Broadband National has teamed up with Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications in bringing this opportunity to market
Vero Beach, FL, -- Broadband National Inc., the nations leading online marketing company that promotes digital services such as broadband, voice, and video has partnered with Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications to create a Web site targeting the growing HDTV marketplace.
The website http://www.hdtvspecialoffer.com provides individuals who are looking to purchase new flat-screen televisions large discounts if they subscribe to Comcast, Time Warner Cable or Charter Communications. The new site offers the best deal on services from the leading cable companies, as well as substantial savings on the most popular HDTV’s.
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“In most cases individuals and families that are upgrading to high-definition television are also upgrading their home entertainment services such as video, Internet and voice,” states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National. “Partnering with these three companies has given us an opportunity to help the consumer with great offers on televisions and services in one location. Users can visit the website and check for “triple play” bundles consisting of video, data and voice services and at the same time purchase the HDTV of their choice at a tremendous discount.”
Broadband National is the leading comparative shopping website for digital related services and products. Residential and business customers can use Broadband National's IBIS (Integrated Broadband Information System) technology to compare services from more than 50 local, regional and national service providers.
Formed in 2003, Broadband National is a private company conceived as a solution to a fragmented and confusing broadband marketplace. Millions have used their Web site to compare services, and purchase broadband, VoIP, and similar telecom services.
For Broadband National press inquiries please contact Mark Ballard at 772-539-0618 or visit www.broadbandnational.com
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Warner Debuts Free Music Service
It has been announced that Warner Music Group's Lala.com is to offer songs to listen to for free online.
Using the site, owners of iPods can keep their iTunes libraries online, where they will be able to be accessed from anywhere and shared with any user. Lala.com also allows users to trade CDs online for a nominal fee as well as selling tracks that can be uploaded directly onto an iPod.
Founder of Lala.com Bill Nguyen accused the studios of having "done everything they can to get people to hate music." He added that Napster, which was shut down in July 2001 after an injunction was issued against it, was the "last good thing to happen to music that people loved".
"We wondered what would happen if we built a new Napster, with one hope that if you trust the consumer and don't think they are the enemy then you won't get screwed," Mr Nguyen added. Currently Lala.com has approximately 300,000 members and charges $1 per disc for users to swap CDs among themselves.
"Music is and will always be a driving force of the Internet, states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. "Recently, there has been a boom in "boutique" music stores that cater to specific audiences. For example, Beatportand Bleep cater to the electronic music community. Magnatune, Amie Street, and Mindawn are other examples of sites that cater to specific audiences. "
For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com
Using the site, owners of iPods can keep their iTunes libraries online, where they will be able to be accessed from anywhere and shared with any user. Lala.com also allows users to trade CDs online for a nominal fee as well as selling tracks that can be uploaded directly onto an iPod.
Founder of Lala.com Bill Nguyen accused the studios of having "done everything they can to get people to hate music." He added that Napster, which was shut down in July 2001 after an injunction was issued against it, was the "last good thing to happen to music that people loved".
"We wondered what would happen if we built a new Napster, with one hope that if you trust the consumer and don't think they are the enemy then you won't get screwed," Mr Nguyen added. Currently Lala.com has approximately 300,000 members and charges $1 per disc for users to swap CDs among themselves.
"Music is and will always be a driving force of the Internet, states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. "Recently, there has been a boom in "boutique" music stores that cater to specific audiences. For example, Beatportand Bleep cater to the electronic music community. Magnatune, Amie Street, and Mindawn are other examples of sites that cater to specific audiences. "
For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com
Monday, June 18, 2007
Online Ad Revenues Climb
Online ad revenue saw a year-on-year growth of 26 percent in the first quarter of 2007, according to a recently released survey.
During the first quarter of this year alone, the industry racked up $4.9 billion in revenue, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers reported. In recent months there has been a scramble by many of the largest Internet companies to acquire online ad outfits. IAB president and chief executive Randall Rothenberg said: "The continued growth of online ad revenues clearly illustrates marketers' increased chttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifomfort with the extraordinary vitality and accountability of this medium."
In April Google beat out Microsoft and Yahoo! by paying $3.1 billion for the Internet ad company DoubleClick. Founded in 1995, DoubleClick is responsible for over half the advertising on the Internet, but has been criticized for its use of spyware. In May, Microsoft moved into the sector by buying advertising outfit aQuantive for $6 billion.
"Search Advertising is the major type of online advertising. Search ads can be based on the keywords that are typed, contextual advertising or behavioral targeting," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries most popular comparative shopping website for digital products and services. "The costs of keywords can vary greatly depending on the demand for the term, the nature of the target market and the placement of the ad."
For more information on digital products and services go to www.broadbandnational.com
Search Results Can Be Risky
The results of Internet searches are exposing users to malware, according to a recent report from the software security company McAfee.
At least four percent of all search results could lead users to websites that could download malware, the study found. However, the study also found that the number of such results with malware fell one percent on last year's results.
Most likely to contain websites with malware are the sponsored search results purchased by their owners which appear at the top of a page. The author of the study, Ben Edelman, told vnunet.com: "The search engines could do more. "These advertisers rely completely on search engines, so the search engines are uniquely positioned to kill these businesses."
In the study, Mr. Edelman analyzed the initial 50 results from 2,300 of the most popular keywords on Yahoo! Google, AOL, MSN and Ask.com. Meanwhile, levels of malware have climbed over the last year at a greater rate than in the years before, a recent report has found. In their most recent report, IBM's Internet security systems researchers detected over 7,200 weaknesses, most of which could be exploited by attackers.
Spyware programs are sometimes installed as Trojan horses of one sort or another. They differ in that their creators present themselves openly as businesses, for instance by selling advertising space on the pop-ups created by the malware, states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. “Most such programs present the user with an end-user license agreement which purportedly protects the creator from prosecution under computer contaminant laws. However, spyware EULAs have not yet been upheld in court.”
For more information on digital products and services visit
www.broadbandnational.com
At least four percent of all search results could lead users to websites that could download malware, the study found. However, the study also found that the number of such results with malware fell one percent on last year's results.
Most likely to contain websites with malware are the sponsored search results purchased by their owners which appear at the top of a page. The author of the study, Ben Edelman, told vnunet.com: "The search engines could do more. "These advertisers rely completely on search engines, so the search engines are uniquely positioned to kill these businesses."
In the study, Mr. Edelman analyzed the initial 50 results from 2,300 of the most popular keywords on Yahoo! Google, AOL, MSN and Ask.com. Meanwhile, levels of malware have climbed over the last year at a greater rate than in the years before, a recent report has found. In their most recent report, IBM's Internet security systems researchers detected over 7,200 weaknesses, most of which could be exploited by attackers.
Spyware programs are sometimes installed as Trojan horses of one sort or another. They differ in that their creators present themselves openly as businesses, for instance by selling advertising space on the pop-ups created by the malware, states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. “Most such programs present the user with an end-user license agreement which purportedly protects the creator from prosecution under computer contaminant laws. However, spyware EULAs have not yet been upheld in court.”
For more information on digital products and services visit
www.broadbandnational.com
Monday, June 11, 2007
U.S. Broadband To Boom By 2012
Improving affordability of broadband will mean that almost three-quarters of U.S. households will have high-speed Internet access by 2012, according to new research.
Competition between broadband providers will encourage 36 million new subscribers in the next five years, according to Jupiter Research. The company predicts the decline of dial-up, saying that the new generation of Internet users is more likely to go straight to broadband. Jupiter Research analyst Doug Williams said: "As broadband becomes more attractive to consumers from an economic perspective, current dial-up users will be more likely to migrate to broadband service, and consumers who are new to the online population will never take dial-up service in the first place."
He went on to say that the main providers of broadband, namely cable operators and local exchange carriers, would continue to dominate the market and alternative methods of receiving broadband would trail behind. Jupiter Research provides independent research, analysis and advice about the impact of the Internet and emerging consumer technologies on businesses.
"We’re seeing continued and strong growth in the number of new broadband users, states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc., who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website for digital products. "We have also discovered that as consumers purchase or upgrade to broadband they also upgrade to digital and HDTV as well. We also believe that the next explosive area for growth will be in VoIP and digital voice"
For more information on VoIP and other digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Friday, June 08, 2007
Search Results Can Be Risky
The results of Internet searches are exposing users to malware, according to a recent report from the software security company McAfee.
At least four percent of all search results could lead users to websites that could download malware, the study found. However, the study also found that the number of such results with malware fell one percent on last year's results.
Most likely to contain websites with malware are the sponsored search results purchased by their owners which appear at the top of a page. The author of the study, Ben Edelman, told vnunet.com: "The search engines could do more. "These advertisers rely completely on search engines, so the search engines are uniquely positioned to kill these businesses."
In the study, Mr. Edelman analyzed the initial 50 results from 2,300 of the most popular keywords on Yahoo! Google, AOL, MSN and Ask.com. Meanwhile, levels of malware have climbed over the last year at a greater rate than in the years before, a recent report has found. In their most recent report, IBM's Internet security systems researchers detected over 7,200 weaknesses, most of which could be exploited by attackers.
Spyware programs are sometimes installed as Trojan horses of one sort or another. They differ in that their creators present themselves openly as businesses, for instance by selling advertising space on the pop-ups created by the malware, states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. “Most such programs present the user with an end-user license agreement which purportedly protects the creator from prosecution under computer contaminant laws. However, spyware EULAs have not yet been upheld in court.”
For more information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
At least four percent of all search results could lead users to websites that could download malware, the study found. However, the study also found that the number of such results with malware fell one percent on last year's results.
Most likely to contain websites with malware are the sponsored search results purchased by their owners which appear at the top of a page. The author of the study, Ben Edelman, told vnunet.com: "The search engines could do more. "These advertisers rely completely on search engines, so the search engines are uniquely positioned to kill these businesses."
In the study, Mr. Edelman analyzed the initial 50 results from 2,300 of the most popular keywords on Yahoo! Google, AOL, MSN and Ask.com. Meanwhile, levels of malware have climbed over the last year at a greater rate than in the years before, a recent report has found. In their most recent report, IBM's Internet security systems researchers detected over 7,200 weaknesses, most of which could be exploited by attackers.
Spyware programs are sometimes installed as Trojan horses of one sort or another. They differ in that their creators present themselves openly as businesses, for instance by selling advertising space on the pop-ups created by the malware, states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. “Most such programs present the user with an end-user license agreement which purportedly protects the creator from prosecution under computer contaminant laws. However, spyware EULAs have not yet been upheld in court.”
For more information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Sprint To Launch Wi-Max
Sprint has announced plans to expand availability of its new Wi-Max service to 100 million people across the U.S. by the end of 2008.
Trials in Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington DC have proved successful for the mobile broadband service provider and will form a solid base for the service's launch. The company claims that mobile Wi-Max is "one of the year's hottest topics" and "is set to alter the competitive landscape for high-speed multimedia applications". Sprint aims to provide customers with a nationwide mobile data network http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifthat is faster, cheaper and more convenient a "more enhanced multimedia quality" than anything other service.
It will work with partners Samsung, Motorola and Nokia and plans to invest up to $800 million this year and between $1.5 billion and $2 billion next year. The "advanced, data-centric mobile broadband network" will enable an "Internet everywhere experience", the company stated. Sprint started out as Kansas-based Brown Telephone Company in 1899 and was eventually reborn as a long-distance service in 1986.
"Many companies are closely examining WiMAX for "last mile" connectivity at high data rates,” states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. “This could result in lower pricing for both home and business customers as competition lowers prices.”
For more information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Europe Beats U.S. On Internet Usage
Europe Beats U.S. On Internet Usage
During April, average European usage of the Internet beat out usage by Americans, according to the Internet data company comScore.
An average of 122 million Europeans over the age of 15 used the internet daily during April, the comScore figures showed. This is in contrast to the average of 114 million Americans who used it every day during the same period.
The countries with the largest proportions of their populations on the Internet at any one time, was Denmark with 68 percent and Holland with 83 percent. However, as a whole, Internet penetration in Europe stood at 40 percent, compared to 66 percent in the US. The most visited website in 13 out of the 16 countries was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Google, most often followed by Microsoft.
Included in the survey was Russia, which was the last of countries ranked for internet penetration, with only 11 percent. What ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifre described by the company as "massive" databases are maintained by comScore to monitor the different ways that the internet is used.
For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com or www.dsldance.com
During April, average European usage of the Internet beat out usage by Americans, according to the Internet data company comScore.
An average of 122 million Europeans over the age of 15 used the internet daily during April, the comScore figures showed. This is in contrast to the average of 114 million Americans who used it every day during the same period.
The countries with the largest proportions of their populations on the Internet at any one time, was Denmark with 68 percent and Holland with 83 percent. However, as a whole, Internet penetration in Europe stood at 40 percent, compared to 66 percent in the US. The most visited website in 13 out of the 16 countries was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Google, most often followed by Microsoft.
Included in the survey was Russia, which was the last of countries ranked for internet penetration, with only 11 percent. What ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifre described by the company as "massive" databases are maintained by comScore to monitor the different ways that the internet is used.
For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com or www.dsldance.com
Monday, June 04, 2007
Google Includes Security Software In Pack
Google Includes Security Software In Pack
Now the search engine giant Google has included the Norton Security Scan in its free pack of useful software, called Google Pack.
The Norton Security Scan is a user-friendly security tool that allows users to scan their PCs for viruses and spyware. In addition, the security software is able to remove all the viruses, trojans and malware, which it detects on a PC.
Rowan Trollope, vice president of the engineering consumer business unit at Symantec, said: "Offering Norton Security Scan through the Google Pack is the perfect way to reach the everyday Internet home user. "Our goal is to provide Internet users everywhere with a powerful and easy-to-use tool to help them evaluate, and understand threats that may reside on their PCs."
Meanwhile, weblogs on Google's Blogger.com page are being used in phishing attacks and to spread malware, according to a recent report. The site may have been chosen by cyber-criminals due to its popularity in search-engines, the research from Internet security firm Fortinet stated.
"Security continues to be at the forefront of Internet users concerns," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products. "Norton has long been one of the leaders in security and is a terrific compliment to Googles suite of offerings."
For more information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Friday, June 01, 2007
eEye beefs up with antivirus defenses
Internet security software company eEye is now offering free antivirus defense with its Blink Personal Internet Security suite.
The suite is mainly targeted towards individual consumers and those that use the Internet in a home office environment.
Included in the suite are multiple antivirus scanning engines, personal firewall, antispyware, antiphishing defenses, intrusion-protection and patch detection functions.
Marc Maiffret, eEye's founder and chief technical officer, said: "The sheer number and diversity of security threats is overwhelming for most consumers. "Blink Personal with anti-virus is the first Internet security offering to include all the protection a consumer needs while allowing for new features to be added incrementally."
Consumers do not want to buy new security software for every threat, they only want one product, which is capable of protecting their personal information, added Mr. Maiffret. The California-based eEye also offers a corporate product, called the Blink Professional Edition with Antivirus. Meanwhile, a new email attack is being used by hackers which pretends to be a message from Microsoft offering the recipient a trial of Internet Explorer 7, software security company Sophos has warned.
"As governments and the private sector face a growing threat of cyber attacks and network security vulnerabilities, organizations must focus not only on protection, but minimizing downtime," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. "Today’s business environment necessitates 24x7 availability of critical applications, forcing IT administrators to perform maintenance and security updates in an ever-shrinking window of time."
For more information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
The suite is mainly targeted towards individual consumers and those that use the Internet in a home office environment.
Included in the suite are multiple antivirus scanning engines, personal firewall, antispyware, antiphishing defenses, intrusion-protection and patch detection functions.
Marc Maiffret, eEye's founder and chief technical officer, said: "The sheer number and diversity of security threats is overwhelming for most consumers. "Blink Personal with anti-virus is the first Internet security offering to include all the protection a consumer needs while allowing for new features to be added incrementally."
Consumers do not want to buy new security software for every threat, they only want one product, which is capable of protecting their personal information, added Mr. Maiffret. The California-based eEye also offers a corporate product, called the Blink Professional Edition with Antivirus. Meanwhile, a new email attack is being used by hackers which pretends to be a message from Microsoft offering the recipient a trial of Internet Explorer 7, software security company Sophos has warned.
"As governments and the private sector face a growing threat of cyber attacks and network security vulnerabilities, organizations must focus not only on protection, but minimizing downtime," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. "Today’s business environment necessitates 24x7 availability of critical applications, forcing IT administrators to perform maintenance and security updates in an ever-shrinking window of time."
For more information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Best Buy Buys Speakeasy
Electronics retail giant Best Buy is to acquire the broadband provider SpeakEasy for $97 million, it has been announced.
SpeakEasy employs 300 people and last year boasted over 40,000 customers and revenue of $80 million. The company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Best Buy in 2008.
Darren Jackson, Best Buy executive vice president and chief financial officer, said: "By joining forces with Speakeasy, a company with a true passion for helping entrepreneurs run their businesses, we are making technology more accessible to small businesses by creating a single source for their IT needs." According to Best Buy, SpeakEasy's executive team will remain in place, with Bruce Chatterley as CEO.
Mr. Chatterley said: "We're a vibrant successful smaller business that's growing at a pretty good clip." Speakeasy first opened in 1994 as a Seattle Internet cafe and grew to become a broadband provider, which also offers VoIP services, mainly directed at small businesses.
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Currently Best Buy is America's largest retailer of electronic items. "This is a really interesting combination of companies," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. "Speakeasy's technical expertise matched with Best Buys marketing prowess could make for a very formidable combination."
For more information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Verizon Customers Get 24/7 Support
Now Verizon Wireless customers are able to call technical support at any hour of the day or night when things go wrong.
The company has announced the debut of its new Premium Technical service, which offers customers in need expert assistance with problems like spyware, viruses, Internet security, hardware malfunctions and so forth. To cost $9.99 per month, the service goes far beyond that offered by most Internet carriers, Verizon claims.
Frank Nelson, director of Verizon Broadband Solutions Group, said: "Our customers need help with more than just their online service and now they can get it from us right away. "Verizon support is available over the phone to solhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifve a variety of computer problems and customers can avoid expensive, in-home or business service calls."
The advisors on the other end of the line are prepared for almost any problems that may be encountered by a broadband user, Mr. Nelson added. Verizon has invested $35 billion in the last seven years on maintaining and upgrading its operating systems.
"Last year more than 40 million Internet users in the United States had problems with Internet security," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. "More than 21 million had hardware or software issues; and more than 11 million struggled with home networking."
For more information on digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com
The company has announced the debut of its new Premium Technical service, which offers customers in need expert assistance with problems like spyware, viruses, Internet security, hardware malfunctions and so forth. To cost $9.99 per month, the service goes far beyond that offered by most Internet carriers, Verizon claims.
Frank Nelson, director of Verizon Broadband Solutions Group, said: "Our customers need help with more than just their online service and now they can get it from us right away. "Verizon support is available over the phone to solhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifve a variety of computer problems and customers can avoid expensive, in-home or business service calls."
The advisors on the other end of the line are prepared for almost any problems that may be encountered by a broadband user, Mr. Nelson added. Verizon has invested $35 billion in the last seven years on maintaining and upgrading its operating systems.
"Last year more than 40 million Internet users in the United States had problems with Internet security," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services. "More than 21 million had hardware or software issues; and more than 11 million struggled with home networking."
For more information on digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com
Southern California's Latino Population Catered To
Communications giant Verizon has claimed it is making a concerted effort to target southern California's Latino population with its services and products.
Among the measures Verizon has committed to are hiring copious numbers of Latino and bilingual employees and providing services in Spanish. A full 34 percent of the calls made to Verizon's Irvine call centre are from Latinos and employees of the company that are bilingual earn $1,500 more per year than normal.
John Palmer, regional president of Verizon Wireless, said: "We make sure our sales and customer service employees are trained not just to succeed in their job, but also to build a career with the company. "For the sixth consecutive year we've been named to Training magazine's 2007 list of 'Top 125 Training Organizations in America.'" More than 40 percent of Verizon's stores in the Southern California area have bilingual personnel. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless customers are now able to call technical support at any hour of the day or night when things go wrong using the company's new Premium Technical service.
Many companies are starting to recognize the needs and spending power of the Hispanic population, the largest minority group in the United States. states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services.
For more information on digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com
Among the measures Verizon has committed to are hiring copious numbers of Latino and bilingual employees and providing services in Spanish. A full 34 percent of the calls made to Verizon's Irvine call centre are from Latinos and employees of the company that are bilingual earn $1,500 more per year than normal.
John Palmer, regional president of Verizon Wireless, said: "We make sure our sales and customer service employees are trained not just to succeed in their job, but also to build a career with the company. "For the sixth consecutive year we've been named to Training magazine's 2007 list of 'Top 125 Training Organizations in America.'" More than 40 percent of Verizon's stores in the Southern California area have bilingual personnel. Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless customers are now able to call technical support at any hour of the day or night when things go wrong using the company's new Premium Technical service.
Many companies are starting to recognize the needs and spending power of the Hispanic population, the largest minority group in the United States. states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the Internets leading comparative shopping website for digital products and services.
For more information on digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com
Thursday, May 24, 2007
House of Representatives passes spyware legislation
Legislation has been passed by the House of Representatives to fight the rising tide of Internet spyware and other scams.
Gaining unauthorized access to a PC in order to carry out another federal offense will now be a criminal offense in its own right and could incur http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifa five-year prison term. And stealing or transmitting personal information in order to defraud somebody or damage a computer could be punishable with a prison term of up to two years.
The bill was sponsored by Democrat Zoe Lofgren, who claimed that 90 percent of Americans have spyware on their computers. Ms Lofgren said that spyware "is one of the biggest threats to consumers on the internet". Co-sponsoring the bill was Bob Goodlatte, a Republican, who said that it "protects consumers" and online businesses.
Included in the bill is an allocation of $10 million to help the Justice Department fight various computer scams, including phishing. Levels of malware have skyrocketed over the last year at a greater rate than in preceding years, according a recent report. In their most recent report, IBM's internet security systems researchers found over 7,200 vulnerabilities, most of which could be exploited by attackers.
For a free service availability check go to www.dsldance.com
Gaining unauthorized access to a PC in order to carry out another federal offense will now be a criminal offense in its own right and could incur http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifa five-year prison term. And stealing or transmitting personal information in order to defraud somebody or damage a computer could be punishable with a prison term of up to two years.
The bill was sponsored by Democrat Zoe Lofgren, who claimed that 90 percent of Americans have spyware on their computers. Ms Lofgren said that spyware "is one of the biggest threats to consumers on the internet". Co-sponsoring the bill was Bob Goodlatte, a Republican, who said that it "protects consumers" and online businesses.
Included in the bill is an allocation of $10 million to help the Justice Department fight various computer scams, including phishing. Levels of malware have skyrocketed over the last year at a greater rate than in preceding years, according a recent report. In their most recent report, IBM's internet security systems researchers found over 7,200 vulnerabilities, most of which could be exploited by attackers.
For a free service availability check go to www.dsldance.com
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Yahoo! Eyes Social Networking Site
The internet giant Yahoo! is rumoured to be mulling over the purchase of the social networking site Bebo, the Daily Telegraph has claimed.
It is thought that Yahoo! could pay up to $1 billion for Bebo, which is about a quarter of the size of the world's most popular social networking site, MySpace. Last year, rumours were rife that Bebo turned down bids from both British Telecom and Viacom.
The founder of Bebo, Michael Birch, has stated in the past that he would rather float the company than sell it outright. This year has seen a rash of internet takeovers which has caused the stock of fast-growing internet companies to skyrocket. The latest takeover was by Microsoft, who last week paid $6 billion to take over the digital marketing company Aquantive.
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! are the main players in the race to acquire these lucrative companies. In April Google won a major coup by acquiring the internet advertiser DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in cash.
It is thought that Yahoo! could pay up to $1 billion for Bebo, which is about a quarter of the size of the world's most popular social networking site, MySpace. Last year, rumours were rife that Bebo turned down bids from both British Telecom and Viacom.
The founder of Bebo, Michael Birch, has stated in the past that he would rather float the company than sell it outright. This year has seen a rash of internet takeovers which has caused the stock of fast-growing internet companies to skyrocket. The latest takeover was by Microsoft, who last week paid $6 billion to take over the digital marketing company Aquantive.
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! are the main players in the race to acquire these lucrative companies. In April Google won a major coup by acquiring the internet advertiser DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in cash.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Microsoft To Acquire Aquantive
Software giant Microsoft is to acquire the digital marketing company Aquantive for $6 billion, it has been announced. The move is part of a wider effort from the company to expand its presence in the lucrative world of online advertising.
After the acquisition, Microsoft will acquire Seattle-based Aquantive's Atlas Media Console and Drive PM solutions for advertisers and publishers. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said: "The advertising industry is evolving and growing at an incredible pace, moving increasingly toward online and IP-served platforms, which dramatically increases the importance of software for this industry.
"Today's announcement represents the next step in the evolution of our ad network." Microsoft will also gain control of Aquantive's own interactive advertisement agency, Avenue A Razorfish. In April, Google won the race to acquire the ubiquitous internet advertiser Doubleclick, paying $3.1 billion for the company.
The New York-based Doubleclick was founded in 1995 by Kevin O'Connor and Dwight Merriman.
After the acquisition, Microsoft will acquire Seattle-based Aquantive's Atlas Media Console and Drive PM solutions for advertisers and publishers. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said: "The advertising industry is evolving and growing at an incredible pace, moving increasingly toward online and IP-served platforms, which dramatically increases the importance of software for this industry.
"Today's announcement represents the next step in the evolution of our ad network." Microsoft will also gain control of Aquantive's own interactive advertisement agency, Avenue A Razorfish. In April, Google won the race to acquire the ubiquitous internet advertiser Doubleclick, paying $3.1 billion for the company.
The New York-based Doubleclick was founded in 1995 by Kevin O'Connor and Dwight Merriman.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Google Warns Of Drive-by Downloads
Google Warns Of Drive-by Downloads
Internet sites which contain malware that can infect a PC are becoming increasingly prevalent, the internet search giant Google has warned.
A full one in ten web pages is capable of launching a "drive-by download", meaning that it could place malware onto a PC. Using such software, hackers can steal sensitive information and infect PCs, Google cautioned. Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at the security company Sophos, said: "They [hackers] used to spread malware by email attachment. What they do now is spam out URLs.
"You cannot protect users by restricting what sites they go to. You need to start protecting your web access, as well as your email gateway." Such malware present on websites is becoming "a considerable problem" for both businesses and personal users, Mr Cluley added. Meanwhile, companies have been warned to be aware of a worm which inhabits removable drives like floppy disks and USB sticks.
Sophos has stated that the W32/SillyFD-AA copies itself onto removable drives and then infiltrates the computers they are subsequently hooked up to.
Internet sites which contain malware that can infect a PC are becoming increasingly prevalent, the internet search giant Google has warned.
A full one in ten web pages is capable of launching a "drive-by download", meaning that it could place malware onto a PC. Using such software, hackers can steal sensitive information and infect PCs, Google cautioned. Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at the security company Sophos, said: "They [hackers] used to spread malware by email attachment. What they do now is spam out URLs.
"You cannot protect users by restricting what sites they go to. You need to start protecting your web access, as well as your email gateway." Such malware present on websites is becoming "a considerable problem" for both businesses and personal users, Mr Cluley added. Meanwhile, companies have been warned to be aware of a worm which inhabits removable drives like floppy disks and USB sticks.
Sophos has stated that the W32/SillyFD-AA copies itself onto removable drives and then infiltrates the computers they are subsequently hooked up to.
Windows Updates Hijacked
Windows Updates Hijacked
Malware could be installed onto a PC in the security updates issued by Windows, experts have stated.
There is currently a program in circulation that is capable of hijacking Windows Update and installing malware that could leave a computer vulnerable to attack. The program works by bypassing a user's firewall and then downloading damaging files that then remain undetected.
A Microsoft spokesman stated: "Microsoft is aware of phttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifublic reports that Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) is being used by TrojanDownloader:Win32/Jowspry. "The bypass most commonly occurs after a successful social engineering attempt lures the user into inadvertently running [Jowspry], which then utilizes BITS to download additional malware."
Speaking to the BBC, security consultant Robert Schifreen said that the way to avoid infecting one's PC is to not click on any links or attachments unless one is sure that they are not infected. Meanwhile, management company Fortinet has joined the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance (VIA) to collaborate on monitoring the distribution of internet viruses.
www.dsldance.com
Malware could be installed onto a PC in the security updates issued by Windows, experts have stated.
There is currently a program in circulation that is capable of hijacking Windows Update and installing malware that could leave a computer vulnerable to attack. The program works by bypassing a user's firewall and then downloading damaging files that then remain undetected.
A Microsoft spokesman stated: "Microsoft is aware of phttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifublic reports that Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) is being used by TrojanDownloader:Win32/Jowspry. "The bypass most commonly occurs after a successful social engineering attempt lures the user into inadvertently running [Jowspry], which then utilizes BITS to download additional malware."
Speaking to the BBC, security consultant Robert Schifreen said that the way to avoid infecting one's PC is to not click on any links or attachments unless one is sure that they are not infected. Meanwhile, management company Fortinet has joined the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance (VIA) to collaborate on monitoring the distribution of internet viruses.
www.dsldance.com
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Broadband users spend half of free time surfing the net
People who have broadband end up spending almost half their free time surfing the internet, according to recent research.
During the week, users with high-speed internet spend approximately 48 percent of their free time on the net, a survey from Media-Screen shows. And 48 percent of young users of the broadband go on the internet to find out information about the entertainment sector, compared to 25 percent who rely on TV, the survey discovered.
Josh Crandall, managing director of Media-Screen, said: "Many broadband consumers go online for entertainment and to talk about entertainment with other fans. "Marketers need to leverage that interest and focus on catalysing a conversation now, instead of just talking to their fans via traditional advertising channels."
Of the time spent on the internet 27 percent is spent communicating with others, while 12 percent is spent shopping and nine percent searching for news or information. Meanwhile, a fake version of the next book in the popular Harry Potter series has hit the internet and fooled thousands of readers.
With a length of 250,000 words, the fake version of the book is similar enough to the real books that it took in legions of fans of the teenage wizard.
During the week, users with high-speed internet spend approximately 48 percent of their free time on the net, a survey from Media-Screen shows. And 48 percent of young users of the broadband go on the internet to find out information about the entertainment sector, compared to 25 percent who rely on TV, the survey discovered.
Josh Crandall, managing director of Media-Screen, said: "Many broadband consumers go online for entertainment and to talk about entertainment with other fans. "Marketers need to leverage that interest and focus on catalysing a conversation now, instead of just talking to their fans via traditional advertising channels."
Of the time spent on the internet 27 percent is spent communicating with others, while 12 percent is spent shopping and nine percent searching for news or information. Meanwhile, a fake version of the next book in the popular Harry Potter series has hit the internet and fooled thousands of readers.
With a length of 250,000 words, the fake version of the book is similar enough to the real books that it took in legions of fans of the teenage wizard.
Friday, May 04, 2007
A win for the little guy!
Cable TV battles to heat up
Lawmakers OK bill that will widen franchise options
By JIM SAUNDERS
Tallahassee Bureau Chief
TALLAHASSEE -- With supporters saying more competition will drive down prices for consumers, Florida lawmakers passed a plan Monday that will help telephone companies get into the cable-television business.
The measure, which set off a lobbying war in the Capitol, will allow companies to get statewide cable franchises and avoid having to negotiate agreements with individual cities and counties.
Phone companies hope that will clear the way for them to compete with cable companies, which have entered local franchise agreements in the past and dominated markets.
The phone and cable industries fought about the issue for more than a year. But the bill passed Monday reflects a compromise that allows cable companies --- along with phone companies --- to get statewide franchises.
Officials of both industries said the bill is part of a major shift in which phone and cable companies will compete to sell "bundled" packages that include home-phone, cable, high-speed Internet and cell-phone services.
"We're entering an era of the battle of the bundles," said Steve Wilkerson, president of the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association, a cable-industry group.
To check for service availability go to www.dsldance.com
Lawmakers OK bill that will widen franchise options
By JIM SAUNDERS
Tallahassee Bureau Chief
TALLAHASSEE -- With supporters saying more competition will drive down prices for consumers, Florida lawmakers passed a plan Monday that will help telephone companies get into the cable-television business.
The measure, which set off a lobbying war in the Capitol, will allow companies to get statewide cable franchises and avoid having to negotiate agreements with individual cities and counties.
Phone companies hope that will clear the way for them to compete with cable companies, which have entered local franchise agreements in the past and dominated markets.
The phone and cable industries fought about the issue for more than a year. But the bill passed Monday reflects a compromise that allows cable companies --- along with phone companies --- to get statewide franchises.
Officials of both industries said the bill is part of a major shift in which phone and cable companies will compete to sell "bundled" packages that include home-phone, cable, high-speed Internet and cell-phone services.
"We're entering an era of the battle of the bundles," said Steve Wilkerson, president of the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association, a cable-industry group.
To check for service availability go to www.dsldance.com
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