Author: ttcsadmin

  • Adobe hacked ; information about 2.9 million Adobe customers and source code stolen

    Adobe hacked ; information about 2.9 million Adobe customers and source code stolen

    Adobe is reporting that attackers compromised Adobe’s servers and accessed Adobe customer IDs, encrypted passwords, encrypted credit/debit card information and source code for several of its software.

    From http://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2013/10/important-customer-security-announcement.html

    “…Very recently, Adobe’s security team discovered sophisticated attacks on our network, involving the illegal access of customer information as well as source code for numerous Adobe products. We believe these attacks may be related.

    Our investigation currently indicates that the attackers accessed Adobe customer IDs and encrypted passwords on our systems. We also believe the attackers removed from our systems certain information relating to 2.9 million Adobe customers, including customer names, encrypted credit or debit card numbers, expiration dates, and other information relating to customer orders. At this time, we do not believe the attackers removed decrypted credit or debit card numbers from our systems. We deeply regret that this incident occurred. We’re working diligently internally, as well as with external partners and law enforcement, to address the incident. “

    Read the full post at http://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2013/10/important-customer-security-announcement.html and Adobe customer advisory at
    http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/customer-alert.html for further details.

  • TTCS pizzalime on Wednesday October 9 2013 from 6:30 to 9pm

    TTCS pizzalime on Wednesday October 9 2013 from 6:30 to 9pm

    The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society (TTCS) will be having its next pizza lime on Wednesday October 9 2013 at Papa John’s Pizza, Chaguanas from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

    Come join us as we discuss sundry computing topics of interest, including:

    • ICT and the 2014 Budget
    • Apple’s new hardware changes (new iPhones, iMacs)
    • The Age of Steam: Valve gaming innovations (Steambox, SteamOS, Steampad)
    • Bye Bye Bye: Microsoft after Steve Ballmer
    • Zero Day: The Abuse of Unpatched IE Holes
    • Sour Berries: The Sale of Blackberry
    • upcoming AGM

    Anyone interested in any aspect of computing and information and communications technology (ICT) is welcome to attend. A contribution of $50 is expected towards the food bill.

     

    General Location of Papa John’s Pizza in Chaguanas

    Ramsingh’s Plaza
    11 Southern Main Road, Chaguanas

    papamap

    PS.  Where the map indicates PJ is is actually a mall car park.  Papa John’s is on the other  side of the street.
  • ITU 2013 State of Broadband Report published ; #Trinidad & #Tobago

    The UN Broadband Commission has released the 2013 State of Broadband Report (PDF ; 1.2MB). From the ITU press release :

    “the report reveals that mobile broadband subscriptions, which allow users to access the web via smartphones, tablets and WiFi-connected laptops, are growing at a rate of 30% per year. By the end of 2013 there will be more than three times as many mobile broadband connections as there are conventional fixed broadband subscriptions.

    The State of Broadband is a unique global snapshot of broadband network access and affordability, with country-by country data measuring broadband access against the four key targets set by the 60 members of the Broadband Commission in 2011.”

    So how does Trinidad and Tobago fare?

    In Fixed Broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants in 2012,
    Trinidad and Tobago ranked 54th out of 183 countries, with 13.6 per 100 inhabitants

    In Mobile Broadband penetration, per 100 inhabitants in 2012,
    Trinidad and Tobago ranked 126th out of 170 countries with 1.5 per 100 inhabitants

    In percentage of Households with Internet, developing Countries in 2012
    Trinidad and Tobago ranked 31st out of 128 countries, with an estimated 40 %

    In Percentage of Individuals using the Internet in 2012,
    Trinidad and Tobago ranked 56th out of 192 countries with an estimated 59.5%. If ranked against developing countries, Trinidad and Tobago ranked 20th out of 144 developing countries. 

  • Ars Technica: How the FBI found Miss Teen USA’s webcam spy

    Ars Technica: How the FBI found Miss Teen USA’s webcam spy

    Ars Technica reports on the arrest by the FBI of the 19 year old sextortionist who snapped nude pictures of Miss Teen USA.  “19-year old Jared James Abrahams, a California computer science student who went by the online handle “cutefuzzypuppy,” had as many as 150 “slave” computers under his control during the height of his webcam spying in 2012.”

    You might also want to read these other Ars Technica articles:

    Essentially Remote administration tools (RATs) are a form of malware  surreptitiously installed on person’s computers by tricking users to open an attachment or visit a website that takes advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities in the operating system, browser or browser plugins on the persons’ computer. Once installed, RAT operators have control over the laptop and can scan and copy files, monitor keystrokes for passwords to online accounts and also the ability to control the hardware, including the webcams. Apparently several webcams can be  surreptitiously turned on WITHOUT the light going on.

    Sobering read.

     

  • TATT publishes Q2 2013 Telecom Market Update in #Trinidad & #Tobago

    The Telcommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has published the Q2 2013 Quarterly Market Update

     

  • BlackBerry to release BlackBerry Messenger for Windows

    BlackBerry to release BlackBerry Messenger for Windows

    BlackBerry announced it will be releasing a desktop BBM app at BlackBerry Jam Asia 2013 this week, Read the TechCrunch article BlackBerry Will Release A Painful-To-Use BBM App For Desktops | TechCrunch for more details.

     

  • Google Easter Egg to see how Google looked 15 years ago

    Google Easter Egg to see how Google looked 15 years ago

    Google turns 15 this month. Follow this Google’s Easter Egg link to see how Google looked back then

    https://www.google.com/#q=google+in+1998&safe=off

    (Unfortunately, any searches will return Google results in today’s layout)

  • YouTube Launches Free Audio Library With 150 Royalty-Free Tracks

    YouTube Launches Free Audio Library With 150 Royalty-Free Tracks

    YouTube currently offers more than 150,000 audio tracks on its site that video producers can use as background music for their videos. Those tracks, however, can’t be downloaded or remixed, which makes it hard to use them in creative ways. For users who want to do a bit more with their background music, however, YouTube today is expanding this library with a selection of 150 new royalty-tracks. The music in this new YouTube Audio Library can be downloaded, remixed and used for free forever.

    Read the rest of the article on TechCrunch.
    Check out the YouTube Audio Library at http://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary

     

  • Valve announces SteamOS, free standalone operating system

    Valve announces SteamOS, free standalone operating system

    Valve, created of the Steam distribution platform for Windows, Mac and Linux  (and games) have posted the first of three announcements :

    SteamOS.

    Excepts from the SteamOS announcement:

    “SteamOS combines the rock-solid architecture of Linux with a gaming experience built for the big screen. It will be available soon as a free stand-alone operating system for living room machines.”

    Four new Steam features available soon in both SteamOS and the Steam client :

    • “In-home streaming” – play your Windows and Mac games from existing computers on SteamOS
    • “Music, TV, movies” – access your music and video
    • “Family Sharing” – share Steam games with family members
    • “Family Options” – families will have control over what titles get seen by whom.

    ” SteamOS will be available soon as a free download for users”