While the race to the US presidency has ended with Barack Obama winning by a landslide, the race for new Web threats related to his victory has now begun. Trend Micro Research Manager Ivan Macalintal reported of spam messages that started circulating to spread malware, within hours after Obama delivered his acceptance speech.
Says Amit Nath, Country Manager, India & SAARC, Trend Micro: "The spam which has so far affected computers in China, US and Japan, may come with a subject line like, 'Election Night Results' or 'Priorities for the New President' or 'Fear of a Black President'. The modus operandi of infecting is quite stealthy, which may lead several gullible users infected, the email invites readers to click on a link to watch Obama's speech, this link leads them to a make-believe website, 'America.gov'.
The video pane reads, 'Loading Player', and prompts to download Adobe Flash Player. To further make it look genuine, the site also provides the estimated time for downloading as 4-6 seconds! This tricks users into clicking the link that serves the malicious file adobe_flash9.exe."
Trend Micro detects the downloaded Trojan file as TROJ_DLOADER.ISZ of 3,261 bytes size. Trend Micro researcher Macalintal further points out that this spam run is from the same group that sends fake bank certificate spam (targeting Wachovia, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and a German bank's account holders). The properties of this attack still suggest cybercriminals using a fast-flux network of compromised computers. This spam run is currently still underway as of this writing, using different subjects and fast-changing domains.
Warns Nath: "Trend Micro analysis reveals that TROJ_DLOADER.ISZ downloads an infostealer, TSPY_PAPRAS.AM, which in turn drops a rootkit component which hides its routines. This infostealer dives into network packets to scour for passwords using Carnivore by searching strings like ftp, icq, imap, and pop3. It sends stolen information to a server in Ukraine. The Trojan is known to infect Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP and Server 2003."
The malicious URL where this Trojan is downloaded is already blocked by the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Why is Obama the best man to lead USA?
What makes Barack Obama the best man for the post of US President? Apart from being first Black to adorn the White House, what are the other attributes that make him fit for the prestigious post?
A latest survey conducted by InspireOne, a people, organization and leadership development firm based in India points to some interesting aspects of the man called Obama.
According to the survey done by InspireOne in association with Centre for High Performance Development (www.chpd.com), it is the critical thinking skills in Obama that makes him different.
The analysis participated in the survey predicts that Obama will be able to perform to a higher level at times of high 'VUCAD' (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity and delayed feedback), said a press release.
The analysis conducted a week before the Presidential Elections, reveals the instinctive characteristics and decision making skills that Obama possessed as a leader in the making.
The three primary levels of thought and action assessed are related to the skills of Differentiation, Integration and Crisis, the survey points out.
A latest survey conducted by InspireOne, a people, organization and leadership development firm based in India points to some interesting aspects of the man called Obama.
According to the survey done by InspireOne in association with Centre for High Performance Development (www.chpd.com), it is the critical thinking skills in Obama that makes him different.
The analysis participated in the survey predicts that Obama will be able to perform to a higher level at times of high 'VUCAD' (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity and delayed feedback), said a press release.
The analysis conducted a week before the Presidential Elections, reveals the instinctive characteristics and decision making skills that Obama possessed as a leader in the making.
The three primary levels of thought and action assessed are related to the skills of Differentiation, Integration and Crisis, the survey points out.
White House network hacked
Chinese hackers have penetrated the White House computer network on multiple occasions, and obtained e-mails between government officials, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, quoting a senior US official.
The cyber attackers managed to penetrate the White House system for brief periods that allowed them to steal information before US government experts each time patched the system, the newspaper reported the official as saying.
The official told the newspaper that US was getting very targeted Chinese attacks so its stretches credulity that these are not directed by government-related organizations.
The US has increased efforts to tackle cyber security in the past year, especially since Chinese hackers penetrated the Pentagon last year, Financial Times said.
In that attack the hackers had obtained e-mails from the system serving Robert Gates, the defence secretary.
While the US has raised concerns about cyber attacks, many foreign governments believe the US is also engaged in electronic spying, the newspaper said. Bob Woodward, the Washington Post reporter had revealed that the US had been spying on the Iraqi government.
The cyber attackers managed to penetrate the White House system for brief periods that allowed them to steal information before US government experts each time patched the system, the newspaper reported the official as saying.
The official told the newspaper that US was getting very targeted Chinese attacks so its stretches credulity that these are not directed by government-related organizations.
The US has increased efforts to tackle cyber security in the past year, especially since Chinese hackers penetrated the Pentagon last year, Financial Times said.
In that attack the hackers had obtained e-mails from the system serving Robert Gates, the defence secretary.
While the US has raised concerns about cyber attacks, many foreign governments believe the US is also engaged in electronic spying, the newspaper said. Bob Woodward, the Washington Post reporter had revealed that the US had been spying on the Iraqi government.
iPod inventor Fadell bids goodbye to Apple
Tony Fadell, the man who invented the hugely popular iPod and iTunes for Apple Inc, has stepped down after eight years.
Apple said it had appointed Mark Papermaster, an IBM chip expert, to replace him as head of hardware engineering for its iPod and iPhone devices division.
Fadell has now chosen to spend more time with his family. Apple has announced that the iPod division vice president Tony Fadell and his wife, Danielle Lambert, who is vice president of the company's human resources department, are leaving to spend more with their family.
Fadell, will however remain as an adviser to CEO Steve Jobs.
Fadell had been a senior consumer electronics executive at Philips before he came up with the idea for linking a digital player and an online store to create a simpler way to access and play music. His idea was eventually backed by Apple, where he went on to become a senior vice-president and one of the company's top executives.
Chandrayaan dips lower in moon orbit
India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 was pushed further towards the moon's surface in the first orbit-lowering manoeuvre late Sunday, a top space agency official said.
India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 was pushed further towards the moon's surface in the first orbit-lowering manoeuvre late Sunday, a top space agency official said.
'The first orbit lowering operation was carried out successfully at 20.03 hrs IST by firing the liquid engine onboard the spacecraft for 57 seconds. All systems are functioning satisfactorily,' Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Director S. Sathis told IANS here.
In this elliptical orbit, Chandrayaan will be circling the moon over its polar regions at 200 km periselene (nearest point from moon) and 7,500 km aposelene (farthest point from moon).
'Further orbital manoeuvres are planned over the coming days to lower the spacecraft gradually to its designated slot of 100x100 km from the lunar surface for conducting various experiments, including high resolution remote sensing of the moon,' Satish said.
The operation was carried from the spacecraft control centre of the space agency's telemetry, tracking and command network (Istrac) here along with its deep space network (DSN) at Byalalu, about 40 km from this tech hub.
Chandrayaan was successfully put into the lunar orbit Saturday after an 18-day voyage, making it the first ever Indian-built spacecraft to break away from the earth's gravitational field and get captured by the moon's equally powerful gravity.
Chandrayaan carries 11 scientific instruments, including six foreign payloads - two from the US, three from the European Space Agency (ESA) and one from Bulgaria. The remaining five are indigenously designed and developed by various centres of the state-run ISRO.
The spacecraft was blasted off Oct 22 onboard the 316-tonne polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C11) from the Satish Dhawan space centre at Sriharikota spaceport, about 80km north of Chennai.
India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 was pushed further towards the moon's surface in the first orbit-lowering manoeuvre late Sunday, a top space agency official said.
'The first orbit lowering operation was carried out successfully at 20.03 hrs IST by firing the liquid engine onboard the spacecraft for 57 seconds. All systems are functioning satisfactorily,' Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Director S. Sathis told IANS here.
In this elliptical orbit, Chandrayaan will be circling the moon over its polar regions at 200 km periselene (nearest point from moon) and 7,500 km aposelene (farthest point from moon).
'Further orbital manoeuvres are planned over the coming days to lower the spacecraft gradually to its designated slot of 100x100 km from the lunar surface for conducting various experiments, including high resolution remote sensing of the moon,' Satish said.
The operation was carried from the spacecraft control centre of the space agency's telemetry, tracking and command network (Istrac) here along with its deep space network (DSN) at Byalalu, about 40 km from this tech hub.
Chandrayaan was successfully put into the lunar orbit Saturday after an 18-day voyage, making it the first ever Indian-built spacecraft to break away from the earth's gravitational field and get captured by the moon's equally powerful gravity.
Chandrayaan carries 11 scientific instruments, including six foreign payloads - two from the US, three from the European Space Agency (ESA) and one from Bulgaria. The remaining five are indigenously designed and developed by various centres of the state-run ISRO.
The spacecraft was blasted off Oct 22 onboard the 316-tonne polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C11) from the Satish Dhawan space centre at Sriharikota spaceport, about 80km north of Chennai.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Mexico emerges great destination for Indian BPO firms
The Latino country is eyeing for $8 billion revenue from information technology services by 2030 For most people, Mexico doesn't equate with a home for high-tech companies. However, with a likely shift in the world economic superpowers in the future, the 'Latino' country is eyeing for $8 billion revenue frominformation technology services by 2030.
The global markets for IT services and business process outsourcing (BPO) is posing strong growth despite challenging conditions worldwide. According to Gartner, the revenues of $748 billion in 2007, is set to grow 9.5 percent in 2008, while the Everest Group estimates the present BPO market to be values at $28 billion is expected to grow up to $280 billion by 2012.
In this context, Mexico is set to fully take advantage of the growth prospects for these markets. Talking to CIOL at the BangaloreIT.biz 2008, Ricardo Alvarez, executive director of International Promotion, Mexico says, "Mexico is has already signed free trade agreements with 44 countries and is the second largest NAFTA country. India has always been the key strategic partner in many industrial sectors and would like it to expand in the IT front as well."
Alvarez says, "Goldman Sachs report indicates India and Mexico are likely to emerge big as world's economic superpowers and so need to work together in this regard. We can do so much together with India in IT despite the present financial crisis."
As per the report, China will top the list as the 'Economic Superpowers' by 2030, followed by USA, India, Brazil, Mexico and Russia.
With a privileged geographic location right next to the world's largest IT market, Mexico offers abundant qualified human resources and strong support. "These are among the many reasons why the government estimates that these sectors will export $8 billion by 2030," adds Alvarez.
Now with US economy tottering and President-elect Barack Ombama posturing against outsourcing, Mexico sees itself as alternative destination Indian IT Inc can explore for furthering their business.
With more than 1,200 software, BPO and IT services firms, Mexico generated revenues of $4 billion in 2007 growing at 36 percent annually (including IT oursourcing) of which $3.1 billion were exports, he adds.
Home to ten Indian IT firms, Mexico is rolling the red carpet for more Indian IT firms to set up shop there. Sasken, Mphasis, Sutherland, Hexware, Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Aricent, iGate and Mindtree have logged their presence in Mexico from 2005. "Our purpose in participating at IT.biz is to diversify our markets and establish better IT ties with India, he says.
Mexico's need of IT service professionals is expected to double from 41,000 in 2007 to 89,000 in 2013 and BPO professionals triple from 50,000 in 2007 to 155,000 in 2013, he said, adding it has 23 regional IT clusters in 20 states. For promoting IT in the country, Mexico First initiative is being rolled out with $100 million spend over the next five years, Alvarez adds.
Mexico, he said, was pushing Mexico City, State of Mexico, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Puebla, Sonora, Sinaloa and Veracruz, as fast-growing IT industry destinations for nearshore outsouring with advantages like time-zone alignment, lower costs, fast and simple visa regime, ease of software and hardware procurement, and legal and IP protection.
Recognizing the importance and economic potential of the software, IT services and BPO industries, the country has set up Prosoft — federal flasghip programme for the IT sector to provide financial assistance to IT investment and development. TechBA — business incubator and Mexico IT to provide information and advice to foreign firms keen on doing business in Mexico.
The global markets for IT services and business process outsourcing (BPO) is posing strong growth despite challenging conditions worldwide. According to Gartner, the revenues of $748 billion in 2007, is set to grow 9.5 percent in 2008, while the Everest Group estimates the present BPO market to be values at $28 billion is expected to grow up to $280 billion by 2012.
In this context, Mexico is set to fully take advantage of the growth prospects for these markets. Talking to CIOL at the BangaloreIT.biz 2008, Ricardo Alvarez, executive director of International Promotion, Mexico says, "Mexico is has already signed free trade agreements with 44 countries and is the second largest NAFTA country. India has always been the key strategic partner in many industrial sectors and would like it to expand in the IT front as well."
Alvarez says, "Goldman Sachs report indicates India and Mexico are likely to emerge big as world's economic superpowers and so need to work together in this regard. We can do so much together with India in IT despite the present financial crisis."
As per the report, China will top the list as the 'Economic Superpowers' by 2030, followed by USA, India, Brazil, Mexico and Russia.
With a privileged geographic location right next to the world's largest IT market, Mexico offers abundant qualified human resources and strong support. "These are among the many reasons why the government estimates that these sectors will export $8 billion by 2030," adds Alvarez.
Now with US economy tottering and President-elect Barack Ombama posturing against outsourcing, Mexico sees itself as alternative destination Indian IT Inc can explore for furthering their business.
With more than 1,200 software, BPO and IT services firms, Mexico generated revenues of $4 billion in 2007 growing at 36 percent annually (including IT oursourcing) of which $3.1 billion were exports, he adds.
Home to ten Indian IT firms, Mexico is rolling the red carpet for more Indian IT firms to set up shop there. Sasken, Mphasis, Sutherland, Hexware, Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Aricent, iGate and Mindtree have logged their presence in Mexico from 2005. "Our purpose in participating at IT.biz is to diversify our markets and establish better IT ties with India, he says.
Mexico's need of IT service professionals is expected to double from 41,000 in 2007 to 89,000 in 2013 and BPO professionals triple from 50,000 in 2007 to 155,000 in 2013, he said, adding it has 23 regional IT clusters in 20 states. For promoting IT in the country, Mexico First initiative is being rolled out with $100 million spend over the next five years, Alvarez adds.
Mexico, he said, was pushing Mexico City, State of Mexico, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Puebla, Sonora, Sinaloa and Veracruz, as fast-growing IT industry destinations for nearshore outsouring with advantages like time-zone alignment, lower costs, fast and simple visa regime, ease of software and hardware procurement, and legal and IP protection.
Recognizing the importance and economic potential of the software, IT services and BPO industries, the country has set up Prosoft — federal flasghip programme for the IT sector to provide financial assistance to IT investment and development. TechBA — business incubator and Mexico IT to provide information and advice to foreign firms keen on doing business in Mexico.
Aviation giants still eye $300 bn India potential
Despite daily losses of Rs.100-150 million ($2-3 million) being incurred by some Indian carriers due to the general economic downturn, global aerospace giants continue to make a strong pitch for a share in the country's aviation pie, officially estimated at $300 billion by 2020, experts said.
"Much of the world is flat or declining. Only India is growing," said Daniel J. Magoon, director of Indian business development, transportation and security solutions with the US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.
"We want to become the supplier of choice for air traffic control and security systems," Magoon told the media, adding his job was to change the company's business mix in India from major supplier of wares to the defence sector to gaining a foothold in the civil aviation space.
India's flight penetration is at a mere 0.2 per capita, compared to 2.2 in the US and 1.2 in China, and with only 40 busy airports serving a population of more than a billion, companies like Lockheed sees a huge growth potential here.
And it was none other than Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who said in Hyderabad recently during a major civil aviation show that India offered a $300 billion market by 2020 for new aircraft, infrastructure and air traffic control, navigation and security systems.
"The entire world now thinks India is the place to grow and we are very much focussed on the Indian market as our business here can grow to as much as $1 billion in the next few years," said Fred A. Treyz III of another US giant Raytheon.
"China may be growing too but most American aviation companies who also have a presence in the defence sector are not allowed to do business with Chinese companies, so we have to focus on India," said Treyz who is the company's director of business development and strategic planning.
As aviation infrastructure suppliers slug it out for the Indian market, aircraft makers, too, see India as the place to grow. Bell Helicopter, for example, took 52 years to sell its first 100 choppers in India, but now expects to sell the next 100 in less than five years.
"India is our fastest growing market," says Greg Hubbard, director of communications for Bell Helicopter, which claims a 52 percent market share in the chopper market, followed closely by Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter with 40 percent.
'We believe that the helicopter market in the country has the potential of doubling in the next few years,' said Norbert Ducrot, Eurocopter's senior vice president for sales and marketing in Asia.
India is also a hot market for corporate and business jets. Outside the US, India is the second-largest market after Brazil for Hawker Beechcraft, said Sean McGeough, the company's vice president of international sales.
Despite being a little slow to take off, Montreal-based Bombardier, another leading manufacturer of business jets, now has three sales representatives in India and will also set up a regional customer support office for the sub-continent next year.
"The potential for Bombardier as a regional carrier in this market is vast and it is our hope and expectation to build on that in the months and years to come," Bombardier's senior adviser John Arnone told recently.
But what about the current troubles of Indian carriers? The two major commercial aircraft manufacturing giants Airbus and Boeing think it is a temporary aberration and will soon correct itself.
"There is now too much overcapacity but the potential for growth in India is huge," says Kiran Rao, European aircraft giant Airbus's executive vice-president of sales and marketing.
"If the Indian economy is growing at 7-8 percent, then air traffic growth will be 14-15 percent. So we are very much focussed on India," he said. This perception is also shared by Dinesh A. Keskar, Boeing's senior vice president of sales of commercial airplanes.
"India is the growth story of the world and it is going to be the future," he said.
"Much of the world is flat or declining. Only India is growing," said Daniel J. Magoon, director of Indian business development, transportation and security solutions with the US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin.
"We want to become the supplier of choice for air traffic control and security systems," Magoon told the media, adding his job was to change the company's business mix in India from major supplier of wares to the defence sector to gaining a foothold in the civil aviation space.
India's flight penetration is at a mere 0.2 per capita, compared to 2.2 in the US and 1.2 in China, and with only 40 busy airports serving a population of more than a billion, companies like Lockheed sees a huge growth potential here.
And it was none other than Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who said in Hyderabad recently during a major civil aviation show that India offered a $300 billion market by 2020 for new aircraft, infrastructure and air traffic control, navigation and security systems.
"The entire world now thinks India is the place to grow and we are very much focussed on the Indian market as our business here can grow to as much as $1 billion in the next few years," said Fred A. Treyz III of another US giant Raytheon.
"China may be growing too but most American aviation companies who also have a presence in the defence sector are not allowed to do business with Chinese companies, so we have to focus on India," said Treyz who is the company's director of business development and strategic planning.
As aviation infrastructure suppliers slug it out for the Indian market, aircraft makers, too, see India as the place to grow. Bell Helicopter, for example, took 52 years to sell its first 100 choppers in India, but now expects to sell the next 100 in less than five years.
"India is our fastest growing market," says Greg Hubbard, director of communications for Bell Helicopter, which claims a 52 percent market share in the chopper market, followed closely by Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter with 40 percent.
'We believe that the helicopter market in the country has the potential of doubling in the next few years,' said Norbert Ducrot, Eurocopter's senior vice president for sales and marketing in Asia.
India is also a hot market for corporate and business jets. Outside the US, India is the second-largest market after Brazil for Hawker Beechcraft, said Sean McGeough, the company's vice president of international sales.
Despite being a little slow to take off, Montreal-based Bombardier, another leading manufacturer of business jets, now has three sales representatives in India and will also set up a regional customer support office for the sub-continent next year.
"The potential for Bombardier as a regional carrier in this market is vast and it is our hope and expectation to build on that in the months and years to come," Bombardier's senior adviser John Arnone told recently.
But what about the current troubles of Indian carriers? The two major commercial aircraft manufacturing giants Airbus and Boeing think it is a temporary aberration and will soon correct itself.
"There is now too much overcapacity but the potential for growth in India is huge," says Kiran Rao, European aircraft giant Airbus's executive vice-president of sales and marketing.
"If the Indian economy is growing at 7-8 percent, then air traffic growth will be 14-15 percent. So we are very much focussed on India," he said. This perception is also shared by Dinesh A. Keskar, Boeing's senior vice president of sales of commercial airplanes.
"India is the growth story of the world and it is going to be the future," he said.
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