Password changing dance starts now: eBay accounts data compromised

If you have an eBay account, it's time to change your password. The company released a statement today saying their internal and customer databases were compromised earlier this year, and starting today they'll prompt everyone to change their passwords.

Attackers made off with names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and of course, encrypted passwords. eBay explained that financial info like credit card numbers and other sensitive data (like PayPal accounts) are kept in a separate encrypted database which wasn't compromised. They also said they've found no evidence of unauthorized access or activity by registered eBay users—which is code for "we don't think anyone's used these passwords yet." According to the statement, intruders compromised employee accounts first, and used their access to get the data they really wanted. They discovered the breach about two weeks ago, but the actual attack took place back in late February and early March.

To change your eBay password, log into your account, then click your name in the upper left corner. Select Account Settings. Click "Personal Information" on the left side of the page, and "edit" next to your password.

As always, if you use the same password on multiple sites, first, change those too, and second, stop using the same password on multiple sites. Instead, use a password manager that generates and remembers strong passwords for all the sites you use around the web.

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By: fdfffs On 21:15

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China Bans Microsoft Windows 8 for Government Computers

While US government is always prohibiting the purchase of Huawei products due to suspected backdoors from the Chinese government, China also keep itself totally apart from the US productions.

China is a bit famous for using its own operating systems, smartphone application services and lots more, rather than using the US developed Operating Systems, and now China has reportedly banned the installation of Microsoft Corporation’s latest operating system, Windows 8 on any of its government computers.
The Central Government Procurement Center issued a notice that was posted on its website last week prohibiting the use of Microsoft's latest operating system and the reason behind it is to support the use of energy-saving products, the report said.

But the state news agency ‘Xinhua’ pointed out a different reason for the ban saying the country wants to avoid any further losing of the support for an operating system like it did recently by pulling out its support from the oldest operating system Windows XP, which was widely used in China and is still estimated to be used on as much as half of the Chinese desktop market, the Chinese news agency claimed.
In the beginning of last month, Microsoft stopped providing the support for its longest running and most successful 13 year old Operating system, Windows XP, despite the fact that it has been used widely across the world than any other OS.

According to China's Central Government Procurement Center, all the desktops, laptops, and tablets used by central state agencies must run on an OS other than Windows 8. "All computer products are not allowed to install the Windows 8 operating system," reads the post on the center's website.
The ban applies only to the government offices, however the market of personal computers remains unaffected. Till now, Microsoft didn’t respond to comment on the issue.

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By: fdfffs On 19:49

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Microsoft Unveils 12-Inch Surface Pro 3

Software giant Microsoft unveiled its latest attempt to combine the power of a notebook computer with a tablet, the Surface Pro 3, at an event in New York.

Sporting a 12-inch display, it’s not the mini version that has been the subject of rumors. But the company says at 9.1 millimeters thick and 800 grams, it’s the thinnest and lightest of its kind. It also sports an Intel Core I7 processor.

Prices start at $799 and will be available for pre-order on May 21 and in stores on June 20.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called it a major step in what he termed “the journey toward combining the capabilities of the company.”

Panos Panay, Microsoft’s vice president for Surface computing, said that 96 percent of people who have an iPad also have a notebook, creating for users a level of complexity. The new device, he said, is focused on “taking that conflict away.”

Patrick Moorhead, head of the research firm Moor Insights and Strategy, described it as a “flanking maneuver” for Microsoft versus Apple’s iPad.

“Microsoft is clearly focused on the ultimate productivity device, not focused on purely content consumption,” he said. “While Microsoft has not yet hit the high volume seven-to-eight inch tablet segment, Microsoft is clearly steering away from a straight-on confrontation with Apple.”

Panay spent a lot of time in his presentation playing up the combination of the Surface Pro 3’s capabilities. Adobe has created a version of its Photoshop photo-editing software that is optimized for running on the Surface. But Panay also demonstrated an app designed to emulate the New York Times crossword puzzle that allows users to do the puzzle with a digital pen.

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By: fdfffs On 22:31

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