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Security

Submission + - Designing a PCI-Compliant Log Monitoring System (net-security.org)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Log monitoring activities are an integral part of Requirement 10 of the PCI Data Security Standard and it can be difficult to understand how the different logging portions of Requirement 10 interrelate. Despite this fact, some organizations are seeking to redesign their PCI logging environment in order to best accommodate the PCI requirements. This article examines a few key design points for architecting a log monitoring and management system that would be compliant with PCI Requirement 10.
Supercomputing

Submission + - Japan to develop processor will be 10 times faster

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: After unveiling ambitious plans to replace the Internet the Japanese are now planning to develop a high-performance computer chip with a processing speed 10 times faster than existing ones in cooperation with local industry. To be developed in co-opearation with the industry it aims to significantly enhance semiconductor performance by making a "3-D" semiconductor current chips are flat and use it to realize "dream technologies," such as domestic robots. The US and South Korea have been developing the chip since quite some time and Japan is aiming to beat them.
Portables

Submission + - Dell laptops still exploding (consumeraffairs.com)

Submitted by
bl8n8r
bl8n8r writes: "It "looked like fireworks which would have been cool had it not been in my house." said Doug Brown of Columbus, Ohio. Brown, a Network Administrator, called 911 last week when the Dell 9200 laptop burst into flames in his house. Emergency response units included two pumpers, a ladder truck, a bamalance, the HAZMAT unit, and a battalion chief. When Doug phoned Dell to inquire about liability, he was asked if he had insurance. It's not clear if Doug's laptop is one of the earlier models recalled by Dell; a Macbook is cited in TFA for allegedly burning down a house in Australia as well as another instance of a suspect Dell laptop burning down a pickup truck in Nevada. If the burning battery issues are going to continue to be a problem, who's going to be responsible for losses? Insurance companies, Laptop makers, Battery vendors, and consumer negligence could presumably be cited in all cases."
Microsoft

Stephane Rodriguez Dismantles Open XML 188

Posted by kdawson from the some-kind-of-joke dept.
Elektroschock writes "Stephane Rodriguez, a reengineering specialist who became popular for his article on MS Office 2007 binary data, now comprehensively debunks Microsoft's new Open XML format. With small case studies he demonstrates the impossible challenges third-party developers will face. His conclusion: it is 'defective by design.' Next week members of the International Standard Organization are likely to approve the format as a second official ISO standard for office documents, even though most nations have submitted comments. Rodriguez claims he is 'not affiliated to any pro-MS or anti-MS party/org[anization]/ass[ociation].'"
Censorship

Submission + - Iraq Whistleblower Imprisoned, Tortured (forbes.com)

Submitted by
cbhacking
cbhacking writes: "Forbes.com has a telling story on the fraud and corruption that has plagues the Iraqi reconstruction efforts and, more frighteningly, the harsh penalties faced by whistleblowers. Many have been vilified, demoted, or fired outright. Now, the story has come out of Navy veteran Donald Vance, who was working as a civilian in an Iraqi company. After reporting to the FBI that his company was making illegal sales of military weapons to customers ranging from State Department workers to Iraqi insurgents, Vance was held without a trial for 97 days in Camp Cropper, an American military prison outside Baghdad. During his time there, he was subjected to "that head-banging music blaring dawn to dusk and interrogators yelling the same questions over and over."

Vance is now back in the USA and, along with a colleague who helped him gather evidence and was treated similarly in return, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were illegally imprisoned and subjected to physical and mental interrogation tactics "reserved for terrorists and so-called enemy combatants.""
Privacy

Submission + - Skype-Linux reads /etc/passwd and firefox profile! (skype.com)

Submitted by
mrcgran
mrcgran writes: "Users of Skype for Linux have just found out that it reads the files /etc/passwd, firefox profile, plugins, addons, etc, and many other unnecessary files in /etc. This fact was originally discovered by using AppArmor, but others have confirmed this fact using strace on versions 1.4.0.94 and 1.4.0.99. What is going on? This probably shows how important it is to use AppArmor in any closed-source application in Linux to restrict any undue access to your files."
Microsoft

Submission + - Rodriguez slaughters Open XML

Submitted by
Elektroschock
Elektroschock writes: "Stephane Rodriguez, a reengineering specialist who became popular for his article on MS-Office 2007 binary data, slaughters Microsoft's new Open XML format. With small case studies he demonstrates the disadvantages for third party developers. His conclusion: It is 'defective by design'. Next week members of the International Standard Organisation are likely to approve the format as a second official ISO standard for office documents. However, most nations submitted comments. Rodriguez claims to be "not affiliated to any pro-MS or anti-MS party/org/ass"."
The Internet

Submission + - Did Microsoft Buy Netcraft? (linuxjournal.com)

Submitted by
jeevesbond
jeevesbond writes: "Linux Journal has a story noting the discrepancies between the Web server surveys from Netcraft and Security Space.

While Netcraft says Apache represents 51% market share and rapidly shrinking, Security Space puts Apache at 74% and growing! Netcraft says Microsoft IIS has 34% market share and is rapidly growing, Security Space pegs Microsoft IIS at 20% market share, as it continues to shrink.
"
Microsoft

Submission + - Two standards - more choice, or less?

Submitted by
pieterh
pieterh writes: "There's a fierce argument raging about whether the world needs a single document standard (ISO26300), or two. On the one hand, advocates of Microsoft's 'Office Open XML' (aka OOXML) format say that two standards means more choice for consumers. On the other hand, groups like the FFII argue that two standards for documents is not really about consumer choice, and more about maintaining Microsoft's office monopoly. There has also been harsh criticism of Microsoft's format, a petition that has raised 10,000 signatures in a week, and the promise of a cash prize in the fight against OOXML."
Linux Business

Submission + - Linus on why the kernel is "special"

Submitted by daria42
daria42 writes: In this one minute video, Linus explains why the Linux kernel is "special". "I have always felt that the thing that makes the kernel special is it never does anything on its own ... It has no agenda. It is at the mercy of all the "real" programs that actually do something for the user," he says. "I try to see what are the issues that users have with programs and what are things that we in the kernel can help them do better," he said.
Apple

Why the iPhone Keynote Was A Mistake 507

Posted by Zonk from the should-have-worn-a-hat dept.
jcatcw writes "Mike Elgan at Computerworld lists six reasons why it was a mistake to make the iPhone keynote at Macworld. He argues that extremely high expectations can only lead to disappointment for consumers and investors. The focus on the phone during the keynote also took away from the Apple TV announcement, put iPod sales at risk, gave competitors a head start, and (perhaps worst of all) ruined the company's talks with Cisco over the iPhone name. From the article: 'The iPhone, despite its many media-oriented virtues and its sweet design, will do far less than most existing smart phones. The problem Apple now faces because of Jobs' premature detail-oriented announcement is that of dashed expectations. When customers expect more and don't get it, they become dissatisfied.'"
Operating Systems

Submission + - UN Univ. Report Confirms Open Source Superior

Submitted by
Edoko
Edoko writes: "Open source software is a viable, and economic alternative to Microsoft, according to a report published by United Nations University."

The report is here: http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/pb/unu_pb_20 06_01.pdf

Among the many recommendations is that "All Member States and other stakeholders should have the right to access public information made available in electronic format by the organizations and no one should be obliged to acquire a particular type of software in order to exercise such a right"

Also: "The Secretary- General should take the necessary measures to establish a data repository of UNESCO Free & Open Source Software Portal"

A summary is reported by the BBC here: http://http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/627065 7.stm"

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