| VeriSign revealed to have suffered repeated security breaches in 2010 Feb 2nd 2012, 20:16  It took some digging through more than 2,000 pages of SEC documents, but Reuters revealed today that VeriSign was attacked "repeatedly" by hackers in 2010, and that some undisclosed information was stolen from the company. The key danger there is the DNS records that the company manages -- which ensure that URLs take you to the correct website -- but VeriSign says that its executives "do not believe these attacks breached the servers that support our Domain Name System network." As Reuters notes, however, the company isn't ruling anything out. Details on the attacks themselves (or the exact number and timing of them) are otherwise hard to come by, but it's reported that VeriSign's security staff did not notify top management until September of 2011 -- although they are said to have "responded" to the attacks themselves.
VeriSign revealed to have suffered repeated security breaches in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Reuters | Email this | Comments | | IRL: Voltaic Spark, LG Optimus One and the Galaxy Nexus Feb 2nd 2012, 20:00 Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
Want to read about Facebook's inflated valuation? A (debunked) rumor that Snooki is pregnant? Neither do we. So, let's do what we do best, and talk gadgets instead. This week, Engadget editor Don Melanson defends his phone of choice, James takes the Voltaic Spark for a spin in Spain and Mat talks about bonding with the Galaxy Nexus at CES. (Sadly, this fling, like others before it, stayed in Vegas.) How's it all working out for them? As always, we've got your quick takes tucked after the break. Continue reading IRL: Voltaic Spark, LG Optimus One and the Galaxy Nexus IRL: Voltaic Spark, LG Optimus One and the Galaxy Nexus originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | AMD's new plan: focus on tablets, cloud computing and developing markets Feb 2nd 2012, 19:44 Chipzilla has long been atop the PC chip manufacturing mountain, with AMD running a rather distant second. That's why AMD's new top man, Rory Read, plans to move the company in a more mobile direction. Speaking at the company's analyst day, Read stated that the chipmaker will focus on outflanking Intel in the tablet space and by growing its business in cloud computing and emerging markets like China (read: entry-level PCs and devices). As to whether AMD would venture into the smartphone space, Read was quite clear in stating that there were no plans to do so. But, he did make mention of being flexible when it came to chip architecture, including using 3rd party IP in developing new silicon -- so a switch to ARM may not be out of the question. How will AMD accomplish its new goals? By focusing on execution of its technology rather than trying to be on the bleeding edge -- sound familiar? Continue reading AMD's new plan: focus on tablets, cloud computing and developing markets AMD's new plan: focus on tablets, cloud computing and developing markets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Reuters | Email this | Comments | | Google's 'Bouncer' service scans the Android Market for malware, will judge you at the door Feb 2nd 2012, 19:30 Google has had its fair share of malware-related problems in the Android Market, but that's hopefully about to change, now that the company has announced a new security-enhancing service. Codenamed "Bouncer," Mountain View's new program sounds pretty simple, in principle: it just automatically scans the Market for malware, without altering the Android user experience, or requiring devs to run through an app approval process. According to Hiroshi Lockheimer, Android's VP of Engineering, Bouncer does this by scanning recently uploaded apps for spyware, trojans or any other lethal components, while looking out for any suspicious behavior that may raise a red flag. The service also runs a simulation of each app using Google's cloud-based infrastructure, and regularly checks up on developer accounts to keep repeat offenders out of the Android Market. Existing apps, it's worth noting, will be subject to the same treatment as their more freshly uploaded counterparts. Lockheimer went on to point out that malware is on the decline in the Market, citing a 40 percent drop between the first and second halves of 2011, and explained some of Android's fundamental security features, including its sandboxing and permission-based systems. Head for the source link below to read the post in full. Google's 'Bouncer' service scans the Android Market for malware, will judge you at the door originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Google Mobile Blog | Email this | Comments | | BLU Studio 5.3 and Touch Book 7.0 hands-on Feb 2nd 2012, 19:30 You know handset vendors like Samsung, LG, HTC and Motorola. You've probably even heard that manufacturers such as Pantech, Sharp and Acer produce phones as well. But have you ever heard of BLU? If you haven't, don't worry -- you'd be in the ranks of the 99 percent. Calling itself the "leader of the Latin America market with vision to expand worldwide," the outfit is nothing if not confident about its stature in developing countries. In the US, however, it's a completely different story: here, BLU is a virtual unknown: a low-profile brand, selling unlocked phones and tablets via e-tailers at bargain-basement prices. Our friends at Negri Electronics hooked us up with the BLU Studio 5.3 ($260) and BLU Touch Book 7.0 ($230) for a short time, giving us the chance to play around with them for a little bit. Rather than doing a full review on both items, we felt it was more appropriate to first give the product lineup a formal introduction to the site. BLU, meet Engadget. Engadget, BLU. Let's dive in. Continue reading BLU Studio 5.3 and Touch Book 7.0 hands-on BLU Studio 5.3 and Touch Book 7.0 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Windows Phone 8 detailed: dual cores, Skype Integration and NFC are a go Feb 2nd 2012, 19:16 If you thought Mango was the bee's knees, just wait till you get a hold of Apollo. No, seriously, keep waiting 'cause we have no idea when that will happen. While we still can't say when Windows Phone 8 will be making its way to a handset near you, we do have quite a few new details about the mobile OS courtesy of the folks over at PocketNow. The site managed to snag a copy of a video starring Windows Phone manager Joe Belfiore talking about what's coming in the next major revision. Those of you concerned with Microsoft's inability to go toe to toe with Apple and Google on specs can breathe a bit easier as new screen resolutions (four in total) and dual-core CPUs will be supported, while those clamoring for more storage will be happy to hear that microSD support has returned -- this time in an official capacity. Rounding out the new hardware features will be NFC support, including the Beam-like ability to share content by tapping, though, it'll have the advantage of being able to share with Windows 8 based tablets and laptops as well. And, speaking of Windows 8, its similarly numbered, phone-centric sibling won't just share a UI, it'll have many of the core components, including large chunks of the kernel, networking stack and security features -- which should make porting apps from the desktop to the handset a relatively simple affair. Amazingly enough, the list of improvements doesn't end there. If you've been wondering when Microsoft was going to put its Skype acquisition to good use, wonder no more. A Windows Phone app for the VoIP service will debut alongside Apollo and will feature deep integration with the OS, including the ability to place calls the same as you would standard voice calls. A new live tile and app called DataSmart will make it easier for users to manage their data usage and ensure they don't end up eating insane overage fees. To milk every last bit out of that data plan Windows Phone will favor WiFi over a cellular connection and can be programmed to automatically connect to carrier-owned hotspots when they're in range. And, if that weren't enough, Microsoft plans to use proxy servers to compress web pages before feeding them to the mobile version of Internet Explorer 10, not unlike Opera Mini. Those of you who doubted that Windows Phone could actually keep pace with Android and iOS, now might be a good time to reevaluate your position. Hit up the source link for a few more details. Update: If you want to get all of the details in a nice easy to glance list head after the break for a convenient bullet point presentation. Continue reading Windows Phone 8 detailed: dual cores, Skype Integration and NFC are a go Windows Phone 8 detailed: dual cores, Skype Integration and NFC are a go originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Pocketnow | Email this | Comments | |
