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Submission + - Facebook Threatens Greasemonkey Script Dev (techdirt.com)

Submitted by palmerj3
palmerj3 writes: The popular Facebook Purity greasemonkey script has been used by thousands to rid their Facebook feeds from the likes of Mafia Wars, Farmville, and other annoying things. Now, Facebook is threatening the developer of this script. Does Facebook have the right to govern their websites design & functionality once it's in the browser?
Security

Submission + - Can you still trust your network card? (ssi.gouv.fr) 1

Submitted by chrisG23
chrisG23 writes: Today during the CanSecWest http://cansecwest.com/ international conference in Vancouver, members Yves-Alexis Perez and Loic Duflot of ANSSI (French Network and Information Security Agency) described how an attacker could remotely take full control of a particular network card model. Once taken over, (and no interaction with the host operating system was required whatsover) the presenters demonstrated it was possible to enable the remote computer startup, shutdown, and restart commands disabled by default in the NIC firmware. Then the presenters demonstrated remote execution of code on the host computer, obtaining a root level account with a single additional packet.

This particular exploit only works on one particular model of network card, but the implications are staggering as it is almost inevitable that more network cards and other computer devices that have their own registers, memory, processor and firmware, and a means to communicate independently of the host computer, can and will be exploited, again totally independent of the operating system of the host computer. The researchers have contacted the NIC vendor and a patch has been released. The actual exploit code and tools will not be released. Details and an FAQ can be found on the ANSSI website at http://www.ssi.gouv.fr/site_article185.html

Submission + - Mathematician refuses $1M Millennium prize (guardian.co.uk) 2

Submitted by neutralino
neutralino writes: Grigory Perelman, the Russian mathematician whose proof of the Poincaré conjecture was recently awarded a Millennium Prize worth $1M has rejected the award. Previously he refused to accept the Fields medal in 2006 and "quit the world of mathematics in disgust four years ago" (he published the proof in a paper in 2002). He refuses to talk to the media and told a journalist who contacted him "You are disturbing me. I am picking mushrooms."

Submission + - Best Buy Offers Bogus 3D Sync Service (hdguru.com)

Submitted by Token_Internet_Girl
Token_Internet_Girl writes: "Fewer than two weeks after Best Buy offered the first Full 3D HDTVs for sale in the US, its latest Sunday circular (3/21/10) promotes a Samsung 3D TV deal consisting of a 55 3D TV, 3D capable Blu-ray player, 2 pairs of glasses, a Blu-ray movie and Geek Squad delivery and installation. The ad states the service includes TV and Blu-ray player set-up, connection to your wireless network and 'sync your 3D glasses for an amazing experience'. The package price lists the geek½Â services as a $150 value. The offer’s only problem is that there is no such thing as syncing 3D glasses. They sync automatically." You can read more about this story here, and Best Buy Corporate response to this hilarity here.

Submission + - Apple iBooks manager could be Sydney-based (delimiter.com.au)

Submitted by daria42
daria42 writes: Apple appears to have inadvertently confirmed the launch of its iBookstore eBooks product in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region through a job ad. The Sydney or Toronto-based manager of the Apple iBooks product will be “the primary person” responsible for launching and growing the company’s electronic books business in the Asia-Pacific and Canada regions, the ad states.
Hardware

Submission + - Commodore 64 primed for a comeback in June (arnnet.com.au) 1

Submitted by
angry tapir
angry tapir writes: "The Commodore 64 is getting a makeover, with a new design and some of the latest computing technologies, as the brand gets primed for a comeback. The revamped computer will be available through the Commodore USA online store, which is set to open June 1. The computer will be an all-in-one keyboard, with Intel's 64-bit quad-core microprocessors and 3D graphics capabilities."
Education

Submission + - State U.'s Saying Buh-Bye to State Residents 1

Submitted by theodp
theodp writes: Raising questions about who exactly they serve, public state universities are increasingly abandoning state residents in favor of out-of-state and international students. The University of California's 'Commission on the Future' thinks increasing slots for out-of-state students is the way to go to help solve its fiscal crisis. Earlier, UC Berkeley announced plans to enroll 15% fewer Californians while doubling its number of out-of-state and international students. The Seattle Times reports that UW President Mark Emmert is compensating for cuts in state funding by shutting out taxpayers' kids in favor of a higher number of out-of-state students. The University of Iowa has also come under fire for increasingly emphasizing attracting out-of-state and international students to offset a drop-off in state funding. Having already set aside 25% of its spaces for non-residents, including 6,000 slots for international students (who receive $106 million in 'U.S. support', btw), the budget-strapped Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign says it's weighing 'increasing non-resident enrollment as a means to enhance tuition revenues'. In his book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell allows that ability is important, but argues that opportunity is paramount. By denying opportunities to their residents, are state universities forgetting their core mission? It's no wonder the young-uns are upset.

Comment Re:as with all statistical methods (Score 1) 587

My comment was a mass generalisation and not intended to be taken too seriously, I reserve any real or serious comments until I have read the report, I just hope the reports they studied actually looked at lifestyle,genetics & Socio-Economic factors and not just what the people were like when they played a game because every mind is wired differently and playing any sort of game may give off a different impulse. :) I love science btw :P

Comment Re:Oh, great; there's MORE of these wackos? (Score 2, Interesting) 409

by darkmalice (#31160984) Attached to: Aussie Attorney General Says Gamers Are Scarier Than Biker Gangs
he's Jack Thompson on crack, its not only games he trying to control he also recently attempted to make anyone writing online about his political party to submit there name and postcode (zip code), thankfully this never came to fruition but it is extremely disturbing how much power this guy seems to have.

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