A hacker on a mission to expose greed and waste in high places is rapidly becoming a folk hero in recession-hammered Latvia. The hacker, who uses the name Neo from the hero in the Matrix film series, has exposed the salaries of top government officials online and revealed that managers at a bailed-out bank lied when promising they would take pay cuts. He has also revealed that state-owned companies secretly handed out bonuses while begging for government help. “A lot of people perceive him as a modern, virtual Robin Hood” whose actions will create a more transparent system, an announcer for a state-owned TV channel tells the BBC. “Neo” is part of a group that calls itself the Fourth Awakening People’s Army, which announced this week that it had stolen millions of classified records from the tax department’s computers.

http://slashdot.org/palm/21/10/02/22/1915250_1.shtml

This looks like it could he a answer to alternative energy.

-summey

look promising

- Summey

Back in December, Google took steps to form Google Energy, a subsidiary created for the express purpose of buying and selling electricity in bulk. In January, the company filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to enter the market, and yesterday received permission to purchase and resell wholesale energy (PDF).

Google says it made the move primarily to better manage its high electricity costs, but also to give it more flexibility in pursuing the goal of becoming completely carbon neutral. “We want to buy the highest quality, most affordable renewable energy wherever we can,” a representative told CNET news. A company buying and selling energy to help it manage costs isn’t unusual, but — then again — Google isn’t your typical company.
There is some expectation that Google will actually enter the energy business at some point, whether it sells direct to consumers or partners with existing utility companies. Back in January, the same representative told CNET, “We want the ability to buy and sell electricity in case it becomes part of our portfolio.” Then there was the announcement that the company was developing low cost mirrors for use in solar panels. And, of course, there’s the Google PowerMeter, which allows users to track electricity usage, as long as they have the proper equipment to upload the data.

Google has extended its reach across almost every type of Web service into the world of smart phones, announced a plan to (at least experimentally) enter the ISP business, developed a netbook OS, and now has implied that it may attempt to enter the consumer electricity market. With each passing day, those folks previously dismissed as paranoid for comparing Google to Big Brother seem a little less crazy. [From: CNET and ITworld]

if you like wireshark you should like this.

Microsoft Network Monitor 3.3 Overview

-Summey

According to a recent report, malicious PDF files now account for 80% of all exploits in 2009.   There are many blogs that will be able to analyze it ever which way for you; but I wanted to keep it short and sweet and focus on what does this mean for you and I?   The obvious answer is we need to keep your software up to date.   The not so obvious answer…  How about switching to an open source software such as Foxit Reader that doesn’t have these issues?   That’s what my company has chosen to do.

Foxit won’t help any with the Flash problems, but it will with the PDF exploits, as well as some good ‘ol common sense.  Don’t open a PDF from someone you don’t know, or a website that isn’t trusted, or that just doesn’t look right.

-Andrew

I expected more from the creative minds from Apple. The ipad is the latest addition to Apples arsenal and its lacking. Its a glorified ipod touch. Maybe next time Apple…

Cant wait to get this phone!

-Summey

Numerous outlets reported that Googles Gmail and 30 other companies were hacked by the Chinese. Ars Technica reports many say the hack was targeted against Chinese dissidents.

The cyber-assault came to light on Tuesday when Google disclosed to the public that the Gmail Web service was targeted in a highly-organized attack in late December. Google said that the intrusion attempt originated from China and was executed with the goal of obtaining information about political dissidents, but the company declined to speculate about the identity of the perpetrator.

McAfee reported evidence that a vulnerability in Internet Explorer was exploited in the attack.

Google Enterprise president Dave Girouard blogged to inform Google App clients their data was safe. “This incident was particularly notable for its high degree of sophistication. This attack may understandably raise some questions.” Girouad stated “We believe our customer cloud-based data remains secure.”

Many have reported the most successful technique of Chinese hackers involves phishing and social engineering. These hackers determine their targets, then send a spear phish targeted email to a specific employee posing as someone from the company or a vendor. Once the target clicks a link they may download a remote control or malicious software completing the attack. On a broader scale they may send a blast to everyone in the company and ultimately hook a few employees giving them access to company accounts.

This all means that it’s not just sweaty skeevy money making criminal hackers involved in the penetration of your networks. There is a strong possibility that hacking is being sponsored by foreign governments who have a much bigger agenda.

All the more reason to beware and alert in regards to your security.

1. Never click on links in the body of an email. NEVER!
2. Always be suspect of any external or internal communications. You could be a target of a phish.
3. Before you go divulging usernames and passwords to anyone in response to an email, pick up the phone to verify the need
4. Make sure your PC is fully and automatically updated with its critical security patches.
5. Anti-virus must be run automatically and fully up to date.
6. Its not enough to just run anti-virus. Run a program that immunizes your PC against keyloggers
7. Get a credit freeze. Go to ConsumersUnion.org and follow the steps for your particular state. This is an absolutely necessary tool to secure your credit. In most cases, it prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. This makes your Social Security number useless to a potential identity thief.
8. Invest in Intelius identity theft protection and prevention. Not all forms of identity theft can be prevented, but identity theft protection services can dramatically reduce your risk. (Disclosures)

Robert Siciliano Identity Theft Speaker discussing being an imposter and social engineering invasions on the Montel Williams Show

Nexus one VS Motorola Droid