Hackers rumored to have cracked Windows 7 activation (CNet)

Microsoft only just released final code for Windows 7 to manufacturers and the company is already facing a security risk. The Windows Genuine Advantage antipiracy system in the Windows 7 Ultimate release to manufacturers (RTM) has reportedly been compromised by some Chinese hackers, according to a variety of Chinese forums, and first reported by Neowin.com. This means the user can fully activate the software offline without connecting to Microsoft's activation server.

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How to use electrical outlets and cheap lasers to steal data (Network World)

If attackers intent on data theft can tap into an electrical socket near a computer or if they can draw a bead on the machine with a laser, they can steal whatever is being typed into it. How to execute these attacks will be demonstrated at the Black Hat USA 2009 security conference in Las Vegas later this month by Andrea Barisani and Daniele Bianco, a pair of researchers for network security consultancy Inverse Path. The equipment to carry out the power-line attack could cost as little as $500, and the laser attack gear costs about $100 if the attacker already owns a laptop with a sound card, says Barisani. Carrying out the attacks took about a week, he says.

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Online buyers confused over security, research shows (ComputerWorld HK)

People are increasingly dependent on e-commerce sites, but they do not have a good understanding of online security. That is the key verdict of new research, which found 70 percent of online buyers blame themselves for security problems, but keep on buying. Under a quarter blamed the website or technology for security issues, according to the report 'Online security: a human perspective', commissioned by Oracle and conducted by consultancy Foviance. Some 550 people were interviewed. The report highlighted issues over consumers' understanding of security, stating that perceptions were "press-led". They had "no desire" to learn more about IT security, and unrealistic expectations about their rights if their security is compromised, it said.

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Google Image search gets usage rights filter (ZDNet Asia)

In an effort to keep people from incorrectly reusing or repurposing images found on its image search tool, Google has added new options that let users filter results by usage rights. Users can now filter photos by whether they're available for reuse, commercial reuse, reuse with modification, or commercial use with modification. Its system for determining the rights on various shots is not foolproof though, and as such the company is recommending that those who are interested in republishing or reworking any of the images check with the content owner first (if possible).

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Firefox 3.5 and the potential of Web typography (CNet)

In addition to new features such as support for HTML 5, geo-location, and a noticeably faster engine, Firefox 3.5 added a new CSS rule that makes Web typography much more attractive. @font-face is a CSS rule that allows Web designers to reference fonts not installed on end-user machines. Just as you would have a pointer to a server-based stylesheet or JavaScript file in your Web page code, you can now make reference to a hosted typeface.

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How much did Michael Jackson rock the web? (New York Times)

As news of Michael Jackson’s death began to spread last Thursday, the crush of people flocking to the Web for information overloaded several Web sites and services, causing AOL’s instant messaging service, news sites, Twitter and Wikipedia to buckle under the strain. But just how much traffic are we talking about? Compete, a Web analytics firm based in Boston, crunched some numbers and came up with a few data points to help illustrate the surge.

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Microsoft opens mega data center in Dublin (ZDNet Asia)

Microsoft launched a new data center in Dublin, describing it as the largest it has built outside the United States. The site is what Microsoft calls a "mega data center", a class the company has constructed previously only in the United States. The company plans to open another mega data center in Chicago on Jul. 20, it said in a blog post. The Chicago facility covers more than 700,000 square feet, with 30 megawatts of power initially available, expandable up to 60 megawatts, Josefsberg said. Two-thirds of the facility is intended to house containerized servers--shipping containers full of servers that can be cooled more efficiently than a conventional building.

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