NEW YORK (AP) - There's more to Facebook apps than 'Angry Birds' and Pinterest, but many users wouldn't know that because there hasn't been a good, central way to find them.
Facebook Inc. is trying to change that. On Thursday, Facebook is beginning to roll out its App Center to its nearly 1 billion users, so they can find games and other applications with social components more easily.
The App Center, available on Facebook's website and on Apple and Android mobile devices, will recommend apps to users based on their interests, the types of apps their friends like, or the apps they have liked in the past.
Many people are introduced to Facebook apps in the form of sometimes-annoying requests from their friends for poker partners, Scrabble buddies or neighbors on virtual farms. Those requests haven't necessarily matched a user's specific interests.
The new App Center will initially feature about 600 Facebook apps, mostly games, reviewed by the company to meet its quality standards. Games, such as Zynga's 'CityVille' and Electronic Arts' 'The Sims,' are the most popular types of apps on Facebook.
But the company is betting that by personalizing recommendations to users, people will find new types of applications beyond games, along with games that are more interesting to them. There are all sorts of social apps that use Facebook, from music-listening services such as Spotify to what-you-just-ate tools such as Foodspotting.
'We spend all day, every day building a platform (so that) great social games and apps can exist,' said Matt Wyndowe, product manager for apps and games at Facebook. But a common question has long been where to find them. 'Up until now, we haven't had a great answer to that question.'
Facebook said that on mobile devices, the App Center won't compete with other app stores, such as Apple's or Google's. Rather, the App Center will send users to those other stores to download the programs. People can also get mobile apps from their regular computers by using a feature called 'send to mobile.'
Among the roughly 600 applications included in the App Center at launch will be the Nike Plus GPS running app, which lets users track their runs and broadcast it to their Facebook feed. Ricky Engelberg, whose title at Nike is experience director at digital sport, said having a place where apps are showcased will 'let more people be part of the Nike Plus community.'
The App Center, which Facebook announced last month, will be rolled out to U.S. users beginning Thursday night and to everyone else over the coming weeks.
___
Online:
http://www.facebook.com/appcenter
Friday, June 8, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Samsung fights Apple move to block Galaxy sales
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Samsung Electronics Co. said Thursday it will fight Apple's move to stop U.S. sales of its new Galaxy phone in the latest flare-up of an intellectual property battle between the world's top smartphone makers.
Samsung said it will vigorously oppose Apple's request for a court to ban sales of the Galaxy S III smartphone and still plans to go ahead with the device's scheduled release in the U.S. on June 21.
The South Korean company said in a statement that it will 'demonstrate to the court that the Galaxy S III is innovative and distinctive.'
On Tuesday, Apple Inc. asked a U.S. district court to temporarily ban sales of the S III smartphone before its launch in the United States. The maker of the iPhone accused Samsung of infringing two Apple patents.
The request, if accepted by the U.S. District Court for Northern California, would deal a blow to Samsung's attempt to get a headstart on sales of Apple's next iPhone.
The S III smartphone went on sale in Europe on May 29 and will be offered by around 300 mobile carriers in Asia and North America later this month.
The early launch puts Samsung in a favorable position to take a bigger chunk of the lucrative smartphone market. While Apple is keeping mum on its annual iPhone upgrade, many analysts expect the new iPhone to go on sale as early as July.
Samsung has become the biggest threat to Apple's clout in the mobile market as its Galaxy series of smartphones won popularity among consumers seeking an Android-powered device.
Most market research firms say Samsung overtook Apple in smartphone shipments for the first time during the first three months of this year.
Samsung and Apple have been embroiled in bitter patent lawsuits in North America, Europe and Asia since Apple accused Samsung of copying its iPhone in April 2011.
Chief executives of the two companies met in San Francisco last month after a court instructed them to negotiate, but the talks didn't produce a settlement.
Amid the legal battles, the two companies continue to do business with each other.
Samsung counts Apple as among its largest buyers of chips and display screens while Apple relies on Samsung for mobile components.
This news article is brought to you by ADDICTIONS - where latest news are our top priority.
Samsung said it will vigorously oppose Apple's request for a court to ban sales of the Galaxy S III smartphone and still plans to go ahead with the device's scheduled release in the U.S. on June 21.
The South Korean company said in a statement that it will 'demonstrate to the court that the Galaxy S III is innovative and distinctive.'
On Tuesday, Apple Inc. asked a U.S. district court to temporarily ban sales of the S III smartphone before its launch in the United States. The maker of the iPhone accused Samsung of infringing two Apple patents.
The request, if accepted by the U.S. District Court for Northern California, would deal a blow to Samsung's attempt to get a headstart on sales of Apple's next iPhone.
The S III smartphone went on sale in Europe on May 29 and will be offered by around 300 mobile carriers in Asia and North America later this month.
The early launch puts Samsung in a favorable position to take a bigger chunk of the lucrative smartphone market. While Apple is keeping mum on its annual iPhone upgrade, many analysts expect the new iPhone to go on sale as early as July.
Samsung has become the biggest threat to Apple's clout in the mobile market as its Galaxy series of smartphones won popularity among consumers seeking an Android-powered device.
Most market research firms say Samsung overtook Apple in smartphone shipments for the first time during the first three months of this year.
Samsung and Apple have been embroiled in bitter patent lawsuits in North America, Europe and Asia since Apple accused Samsung of copying its iPhone in April 2011.
Chief executives of the two companies met in San Francisco last month after a court instructed them to negotiate, but the talks didn't produce a settlement.
Amid the legal battles, the two companies continue to do business with each other.
Samsung counts Apple as among its largest buyers of chips and display screens while Apple relies on Samsung for mobile components.
This news article is brought to you by ADDICTIONS - where latest news are our top priority.
Ray Bradbury remembered by game developers at E3
LOS ANGELES (AP) - If there's one place where Ray Bradbury's legacy is tangibly omnipresent, it's the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
While he denounced video games as 'a waste of time for men with nothing else to do,' it's impossible not to glimpse at the flashing flatscreens, ubiquitous cameras and people wearing extraterrestrial costumes inside the Los Angeles Convention Center this week and not be reminded of Bradbury's high-tech foreshadowing and otherworldly visions, detailed in literary classics like 'Fahrenheit 451,' ''Something Wicked This Way Comes' and 'The Martian Chronicles.'
'I definitely read his books when I was a kid,' said Peter Molyneux, creator of the role-playing 'Fable' series and studio head at developer 22 Cans. 'I think with those worlds that he created, he inspired all of us. There are games and scenes in this very hall which have probably been influenced by him - both consciously and unconsciously.'
Bradbury, who died Tuesday night at age 91, foretold of much of the technology powering the gaming industry's annual trade show and inspired many of the games' storylines being hyped at E3: cutthroat capitalism, interactive TVs, intergalactic affairs, handheld doodads and clandestine conspiracy theories, just to name a few.
The Martian Chronicles was just 'mind-blowing at the time,' said Adrian Chmielarz - creative director at 'Gears of War: Judgment' developer People Can Fly - of Bradbury's short story collection about telepathic aliens. 'The way (game developers') brains work, we read everything - anime, comic books, everything - and hope that someday our work will result in similar greatness.'
Corey May, writer of Ubisoft Entertainment's 'Assassin's Creed' series, cited Bradbury as one of the inspirations for the time-bending, stealthy series. The third installment of the franchise is set amid the American Revolution.
'His influence his undeniable,' said May. 'I would credit him with getting me interested in a dystopian future and the idea that you could project ideas forward and play with them in writing. Obviously, it's something we've been doing a little bit of with what we're working on with 'Assassin's Creed III.'
While some designers in attendance at E3 were not fans of Bradbury or familiar with his work, those that were seemed certain he indirectly affected the entire gaming industry.
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.
This news article is brought to you by DEPRESSION - where latest news are our top priority.
While he denounced video games as 'a waste of time for men with nothing else to do,' it's impossible not to glimpse at the flashing flatscreens, ubiquitous cameras and people wearing extraterrestrial costumes inside the Los Angeles Convention Center this week and not be reminded of Bradbury's high-tech foreshadowing and otherworldly visions, detailed in literary classics like 'Fahrenheit 451,' ''Something Wicked This Way Comes' and 'The Martian Chronicles.'
'I definitely read his books when I was a kid,' said Peter Molyneux, creator of the role-playing 'Fable' series and studio head at developer 22 Cans. 'I think with those worlds that he created, he inspired all of us. There are games and scenes in this very hall which have probably been influenced by him - both consciously and unconsciously.'
Bradbury, who died Tuesday night at age 91, foretold of much of the technology powering the gaming industry's annual trade show and inspired many of the games' storylines being hyped at E3: cutthroat capitalism, interactive TVs, intergalactic affairs, handheld doodads and clandestine conspiracy theories, just to name a few.
The Martian Chronicles was just 'mind-blowing at the time,' said Adrian Chmielarz - creative director at 'Gears of War: Judgment' developer People Can Fly - of Bradbury's short story collection about telepathic aliens. 'The way (game developers') brains work, we read everything - anime, comic books, everything - and hope that someday our work will result in similar greatness.'
Corey May, writer of Ubisoft Entertainment's 'Assassin's Creed' series, cited Bradbury as one of the inspirations for the time-bending, stealthy series. The third installment of the franchise is set amid the American Revolution.
'His influence his undeniable,' said May. 'I would credit him with getting me interested in a dystopian future and the idea that you could project ideas forward and play with them in writing. Obviously, it's something we've been doing a little bit of with what we're working on with 'Assassin's Creed III.'
While some designers in attendance at E3 were not fans of Bradbury or familiar with his work, those that were seemed certain he indirectly affected the entire gaming industry.
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.
This news article is brought to you by DEPRESSION - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Australian minister defends comm security in China
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia's defense minister said Wednesday he was protecting the confidentiality of government communications after a newspaper reported he left his delegation's laptop computers and cellphones behind before flying to mainland China.
Defense Minister Stephen Smith took precautions against Chinese espionage by leaving computers and phones in Hong Kong before flying to Beijing for a goodwill visit, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. His staff were given fresh phones in China with new numbers.
The minister took the step after such devices were 'compromised' on previous ministerial visits, the newspaper said.
Leaving computers and telecommunications devices outside China is becoming standard operating procedure for the United States and many other Western governments, as well as corporate executives.
But the timing of the news reports could be awkward. Smith is in China to soothe concerns over Australia's decision to deepen its military ties with the United States by hosting up to 2,500 U.S. Marines at a joint training hub. China is Australia's biggest trading partner.
Australia also recently banned Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei from working on a national broadband network for security reasons.
Beijing's relations with Western governments have been strained by complaints about hacking traced to China and aimed at oil, technology and other types of companies.
Smith declined to say whether he had been hacked on any previous visit to China. But he said he had taken such security measures before.
'Ministers are entitled to ensure the confidentiality of their communications, so this is nothing unusual, nothing extraordinary,' Smith told Australian Broadcasting Corp. television from Beijing.
'Governments do it, private corporations do it for industrial reasons, so this is just part of the modern world,' he added.
He did not directly answer when asked if he took the same security measures when visiting the United States, Australia's major defense partner.
This news article is brought to you by DANCING - where latest news are our top priority.
Defense Minister Stephen Smith took precautions against Chinese espionage by leaving computers and phones in Hong Kong before flying to Beijing for a goodwill visit, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. His staff were given fresh phones in China with new numbers.
The minister took the step after such devices were 'compromised' on previous ministerial visits, the newspaper said.
Leaving computers and telecommunications devices outside China is becoming standard operating procedure for the United States and many other Western governments, as well as corporate executives.
But the timing of the news reports could be awkward. Smith is in China to soothe concerns over Australia's decision to deepen its military ties with the United States by hosting up to 2,500 U.S. Marines at a joint training hub. China is Australia's biggest trading partner.
Australia also recently banned Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei from working on a national broadband network for security reasons.
Beijing's relations with Western governments have been strained by complaints about hacking traced to China and aimed at oil, technology and other types of companies.
Smith declined to say whether he had been hacked on any previous visit to China. But he said he had taken such security measures before.
'Ministers are entitled to ensure the confidentiality of their communications, so this is nothing unusual, nothing extraordinary,' Smith told Australian Broadcasting Corp. television from Beijing.
'Governments do it, private corporations do it for industrial reasons, so this is just part of the modern world,' he added.
He did not directly answer when asked if he took the same security measures when visiting the United States, Australia's major defense partner.
This news article is brought to you by DANCING - where latest news are our top priority.
Nasdaq tries to make amends for Facebook problems
NEW YORK (AP) - The Nasdaq stock exchange tried to make amends with investors ensnared by technical problems on the day Facebook went public.
But the apology was not universally accepted.
Nasdaq said Wednesday afternoon that it would hand out $40 million in cash and credit to reimburse investment firms that lost money on Facebook's opening day because of computer glitches at the exchange.
Nasdaq's chief rival, the New York Stock Exchange, fired off a statement condemning the move, saying Nasdaq was giving itself an unfair advantage and rewarding itself for its own mistakes.
One broker, Knight Capital, said the planned reimbursements weren't nearly enough, encapsulating the complaints that other brokers and investment firms were making privately.
Facebook went public May 18 amid great fanfare, but computer glitches at the Nasdaq threw the day into chaos. The opening was delayed by half an hour. Technical problems kept many investors from buying shares in the morning, selling them later in the day, or even from knowing whether their orders went through. Some investors complained that they were left holding shares they didn't want.
Nasdaq will pay about $14 million in cash to investment companies that bought or sold shares, or tried to, at certain levels. The rest will be given as credit, meaning the firms won't have to pay as much in the usual fees required for trading on the Nasdaq. Nasdaq predicted that those benefits could last as long as six months.
The credit for trading fees riled the NYSE. It said the move gave investors a strong incentive to move more of their trading to the Nasdaq, allowing Nasdaq 'to reap a benefit from market share gains they would not have otherwise received.'
'This is tantamount to forcing the industry to subsidize Nasdaq's missteps and would establish a harmful precedent that could have far reaching implications for the markets, investors and the public interest,' the NYSE said in a statement.
The war of words underscores the constant battle that Nasdaq and the NYSE are locked in. The NYSE, with roots dating to the 18th century and its familiar neoclassic headquarters on Wall Street, bills itself as reliable and well-known. Nasdaq, which started in 1971, promotes itself as a high-tech exchange favored by high-tech companies including Apple and Google.
The $40 million amount is far more than usual: Nasdaq has traditionally imposed a $3 million cap for reimbursing customers who lost money because of technical problems.
It's hard to imagine that the amount could cover all the claims. Knight Capital alone has estimated that it lost as much as $35 million because of Nasdaq's glitches.
Knight Capital said it was disappointed that the reimbursement pool 'does not come close to covering reported losses' connected to the technical glitches.
'Their proposed solution to this problem is simply unacceptable,' the company said in a statement.
It isn't clear what will happen next. Nasdaq still has to get approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission for its plan. The NYSE said it would 'strongly press our views' but didn't give details. Knight Capital said it is 'evaluating all remedies available under law,' which could mean it plans to sue.
Facebook's stock originally priced at $38 and closed that first day at $38.23, a disappointment to speculators who had hoped for a first-day pop. Nasdaq has said it was embarrassed by the glitches, but that they didn't contribute to the underwhelming returns.
Nasdaq says it will reimburse investment firms that tried to sell shares at $42 or less but either couldn't sell or sold at a lower price than they intended. It will also reimburse investment firms that bought at $42 but in trades that weren't immediately confirmed. FINRA, the financial industry's self-regulatory group, will review the claims for compensation. Facebook's shares went as high as $45 on the first day.
The shares rose after the Nasdaq announcement and closed up 94 cents, nearly 4 percent, at $26.81. That's still down nearly 30 percent from the initial pricing.
The Facebook offering has left a bad taste for many investors, though they don't blame Nasdaq alone. Many also think that Facebook as well as Morgan Stanley, the main bank that underwrote the deal, overestimated demand, pricing the shares too high and issuing too many.
Nasdaq says the problems have been fixed and that it has hired IBM to review its operating systems.
This article is brought to you by AFFORDABLE COMPUTERS.
But the apology was not universally accepted.
Nasdaq said Wednesday afternoon that it would hand out $40 million in cash and credit to reimburse investment firms that lost money on Facebook's opening day because of computer glitches at the exchange.
Nasdaq's chief rival, the New York Stock Exchange, fired off a statement condemning the move, saying Nasdaq was giving itself an unfair advantage and rewarding itself for its own mistakes.
One broker, Knight Capital, said the planned reimbursements weren't nearly enough, encapsulating the complaints that other brokers and investment firms were making privately.
Facebook went public May 18 amid great fanfare, but computer glitches at the Nasdaq threw the day into chaos. The opening was delayed by half an hour. Technical problems kept many investors from buying shares in the morning, selling them later in the day, or even from knowing whether their orders went through. Some investors complained that they were left holding shares they didn't want.
Nasdaq will pay about $14 million in cash to investment companies that bought or sold shares, or tried to, at certain levels. The rest will be given as credit, meaning the firms won't have to pay as much in the usual fees required for trading on the Nasdaq. Nasdaq predicted that those benefits could last as long as six months.
The credit for trading fees riled the NYSE. It said the move gave investors a strong incentive to move more of their trading to the Nasdaq, allowing Nasdaq 'to reap a benefit from market share gains they would not have otherwise received.'
'This is tantamount to forcing the industry to subsidize Nasdaq's missteps and would establish a harmful precedent that could have far reaching implications for the markets, investors and the public interest,' the NYSE said in a statement.
The war of words underscores the constant battle that Nasdaq and the NYSE are locked in. The NYSE, with roots dating to the 18th century and its familiar neoclassic headquarters on Wall Street, bills itself as reliable and well-known. Nasdaq, which started in 1971, promotes itself as a high-tech exchange favored by high-tech companies including Apple and Google.
The $40 million amount is far more than usual: Nasdaq has traditionally imposed a $3 million cap for reimbursing customers who lost money because of technical problems.
It's hard to imagine that the amount could cover all the claims. Knight Capital alone has estimated that it lost as much as $35 million because of Nasdaq's glitches.
Knight Capital said it was disappointed that the reimbursement pool 'does not come close to covering reported losses' connected to the technical glitches.
'Their proposed solution to this problem is simply unacceptable,' the company said in a statement.
It isn't clear what will happen next. Nasdaq still has to get approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission for its plan. The NYSE said it would 'strongly press our views' but didn't give details. Knight Capital said it is 'evaluating all remedies available under law,' which could mean it plans to sue.
Facebook's stock originally priced at $38 and closed that first day at $38.23, a disappointment to speculators who had hoped for a first-day pop. Nasdaq has said it was embarrassed by the glitches, but that they didn't contribute to the underwhelming returns.
Nasdaq says it will reimburse investment firms that tried to sell shares at $42 or less but either couldn't sell or sold at a lower price than they intended. It will also reimburse investment firms that bought at $42 but in trades that weren't immediately confirmed. FINRA, the financial industry's self-regulatory group, will review the claims for compensation. Facebook's shares went as high as $45 on the first day.
The shares rose after the Nasdaq announcement and closed up 94 cents, nearly 4 percent, at $26.81. That's still down nearly 30 percent from the initial pricing.
The Facebook offering has left a bad taste for many investors, though they don't blame Nasdaq alone. Many also think that Facebook as well as Morgan Stanley, the main bank that underwrote the deal, overestimated demand, pricing the shares too high and issuing too many.
Nasdaq says the problems have been fixed and that it has hired IBM to review its operating systems.
This article is brought to you by AFFORDABLE COMPUTERS.
Nasdaq sets aside $40M for Facebook investors
NEW YORK (AP) - The Nasdaq stock exchange said Wednesday that it plans to hand out $40 million in cash and credit to reimburse investment firms that got ensnared by technical problems with trading Facebook stock.
FINRA, the financial industry's self-regulatory group, will review claims for compensation.
Facebook went public May 18 amid great fanfare. But computer glitches at the Nasdaq plagued the day. They delayed the opening of trading by half an hour and kept some investors from buying shares in the morning, selling them later in the day, or even from knowing whether their orders went through. Some investors have complained that the technical problems left them holding shares that they didn't want.
Nasdaq will pay about $14 million in cash to investment companies that file valid claims. The rest will be given as credit for the costs that firms have to pay to trade on the Nasdaq.
Nasdaq didn't estimate how much it expected to receive in claims, or whether it thought $40 million would cover all the claims. But the amount is more than usual: The company has traditionally imposed a $3 million cap for reimbursing customers who lost money because of technical problems.
The stock originally priced at $38 and closed that first day at $38.23, a disappointment to speculators who had hoped for a first-day pop. Nasdaq has said it was embarrassed by the glitches, but that they didn't contribute to the underwhelming first-day returns.
Nasdaq says it will reimburse investment firms that tried to sell shares at $42 or less but either couldn't sell or sold at a lower price than they intended. It will also reimburse investment firms that bought at $42 but whose trades weren't immediately confirmed.
Shares went as high as $45 on the first day but haven't returned anywhere near those levels. The stock was trading at $25.85 Wednesday afternoon but rose sharply, to $26.94, after the Nasdaq announcement.
The Facebook offering has left a bad taste for many investors, though they don't blame Nasdaq alone. Many also think that Facebook as well as Morgan Stanley, the main bank that underwrote the deal, overestimated demand, pricing the shares too high and issuing too many of them.
The Nasdaq is locked in a constant battle for listings with its chief rival, the New York Stock Exchange. The NYSE, with roots dating to the 18th century and its familiar neoclassic headquarters on Wall Street, bills itself as the reliable and well-known. Nasdaq, which started in 1971, promotes itself as a high-tech exchange favored by high-tech companies including Apple and Google.
Nasdaq says the problems have been fixed and that it has hired IBM to review its operating systems. It needs approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission for its reimbursement plan.
This article is brought to you by BUY CHEAP COMPUTERS.
FINRA, the financial industry's self-regulatory group, will review claims for compensation.
Facebook went public May 18 amid great fanfare. But computer glitches at the Nasdaq plagued the day. They delayed the opening of trading by half an hour and kept some investors from buying shares in the morning, selling them later in the day, or even from knowing whether their orders went through. Some investors have complained that the technical problems left them holding shares that they didn't want.
Nasdaq will pay about $14 million in cash to investment companies that file valid claims. The rest will be given as credit for the costs that firms have to pay to trade on the Nasdaq.
Nasdaq didn't estimate how much it expected to receive in claims, or whether it thought $40 million would cover all the claims. But the amount is more than usual: The company has traditionally imposed a $3 million cap for reimbursing customers who lost money because of technical problems.
The stock originally priced at $38 and closed that first day at $38.23, a disappointment to speculators who had hoped for a first-day pop. Nasdaq has said it was embarrassed by the glitches, but that they didn't contribute to the underwhelming first-day returns.
Nasdaq says it will reimburse investment firms that tried to sell shares at $42 or less but either couldn't sell or sold at a lower price than they intended. It will also reimburse investment firms that bought at $42 but whose trades weren't immediately confirmed.
Shares went as high as $45 on the first day but haven't returned anywhere near those levels. The stock was trading at $25.85 Wednesday afternoon but rose sharply, to $26.94, after the Nasdaq announcement.
The Facebook offering has left a bad taste for many investors, though they don't blame Nasdaq alone. Many also think that Facebook as well as Morgan Stanley, the main bank that underwrote the deal, overestimated demand, pricing the shares too high and issuing too many of them.
The Nasdaq is locked in a constant battle for listings with its chief rival, the New York Stock Exchange. The NYSE, with roots dating to the 18th century and its familiar neoclassic headquarters on Wall Street, bills itself as the reliable and well-known. Nasdaq, which started in 1971, promotes itself as a high-tech exchange favored by high-tech companies including Apple and Google.
Nasdaq says the problems have been fixed and that it has hired IBM to review its operating systems. It needs approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission for its reimbursement plan.
This article is brought to you by BUY CHEAP COMPUTERS.
LinkedIn investigating reports of stolen passwords
LONDON (AP) - Business social network LinkedIn said it is investigating reports that more than six million passwords have been stolen and leaked onto the Internet.
Although LinkedIn did not confirm if any user data had been hacked or leaked, researchers at U.K. Web security company Sophos say they have confirmed that a file posted online does contain, in part, LinkedIn passwords 'hashes.' That's a way of encrypting or storing passwords in a different form.
Graham Cluley, a consultant with Sophos, recommended that LinkedIn users change their passwords immediately.
LinkedIn has a lot of information on its more than 160 million members, including potentially confidential information related to jobs being sought. Companies, recruiting services and others have accounts alongside individuals who post resumes and other professional information.
There's added concern that many people use the same password on multiple websites, so whoever stole the data could use the information to access Gmail, Amazon, PayPal and other accounts, Cluley said.
Cluley said hackers are working together to break the encryption on the passwords.
'All that's been released so far is a list of passwords and we don't know if the people who released that list also have the related email addresses,' he said. 'But we have to assume they do. And with that combination, they can begin to commit crimes.'
It wasn't known who was behind such an attack.
LinkedIn Corp. referred repeated requests for comment to the company's Twitter feed, where it said its team was 'looking into reports of stolen passwords.'
Two hours later, the company posted a second tweet saying that it was still unable to confirm if a security breach had occurred.
While the passwords appear to be encrypted, security researcher Marcus Carey warned that users should not take solace from such security measures.
'If a website has been breached, it doesn't matter what encryption they're using because the attacker at that point controls a lot of the authentication,' said Carey, who works at security-risk assessment firm Rapid7. 'It's 'game over' once the site is compromised.'
He said that if the breach is confirmed, he expects LinkedIn to require users to change their passwords with the threat of locking them out of the site if they don't. Full containment of a breach would only be possible if every single password is changed or users are disabled, he said.
Cluley also warned that LinkedIn users should be careful about malicious email generated around the incident. The fear is that people, after hearing about the incident, would be tricked into clicking on links in those emails. Instead of getting to the real LinkedIn site to change a password, it would go to a scammer, who can then collect the information and use it for criminal activities.
Shares of LinkedIn, which is based in Mountain View, California, fell 36 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $92.64 in early afternoon trading Wednesday.
___
Follow Cassandra Vinograd on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CassVinograd
This article is brought to you by BUY A COMPUTER.
Although LinkedIn did not confirm if any user data had been hacked or leaked, researchers at U.K. Web security company Sophos say they have confirmed that a file posted online does contain, in part, LinkedIn passwords 'hashes.' That's a way of encrypting or storing passwords in a different form.
Graham Cluley, a consultant with Sophos, recommended that LinkedIn users change their passwords immediately.
LinkedIn has a lot of information on its more than 160 million members, including potentially confidential information related to jobs being sought. Companies, recruiting services and others have accounts alongside individuals who post resumes and other professional information.
There's added concern that many people use the same password on multiple websites, so whoever stole the data could use the information to access Gmail, Amazon, PayPal and other accounts, Cluley said.
Cluley said hackers are working together to break the encryption on the passwords.
'All that's been released so far is a list of passwords and we don't know if the people who released that list also have the related email addresses,' he said. 'But we have to assume they do. And with that combination, they can begin to commit crimes.'
It wasn't known who was behind such an attack.
LinkedIn Corp. referred repeated requests for comment to the company's Twitter feed, where it said its team was 'looking into reports of stolen passwords.'
Two hours later, the company posted a second tweet saying that it was still unable to confirm if a security breach had occurred.
While the passwords appear to be encrypted, security researcher Marcus Carey warned that users should not take solace from such security measures.
'If a website has been breached, it doesn't matter what encryption they're using because the attacker at that point controls a lot of the authentication,' said Carey, who works at security-risk assessment firm Rapid7. 'It's 'game over' once the site is compromised.'
He said that if the breach is confirmed, he expects LinkedIn to require users to change their passwords with the threat of locking them out of the site if they don't. Full containment of a breach would only be possible if every single password is changed or users are disabled, he said.
Cluley also warned that LinkedIn users should be careful about malicious email generated around the incident. The fear is that people, after hearing about the incident, would be tricked into clicking on links in those emails. Instead of getting to the real LinkedIn site to change a password, it would go to a scammer, who can then collect the information and use it for criminal activities.
Shares of LinkedIn, which is based in Mountain View, California, fell 36 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $92.64 in early afternoon trading Wednesday.
___
Follow Cassandra Vinograd on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CassVinograd
This article is brought to you by BUY A COMPUTER.
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