Bigmouthmedia search engine news: email

2009: The Year of the Intelligent Cyber Criminal

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:00:00 GMT

It may be the festive season, filled with kindness and good will - but the closing days of 2008 are also a time to reflect over the year past, its trends and the risks that come from the not-so kind and less good willed. While we bigmouths don't want to put a damper on the festivities, it's important to be aware of 2008's alter ego as 'the year of the intelligent cyber criminal'.

Every day, many internet users find their inboxes besieged with spam e-mails. Most of them are obviously junk. Won a million in the Swedish lottery? Ever heard of it? We're not really stupid enough to fall for that one, are we?

This candid, cyber-savvy arrogance has created a new arena for the professional cyber criminal - someone continually looking for new, smarter ways to penetrate your computer. One of the most well-known of these techniques is the 'Scareware Scam'.

According to digital security company Finjan, up to five million people have fallen victim to scareware scams. Sneaky criminal companies operate the scam by advertising so-called 'free virus checks' on popular websites. The unsuspecting user downloads the software which tells them that their computer is infected with spyware, viruses or pornography.

However, these results are false - but as many as five million people have purchased the 'remedy software' needed to fix the supposed problem.

Such cyber scams have made the headlines thanks to an investigation from the Federal Trade Commission. Focussing its enquiries on two major companies, the FTC has begun a crackdown on scareware scams. Between them, the two companies have made millions with genuine-sounding security products such as WinFixer, DriveCleaner and XP Antivirus. Until now, these companies have avoided courtroom proceedings..

Of course, in the cat and mouse game that is cyber-regulation, the good guys get their day too. Sadly though, it really wasn't much longer. For a brief period in November spam levels fell to 64.1 billion messages per day, before rising back up to record numbers close to 100 billion.

The prediction for 2009 is gloomy. Finjan believes that the IT job-layoffs - results of the economic crisis - could lead to a dramatic increase in digital crime. With thousands of unemployed programmers in need of an income, Finjan believes many will use their expertise to earn money through online crime tactics.

The main concern is not the number of potential hackers entering the playing field, but that we are all getting so tech-savvy and spam-shrewd that it will take even more cunning and manipulative tricks to really work on us. With the possibility of thousands of intelligent IT professionals entering the digital crime scene, scams are going to get more and more elaborate and we might once again be as spam- gullible as we were when spam e-mails first hit the scene.

Happy holidays - be vigilant!

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AOL adds third party email providers to its homepage

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Two years after AOL replaced its subscription service with an ad-based model, the web veteran has redesigned its homepage to incorporate competing services, in a bid to attract lost consumers to its site. The internet portal will now allow integration with third party email features, including Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail, from AOL.com.

The change marks a shift in the way AOL wants its users to interact with its homepage, which - according to comScore - currently attracts 105 million worldwide visitors a month. The move also makes AOL the first of the high profile web portals to give its competitors space on its site; Yahoo! and MSN, for instance, are unlikely to spare inches for the likes of Google on their homepages.

The modifications are expected to appear on AOL.com today. According to TechCrunch, more features - including personalised bookmarks, social networking access and an RSS reader - will be added in October. The ability to view social networks is likely to cause a particular stir - not just because third party networks like Facebook and MySpace will be incorporated, but because it will mark AOL's first real integration of Bebo on its homepage, after it acquired the popular site for $850 million in March this year.

The announcement of a new and improved AOL.com comes at a time when the company's future appears to be in doubt. In August, bigmouthmedia reported that the portal could be on the verge of a split from its parent company, Time Warner, who appeared keen to sell the company's advertising and content business for just $10 billion.

The relatively low valuation is of no real surprise to industry commentators. The Wall Street Journal, for example, reports that AOL's ad growth has stalled this year, when compared to the online advertising market as a whole. In the US, online ad growth was marked at 20 per cent in the second quarter; AOL's ad growth in the same quarter, on the other hand, appeared to have stagnated at 1.5 per cent. In addition, the web portal's ad growth was bogged down by a 14 per cent drop in display advertising - graphical ads that remain one of the main features of AOL's homepage.

Earlier this year, AOL received a lot of press coverage when it was speculated that fellow web pioneer Yahoo! was seeking a merger with the company, in a bid to fend off a hostile takeover by software giant Microsoft. Yahoo!'s ad partnership with Google put a stop to that, but AOL is still pushing forward with its plans to expand and enhance its services. But while its closer rivals, like Yahoo! and MSN, simply play catch-up with internet dominatrix Google, AOL's quest is more a matter of survival in an industry that largely regards it as a relic of a bygone digital age.

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Face-less Book: Social Networking for Spies Comes To The US

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:00:00 GMT

They've been blamed by employers across the globe as a contributory factor of employees' declining productivity, but it can't be argued that social networking hasn't had an effect on peoples' everyday lives. From mainstream social networks for meeting friends and sharing music and videos through to business relations and even video games and pets, there's a social network for almost every conceivable topic. When you see people at the office using Facebook or MySpace during their working day, you could be forgiven for suspecting a level of slacking off on their part. However, for one soon-to-launch social network, it will form the basis of peoples' day to day work.

It has now been reported by CNN that the CIA, FBI and US National Security Agency (NSA) are testing a social networking platform to be used by analysts across the sixteen US intelligence agencies in the war against terror. These analysts won't be swapping the latest YouTube video or posting their thoughts on the latest Hollywood release, however. Instead they will use the service to share information on terrorist activities and troop movements around the world.

The service - to be called A-Space - has been undergoing tests for several months and will officially launch across the entire US intelligence network on September 22nd. Its remit will be to provide all the necessary resources and information available across all intelligence services in order to better protect the US against potential dangers. Of the service, Michael Wertheimer, assistant deputy director of National Intelligence for Analysis, told CNN:

"It's a place where spies can not only meet but share data they've never been able to share before. This is going to give them, for the first time, a chance to think out loud, think in public among their peers, under the protection of an A-Space umbrella,"

The information posted on A-Space will, of course, be highly classified and will not be accessible to the public. In order to guard against the threat of current - or future - double agents, access to the information will be restricted to intelligence personnel who possess the necessary security clearance and who have a legitimate reason to be examining particular pieces of information.

It was also reported that analysts will be able to collect friends on A-Space, in a similar fashion as they might on Facebook or other social network. According to Wertheimer:

"It's every bit Facebook and YouTube for spies, but it's much, much more."

The only problem is they will also be classified, so no-one outside the intelligence network will ever know. After all, it's a secret.

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Mozilla introduces a buddy for Firefox: Snowl

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Mozilla's new baby, Snowl, is an experimental project that the company hopes will allow users to gather all their inbound communications, from email to Twitter posts, in one place for easy management.

The new feature, which is currently in a very basic form, is designed to fit neatly with Mozilla's much-loved Firefox web browser and make way for seamless web browsing and message administration without needing to switch between the two.

In a recent blog post, Mozilla outlines the big question on its mind: is it possible for a web browser to help users follow and continue their online discussions?

Snowl is the experimental answer. The new prototype integrates Firefox and messaging functionality based on key issues that Mozilla have drafted up. The company intends to develop Snowl so that it collects messages from all of the services you use - whether it's email, SMS, social networks online forums, RSS feeds... you get the idea.

These messages will be organised by importance, switching interfaces accordingly based on what type of message it's dealing with. This will differentiate between important messages and more casual browsing-related ones.

The Snowl interface will allow you to search through your messages without requiring you to organise them first, which allows for a more powerful service that's easier to navigate.

Finally, the functionality that Firefox is renowned for will transfer to Snowl, meaning that the ease Firefox users can navigate through web content using functions such as history, bookmarks and tabs will also apply to messages.

Currently, Mozilla is looking for feedback from the initial user experience of its current release. The blog team warn that "the initial prototype is a primitive implementation with many bugs, and subsequent versions will include changes that break functionality and delete all your messages, making you start over from scratch."

The current release is available for download from the Mozilla addons site and functions with Firefox 3.

It'll be interesting to see how Snowl develops. Already the programme has generated a lot of interest, with many Firefox users asking questions and giving suggestions to the company for improvement. As is Mozilla's style, it's likely that the future of Snowl is bright. This bigmouth can certainly see Snowl developing into precisely the messaging tool that Mozilla envisages it as, making Firefox even more indispensable than it already is and further legitimizing Mozilla's aims to take over the digital world

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iPhone Apps – Apple App store will offer 500 new applications

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Web applications have been rather slow in making their way onto our mobiles for some time now, but the newly launched iPhone App store might be the final push that mobile web needs to really take off.

For some time critics have lamented that the existing technology available for mobiles just could not cope with web browsers and other applications. Recent developments have certainly improved the situation as mobile manufactures have stepped up to the design plate. The easy to use and web friendly iPhone however may just prove to be what the doctor, or in this case the techie, ordered.

The hugely popular iPhone just created a resurgence in the mobile phone popularity contest this week with the launch of the much awaited 3G iPhone model. But just like a book, it's not the cover but inside is where it really counts.

And this is what is getting people excited. According to the New York Times, Apple has opened up the creation of applications for iPhones up to developers who are keen to get on board and sell their wares on the iPhone App Store.

So what can you load up on your shiny new iPhone? For one you can stay up to date on all the happening with your friends though the MySpace or Facebook apps. Take some photos, load them up, update your profile all without touching your computer.

There are countless other applications already available, 25 per cent will be free and most of the remaining will cost under $9.99.

A lot more than social networking is expected to come from these applications as well. And not just games. There is a huge potential for mobile commerce and locally based applications. Just arrived at the Piste and need a snow report? There could be an application for that ski resort. Waiting for the moment a flight goes on sale or the price gets slashed? There could be an application coming out for that too.

It's in the hands of the developers at this point and it has already been reported that developers are pleased to appease the masses as the money is pouring in for these apps to get developed. Like most things, it all starts with a good idea.

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Google Phishing: the fastest-growing con on the Internet

Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Online fraudsters are targeting Google AdWords users in an attempt to steal internet traffic and gain access to the banking details of businesses and individuals.

According to the latest research from bigmouthmedia, the volume of 'phishing' emails designed to trick customers into handing over their AdWords account login details has increased rapidly within the last six months. Analysis of traffic statistics for April reveals a rise of 240% on the monthly average for 2007.

Although web users are familiar with fraudulent emails seeking usernames and passwords for online banking facilities, Google Phishing is a relatively new phenomenon. Victims are targeted not only for the details that would leave them open to identity theft, but will also find their AdWords traffic redirected to the perpetrators' site.

Many commentators see the sudden spike as a reflection of Google's rising significance, with organised online crime now targeting the search giant in much the same manner as it would attack a major bank.

Bigmouthmedia conducted the research by analysing the company's email traffic over an 18 month period. After measuring the flood of automatic phishing attempts sent to email aliases across the organization in 2007, calculating the monthly average and comparing those results to statistics from 2008, the almost three-fold leap in attacks was identified.

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Twitter: Financing the revolution

Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Earlier today, after a recent round of rumours that Twitter was getting closer to securing more capital to expand and develop, information leaked out that the micro-blogging service provider had closed on its third round of financing. The deal is thought to be in the region of $15 million US, an estimation based on a valuation of the San Francisco social media upstart at $80 million.

Details surrounding this new funding are expected to become clearer in the near future, with several Venture Capital groups looking to get behind the latest Web 2.0 darling. The smart money is on Spark Capital of Boston, but others are known to have been in talks including Charles River Ventures and existing investors Union Square Ventures.

Twitter is building a formidable reputation in the social networking field, playing on the advantages presented through its niche service which is fiercely supported by its loyal user base. The stripping out of unnecessary and extraneous information often found in blogs and networks such as Facebook and MySpace has created a service that urges its users to get to the point, and do so more regularly.

As Twitter has grown it has amassed an impressive membership, including many of the hopefuls in the current US Presidential elections. The service was also notably used by Los Angeles Fire Department when coordinating the fight against the rampaging wildfires of October 2007.

However, the service side of the business has not been all plain sailing for Twitter recently, with various server outages and this week the service suffered from extreme slow-downs on the website. The lure of Twitter being time specific messages is somewhat let down by lengthy delays to posts going live, but with the wrath of the user base as a constant fear the Twitter team are open with their frustrations.

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AOL and Bebo - grand networking potential?

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

AOL today announced the completion of their $850 million purchase of social networking site Bebo and unveiled some of their social intentions.

The company revealed that Bebo would provide the hub for a new People Networks division which will allow for the integration of AOL's communication tools and media services with the networking site.

Joanna Shields, the former CEO of Bebo, has been put in charge of the division which will also include AOL's instant messaging tools AIM and ICQ as well as its email service.

Moreover, AOL will be able to utilize Bebo's 40 million-strong network to increase the potential of its display ad network - Platform-A. According to Brand Republic, Randy Falco, chairman and chief executive of AOL said:

"With the addition of Bebo and the creation of People Networks, AOL is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the exploding social media space by delivering a more personal experience for consumers and a better way for advertisers to engage them."

It will be interesting to see how AOL capitalise on their newly acquired advertising potential, with the profits of big players in the social networking field failing to meet targets or coming under fire for invasive advertising techniques in recent months.

On the other hand, Facebook and MySpace might find themselves with Bebo hot on their heels as AOL's online channels start to distribute Bebo's online dramas such as Kate Modern to a wider audience.

Combined with AOL's other purchases this year, the independent affiliate network buy.at and widget company Goowy, it appears that the search engine is gearing itself up to make a serious impact on the search world.

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Yahoo! refuses $48 billion takeover bid from Microsoft

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

The Guardian reported that takeover talks between Microsoft and Yahoo! ended on Saturday, with Microsoft increasing its offer for the search engine from its initial bid of $42 billion to $48 billion, reflecting a $33 share price. The offer, made at a meeting between senior staff from both camps in Seattle, was intended to create a technological powerhouse capable of taking on Yahoo!'s arch-rival Google.

However, Yahoo! founders Jerry Yang and David Filo were said to want at least $37 a share, or a price of $53 billion, and their refusal to accept the bid effectively ended a three-month pursuit that was intended to reshape competition for e-mail, search and online advertising.

Commenting on the negotiations, Steve Ballmer, chief executive at Microsoft, said: "Despite our best efforts, including raising our bid by roughly $5bn, Yahoo! has not moved toward accepting our offer. After careful consideration, we believe the economics demanded by Yahoo! do not make sense for us."

In a statement, Yang said he was "incredibly proud" of his team's unity since Microsoft's approach: "With the distraction of Microsoft's unsolicited proposal now behind us, we will be able to focus all of our energies on executing the most important transition in our history so that we can maximise our potential to the benefit of our shareholders, employees, partners and users."

Created 13 years ago by Yang and Filo while still students at Stanford University, Yahoo! was the most popular entry point and search engine for online users worldwide in the late 1990s. But in recent years the engine has been overshadowed by Google and frustrated investors with its drifting strategy and failure to carve out a distinctive path for itself. One of the reasons for Yang and Filo's reluctance to enter negotiations with Microsoft is their protectivness of Yahoo!'s distinctive quirky company culture.

Among Microsoft's reasons for declining to offer more money were the expensive severance benefits included in the contracts of key Yahoo! employees to compensate them in the event of a takeover. The software giant was also wary of Yahoo!'s experimentation in outsourcing certain search advertising to Google, believing this undermined Yahoo!'s key Panama technology and could cause an exodus of disillusioned engineers.

Microsoft insiders insisted that the firm's decision to end talks was a formal decision rather than a negotiating ploy, but industry experts maintain that the software company could try again at a lower price at a later stage should Yahoo! fail to revive its faltering performance.

The search engine braced itself for a backlash from its shareholders following its decision, and saw shares drop 20 percent on Monday when markets opened, trading at $23.02 per share, down from Friday's closing price of $28.67. This was still well above the $19 per share that Yahoo! was trading at when Microsoft made its initial offer three months ago, and the stock closed on Monday at $24.37, down 15 percent, not nearly as bad as some analysts expected.

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