Microsoft Internet Explorer users told to switch browsers over flaw

Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer have been warned of a flaw that could let hackers gain access to their computers and steal personal data, and told them to swap to a rival browser.
The flaw was spotted last week when hackers started attacking users of IE 7. The flaw, however, has also been found in earlier versions of Microsoft's browser, IE 5 and IE 6.
Because IE is used by seven out of every ten computers in the world, the flaw is potentially very serious. So far, however, it only seems to have been used to steal computer game code from rival gamers.
Microsoft is trying to put together a patch, but in the meantime computer users have been advised to update their security settings or switch to unaffected browsers such as Firefox or Opera.
The latter scored highest in a recent set of tests of how browsers deal with password security, by security consultants Chapin Information Services. Firefox came second with IE mid-table. Google's new browser, Chrome, and Safari 3.2 for Windows tied in last place.
The flaw in IE allows criminals to gain control of computers that have visited a website infected with malicious code designed to exploit it. While restricting web surfing to trusted sites should reduce the risk of infection, the malicious code can be injected into any website. Users do not have to click or download anything to become infected, merely visiting an infected website is sufficient.
Antivirus software specialists Trend Micro believe as many as 10,000 sites have been hacked to exploit the flaw. Sites that have been compromised so far, however, are mostly Chinese and the attackers seem intent on stealing people's computer game passwords in order to sell them on the black market rather than looking for personal details such as bank accounts.
It is known as a "zero-day" attack because it exploits a security vulnerability on the same day that the vulnerability became generally known. Usually there is a "window of vulnerability" between when the flaw is discovered and when the vendor issues a patch. The hope is that the vendor issues the patch before writers of so-called "malware" can exploit the flaw. If the malware writers have the flaw first, then the vendor has "zero days" to create a patch.
"Microsoft is continuing its investigation of public reports of attacks against a new vulnerability in IE," the company said in a security alert updated yesterday. "We are actively investigating the vulnerability that these attacks attempt to exploit. We will continue to monitor the threat environment and update this advisory if this situation changes."
"On completion of this investigation, Microsoft will take the appropriate action to protect our customers, which may include providing a solution through a service pack, our monthly security update release process, or an out-of-cycle security update, depending on customer needs."
refer: guardian.co.uk

OLPC XO Laptop

OLPC now famously stands for One Laptop Per Child. And while anyone can purchase the device, rest assured the emphasis is firmly on child. The iconic green-and-white machine is unlike any computer you've ever used, and it represents a first - if rocky - step toward a new vision for youth and technology.

For adults, however, the experience is something different. Everything about the OLPC XO is designed with students in mind: The keyboard, wrapped in a rubberized membrane, is built for tiny, food-encrusted fingers. Touch typing? Don't even dream of it. And once you open the device you'll immediately find yourself faced with over a dozen unfamiliar buttons which you'll largely have to figure out through trial and error. The heavily-modded Fedora Linux core offers an entirely new way of doing things, deep-sixing any notions you might have about desktops, icons, and even file management. Again, kids in a classroom setting will probably grok this quickly, but grown-ups will wrestle with OLPC's software as much as they do its hardware.

Kogan launches Agora, the first Aussie Google Android mobile phone

A SMALL electronics company has beaten the big mobile manufacturers to launch the first Google Android phone in Australia — but it won't ship until 2009.
Kogan Technologies, run by 25-year-old Melbourne entrepreneur Ruslan Kogan, today unveiled the Agora touchscreen handset – the second of its kind in the world.
The phone uses Google's Android mobile phone operating system, a software platform that defines how the user interacts with the handset.
The first phone to use Android, the T-Mobile G1, was launched in the US in September with the search company's co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
Google hopes to establish Android as the standard operating system for mobile phones and to improve the quality of web-browsing for handset users.
Last month, Kogan Technologies beat major mobile manufacturers by announcing its Android handset would be available for $199 outright by December 15th.
Now Kogan has begun selling the Agora online – but it is more expensive than expected at $299 and won't ship until next year.
The Agora is a 3G mobile with a touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, and microSD card slot. A "Pro" model with Wi-Fi, a 2 megapixel camera and GPS costs an extra $100.
"The Kogan team have been working very hard to bring out the exciting new phones powered by Google's Android operating system at the right mix of price and specifications," Kogan said.
"We’ve been listening to customers through our blog, and crammed in all the features we possibly could."
Kogan had earlier asked customers to suggest a name for the new mobile, but "Agora" wasn't among the responses.
Google is developing Android as an open source project, meaning anyone can alter the software to suit their needs or to make it compatible with different carriers.
The company is also hoping to bring its expertise in web search technology to mobile users, in anticipation of more people surfing the web on their phones.
However Google will face stiff competition from established players in the market such as Nokia, Microsoft, Apple and Research In Motion, makers of the BlackBerry.

USB Monster Hub

If you want to keep some annoying kid away from your computer, you could always try and build a DIY USB monster hub, like the creator of the USB hub in the picture. This “monster” is basically a USB hub with some tape and cloth jumbled with some (rather cool looking) red LED lights as eyes. If you’re into monsters, you're welcome to try building one of your own.

Wall-E Learning Laptop

The laptop has five modes--letters, words, math, logic, and games--and each mode has three activities. The different modes teach language and cognitive development skills, basic math skills, and independent play.
The keyboard has a flip-down QWERTY keyboard, which in itself can be useful in helping kids become familiar with keyboards. You can use the arrow buttons on the keyboard to move through selections, or you can use the moving arm controllers to scroll through options. The screen is a basic LCD screen, and isn't anything special, but the images are pretty clear.
And, just like in the movie, Wall-E's right eye opens and closes. His eye blinks each time you answer a right question. The toy is made for kids ages four and up, but I could see kids a few years older than that getting bored quickly with the limited activities.
The biggest issue I have with the toy is that there's no headphone jack. I know a lot of toys don't have it, but if I were a parent and had to listen to various toy noise every day, I might get a little sick of it. Thankfully, there is a volume control that lets you choose between three options (none of which are "mute").
The Wall-E Learning Laptop is pretty simple, but can act as a very important educational tool in your child's early learning.