3 February virus: Are we ready for it?

We're less concerned about it being a digital doomsday. Businesses are certainly protected from this. But I have no doubt some home users will be affected.

(software.silicon.com) .-Antivirus companies are at odds over the severity of a time-bomb virus which is set to go off on 3 February. The so-called Nyxem virus has so far infected 300,000 computers around the world, most of which are outside the UK.

Mikko Hypponen, head of antivirus research for F-Secure, said: "It's going to be a pretty big problem in Turkey, Peru and Italy but not much of a problem in the UK. There are hundreds of thousands of computers that have been affected.

"There've been 15,000 infected in the US – out of the whole computer base that's not so bad. The computers that are going to be hit will be hit badly and will lose lots of important files."

The virus, which is also nicknamed Nyxem, BlackMal and Mywife, is expected to destroy a number of work and security files on infected computers on the third day of every month.

Antivirus firm Sophos said it had seen the worm spread reasonably widely; at the time of writing it accounted for 10 per cent of virus reports.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for antivirus firm Sophos, said: "We're less concerned about it being a digital doomsday. Businesses are certainly protected from this. But I have no doubt some home users will be affected."

The worm travels as a Windows dot-exe attachment and copies itself to shared network resources on the victim's machine.

But Eugene Kaspersky, head of research and development at Kaspersky Labs, said the virus could cause havoc.
He said: "Significant numbers of computers are infected with Nyxem.E. February 3 could turn out to be a very difficult day with unprotected users losing data and the internet community at large suffering from heavy traffic."

Parents now can be supersnoopers

(www.southbendtribune.com).- PHILADELPHIA -- Do you know where your child is -- down to the exact block?Is she driving? How fast? Is he really at the library, or at an unchaperoned party across town?Anxious parents are resorting to increasingly sophisticated technology to keep a virtual eye on the kids 24/7. But some experts wonder whether constant monitoring, sometimes without the child's knowledge, represents necessary vigilance, or the oppressive rule of Big Mother or Father.

Global-positioning system (GPS) satellite technology, now in cell phones as well as cars, is the latest advance for parental snooping -- pinpointing, 007-style, the exact location of users.

Its killer application, says Phil Magney, an analyst with Telematics Research Group, is to monitor teen driving. The technology is equally effective in tailing kids after they get out of their cars.Dozens of businesses already market the service to parents, and "we'll see many, many more in the next year," he predicts.Deb Cervin, 44, of Rockwell, N.C., secretly installed a tracking device on her daughter's car.

"When I was a teenager, I wouldn't have liked it," she concedes. "Now, the dangers are different. Sometimes Mom's got to be sneaky."Other new parental spyware includes security systems that send e-mail alerts when a child enters or leaves the house, and home video cameras that relay live images to parents' computers at work."I think we're keeping track of children too much," said sociologist Frank Furedi, author of "Paranoid Parenting," who believes that unchecked anxiety leads to extreme measures that erode privacy and trust. Parents become obsessed, Furedi said: "When you see the slightest problems, you become worried about them.

These technologies inflate your fears rather than lessen them."Peggy Stein of Felton, Del., is willing to take the heat.When daughter Kelly, now a freshman at Drexel University in Philadelphia, began to drive two years ago, her mother quietly installed SignalTrac, a dashboard GPS system, in the girl's Mitsubishi Galant. From her home computer, Stein, 43, can follow a real-time map of Kelly's comings and goings (or rather, the Mitsubishi's comings and goings) and rate of travel.

"It's like having a parent in the passenger seat," said Stein, who describes herself as a "worrywart." "It's not like reading the diary of your child's private thoughts."At first, she was "a little shocked," said Kelly, 19.

"It would freak out anybody, knowing you're being tracked." Now she views the system as "backup protection," a way for someone to know whether she arrived at her destination safely.

Stein sees parents as a growing market for GPS. She is half of a two-mother team that heads SignalTrac, part of the fleet-tracking company GPS North America in Langhorne, Pa.SignalTrac -- the unit costs about $500, plus $34.99 a month -- has seen its customer base triple each of the last three years to about 1,000 parents, said Todd Lewis, the company's technology officer.The system provides a location history and sends alerts -- a message to a cell phone, for example -- if the car exceeds a predetermined speed or breaches a set geographic boundary.

Lewis recommends that parents tell the kids when they've installed SignalTrac. (Besides, the system works better with an antenna mounted on the rear windshield, something that would be hard to hide.)Cervin says she'll dismantle SignalTrac when her daughter turns 18. "I'm not a total control freak," Cervin said.

"I'd like to keep it on, but I'm not going to go that far." Mothers and fathers have always conducted reconnaissance on their children, starting with the decidedly low-tech method of checking the odometer reading before the engine cools.

Modern parents access cell-phone histories and use Internet tracking software.GPS chips and electronic eavesdropping gadgets previously associated with private eyes take it to a new level, however.

Although experts can cite no law against a parent's "spying" on a minor child by using GPS, the practice can corrode the bond between parent and child, therapists warn."These technological shortcuts, in the long run, are going to backfire.

The kids are going to resent them," Exton psychologist Jeffrey Bernstein said.Even if you tell the child he's being monitored, a parent is "asking for trouble," he said. "The best thing is to have talks, build trust, catch them doing things right."In the meantime, products designed for parental "peace of mind" proliferate. Wherify Wireless, in California, plans to introduce the Wherifone cell phone early next year.

Aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds, it consists of five programmable keys -- to avoid massive bills -- and GPS for easy tracking.And the Teen Arrive Alive service, which offers tracking through Nextel cell phones for about $20 a month, anticipates a surge in business when federal Enhanced 911 rules take full effect at year's end. Under the requirements, more networks will be adding GPS location-tracking capability to their cell phones.

"These aren't Ozzie and Harriet days," said Jack Church, a vice president at the Bradenton, Fla., company that launched Teen Arrive Alive last year. "There are so many dangers out there."As long as the phone is on and not in use (good luck with that one), a parent will know whether the child is "driving to a ball game, riding in a friend's car, or hanging out at the mall," the service's Web site promises.

Then there's EZFind Technologies in West Chester, Pa., which plans to add GPS to the low-tech locator tags it now sells for wallets and laptops. Place one on a child's jacket, then track. In Motorola's "latchkey security" system, home surveillance cameras tied to a computer can relay still images to a cell or work computer, issue a text-message alert when a door opens, and store a history of images for the subscriber to review later.

Peter Kleiner, 44, is part of a test group for the year-old Homesight system, which starts at $299."I go by 'knowledge is power,' " said Kleiner, general manager at WYSP-FM (94.1) and a single parent to Jake, 13, and Ben, 11, who occasionally arrive home before he does. Cameras in the garage, kitchen, basement and upstairs computer room record the day's happenings, and Kleiner looks them over when he gets home."This gives me a little check and balance to make sure they stay honest with me," he said.What do the boys think of the setup? "It's pretty cool," Jake said, "unless you're watching me."

Sony Computer Entertainment buys Zipper Interactive

Sony Computer Entertainment said it's bought Zipper Interactive, creator of the popular "SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs" series of video games.

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Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
Redmond-based Zipper Interactive had been developing games for Sony Computer Entertainment for six years, and this month the two companies signed an exclusive development agreement. The "SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs" game series has sold more than 7 million units worldwide.
Zipper Interactive will join Sony Computer Entertainment's Worldwide Studios, based in Foster City, Calif.
"As part of the Sony Computer Entertainment group we can look forward to introducing innovative titles that push online functionality and community experiences even further," said Jim Bosler, president and CEO of Zipper Interactive, in a statement.

CDW quarterly profit up as computer sales rise

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Computer retailer CDW Corp. (CDWC.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Tuesday said fourth-quarter profit rose 12.5 percent on higher sales.
CDW, which sells computer products to government agencies and businesses, said profit rose to $70.5 million, or 86 cents a share, from $62.7 million, or 73 cents a share, a year earlier.
Revenue rose 6.6 percent to $1.6 billion. Analysts on average had expected profit of 84 cents a share on revenue of $1.64 billion, according to Reuters Estimates.
CDW said average daily sales for the fourth quarter were $25.5 million, compared to $23.5 million a year earlier.
The company said it had quarterly unit volume growth in software, data storage, printers, video, memory, and input devices.
Gross profit margin was 15.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2005, compared to 14.8 percent in the same period of 2004.
Shares of CDW fell $1.80, or 3.1 percent, to $57.00 in early trade on the Nasdaq.
(Additional reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston.)

Youth who hacked into computer at Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek gets probation

(Charleston-AP) January 24, 2006 - A Canadian man who as a teenager hacked into a computer at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to two years probation.
24-year-old Luke Blazejewski, of Toronto, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Charleston earlier this month to a single misdemeanor.
Court records indicate Blazejewski hacked into the computer in 1999 or early 2000. Prosecutor Dean Eichelberger says he did so in order to send an e-mail with a .mil address, to show he had cracked a military computer. Eichelberger says Blazejewski was part of a group of kids seeking bragging rights.
Court records say he gained access by getting user names and passwords from a private company that does business with the military.

Local thieves target Honda computer

A homely little computer box is the latest darling of certain savvy thieves.Kelso and Longview police took reports in December and January of break-ins to Honda Civics where the only item stolen was the vehicle's operating computer.

"Whoever's doing this obviously knows cars very well," Brian Haugen, service manager at Stirling Honda, said last week. "He knows where it's located and is in and out in several minutes."Prowlers snatch the whole computer -- which costs $850 to $900 to replace. Then, according to mechanics, they add a tiny computer chip worth less than 20 bucks."The computer they're stealing is from the 1993 to 1995 Honda Civic coupe EX," Haugen said. "The reason it's popular is the fact that it's programmable. They can change the settings on it, which obviously can make the cars run better."Based on what he has heard from his customers, "Our assumption is that hot rodders are using them" to increase horsepower."They take a chip and solder it into the (computer) board," said Stirling Honda technician Dave Chagnon. The Daily News found racing chips from the Honda EX computer on eBay priced at $18 for "buy it now." According to information from the sellers, the chips increase the amount of fuel injected into the engine during acceleration and modify the timing to increase horsepower by 7 percent to 20 percent."We've been looking on eBay," Chagnon said. "Nobody local is advertising them."Kelso Police Sgt. Doug Lane said the thieves either use a "slim jim" to open a locked door or break a window to gain access. The computer box is located under the footwell area."Honda put them in a place that made it easy to maintain," Chagnon said. "But easy to maintain makes it easy to steal."Victim vehicles have been parked at the Three Rivers Mall, Triangle Center, the 700 block of Commerce Avenue, the 600 block of 16th Avenue and the 700 block of Allen Street.One Stirling customer bought a new computer to replace the one prowlers stole, and then lost the new one in another vehicle break-in.Another victim was Chagnon's daughter, who discovered the break-in when a co-worker, who also owns a Honda Civic, said his car had been broken into and wouldn't start."She went and checked. Same thing," he said. "Good thing we had full coverage. That's a spendy little unit." Chagnon installed a new computer in his daughter's car, but he hid it."Where I put it and the way I put it in, there is no way in hell he's getting it out," he said. He invites other Civic owners to come by the shop."I'm willing to explain how to relocate it so (prowlers) can't get it."Other security measures include parking in well-lit areas, locking all doors and installing a car alarm.Anyone who notices suspicious activity around a Honda Civic should call 911.
User Comments:
Share your thoughts with other readers of this story. After your comment is approved, it'll appear below.

Barbara Clark wrote on January 24, 2006 12:01 PM:"My daughter's Honda was one of the first ones to have this happen to.It was during that cold snap we had the first of december. It took place at the Fairview apartments in Longview. Although there were a number of very nice finger prints available(frost)our local officers declined, due to too much time,money and trouble. Just maybe if the time, money and trouble had been taken back then, so many others would not have had to go thru the same. "
Mark L wrote on January 24, 2006 10:46 AM:"It sounds like the meth heads are getting more sophisticated. Honda ought to stamp a VIN on these computers. It could be illegal to possess one with an obliterated VIN, and would allow easy them to be easily traced."

Intel link will offer Apple Windows of opportunity

The launch of Apple Macintoshes based on Intel processors raises a space-saving -- and perhaps a money-saving -- idea. Will we be able to run Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X on the same machine?There are two ways to do this: the first is to buy a Mac and install Windows. Apple executives have stated that they will not try to prevent this. The second is to run Mac OS X on a standard PC. The latter has been accomplished with hacked, pre-release versions of Mac OS X Intel code, but Apple is determined to prevent it, so it is not an option for business users.According to reports, installing Windows XP may not be as simple as first thought: the Intel-based Macs don't have a standard PC BIOS (Basic input/output system) chip. Instead, Apple is utilising Intel's Extended Firmware Interface. Intel designed EFI for its next generation Itanium chip, but PC manufacturers haven't been interested in using it, so Microsoft hasn't supported it in mass-market versions of Windows.Whether anyone will find a work-around for XP remains to be seen. However, Windows Vista does include EFI support, so when that arrives, creating dual-boot Macs should not be a problem -- or even triple-boot machines for those who want a standalone version of GNU/Linux. (OS X is already based on a version of Unix.)Possessing the ability to run Windows Vista at native speeds will be a boon for Mac users who need to run some of the vast collection of Windows programs. These include specialised business and accounting programs, as well as vast numbers of corporate programs that are written in-house. At the moment, this can be achieved via an emulator, and Microsoft sells Virtual PC (bought from Connectix) for the purpose. No doubt Microsoft will be delighted to offer boxed copies of Windows Vista to Mac users instead.People who need to use both types of system could save money and will certainly save space by having one dual-boot machine instead of two. And if it has to be a Mac, then Apple will gain some sales at the PC industry's expense -- although it would be nice to have a choice.Apple could also benefit by selling Intel-based Macs to people who would like to try a Mac, but have too much time and money invested in their Windows software and hardware to be willing to take the risk. In ball-park terms, Apple only needs to convert 1% of Windows PC sales (around 200 million units a year) to increase Mac sales by almost 50%.Of course, this is not the first time we have looked forward to an almost-universal desktop system. That was one of the aims of the AIM alliance, formed by Apple, IBM and Motorola in 1991. They worked to create an open PC standard called PReP (PowerPC Reference Platform), later renamed CHRP (Common Hardware Reference Platform). This was intended to run Mac OS, IBM's OS/2, Windows NT, and several versions of Unix, including Sun's Solaris. Be's BeOS and other operating systems would have followed.The idea was that versatile CHRP PCs would attract enough users, and enough software, to enable the PowerPC chip to displace Intel's x86 line and change the face of the PC industry. But while IBM and Motorola showed CHRP systems, they were never available running Mac OS, and were not competitive against Intel-based PCs that already ran OS/2, Windows and numerous versions of Unix perfectly well.Historically, then, Apple has declined two opportunities to separate its operating system from its proprietary hardware. The first was when it declined to take Bill Gates's advice, offered in 1985, to license Mac OS and make it an industry standard. The second was when it failed to follow through with the objectives of the AIM alliance a decade later.The move to Intel provides another opportunity to sell Mac OS without bundling it with hardware. This would enable companies to create a wide range of compatible hardware that is currently not available to Mac users -- including handhelds, tablet PCs and hi-fi style media servers -- and to reach emerging markets where Apple currently has little or no presence.Shouldn't Apple take it? - Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

Apple curtails tracking by iTunes

Apple Computer responded to a small uproar over privacy concerns regarding its latest version of iTunes, announcing Wednesday that it does not keep information about a person's purchases and clearly explained how to turn off the new ``MiniStore'' feature.
The MiniStore, located at the bottom of the new iTunes screen, tracks the music and video individuals listen to and watch, and offers suggestions that match a person's tastes. Though users could turn it off before, the notice on iTunes -- located in the MiniStore window -- clearly explains how to do it.
``We've listened to our users and made access to the MiniStore an opt-in feature,'' said Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr. ``Apple does not keep any information related to the contents of our users' music library.''
Last week, Apple was sharply criticized by some bloggers who were upset with the service because it tracks a person's behavior with a unique identification number, and did so without notifying consumers.
``I applaud Apple's relatively quick reaction to this issue by providing a clear and concise explanation of this feature,'' said Kirk McElhearn, author of several books on Macintosh computers who flagged Apple's response on his Kirkville blog on Wednesday.
``It shows that we bloggers do have some input out there,'' he said in an interview. ``It's important for people to stand up for the little things.''

Optometrist's clear vision honoured with Dell-RBC Small Business Excellence Award

TORONTO, Jan. 18 /CNW/ - Dell Canada and RBC Royal Bank today announcedthat Dr. Jawad Minhas, an optometrist from Waterloo, Ontario, is the winner ofthe Dell Canada - RBC Small Business Excellence Award. "In 2002, I took a leap of faith," said Dr. Minhas. "Frustrated with theinefficiencies of my first optometry practice, I shut it down and started fromscratch; the only thing I took with me was a pen. I had a vision of a practicethat not only provided my patients with superior care, but also a businessthat allowed me to have a better work-life balance. Technology played apivotal role in my initial vision, and continues to be critical to the ongoingsuccess of my practice." The Dell Canada - RBC Small Business Excellence Award challenged entrantsto illustrate how they use information technology to foster a competitiveadvantage and deliver superior customer experience. As the winner of the Dell - RBC Small Business Excellence Award,Dr. Minhas will receive $20,000 in technology and up to $5,000 in professionalservices from Dell. He will also receive a "Day with Dell" program with Dellexecutives, including company founder and Chairman Michael Dell, to share bestbusiness practices. As an optometric practice that focuses on eliminating patients'dependence on glasses, Dr. Minhas uses technology to not only create a moreefficient "electronic office," but also provide higher levels of patienteducation. "I use animation software to educate my patients on everything fromsimple vision care, to more complicated issues like diagnosis and recommendedprocedures. These technologies have improved our office efficiency and ourcustomer service by enabling me and my team to answer patients' questions on-site, without the need for multiple office visits." Dr. Minhas' office uses seven Dimension desktops, each configured in apeer-to-peer network, which enable him to integrate eye examination equipmentand patient records with administration processes. "I've never seen so many entrepreneurs combine creative energy, businessfocus, and smart IT use to achieve their dreams," said Greg Davis, presidentof Dell Canada. "Dr. Minhas exemplifies the drive, innovation and customerfocus that helped Dell grow from its small-business roots over 20 years ago." "This award was introduced to support and recognize small businessentrepreneurs who have taken a creative and ambitious approach toincorporating technology into their business model," said Kris Depencier,national manager, Small Business, RBC Royal Bank. "We are delighted to be apart of this program with Dell, and we wish Dr. Minhas and his businesscontinued success." Dell and RBC also recognized two runners up to the contest. Manna Bakeryof St. John's, Newfoundland, and March Entertainment Inc., of Toronto,Ontario, who will each receive a Dell Latitude(TM) notebook . The response tothe inaugural year of the award in Canada has been overwhelming with hundredsof applications received from across the country. To learn more about the winners and the Dell Canada - RBC Small BusinessExcellence Award, please visit: www.dell.ca/sbcontest. About Dell Canada Inc. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Dell Canada Inc. is a wholly ownedsubsidiary of Dell Inc. Dell Canada is among the leaders in desktop products,notebooks, servers and storage, and has offices in Toronto, Ottawa, Montrealand Edmonton. Information on Dell Canada and its products can be obtained onthe World Wide Web at www.dell.ca. About Dell Inc. Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is a trusted and diversified information-technology supplier and partner, and sells a comprehensive portfolio ofproducts and services directly to customers worldwide. Dell, recognized byFortune magazine as America's most admired company and No. 3 globally,designs, builds and delivers innovative, tailored systems that providecustomers with exceptional value. Company revenue for the last four quarterswas $54.2 billion. For more information about Dell and its products andservices, visit www.dell.com. About RBC Financial Group: Royal Bank of Canada (TSX, NYSE: RY) uses the initials RBC as a prefixfor its businesses and operating subsidiaries, which operate under the masterbrand name of RBC Financial Group. Royal Bank of Canada is Canada's largestbank as measured by market capitalization and assets, and is one of NorthAmerica's leading diversified financial services companies. It providespersonal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance,corporate and investment banking, and transaction processing services on aglobal basis. The company employs approximately 60,000 people who serve morethan 14 million personal, business and public sector clients through officesin North America and some 30 countries around the world. For more information,please visit www.rbc.com. Dell cannot be held responsible for typography, photography, or other errors. (TM) Dell, and the Dell logo, are trademarks of Dell Inc. (TM) All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their registered holders. (C) 2006 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca. Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: For Dell: Suzanne Sprajcar,
(416) 486-5910, ssprajcar@gcigroup.com; For RBC Royal Bank: Judi Levita,
(416) 974-8810, judi.levita@rbc.com

Dell Canada and RBC Royal Bank today announced that Dr. Jawad Minhas, an optometrist from Waterloo, Ontario, is the winner of the Dell Canada-RBC Small Business Excellence Award. L-R: Dr. Jawad Minhas, Michael Lombardo, Director Home & Small Business Dell Canada and Kristina Depencier, National Manager, Small Business RBC Royal Bank.(CNW Group/Dell Canada Inc.)

Amadeus, IBM to Implement e-Ticketing Solution for Indian Airlines

Indian Airlines has partnered with Amadeus and IBM to implement an electronic ticketing solution in India. The airline will implement Amadeus Electronic Ticket Server (ETS) to fully manage and distribute electronic tickets, including interlining.Under the agreement, IBM will undertake the upgrade of processes and systems at Indian Airlines to IATA e-ticketing standards.
pay per click advertising"Indian Airlines has moved a step forward and will offer e-tickets by the end of this year," said Anil Goyal, Director Commercial for the airline. "We are pleased to partner with Amadeus for the support and e-ticketing solution. Amadeus' commitment to deliver tailored technology solutions that best meet our needs is clear. Its cutting edge e-ticketing system is able to deliver direct business benefits and considerable cost savings to Indian, ensuring the smooth ticketing of flight itineraries."The airline expects to become fully compliant with IATA's objective to achieve 100% paper-less air travel by end 2007. Amadeus ETS will cut Indian Airlines' ticketing costs, as well as help the carrier increase operational efficiency and aid travel agents by reducing the workload associated with the issuing, storage and distribution of traditional tickets.Amadeus said e-ticketing would also make life easy for travelers; check-in is quicker and smoother, travelers can enjoy the speed and convenience of Internet check-in or self-service and lost tickets can be quickly and easily replaced. A stand-alone solution, Amadeus ETS will be seamlessly integrated into Indian Airlines' reservations and departure control systems, enabling the carrier to interline efficiently with airlines already part of the Amadeus e-ticketing community, as well as with others on demand.Amadeus' Vice President, Airline Business Group, Frederic Spagnou, said, "We are proud to have been selected by Indian to implement their e-ticketing solution. This deal is especially important to us because of the huge potential of the Indian market and the significant influence of Indian in it. Amadeus will deliver a state-of-the-art solution, supporting future profitable growth for Indian Airlines."Sharat Bansal, Country Leader, IBM Business Consulting Services, India, said, "Value creation and competitive differentiation in full service carriers is driven by sound partnership strategies. IBM is pleased to leverage our expertise to help Indian Airlines seamlessly integrate with its travel business partners, through this solution. This initiative reiterates our passion and commitment to provide comprehensive business solutions to our clients in the aviation industry in India, by leveraging IBM's deep airline industry skills and global aviation experience."

HP, Hitachi Researchers to Jointly Work on Security, Privacy Issues

HP and Hitachi Ltd. announced that researchers from HP Labs Bristol, UK, and Princeton, N.J., and the Hitachi Systems Development Laboratory would conduct joint work on key security and privacy issues.The joint research will focus on authenticating users and devices to improve security inside networks and the use of digital signatures to guarantee the authenticity of document content.
pay per click advertisingThe first theme, network security and authentication, has been stimulated by the constant threat to IT infrastructures from, among many others, impersonation, computer viruses and worms. To combat these threats, HP and Hitachi researchers are investigating how to ensure that computers used to access corporate networks remotely are appropriately authorized. The researchers are interested in developing technologies for a secure infrastructure that manages communications based on the authentication of the integrity of both the PC and the user.HP said that this approach would take advantage of authentication technologies such as Hitachi's Certificate Validation Server (CVS) and the HP ProtectTools Embedded Security PC solution. The researchers will investigate practical ways to deploy "trusted computing" technology in corporate settings. The goal of this project is to improve important aspects of IT infrastructure security by providing a high-grade, lower-cost technology foundation for enforceable security policy and strengthened identity across a range of devices.The focus of the second theme, content security research, is to address the problem of how to guarantee the integrity of documents and data by using digital signatures while allowing changes to be made to them.For example, it may be necessary to delete sensitive data such as names and company secrets from a document for reasons of privacy or confidentiality, yet show that the visible portion of the document is authentic. This process is regularly applied to documents affected by the U.S. Freedom of Information Act and similar laws in other countries. This type of technology also would help ensure the authenticity and integrity of audit trails, an important issue for companies complying with legislation such as Sarbanes-Oxley.Content security also could be used to demonstrate the integrity of audit trails, for example to third-party auditors, while still retaining confidentiality and privacy of the data contained within."This collaboration highlights HP Labs and Hitachi Labs' common interest in security research and our aim to bring about secure systems and infrastructure technologies for modern enterprise needs," said Dick Lampman, senior vice president of research, HP, and director, HP Labs. "HP and Hitachi have had technology alliances that have spanned 16 years and this is an extension of our partnership to further leverage our research and development."Dr. Akira Maeda, general manager of Systems Development Laboratory, Hitachi, said, "Hitachi and HP both recognize the increasing importance of security. This collaboration is expected to contribute to a dramatic increase in customer satisfaction by delivering entirely new security backbones."

HP Launches Compaq nc6140 Laptop with Built-in CDMA EV-DO

HP has introduced a mobile broadband notebook that allows users to stay connected at broadband speeds to corporate networks, email and the Internet without being tied to a wireless hotspot. The HP Compaq nc6140 Notebook PC operates on Verizon Wireless' Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) network, which allows customers to connect at broadband speeds to corporate networks, email and the Internet, over the cellular network.The notebook features integrated dual-antennas and pre-installed software to help establish a wireless connection via Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess network. HP and Verizon Wireless will jointly market the new business notebook. "Mobile professionals using HP's mobile broadband notebook no longer have to limit themselves to airports, hotel lobbies or other public Wi-Fi hotspots," said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile Computing, HP. "Our customers can now enjoy extremely fast data connectivity speeds, enabling them to communicate better and be more productive wherever they happen to be." The EV-DO network offers download speeds of 400 to 700 kbps. The notebook also incorporates the QUALCOMM MSM6500 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO high-speed wireless chipset. In addition to the convenience of its integrated mobile broadband technology complemented by wireless LAN and Bluetooth wireless technology, the thin and light HP nc6140 incorporates enhanced security such as HP ProtectTools Security Manager that allows users to easily manage security solutions using flexible, customizable security layers. The notebook also offers HP Drivelock hard drive protection to protect against unauthorized access to the notebook. Starting at a weight of 6 pounds (2.7 kg), the nc6140 has a 15-inch, wide viewing angle display, a full-sized keyboard and scroll zone within the recessed touchpad. Expansion capabilities include an optional port replicator that simplifies system management and an optional HP Travel Battery that doubles battery life without compromising functionality. The HP Compaq nc6140 Notebook PC is available now with a starting price of US$1,399. Customers with any monthly Verizon Wireless voice plan can receive unlimited BroadbandAccess for an additional US$59.99 monthly access. For non-voice customers, BroadbandAccess is available for US$79.99 monthly access.

Sun-Times' classy 'Mr. Classified' has a final word: retirement

Many are just three lines of small type -- abbreviations, phone numbers and dollar amounts -- hawking a used car, seeking a job as a baby-sitter or offering an apartment for rent.
But to Dick Nardini, those "three-liner" classified ads are the lifeblood of the Chicago Sun-Times' advertising pages -- drawing readers to the larger ads and serving as their personal connection to the paper. He treats that link as a sacred trust.
"It's the most important thing that person is doing," Nardini said. "How about a 'little, minor' thing like a transposition of a phone number -- two characters in a phone number -- and an unhappy guy or person who placed the ad because they are not getting any calls, and a very unhappy person with that phone number who is being bombarded with calls?
"So, accuracy is a very important thing."
After more than half a century of ensuring those high standards in the Sun-Times, Nardini is planning to retire March 31.
His decision caps a career in which he rose to be director of classified advertising, overseeing all of those ads in the middle of the paper -- everything from the "three-liners" to the paid death notices to the larger automobile and employment ads.
'He was the newspaper'
The bronze plaque outside the newspaper's suite of advertising offices calls him "Mr. Classified." Irv Kupcinet jokingly called him "junior" because the legendary gossip columnist was one of the few who had logged more years at the paper than Nardini.
To generations of advertisers, he was the face of the Sun-Times.
"It's one thing to do business with someone because you have to. It's another to do it because you want to," said Joe Shaker, president of Shaker Recruitment Advertising and Communications, which places "help wanted" ads in the paper. "And with Dick Nardini, you wanted to do business with the paper because of him. He was the newspaper."
Sun-Times publisher John Cruickshank called Nardini "the exemplar of integrity and gentlemanliness.
"He's had tremendous relationships with several generations of customers, especially in the automotive business," Cruickshank said. "And they have stayed with him, stayed with the paper through its ups and downs, because they trust Dick Nardini."
Started when he was 15
Nardini, 71, has been at the Sun-Times so long, he worked at all three of its headquarters over the years -- 211 W. Wacker, 401 N. Wabash and its current home at 350 N. Orleans.
By his count, he has served under 20 vice presidents of advertising and nine publishers, including three Marshall Fields -- III, IV and V. Ever the diplomat, he won't name favorites.
"Dick leaves the Sun-Times with the same impeccable style that has characterized his 55-year career," said Boni Fine, vice president of advertising. "He's one of the classiest guys I know, and I'm privileged to have had him as a colleague these last 12 years."
Nardini joined the Sun-Times advertising department as a messenger on Aug. 16, 1950, a month shy of his 16th birthday. He gradually moved up the corporate ladder, reaching the post of director of classified advertising in 1996.
Nardini, 71, lives in Schiller Park with his wife, Mabel. They have five children and six grandchildren. He served on the Leyden High School Board from 1969 until last year -- the final 27 of those years as president of the board.
The Illinois State Board of Education named him outstanding school board president in 1992.
He was also honored with the prestigious Marshall Field Award in 1976 for "outstanding salesmanship, which resulted in substantial new revenue" for the Sun-Times and its then sister paper, the Chicago Daily News.
Nardini proudly calls the Sun-Times "the best paper in the city," but he is modest about his role in that success.
"I love people," Nardini said. "The awards I got, I may have received them, but frankly a lot of people should share them. I believe that strongly. I think people make you look good."