IT Infrastructure - News

"No, we won't do that. In the so-called smart phone business we will concentrate solely on software with our Windows Mobile program," Gates was quoted as saying in the interview published on Wednesday.

"We have partnerships with a lot of device manufacturers from Samsung to Motorola and this variety brings us significantly more than if we would make our own mobile phone," he added.

Apple's iPhone, which also plays music and lets users browse the internet, has been a big hit.

"The supply channels on these illegal Web sites are chaotic," the paper quoted Xie Funing, a spokesman with the Olympic E-commerce Operation Centre, as saying.

Many Web sites lacked legal proof of the origins of their products, while others had "exploited consumers' urgency to buy (merchandise) by raising prices and ripping them off," Xie said.

Beijing Olympic organizers have targeted making $70 million from merchandising from the 2008 Games, from a range of about 4,000 products.

But despite authorities making a point of cracking down on Olympic-related forgery, local media reports of police busting fake Games souvenir makers and street peddlers are common.

Law enforcement agencies seized almost 30,000 finished or half-finished Olympic fakes in the capital earlier this year, and arrested a man in the southern island province of Hainan who cheated Internet users out of a suspected $54,000 through a fake version of the official Games Web site.

China is considered the world's most prolific counterfeiter, causing billions of dollars in lost sales to makers of everything from music and movie DVDs, designer clothes and consumer electronics and software.

• Admit that you are not perfect
• Admit there are others who can help you to be successful
• Recognize good work by others
• Understand what your shortcomings are
  
  Let others know what your shortcoming are
• Adapt and accept that you have to make changes
• Ask others for help before it is too late
• Know when you have caused harm to others
• Apologize and work on developing better relationships
• Evaluate your personal performance objectively
• Realize that you are not an island and that other matter

In the mobile technology environment, every telecommuter, traveler and mobile worker may be carrying sensitive information stored in a notebook PC.

Robust, centrally managed security solutions ensure that notebooks cannot access network data without the latest patches and security updates installed, and some even offer poison pill functionality, so if a machine is reported stolen and later attempts to access corporate resources, a command is pushed out to the compromised PC that triggers a purge of the hard drive.

Notebook PC vendors have joined the fray by offering new secure hardware features built directly into the latest business models. One clever technique involves storing sensitive data on a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), a memory chip that resides directly on the motherboard, which is far more difficult to remove than the hard drive.

By offloading sensitive data to a TPM, business notebooks provide additional security and efficiency.

TPMs, encrypted memory chips that store sensitive data in lieu of the hard drive serve another valuable purpose as well: They can act as a repository for passwords and personal encryption keys.

When mobile workers need to authenticate their identities to access data and network resources, they can rely on passwords (what you know) or a combination of randomly generated personal keys (what you have). Keys are complex strings of characters that are difficult to reproduce and are changed as often as every minute; they help authenticate users identities to a management server in the data center before allowing a notebook to access company resources. Encryption key software can reside on a smart card or token, which must be inserted into a device, or it can reside on a TPM.

The old salary target of $1,000,000 per year now is $5,000,000 and has been reached by these 9 CIOs

There now are at least nine Chief Information Officers who earn over $5,000,000.  This data is only for those that work for public companies that report to this data to the SEC. In additional reasearch conducted by Janco Associates, they have found at least ten (10) other CIOs who work for privately held enterprises that fall into this same category.

Janco is in the process of collecting information for its January 2008 Salary Survey.  Provide salay data and you will get a free copy of the Salary Survey when it is released in January.

Executive	Title		Company	Salary	Other Compensation	Total
Jeff Fox		Group President	Alltel	$673,077	$8,381,841	$9,054,918
Bob Willett		CIO, CEO	Best Buy	$622,962	$7,969,868	$8,592,830
Jean Davis		Senior EVP	Wachovia	$205,500	$7,091,389	$7,296,889
Larry Kittelberger		Senior VP	Honywell	$594,692	$5,806,360	$6,401,052
Joe Antonellis		CIO, Vice Chairman	State Street	$669,231	$5,665,252	$6,334,483
Glen Salow		EVP	Ameriprise	$475,000	$5,543,346	$6,018,346
Tim Shack		CIO, EVP	PNC	$510,000	$5,432,093	$5,942,093
Roy Dunbar		President	MasterCard	$600,000	$4,616,498	$5,216,498
Bob DeRodes		CIO	Home Depot	$715,192	$4,463,990	$5,179,182

Standards for e-mail are mandated

Complying with E-mail Regulations for HIPAA & GLBA E-mail is often the primary means of communication with customers, business partners, and fellow employees. Failure to address e-mail compliance regulations can jeopardize an organization's reputation and long-term viability. This is equally true for compliance requirements. In order to ensure the security of e-mail systems and to effectively manage regulatory compliance programs, certain best practices must be implemented. These best practices, when properly implemented and managed, can be key long-term success factors.

Customers data will be stolen, and the Internet industry must do something about it. Enterprises can deal with the problem now or risk more devastating consequences later. Fortunately, stronger authentication technology is an effective weapon to combat the rising tide of consumer data theft.

Stronger authentication offers additional means to validate users even if the customers logon credentials are compromised. Increased consumer awareness of the need for higher levels of security coupled with lower-cost and more user-friendly authentication methods will allow banks to implement stronger security to combat new types of fraud more effectively.

AT&T may immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain name used by you, without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes (a) violates the Acceptable Use Policy; (b) constitutes a violation of any law, regulation or tariff (including, without limitation, copyright and intellectual property laws) or a violation of these TOS, or any applicable policies or guidelines, or (c) tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.

Translation: conduct that AT&T believes tends to damage its name, or the name of its partners, can get you booted off the service. Note the use of tends to damage: the language of the contract does not require any proof of any actual damage.

• Over the next five years, power failures and limits on power availability will halt data center operations at more than 90% of all companies, data center association AFCOM predicts.
• Between 8% and 10% of servers in data centers have no identifiable function, according to Sun.
• Most data centers already are well past the cooling capacity provided by raised floors, which is typically about 4kW to 6kW per rack, sun reports. racks above 12kW are probably blade-based and will require supplemental cooling.
• IT equipment consumes 50% of data center power, according to consulting firm EYP Mission critical Facilities.

(Computerworld) -- AT&T Inc. announced the new BlackBerry 8820, with Wi-Fi networking, will be available for $300, after rebate, and with a two-year contract from the carrier.

The first BlackBerry with both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, the 8820 is designed to allow users to move from Wi-Fi hot spots, including 10,000 from AT&T, into wide-area wireless connections over the AT&T EDGE network, AT&T said.

Data services abroad are also possible in 135 countries, starting at $65 a month for unlimited overseas e-mail access, along with a voice contract. In the U.S., personal e-mail and Web browsing start at $30 a month with The BlackBerry 8820 with Wi-Fi a voice contract, or $45 a month for unlimited corporate e-mail access via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server from Research In Motion Ltd.

The BlackBerry 8820 has a full QWERTY keyboard, a trackball navigation system and a 320 by 240 display. AT&T's version supports AT&T Mobile Music as well as Wi-Fi access over 802.11 a/b/g.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it expected the offer to result in a charge against fourth-quarter earnings of $70 million to $130 million.

The company said the charge was not reflected in earlier earnings guidance. Because the offer will be financed almost entirely from the companyÂ’s retirement plan, it will not affect cash flow, Electronic Data said.

The company said its board approved the early-retirement offer on Friday and employees were told about it on Tuesday. They have until Oct. 30 to accept.

Employees who accept the buyout will receive an additional $10,000 from the retirement plan and extra credits to their retirement account, E.D.S. said.

While cutting jobs in the United States and Europe, the company has been adding workers in low-cost countries, chiefly India.

A spokeswoman for the company said it had 136,000 employees, including 35,000 in low-cost countries. It expects to have 45,000 in low-cost nations next year.

• Rootkits - Rookkits can hide malware. Rootkits are programs that fraudulently gain or maintain administrator level access that may also execute in a manner that prevents detection. They are extremely stealthy in nature, ranking higher than program kernels. One famous example from this past year was the Sony rootkit fiasco with a recent lawsuit settlement of $750,000 U.S. Other recent examples of malicious rootkits out there include Hack Defender, Apropos adware with rootkit, and Wareout (also known as Zlob Trojans).
• Fake Codecs - Fake codecs, also known as Zlob/Smitfraud Trojans (just one of many Trojan techniques), are malware that lures computer users into downloading files that infect their PCs. They masquerade as codecs required to view online videos, then install a fake anti-spyware program which finds fake malware on the system; this is done to lure victims into buying the rogue anti-spyware program. Other victims have received fake e-greetings or instant messages from friends.
• IM Vulnerabilities and Attacks - There is no debate about it: instant message-based attacks are on the rise, for AIM, Yahoo, Messenger, and more. Security vendor Akonix Systems recently cited a 73 percent increase in IM threats so far this year. These attacks rely on social engineering to spread malicious code; a link that appears to be from a known contact is sent. Because many people are not informed about threats coming in through this venue – only 3 percent of those polled in a Lavasoft survey were concerned with
  IM threats – these attacks are succeeding.
• Exploits in Windows, Browsers, and Legitimate Software Applications  - In 2006 hackers kicked off the year by releasing zero-day attack code based on a flaw in the way Internet Explorer handled WMF (Windows Meta File) documents. These were followed later in the year by a rash of targeted attacks that exploited un-patched flaws in MicrosoftÂ’s Office software (most recently in Microsoft Word in November 2006). This security hole has been patched, but hackers constantly push through to find new flaws to exploit.
• Phishing & Identity Theft Attempts - The methods that malware can use as an attack vector, in order to find a way in to your computer and steal private sensitive information, are varied and wide-ranging. This list can include phishing attacks, banking Trojans, password stealers, and downloading Trojans. A key mitigating factor of staying clear of these types of threats is user accountability and education.

Janco provides and update service for all of its templates which guarantees its clients have the all of the information they need to meet mandated requirements.

With this new version a fully indexed PDF copy of the template is now provided in addition to the two versions of WORD (2003 and 2007). 

 The updates to the template included:

1.      Defined generic metrics for DR/BC success

2.      Business & IT Impact Analysis Questionnaire Updated

3.      Updated references to DRP card

4.      Updated formatting to meet WORD 2007 requirements

The version history for updates to template can be seen at http://www.e-janco.com/drpversion.htm and the full Table of Contents with sample pages can be downloaded at http://www.e-janco.com/Register_drp.asp .

(CNet) At Yahoo, there is plenty of talk but no real plan.

As expected, Yahoo posted disappointing second-quarter financial results and lowered its guidance for the remainder of the year. The company cited continuing slowed growth in display advertising and bigger-than-expected declines in search affiliate sales.

As Google pulls further and further ahead in the ad market war, Yahoo executives keep promising big things. But so far, it appears, they're just promises, and vague ones at that.

"I'm a little frustrated by the direction of Yahoo," said Jordan Rohan of RBC Capital Markets. "Investor patience is wearing thin."

Yahoo executives do seem like they're feeling the heat, but they haven't adequately spelled out exactly what they plan to do to change course.

On a conference call with analysts after the earnings report, Chief Executive Jerry Yang said he would "spend the next 100 days or so mapping out a strategic plan" and conduct a "top to bottom review of our business."

"I have a great sense of urgency to move fast and in a focused way," Yang said.

He promised there would be "no sacred cows" and talked about three key topics: insight, openness and partnering. Specifically, the company will de-emphasize underperforming products and "set a new bar for the Yahoo culture" by "prioritizing teamwork, leadership and a desire to win."

President and former CFO Sue Decker added that the company needs to "accelerate the transformation of Yahoo." She was named president in the management change last month that swept co-founder Yang to the CEO spot and former CEO Terry Semel off to the sidelines as a nonexecutive chairman of the board.

Yahoo is a "sinking ship"
While that might sound like the company is serious about making changes, the move has some observers scratching their heads.

"There was a broad stroke strategy articulated but not a detailed plan," said Steve Weinstein of Pacific Crest Securities.

For the troubled company, it doesn't seem like there's an immediate fix to its problems. Even a surprise acquisition of a hit Internet property like Facebook won't fix what ails Yahoo.

No one is saying Yahoo is going to buy Facebook, which analysts say is gaining display ad dollars at Yahoo's expense. But even if it wanted to, Facebook has chosen Microsoft to serve ads on its popular social-networking site. And there is no indication that Yahoo shareholders could stomach another big acquisition, particularly with the $1 billion to $6 billion price tag pegged to the young company.