http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/computers/ en-us Fri, 1 Jan 2010 10:21:02 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418871/posts North Korea was apparently behind a recent hacking attack that netted a secret U.S.-South Korean plan to defend the peninsula should war break out, South Korea's military intelligence agency reported. he suspected hacking occurred late last month when a South Korean military officer failed to remove a USB device when he switched a military computer from a restricted-access intranet to the Internet. The USB device contained a summary of OPLAN 5027, a highly sensitive war plan prepared by the U.S.-South Korean Combined Forces Command in case of an all-out war with the North. The plan calls for the dispatch of... World Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418871/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 10:21:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2318133/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Alleged International Hacker Indicted for Massive Attack on U.S. Retail and Banking Networks Data Related to More Than 130 Million Credit and Debit Cards Allegedly Stolen WASHINGTON – Albert Gonzales, 28, of Miami, Fla., was indicted today for conspiring to hack into computer networks supporting major American retail and financial organizations, and stealing data relating to more than 130 million credit and debit cards, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Ralph J. Marra Jr. and U.S. Secret Service Assistant... US DOJ.gov/opa - Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2318133/posts#comment Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:06:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413246/posts Hewlett-Packard is investigating a claim that Webcams built into its PCs are incapable of tracking the facial movements of black individuals and only function properly when Caucasians or people of other lighter-skinned races are in the frame. The probe was prompted by a YouTube video in which a black man named Desi demonstrates the problem. The camera, which is designed to follow individuals' head movements, fails to track Desi as he moves in and out of the picture. But when Desi's white co-worker, Wanda, enters the scene the camera follows her. "As soon as my blackness enters the frame, it... Information Week http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413246/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:25:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2408250/posts The stereotype of computer scientists as geeks who memorize Star Trek lines and never leave the lab may be driving women away from the field, a new study suggests. And women can be turned off by just the physical environment, say, of a computer-science classroom or office that's strewn with objects considered "masculine geeky," such as video games and science-fiction stuff. "When people think of computer science, the image that immediately pops into many of their minds is of the computer geek surrounded by such things as computer games, science-fiction memorabilia and junk food," said lead researcher Sapna Cheryan, an... Live Science http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2408250/posts#comment Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:39:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407221/posts Does anyone know if there is a podcast of Rush's show other than paying for it on Rush 24/7? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407221/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:36:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406001/posts The military is a major user of supercomputers (the fastest computers on the planet). These machines were first developed, as were the first computers, for military applications. These ultra-powerful computers are used for code breaking, and to help design weapons (including nukes) and equipment (especially electronics). The military is also needs lots of computing power for data mining (pulling useful information, about the enemy, from ever larger masses of information.) Because there's never enough money to buy all the super-computers (which are super expensive) needed, military researchers have come up with ways to do it cheaper. A decade ago, it... The Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406001/posts#comment Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:19:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2405777/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Pop-Up Security Warnings Pose Threats The FBI warned consumers today about an ongoing threat involving pop-up security messages that appear while they are on the Internet. The messages may contain a virus that could harm your computer, cause costly repairs or, even worse, lead to identity theft. The messages contain scareware, fake or rogue anti-virus software that looks authentic. The message may display what appears to be a real-time, anti-virus scan of your hard drive. The scareware will show a list of reputable software icons; however, you can’t click a link to go... FBI.gov - Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2405777/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:23:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405117/posts Ever find out one of your friends hasn’t read “Neuromancer” or doesn’t know what a Babelfish is or why it’s important to keep a towel handy at all times? Did you have that brief moment where you thought, “Man, it’s like I don’t even know you?” If you’re gonna work in tech, write code, or just spend way too much time on Engadget, Lifehacker, and BoingBoing, there’s a certain amount of reading that goes with the territory. And I’m not just talking about O’Reilly books here. Discovering “Snow Crash” or geeking out on crypto history teaches us part of the... Inside Tech | Monster.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405117/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:16:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2399176/posts Intel has unveiled a prototype chip that packs 48 separate processing cores on to a chunk of silicon the size of a postage stamp. The Single-chip Cloud Computer (SCC), as it is known contains 1.3 billion transistors, the tiny on-off switches that underpin chip technology. Each processing core could, in theory, run a separate operating system. Currently, top-end chips for desktop computers typically contain four separate processors. Intel and Rival AMD will both launch six-core devices in 2010, allowing computers to simultaneously tackle a number of complex tasks, such as processing graphics. 'Tiny islands' The chip has won the "cloud"... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2399176/posts#comment Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:13:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2396654/posts If you're starting a new business, hiring on a shoestring budget, or simply sprucing up your home office, you'll need some new office gear, and you probably won't want to spend much. Believe it or not, Craigslist isn't just for used couches and one-night stands; it's also exceptionally good for finding standard office furniture (cubicles, desks, chairs, and so on) at unusually low prices. However, Craigslisting is an art in itself, so we've got some tricks that will help you seal the deal on whatever used gear your new office needs. The Budget Buying a basic, no-frills office chair and... PC World http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2396654/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:48:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394182/posts Brain waves will replace keyboard and mouse, dial phones and change TV channel By the year 2020, you won't need a keyboard and mouse to control your computer, say Intel Corp. researchers. Instead, users will open documents and surf the Web using nothing more than their brain waves. Scientists at Intel's research lab in Pittsburgh are working to find ways to read and harness human brain waves so they can be used to operate computers, television sets and cell phones. The brain waves would be harnessed with Intel-developed sensors implanted in people's brains. computer world http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394182/posts#comment Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:07:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2393391/posts My thanks to @girlygeekdom on Twitter for highlighting what must be the most surreal Internet marketing plan ever - British girl band the Sugababes are being used to promote Windows 7. There is a website called 'sugababeslovewindows7' to announce it. I'm as flummoxed as anyone by this. Let's take to one side the fact that I'm a 44 year old man and not at all in the Sugababes' market - what exactly is this trying to say about the brand? That it's easy to use? OK, check - but surely it's no longer acceptable to dismiss young females as incapable... DaniWeb http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2393391/posts#comment Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:18:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2393271/posts Apple is set to files its brief on Monday detailing the damages and injunction details it wants to see imposed on Psystar for building and selling unauthorized Mac clones. Apple filed a lawsuit against Psystar in Northern California several months ago claiming the small PC maker was violating the Mac OS X end user license agreement, and that it was violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act with the steps it used to install the Mac operating system on PCs. Psystar claimed that it should be allowed to build and sell PCs with Mac OS X pre-installed and that Apple is... Mac Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2393271/posts#comment Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:05:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2388852/posts Note: The following text is a quote: SPEAR PHISHING E-MAILS TARGET U.S. LAW FIRMS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRMS 11/17/09—The FBI assesses with high confidence that hackers are using spear phishing e-mails with malicious payloads to exploit U.S. law firms and public relations firms. During the course of ongoing investigations, the FBI identified noticeable increases in computer exploitation attempts against these entities. The specific intrusion vector used against the firms is a spear phishing or targeted socially engineered e-mail designed to compromise a network by bypassing technological network defenses and exploiting the person at the keyboard. Hackers exploit the ability of... FBI.gov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2388852/posts#comment Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:53:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387923/posts LONDON (Reuters) -- Counterterrorism detectives said they had arrested five men in early morning raids today in northwest England. They were being held on suspicion of committing terrorism offenses including inciting an act of terrorism overseas. Police said the suspects, aged 21, 26, 27, 52, and 62, were detained after swoops at homes in Manchester and Bolton, and at a hotel near London's Heathrow Airport. The properties were now being searched. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387923/posts#comment Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:22:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2387839/posts Okay, so this may not be important breaking news about astronomy, but it may answer a burning question posed by most people who have watched or read "2001: A Space Odyssey": that is, why does the computer HAL-9000 sing the song 'Daisy Bell' as the astronaut Dave Bowman takes him apart? Well, Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke made HAL's final act in the world this song as a tribute to HAL's great ancestor, the first IBM computer to ever sing. Click below for more on this geeky topic! In 1962 Arthur C. Clarke, who wrote the novel – and... UniverseToday.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2387839/posts#comment Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:47:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2387300/posts I want to know how to get on the net with a P3. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2387300/posts#comment Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:49:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2379325/posts When you buy an Apple device, you're often locked in to buying other Apple products that are compatible with it. Here are five examples, and some advice on what to do. Oh, wait--there's nothing you can do.Once you enter the Big Tent of Apple, it's exceedingly hard to find the exit. Over its 33-year history, Apple has consistently elected to limit consumer choice, creating a situation known as "lock in." As soon as you start buying stuff from Apple, you'll find it difficult to move to products made by someone else without losing everything you've already paid for. Of course,... PC World http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2379325/posts#comment Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:37:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377235/posts Note: The following text is a quote: West Coast Man Charged with Developing and Distributing Cable Network Hacking Tools BOSTON, MA—Charges were unsealed in federal court against an Oregon man and the company he founded, TCNISO, alleging that they developed and distributed products that allowed users to modify their cable modems and obtain internet access without paying for it. Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division, announced today that RYAN HARRIS, age 26, of San Diego,... Boston.FBI.gov - DOJ Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377235/posts#comment Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:36:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2376111/posts I have a computer that will not turn on. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2376111/posts#comment Sun, 1 Nov 2009 23:15:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375151/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Beware of bogus websites! (30/10/2009) The UK Border Agency is the official UK Government authority providing information and guidance for visa applicants and for making decisions on visa applications for the United Kingdom. We operate through the following official websites: UK Border Agency corporate website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk UK Border Agency Visa Services website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk UK Border Agency Online Application Service (Visa4UK): www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk Local websites operated by our commercial partners, CSC Worldbridge and VFS Global, and British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates around the world. We would advise you to avoid all other websites claiming... Home Office - UK Border Agency http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375151/posts#comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:27:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375144/posts Related Story: Australia 'must prepare for cyber attack' SNIPPET: "More evidence is emerging of sophisticated attacks by criminals and foreign governments on Australia's computer networks. Government officials from the spy organisation ASIO, as well as federal police and computer security experts, have joined forces with the top-secret Defence Signals Directorate since July. The Cyber Security Operations Centre has found attacks on company information, apparently conducted by organised crime, which turn out to have national security implications." ABC.net.au http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375144/posts#comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:10:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374956/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Former CEO of YouSendIt Charged with Denial of Service of Attack SAN JOSE, CA—Khalid Shaikh, a former CEO of YouSendIt Inc., was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday with four counts of mail fraud, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced. The indictment states that between December 2008 and June 2009 Shaikh used the ApacheBench software program to launch four denial of service (DOS) attacks against YouSendIt’s servers. Each DOS attack temporarily rendered the servers incapable of handling legitimate network traffic and deprived YouSendIt’s customers use of the company’s services. YouSendIt is... SanFrancisco.FBI.gov - DOJ Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374956/posts#comment Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:11:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2374015/posts I'm befuddled trying to find a good Partion management software app. I was looking at Acronis Disk Director, Paragon's app and Partitin Magic.Since this is such a criticl decision,I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.I want to repartition a drive so I can install Win7 Ultimate (I know, I know.... but I have to try it for work purposes and try the virtualization features.)Many thanks in advance. Pelham, NH http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2374015/posts#comment Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:51:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2372161/posts Sorry, folks, but all you techies just cannot convince me that the Internet is as permanent as a book. The information in books can have several thousands of years of life. But what of the Internet? In many cases info on the Internet is not even around for mere decades. A recent story in the L.A. Times about the now defunct web platform GeoCities is a perfect example of what I am talking about. Back in the mid 1990s in the early days of the web, when blogs had yet to get their eventual sobriquet, when there were no programs... Publius Forum http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2372161/posts#comment Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:17:54 GMT