4. It took the same 2000 mAh battery used in the P-Flip and stuck it in a two-piece white hardshell phone case, then slapped a kickstand on the back for good measure. So you not only get the protection, added life, and desktop-viewing of the case itself, but you now pretend you own a white iPhone 4!

source: ismashphone.com