McAfee Reveals Top 10 Threats for 2010
December 29, 2009 by Laura
Filed under News, News/Events
McAfee has unveiled its 2010 Threat Predictions report. McAfee Labs believes cybercriminals will target social networking sites and third-party applications, use more complex Trojans and botnets to build and execute attacks, and take advantage of HTML 5 to create emerging threats. McAfee Labs also predicts 2010 will be a good year for law enforcement’s fight against cybercrime.
“Over the past decade, we’ve seen a tremendous improvement in the ability to successfully monitor, uncover, and stop cybercrime,” said Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Labs. “We’re now facing emerging threats from the explosive growth of social networking sites, the exploitation of popular applications and more advanced techniques used by cybercriminals, but we’re confident that 2010 will be a successful year for the cybersecurity community.”
McAfee Labs Threat Predictions for 2010:
- Social Networks Will Be Platform of Choice for Emerging Threats
Facebook, Twitter, and third-party applications on these sites are rapidly changing the criminal toolkit, giving cybercriminals new technologies to work with and hot spots of activity that can be exploited. Users will become more vulnerable to attacks that blindly distribute rogue apps across their networks, and cybercriminals will take advantage of friends trusting friends to get users to click on links they might otherwise treat cautiously. The use of abbreviated URLs on sites like Twitter make it even easier for cybercriminals to mask and direct users to malicious Web sites. McAfee Labs predicts that cybercriminals will increasingly use these tactics across the most popular social networking sites in 2010. - Web Evolution Will Give Cybercriminals New Opportunities to Write Malware
The release of Google Chrome OS and the technological advancements of HTML 5 will continue to shift user activity from desktop to online applications, creating yet another opportunity for malware writers to prey on users. HTML 5’s anticipated cross-platform support also provides an additional motivation for attackers, enabling them to reach users of many mainstream browsers. - Banking Trojans, Email Attachments Delivering Malware Will Rise in Volume, Sophistication
McAfee Labs warns that banking Trojans, having demonstrated new tactics in 2009, will become even more sophisticated in 2010 and easily get around current protections used by banks. New techniques include a Trojan’s ability to silently interrupt a legitimate transaction to make an unauthorized withdrawal and simultaneously check the user’s transaction limits to stay below them and avoid alerting the bank. Email attachments, a longstanding delivery method for malware, will continue to rise in volume and increasingly target corporations, journalists, and individual users. - Cybercriminals Continue to Target Adobe Reader, Flash
In 2009, McAfee Labs saw an increase in attacks targeting client software. Due to the growing popularity of Adobe applications, McAfee Labs expects that cybercriminals will continue to target Adobe products, primarily Acrobat Reader and Flash, two of the most widely deployed applications in the world. McAfee Labs expects Adobe product exploitation will likely surpass that of Microsoft Office applications in 2010. - Botnet Infrastructure Shifts from Centralized Model to Peer-to-Peer Control
Botnets, the versatile infrastructure that launches nearly every type of cyberattack from spamming to identity theft, will continue to use a seemingly infinite supply of stolen computing power and bandwidth around the globe. Following a number of successful botnet takedowns, including the McColo ISP, botnet controllers must adjust to the increasing pressure cybersecurity professionals are placing on them. In 2010, McAfee Labs expects to see a significant adoption of peer-to-peer control, a distributed and resilient botnet infrastructure, rather than the centralized hosting model that we see today. For cybercriminals, the benefits will finally outweigh the costs of the peer-to-peer model, due to the security community’s increasingly aggressive attempts to shut down and deny access to botnets. - Cybercrime: A Good Year for Law Enforcement
Next year marks a decade in the fight that international law enforcement agencies have undertaken against cybercrime. McAfee Labs has seen significant progress in the universal effort to identify, track, and combat cybercrime by governments worldwide. McAfee believes that in 2010 we’ll see many more successes in the pursuit of cybercriminals.
For a full copy of the 2010 McAfee Labs Threat Predictions, see: http://www.mcafee.com/us/local_content/white_papers/7985rpt_labs_threat_predict_1209_v2.pdf
SouthPeak Interactive Announces Blood Bowl
December 29, 2009 by Laura
Filed under PC Games, PSP, Video Games, XBOX 360
SouthPeak Interactive Corporation has announced Blood Bowl for Windows PC, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PSP system coming in 2010. The hard-hitting fantasy football title previously available exclusively as a Windows PC downloadable game is lobbing a ‘Hail Mary’ pass straight onto retail shelves in 2010.
Just in time for the human football season’s end, SouthPeak is here to offer a less than traditional spin on classic football. With a rich heritage of table-top gaming, Blood Bowl is poised to tear your Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PSP system a new end zone. With turn-based gameplay and each play teetering on the roll of the dice, Blood Bowl will keep you on the edge of your seat from kickoff to final score. Inspired by the infamous Warhammer series, Blood Bowl brings some of the most vicious gameplay, dirty tricks and lest we forget – secret weapons – to the field in an all new way.
“We’re thrilled to have a part in bringing a proper retail version of Blood Bowl to North American gamers on Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PSP.” said Aubrey Norris, Manager of Human-Orc Relations at SouthPeak. “It’s never easy to get all these races to agree on something – but if there’s one thing they love its good competition with a lot of bloodshed!”
Blood Bowl’s retail Windows PC and Xbox 360 packages will kick-off in January 2010 with the PSP system version taking the field in Spring of 2010. For more information, please visit www.southpeakgames.com
New Expansion for Borderlands Available
December 29, 2009 by Laura
Filed under PC Games, PS3, Video Games, XBOX 360
2K Games has announced that Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot, the second game add-on content developed by Gearbox Software for Borderlands, is now available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 for 800 Microsoft Points. Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot will be available for the PlayStation Network beginning January 7, 2010 for $9.99 and Windows PC in early 2010. The explosive excitement of Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot further enhances Borderlands’ reputation as one of this year’s best role playing shooter experiences.
Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot presents fans with new gameplay features that expand upon the popular Borderlands video game in dangerous and exciting ways. The all-new Riot Mode challenges players to test their weaponry against hordes of menacing antagonists, thirsting for carnage in tournaments where the rules of warfare are constantly changing. Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot also offers several new game features, including the ability to earn two more skill points making player’s characters an even deadlier lethal weapon, and an all-new bank feature that provides extra storage capacity for weapons of devastation.
“Our fans loved Borderlands because it was addictive gameplay at its best with over the top action that satisfied their appetites for destruction,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot expands upon the original Borderlands universe by taking the co-operative mayhem that gamers loved about the original game and amplifying it.”
Complete with extensive co-op integration seamlessly blending the single-player and multiplayer experiences, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot allows players to freely join or leave each other’s games at any time for collaborative mayhem or the freedom to enjoy the game in full single-player mode. It also includes the groundbreaking weapon generation system that offers more than 16 million weapons from which to choose.
Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox 360 and will be downloadable on January 9, 2010 for the PlayStation Network for $9.99 and will also be offered for Windows PC users in early 2010. Borderlands, rated M for Mature by the ESRB, was developed by Gearbox Software and is currently available for Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and Windows PC.
DLC for Dragon Age: Origins Coming Soon
December 29, 2009 by Laura
Filed under PC Games, PS3, Video Games, XBOX 360
BioWare has announced that the Return to Ostagar downloadable content (DLC) for Dragon Age: Origins will be released on January 5 in North America and Europe for the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game at a cost of 400 BioWare Points or Microsoft Points. The DLC will be available for the PlayStation 3 later in January. Return to Ostagar allows players to exact their revenge and embark on a quest for the mighty arms and armor of the once great King Cailan when they revisit Ostagar, the site of the Grey Wardens’ darkest hour, to reclaim the honor and learn the secrets of Ferelden’s fallen king.
“We are thrilled at the way the fans have embraced Dragon Age: Origins and we’re excited to welcome them back into the game,” said Aaryn Flynn, General Manager and Vice President, BioWare Edmonton. “Return to Ostagar represents BioWare’s commitment to providing a steady stream of compelling post release content as we continue to expand the Dragon Age universe.” Return to Ostagar summons players to a new quest in which they will return to the fateful battleground in Ostagar where the Grey Wardens were nearly wiped out. Players will discover King Cailan’s top-secret political agenda and go behind enemy lines to revisit a place that many feared had been lost to history.
Return to Ostagar will be available for 400 BioWare Points on the PC and 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 on January 5. It will be available for $4.99 on the PlayStation Store later in the month. Dragon Age: Origins is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.
For more information on Dragon Age: Origins, please visit www.dragonage.com.
Beyerdynamic Debuts New Headsets at CES 2010
December 28, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Cell Phones
Beyerdynamic has announced the they will be showing the latest additions to their in-ear product range dunring CES 2010.
Alan Feckanin, beyerdynamic’s Business Unit Manager for Consumer Products states: “We have expanded the product offering of the in-ear product line up for 2010. The DTX Series has four new models including the DTX 60, DTX 80, available in both black and white and the flagship model DTX100 and MMX 100 headset. These units range in impedance from 12 to 16 ohm, 102 to 104 dB and include a user-friendly soft case for the ear-buds and MP3 player. In addition, the packaging is suitable for retail display presentation.”
Owners of iPhone, Blackberry or other mobile phones will appreciate the multimedia headset MMX 100. It combines the sound qualities of the DTX 100 with a high quality hands-free microphone. At the push of a button, calls on the iPhone can be answered and ended while the mp3 player goes into hold mode and continues its program at the same point.
The new models stand out with their functional details – such as the angled plug. It is formed so that it can also be used with all iPhone models with deep headphone plugs. beyerdynamic has strengthened the high use popular headphone cable fork and has covered it with a special plastic that resists loads and minimizes the risk of cable breakage.
Acoustic converters with neodymium magnets help give the headphone series an impressive sound and amazingly strong bass. Tuning differentiates the individual features of the models: The DTX 60 with ice-blue gleaming silicone ear cushions is perfect for those who prefer more bass. The DTX 80 with its glass blasted aluminum design provides a realistic live sound in any environment. And the top of the line DTX 100 and MMX 100 adds acoustic highlights with its polished aluminum casing and crystal clear sound.
CES to Feature Record Number of Exhibitors
December 28, 2009 by Laura
Filed under News/Events, On The Web
A record number of new exhibitors – more than 330 companies – will join more than 2,500 exhibitors in unveiling their latest technology innovations at the 2010 International CES. With more than 20,000 new products on display, the International CES is the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow. CE Spotlights throughout the CES show floor will feature key market categories including apps, green technology, gaming, location based services and more. Owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the 2010 International CES returns to Las Vegas, January 7-10, 2010.
“With a record number of new exhibitors, scores of new product introductions, several new Spotlights on the show floor and a dynamic lineup of keynotes sessions, the 2010 International CES will be our best show yet,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “More technology deals will be made during the four days of CES than anywhere else on earth. In fact, each CES attendee has an average of 12 meetings while at the show, reinforcing CES as the business hub for technology. Innovation is flourishing within the technology industry and the 2010 CES is the only place to see it all.”
Several CE Spotlights covering a variety of technology categories will be housed on the 2010 CES show floor. These include: the iLounge Pavilion, featuring all things iPod, iPhone and Mac related; Living in Digital Times, highlighting technology relevant to all lifestyles; EHX@CES with custom CE products for home and commercial installation; Sustainable Planet, featuring the latest green technologies including advances in green building, alternative energy technologies and smart grid technologies and the Gaming Showcase with the latest gaming hardware and software. For a complete list of CE Spotlights visit http://www.cesweb.org/exhibits/displays/default.asp.
The 2010 CES will feature 20 market-specific TechZones highlighting the latest trends and emerging markets. New CES TechZones include the eBooks, Experience 3D, Femto, Lifestyle Gadgets, Mobile DTV, Netbooks and Safe Driver TechZones.
Top executives of the biggest names in technology and business will take the stage at the 2010 International CES with keynote addresses from Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, Ford’s Alan Mulally, Intel’s Paul Otellini and Qualcomm’s Dr. Paul Jacobs, as well as Nokia’s Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo and Hisense’s Zhou Houjian, who will speak as part of the CES Technology and Emerging Countries Program.
Additionally, the 2010 CES will feature more than 250 sessions and 800 expert speakers as part of the CES conference program, which will cover a range of industry topics from social media to safe driving to technology policy. Conference programs for the 2010 International CES include, “Up Next at CES: Creativity, Content and Cash,” focused on addressing the major challenge of how to monetize new media and the “Tech Policy Summit,” which will discuss critical policy issues including broadband deployment and spectrum allocation.
Audio-Technica Intros USB Turntable at CES 2010
December 28, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Home Audio, Home Electronics
Audio-Technica has announced the introduction of its AT-LP60-USB LP-to-Digital Turntable System, a complete USB turntable and software package designed to make it easy to enjoy listening to records, and to transfer vinyl records to digital media files. The new AT-LP60-USB will be featured at CES 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 1, Booth 21840.
The AT-LP60-USB includes a turntable and phono cartridge, PC- and Mac-compatible software, a USB cable that connects the turntable directly to a computer, a built-in phono preamp and other accessories. The AT-LP60-USB features a sleek new design with rounded corners and a matte black finish.
Crystal Griffith, Audio-Technica Consumer Marketing Manager, noted, “The AT-LP60-USB offers users an easy way to transfer records to digital files and portable players, and to listen to records on a home music system. It’s ideal for music lovers who are getting into vinyl for the first time, and for people who never gave up their record collection but don’t currently own a turntable and want to listen to their records again.”
The AT-LP60-USB features completely automatic operation, and a 33-1/3 and 45 RPM speed selector to play vinyl formats from LP albums to 12-inch and 7-inch singles. The turntable is designed to deliver outstanding sound, with a heavy-duty precision cast aluminum platter, a high-quality Dual Magnet stereo cartridge with replaceable stylus, and a pickup arm with soft damping control. The supplied USB cable enables plug-and-play connection to a PC or Macintosh computer. Its built-in switchable phono preamp enables connection to a wide variety of music and home entertainment systems, powered speakers, and to A/V receivers that do not include a dedicated phono input. The AT-LP60-USB comes with RCA output cables and 3.5mm-to-RCA adapter cables, and a removable dustcover.
The included PC- and Mac-compatible Audacity software converts the audio on a record to MP3, WAV or other format digital audio files, which can then be played back on portable audio players, computers, home media centers and car audio systems. The Audacity software includes a host of audio editing features including equalization and click/noise removal.
At CES 2010, Audio-Technica will also be exhibiting its AT-LP60 turntable, which offers all of the features and benefits of the AT-LP60-USB except for the USB connectivity and software package. The Audio-Technica AT-LP60-USB LP-to-Digital Recording System will be available in January 2010 online or at Audio-Technica authorized retailers at a suggested retail price of $229.00. The AT-LP60 Turntable will be available in December 2009 at a suggested retail price of $149.00.
Poll Shows Adults Now Spend 13 Hours/Week Online
December 23, 2009 by Laura
Filed under News, News/Events
A new Harris Poll finds that adult Internet users are now spending an average of 13 hours a week online. Of course, people’s usage varies greatly; one in five (20%) of adult Internet users are online for only two hours or less a week while one in seven (14%) are spending 24 or more hours a week online. These are a few of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,029 adults surveyed by telephone between July 7 and 12 and October 13 and 18, 2009 by Harris Interactive.
Over the years the average hours spent online have increased from 7 hours in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, to between 8 and 9 hours in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2007, it increased to 11 hours. Last year (in October after the financial crisis broke and before the presidential election) Internet users were online for 14 hours a week, double what it was from 1999 to 2002.
Other interesting findings in this Harris Poll include:
- The age groups that spend the most time online are those aged 30-39 (18 hours) and those aged 25-29 (17 hours) and 40-49 (17 hours).
- Half (50%) of all those online bought something on the Internet in the last month. This includes 62% of those aged 30-39 and 56% of those aged 40-49.The number of adults online, now 184 million (80%), has not changed significantly since 2008 and 2007. This includes those online at work, at home, at school or any other locations.
- However, the number of adults who are online at home has increased to 76% this year, and 75% last year, compared to 70% in 2006, and 66% in 2005.
Harris notes that the increase in the number of hours spent online in the last two years compared to all previous years is striking. Harris speculates it probably reflects a growing ability to use the Internet, an increase in sites and applications, increased TV watching online and increased purchasing online. Also, hours online may have increased because of the recession. Going online is free; going out usually costs money.
Hands-On Releases New Games to iPhone App Store
December 23, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Cell Phones, Games
Hands-On Mobile has announced the first titles released on the App Store as a result of the Hands-On Mobile Developer Network (HDN): bitFLIP, iBailout!!, Karnival and Seven Wonders: Quest for Koh-i-noor. Designed to provide independent developers with support and distribution of apps, the HDN now includes over 10 developers with more than 25 games slated for release in the coming year. All four games are available now exclusively for the iPhone and iPod touch.
“Each game is unique and represents the developers’ vision which we’ve helped to make a reality,” said David McCaman, head of marketing, Hands-On Mobile. “The range of styles and quality of titles that have come out of the HDN program is phenomenal. In this initial launch we have a graphically rich tycoon-style game with a mystical storyline, an intense, music-driven multiplayer puzzle experience, a timely political message delivered in a classic arcade-style mash-up and what may be one of the hardest hidden object games to come to market.”
The Hands-On Mobile Developer Network provides a host of services and support including everything from funding, marketing, PR and expansion to new markets. Hands-On Mobile works with developers at different stages of app development and then puts resources behind promoting the app to consumers. New HDN App Store titles include:
bitFLIP
A new FLIP on the classic match-three genre! bitFLIP combines quality aesthetics and sound to create a fun and frantic take on a game that we all enjoy. Match three or more pieces by swapping bits on the grid. For a real advantage, double tap to flip bits and clear the layer below.
The soundtrack features and introduces up and coming electronic musician Robert Clouth. Players can download the soundtrack for free at http://tapme.net or try out an in-game media player that doubles as an interactive art piece.
“Our challenge to break into the industry and enter a crowded marketplace was something we knew we needed help with,” said Joshua Hernandez, CEO and Founder, Metamoorephosis Games. “Hands-On Mobile saw our potential and gave us just the opportunity we needed to get started. Their insight into mobile development from customers to industry connections has helped us grow faster than we ever expected to.”
iBailout!!
Lost your job? The house? iBailout!! is the solution. With Pac Man gameplay, you play as The Fed, eating money instead of dots, angry citizens instead of ghosts…only until the people turn into bloodthirsty Fed-hunting mobs and chase you down with torches, pitchforks, and baseball bats and you cowardly declare martial law.
“Partnering with the Hands-On Mobile Developer network on iBailout!! has been a great experience and we hope that folks will not only have a lot of fun with the game, but also maybe think a little bit more about what’s going on with our nation and the world,” says Nick Marroni, Owner, Designer & Producer of Marroni Electronic Entertainment.
Karnival
With simulation strategy gameplay, Karnival puts players in the game as a “freak” born with the arm of a goat. Realizing you need to view your curse as a gift you decide to start your own carnival. Traveling across the land, you gain the loyalty and trust of other “freaks” and together, you bring thrills, wonders, and tasty treats to entertainment-starved cities.
“Bitwise Design’s ability to see its games published and become visible amongst a vast sea of other great games has given us a competitive market advantage that would not be possible on our own,” said Ray Graham, President and Chief Engineer, Bitwise Design, Inc. “Our partnership with Hands-On Mobile through their HDN program has made this possible.”
Seven Wonders: Quest for Koh-i-noor
Players are plunged into a world of mystery surrounding Harry, an associate Professor of History and a descendent of the great Moghul Emperors. Harry sets off on an intriguing and dangerous journey to India to save his father. Unbeknownst to him he is destined to save the world from the curse of the Koh-i-noor – an ancient diamond with mystical properties.
Each destination Harry visits is littered with clues that bring him one step closer to saving his father…and the world.
“The folks at Hands-On Mobile are whizzes at game design, marketing and product development and were of great help during the making of Seven Wonders: Quest for Koh-i-Noor, our first title in a series of hidden-object, adventure games, designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch,” said Ahmed Murad Akhter, CEO, Tintash, Inc. “We couldn’t have done it without them!”
These apps are all available from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/ at the following prices:
- Karnival: $3.99
- bitFLIP: $0.99
- Seven Wonders: $2.99
- iBailout!!: $1.99
Futuremark Launches PC Building Tool
December 23, 2009 by Laura
Filed under Hardware, PC Hardware
Futuremark Corporation has announced a free online based tool utilizing its 3DMark PC benchmark scoring system. The Gigabyte System Builder provides pre-purchase 3DMark performance-based information on a wide range of Gigiabyte motherboard and VGA products allowing users to decide ahead of time the type of PC or gaming system they would like to build.
Users select from drop down menus for the latest core system components including CPU, motherboard, and video graphics cards. The Gigabyte System Builder automatically calculates total MSRP costs and 3DMark performance of the user’s selected hardware build, enabling them to see the cost and performance of their ideal system before purchasing any hardware. Furthermore, the GIGABYTE System Builder provides PC gaming software playability information powered by Futuremark’s Game-o-meter technology enabling users to see which games will play best on their proposed hardware build.
System Builder: http://service.futuremark.com/systembuilder/gigabyte
Game-o-meter: http://www.yougamers.com/games/
“We recognize the challenge most PC buyers have when deciding how much to spend and what type of performance they should expect,” said Jukka Mäkinen VP of Futuremark. “We are taking the guess work out of PC buying. Anyone at any budget can confidently make PC purchasing decisions for any PC component combination using the latest CPU, motherboard, and graphic card technology.”
“As the market leader in motherboard and VGA design, GIGABYTE has a large range of products catering to many different types of users, from top PC gamers wanting to build the ultimate performance rig, to the general PC enthusiast wanting to get the best value for their money,” commented Tim Handley, Deputy Director of Motherboard Marketing at GIGABYTE Technology Co. Ltd. “That is why we are excited to be partnering with Futuremark on the development of the GIGABYTE System Builder utility, making it easier than ever for users to know exactly what sort of performance they can expect from their yet to be built system.”
3DMark is a benchmark program from Futuremark that measures the 3D gaming performance capabilities of PCs. The 3DMark Vantage edition can be downloaded for free from the Futuremark website. http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/