Microsoft warns: 900 M Internet Explorer users at risk

LONDON: Microsoft has warned that the 900 million users of its Internet Explorer Web browser are at risk of having their computers hijacked and their personal information stolen by hackers.

The software giant has issued a 'critical' security alert over a newly-discovered flaw that affects all versions of the company's Windows operating system, including Windows XP (SP3), Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 (R2), reports the Daily Mail.

However, Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari browsers are unaffected by the threat because, unlike Internet Explorer, they don't support MHTML files, where the problem lies.

The loophole only seems to affect the way Internet Explorer handles some web pages.

Microsoft said that the bug is inside Windows, presumably because they don't want users to migrate to other browsers.

The company has so far been unable to remove the bug itself and has issued a 'fix it' security patch to block any attempts to use it.

All Windows users, particularly those who use Internet Explorer, are being urged to download the patch as the company's security team is working on a way to permanently fix the problem.

The company has described the flaw as a serious threat, although no hackers are thought to have yet exploited the vulnerability.

"An attacker could construct an HTML link designed to trigger a malicious script and somehow convince the targeted user to click it. When the user clicked that link, the malicious script would run on the user's computer for the rest of the current Internet Explorer session," said Microsoft spokeswoman Angela Gunn in a security advisory published online on Friday.

"Such a script might collect user information (e.g. email), spoof content displayed in the browser, or otherwise interfere with the user's experience," she added.

How to secure your facebook account ?

HTTPS security is being made available to Facebook users slowly, so though it might not be available to you now, it should appear soon. The option will exist as part of the advanced security features on Facebook.

Facebook announced that it is now offering users the ability to use encryption to protect their accounts from being compromised when they are interacting with the site, something security experts have been seeking for a while. The site currently uses HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) when users log in with their passwords, but now everything a user does on the site will be encrypted if he turns the feature on, the company said in a blog post.

Enabling full-session HTTPS eliminates the ability for attackers to use tools like the Firefox plug-in called Firesheep to snoop on communications between a person's computer and the site's server over Wi-Fi. "Starting today we'll provide you with the ability to experience Facebook entirely over HTTPS. You should consider enabling this option if you frequently use Facebook from public Internet access points found at coffee shops, airports, libraries, or schools," the post says. "The option will exist as part of our advanced security features, which you can find in the Account Security section of the Account Settings page."

Using HTTPS may mean that some pages will take a little bit longer to load, and some third-party applications aren't currently supported, the company said. The option is rolling out over the next few weeks. "We hope to offer HTTPS as a default whenever you are using Facebook sometime in the future," the post says.
"Every user's Facebook page is unique and it's been complex pulling together all the different parts," said Facebook Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan when asked what the time frame is to making HTTPS the default setting. "It's an interesting technical challenge for the company.

Here's how you can secure your Facebook account.
Log in to Facebook and click Account in the top right corner of the page.
• Select Account Settings and scroll down to Account Security.
• Click Change and check the box next to Secure Browsing.
• You can also view all account activity, so check back regularly to see if someone is accessing your account without your permission.

More Bloopers......

HD Videos for i phone 4

This is plain farce. The page talks about HD Videos feature in iPhone 4, while the image says iPod on top left!

Bloopers by Apple

Apple makes excellent gadgets, no doubt. But their PR team is also famous for some of the worst photoshop goof-ups in recent times. Things seem to have gone out of hand ever since they hurriedly launched iPod Touch 4G early this week.

We have collected and listed out some of the recent Photoshop bloopers from Apple, thanks to the folks at 9to5mac!

This is an ad for the latest iPod Touch. Notice the phone icon on bottom left of the pic on the right?!

Switching to 3G ? :: Then Think Once......

While the 3G Launch of Major operators in India is just a couple of weeks away,we’ve got some bad news on 3G here. Once it’s here, more than one crore people are speculated to use 3G and so are their brains to get damaged.
Recent reports reveal that the population using 3G Services is likely to be affected by cancer and neuro-phsychiatric problems in the upcoming two years due to exposure to harmful radiations, which are 20-15 percent stronger with 3G coming in.

Children below the age of 16 are the most prone to brain cancer five times more than the adults, recent studies by the Electircal Engineering Department at Indian Institute of Technology reveal.
They run the risk of developing neuro-psychiatric problems, including headache, memory loss, diz ziness, tremors, muscle spas ms, numbness, altered reflexes, muscle and joint pain, depression, and sleep disturbance. More severe reactions include seizures, paralysis, psychosis and stroke, says the study.
The results of the study have been presented to the Telecom Department and there is no response from the telecom department yet.

Are you moving from 2G to 3g?
Then think once !

Enhanced Vision Technology by GM

Technology really never ceases to amaze us, a new Enhanced Vision Technology currently being developed by General Motors aims to turn the ordinary car windshield into augmented reality based virtual display that uses lasers, night vision, eye tracking and GPS to assist you in driving. Enhanced vision technology can pin point obstacles in the path, mark the road using lasers during night and can even display your destination using the GPS technology on your windshield in real time.