Oct
31
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Macs infected with malware

 
Rochester & Associates Ltd - Blog Post

Apple have had a reputation for security - now their lack of security is being exploited

For so long Apple owners have grinned in a smug manner at PC users, over the amount of security issues PC owners have to deal with, even though it is a fallacy that Macs are immune to malware; a fallacy that is being exploited more and more as time goes on.

In a blog post by security form Sophos on Monday, it was revealed that a new ‘sophisticated’ malware threat was targeted at Macs and downloaded via a legitimate image manipulation app. from a dodgy source. :ninja:

This malware, known as ‘DevilRobber or OSXMiner-D’ was designed to steal and ‘mine’ the digital currency known as ‘Bitcoins’.

In addition to Bitcoin mining, OSX/Miner-D also spies on you by taking screen captures and stealing your user names and passwords. More-so it runs a script that copies information to a file called dump.txt regarding truecrypt data, Vidalia (TOR plugin for Firefox), your Safari browsing history, and .bash_history.

There may be a lot less malware for Mac OS X than there is for Windows, but many Mac users are making themselves an unnecessarily soft target by imagining that they are somehow magically protected from threats.
The post goes on to say “Clearly, Mac users – like their Windows cousins – should practice safe computing and only download software from official websites and legitimate download services. But, in addition to that, it’s becoming clearer every week that Mac users need to take malware protection more seriously by running anti-virus software.” :cop:

This is just another example of the increasingly more sophisticated, Mac assaults. Other malware threat discovered this month targeted at the Apple machines include ‘Tsunami’ and ‘FlashBack’.

The posting ends with “There may be a lot less malware for Mac OS X than there is for Windows, but many Mac users are making themselves an unnecessarily soft target by imagining that they are somehow magically protected from threats.”

We sell the Eset Security products which offer Mac versions – Contact us through the main site here to arrange a free 30 day trial…

 


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Oct
26
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Nokia bet on Windows Phone

 
It Support from Rochester & Associates Ltd

Are Nokia mad or shrewed when it comes to the operating system for their new line of smartphones?

Nokia, that once darling of the mobile telephone market, has released new smart phones in to the crowded market place.

These are running the Microsoft Windows Phone operating system, the 3rd player in the big OS battle (the others being Apples iOS and, Googles Android).

This comes as quite a gamble for the mobile giant, as it has seen its profits drop, and demand for it’s products reduce, in the light of the iPhone and other Android based devices. It would seem that Nokia have placed their flag and their new CEO, Stephen Elop, said the “Lumia is the first real Windows phone” and predicted the company would be the leader in “smartphone design and craftsmanship”.
- Erm, there might be a little competition in that Mr Elop! :tongue:

My GF has a Windows Phone based model and, having played with it extensively, in my opinion, the Windows Phone OS is really clunky in comparison to the other 2 products. It’s the usual case of Microsoft massively over complicating the thing. :???:

Where the Android and the iOS phones win, is in the simple intuitiveness (is that a word?) of the OS when using the phones. Something that Microsoft seem to be way behind in. With iOS and Android you can just do what you want, with the MS phone you’ve got to think for a moment.

Key among the differences offered by Nokia, is the integration of location-based services like Nokia Maps, real-time navigation software Nokia Drive, a live-streaming music service Mix Radio and Liveview, an augmented reality service.
The biggest innovation, though, could be Nokia Pulse, a service that combines elements of social networking with location services. It allows users to share with friends and family experiences – from pictures to whereabouts to activities, integrated with Nokia’s mapping service.
Sadly things that I am not interested in ~ I guess I’m getting old! :unsure:

Still, only time will tell, there’s a huge amount of competition in that particular market, so it’s just a matter of time to see what we, as consumers, think of Nokia’s products.

(Thanks to the BBC for some of the information posted here :thumbsup: )


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Oct
6
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Steve Jobs dies (Co-founder of Apple)

 
Steve jobs - RIP, you will be remembered by millions

Steve jobs - RIP, you will be remembered by millions

Even though it’s an extremely early start to the day, it’s going to be a sad one for many millions of people.

Just now Apple have released information saying that their much loved co-founder Steve Jobs, has died.

He was diagnosed as having Pancreatic Cancer in 2004, and lived to be 56.

Rest in Peace Steve – you will be remembered with love by millions of people across the globe.

Remembering Steve Jobs


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Sep
30
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IP wars

 
Rochester & Associates Ltd - IT Support for Business in Leeds, Bradford, Yorkshire and beyond

There is a silent war going on in the courts

There are several technology giants currently at war in the courts over the IP (Intellectual Property) rights for smartphones and tablet computers.

Here’s a smattering of the recent news reports:
Samsung to pay Microsoft royalties over Android
Samsung and Apple warring over patents again
T-Mobile wants to prevent U.S. ban on Samsung products
Microsoft ‘extorts profits from rivals’, claims Google
US trade body to probe HTC’s Apple technology complaint

So currently we seem to have several protagonists in this technology war:

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • T-Mobile
  • Verizon
  • Microsoft
  • HTC
  • Google

Samsung and Apple are locked in a legal wrangle over technology patents; It’s a ‘who owns what’ tit-for-tat battle, triggered by the release of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, tablet PC. :baby:
Now I know a client who has one of these little beauties and I can see that it is significantly different from the iPad, in both look and feel – the very thing that Apple have launched the case over.
It’s interesting that both T-Mobile and Verizon have asked that the Apple case be set aside – both of these companies are massive telecom companies –  and come to stand side-by-side with Samsung.

In the case of Samsung and Microsoft it seems ridiculous that they [Samsung] are having to pay Microsoft royalties when their device runs the Andriod operating system – i.e. not running Windows. :blink:

To give a personal insight, I have been involved in a lengthy case regarding these very issues and know just how murky they can get. The work ‘complex’ doesn’t even get close to the reality of what can be called in to question. It took me a long time to defend a legal claim which we finally won. What a waste of everyone’s time…  :yawn:

The ridiculous laws concerning copyright and IP are also partly to blame in the way these things are conducted, as it’s sometimes necessary to replicate something to achieve something else.

Imagine if I wanted to design a car and someone had IP rights for the wheel, or a bolt, for instance. Would I expect to have to pay someone for the use of that wheel or bolt? In the case of programming and electronics, without creating a whole new way of writing code, or making a component, it is impossible to make something without infringing someone’s rights.

Want to know something really scary? In the USA they have started protecting DNA, the fundamental building block of life. Soon you may not even have the right to your own DNA ~ how ridiculous is that?? :shocked:

I think the bottom line is simple – ditch these stupid laws. They don’t stop copies being made and simply make the legal practitioners lots of money. Consumers never get a better product as a result of these cases, and it harms the progression of technology.

One day perhaps…

 


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Sep
26
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Broadband complaints

 
Rochester & Associates Ltd - Blog Post

It's sad that the level of complaints to ISPs has to reach such a high level

Details were recently released on who the nation think is the worst broadband supplier.
Guess who managed to be right there at the top of the ‘Most Complaints List’?

TalkTalk tops UK complaints list

Here’s the stats:
TalkTalk – 0.58 (complaints per 1,000 customers)
BT Retail – 0.43
Orange – 0.37
BSkyB – 0.20
Virgin Media – 0.15

Nice!

It’s really sad to see TalkTalk up there again – they’ve consistently been having problems and have been in the news for bad service. Still, they are obviously still running a business that people wish to buy from. :blink:

Not surprised to see BT there though… :devil:

I call it the ‘British’ syndrome :thumbsup: ~ somehow some companies get a reputation that contradicts the truth of the matter, and people trust them despite what the evidence tells them. In the case I usually use, how many older people still use British Gas because they use the word ‘British’? despite usually being more expensive and offering poor service. Royal Mail is another…

Well, I suppose we can only wish that these stats get somewhere toward giving us consumers a better level of service…


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