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Security

Submission + - UK E-voting trials slammed (openrightsgroup.org)

jdh41 writes: The Open Rights Group launches a damning report on the recent UK e-voting trials. In one particularly bad case a full manual recount found that the machines had only counted half the ballots, leaving the only question as will anybody in government listen?
Operating Systems

Submission + - Don't become a Linux zombie in the bot army

An anonymous reader writes: This article focuses specifically on the practical aspects of periodic Linux system auditing based on real-world requirements from a system administrator of a subnet in a large academic network. The lessons learned by this administrator apply to everyone from business intranets to home users who want to prevent their home machine from becoming a zombie in the bot army.

Feed French Officials Can't Resist Their Crackberries, Even If It Means Giving Secret (techdirt.com)

We've all heard the RIM Blackberry referred to as a "Crackberry" for its supposedly addictive nature... however, we never thought that it was true that anyone really couldn't do without their Blackberry mobile device. Apparently the French government has banned the devices for certain government officials who might email sensitive information. Since RIM has all emails run through its own servers, some of which reside in the US, the French government is worried (perhaps reasonably so) that American spies are snooping on their sensitive emails. However, apparently many French government officials just can't let go and are still using Blackberry devices on the sly... even if it means sending classified info. What's odd is that various officials say they can't find anything else that works quite like the Blackberry, even though there are more and more solutions that do -- and many of them don't require emails to go through special servers in the US.
Space

Volunteer to Simulate a Mars Mission for the ESA 209

number6x writes "The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for volunteers for a simulated trip to Mars. The simulation will put a crew of six in isolation for 17 months. The crew will be made up of 4 Russians and 2 Europeans. In all the ESA will need 12 volunteers for back up purposes. Seventeen months was chosen to simulate the time needed for the journey to Mars and back, as well as a 30 day period spent doing experiments on the red planet."
Operating Systems

Submission + - Mandriva rules out patent agreement with Microsoft

Robert writes: Franco-Brazilian Linux distributor Mandriva is the latest Linux distributor to rule out the potential of a patent-related interoperability deal with Microsoft, following similar rejections by Red Hat and Ubuntu. While Microsoft has signed up Novell, Xandros, and Linspire to interoperability and patent agreements, Mandriva's chief executive, Francois Bancilhon, has denied that the company he leads will be next. "We don't believe it is necessary for us to get protection from Microsoft to do our job or to pay protection money to anyone," he wrote on the company's corporate blog, adding that while the company was in favor of interoperability, it was not convinced by Microsoft's claims that Linux and open source software infringes 235 of its patents.
Businesses

Dell Refuses to Sell Ubuntu to Business 522

An anonymous reader writes "I had a surreal experience with Dell today. My boss asked me to order a new computer for our small, non-profit business. Wanting to support Dell in their decision to sell computers with Ubuntu installed, I decided to order one. First, I talked to a small business representative, who informed me that I could not order one of the Ubuntu-based computers through the small business department. I had to go through the "home and home office" department. I called the Home office department. I asked the representative if I could buy one of the ubuntu computers for my company. She said (and I quote), "these Dell computers are designed for personal use only, as long as you use it for personal use, you can purchase one." So I lied and said I would.... Next, I tried to buy it on our business credit card. They would have none of that. She told me that I had to buy it through a personal card. Now, as a non-profit, our business does not pay sales tax (10% in Tennessee). Had I bought it with my own card, I would have had to pay tax (~$90), which my company would not have reimbursed me for. So.....no Dell today."
Microsoft

Submission + - MS to change desktop search after Google complaint (theglobeandmail.com)

Raver32 writes: "Microsoft Corp. will make changes to the program that helps Windows Vista users search their hard drives, in response to antitrust complaints from Google Inc., according to a U.S. Justice Department report issued late Tuesday. Google filed a 49-page document with the Justice Department in April claiming Vista's desktop search tool slowed down competing programs, including Google's own free offering, and that it's difficult for users to figure out how to turn off the Microsoft program. Microsoft initially dismissed the allegations, saying regulators had reviewed the program before Vista launched. However, Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, said in an interview last week that the company was willing to make changes if necessary."
Microsoft

Microsoft Pleads With Consumers to Adopt Vista Now 912

SlinkySausage writes "Microsoft has admitted, in an email to the press, that 'some customers may be waiting to adopt Windows Vista because they've heard rumors about device or application compatibility issues, or because they think they should wait for a service pack release.' The company is now pleading with customers not to wait until the release of SP1 at the end of the year, launching a 'fact rich' program to try to convince them to 'proceed with confidence'. The announcement coincides with an embarrassing double-backflip: Microsoft had pre-briefed journalists that it was going to allow home users to run Vista basic and premium under virtual machines like VMWare, but it changed its mind at the last minute and pulled the announcement."
Microsoft

Submission + - Antitrust: Vista to get 'significant changes'

Kurtz'sKompund writes: "Microsoft has agreed to make "significant changes" in its new Vista operating system to stay in compliance with a US court agreement in Microsoft's antitrust case, according to California Attorney General Jerry Brown."
Communications

Corporate IT Hanging Up on Apple's iPhone 380

WSJdpatton writes "iPhones can be used for email, but many businesses don't plan to sync them with internal systems used to power Blackberries and Microsoft mobile devices. Employees eager to use the cool new gadget, however, may pressure IT departments to support iPhones even if it means incurring more costs and changing policies. The WSJ reports: 'Incompatible technology has become an increasing problem for businesses as hand-held email and phone devices are evolving into minicomputers that can do such things as download music, take pictures and surf the Web. In the past, businesses have been unwilling to support certain devices, like those with cameras, for instance, because of concerns employees could use them to document company secrets. But these tensions would be magnified if the iPhone is as popular as Apple is hoping and some analysts expect.'"
Windows

Submission + - Will Vista kill tech support?

Celsius10 writes: I make my living through freelance computer support, 99% of new calls are "My computer is running slow". After I clean their computer they almost always ask if I can do something else for them, and this tends to lead to more business and hopefully a longterm client. Obviously I am ecstatic that Microsoft is finally waking up and tightening the security belt with Vista, but I am very concerned that my business will eventually go the way of the buggy whip manufacturer once Vista becomes mainstream and the new calls stop coming in for virus and spyware related problems. I know my business will need to adapt or die but without that first contact of an infected computer,how will I attract new customers for services that they don't know they might need?
Mozilla

Submission + - Are Firefox Extensions Ready to Be Exploited? (madpenguin.org)

techie writes: "Even if Firefox is a relatively secure browser, the extensions could really make it insecure, and the unfortunate thing is that we may not even know it. The author writes, "What is even worse is my fear that we could be setting a poor example should the security of rouge repositories become a problem. We might be able to spot trouble before it becomes an issue, but what about those who learn from us? It's something to consider, both with regard to trusting blind links to xpi files that are used to install Firefox extensions as well as the bounty of repositories that are just waiting to be added instantly with no thought. Remember, this may not be a problem today, but this certainly is not an invitation for sloppy behavior, regardless."

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