* Santa's Web site hacked * Management dark horses Cisco and Microsoft poised for strong run * Microsoft acknowledges vulnerability in Vista * Tech support stories * Congressional aide tries to hire hackers * Twisted Pair: Yuletide spectacular * Today on Layer 8
News podcast: Network World 360
Cisco’s IOS set for radical pricing and feature changes, IBM releases free search software for small and midsize businesses, ’tis the season for the U.S. Postal Service network to deliver, and ‘Big Yellow’ malware exploits Symantec desktop products. (9:36) Listen now.
NOTE: NetFlash will take a break over the holidays, resuming on Jan. 2. Go to the NetFlash Web page for daily updates until then. Have a happy and safe holiday, and we’ll see you in 2007!
Santa’s Web site hacked
With Christmas fast approaching, Santa Claus reached out for a little help from Stopbadware.org this week. The consumer advocacy group said it was approached by an Incline Village, Nev., man who has legally changed his name to Santa Claus, who asked them to help figure out why his Web site was being flagged by Google’s Web site filters. It turned out that Santa’s Web site had been hacked. Click here for more.
Management dark horses Cisco and Microsoft poised for strong run
Cisco and Microsoft typically come to mind when talking network equipment and operating system software, respectively. Yet in 2007 these vendors separately could solidify their roles in the management world as well. BMC, CA, HP and IBM have dominated the network and systems management market for quite some time. Despite myriad vendors emerging and dissolving, there hasn’t been much by means of competition for the heavyweights. Click here for more.
Microsoft acknowledges vulnerability in Vista
A vulnerability that affects four of Microsoft’s operating systems, including Vista, doesn’t appear to pose a great risk, according to one security vendor. Click here for more.
Tech support stories
“Restart the Internet” and other user requests. Part of the 12 Days of Wider Nets. Click here for more.
Congressional aide tries to hire hackers – to boost his college GPA
The communications director for Montana’s lone congressman solicited the services of attrition.org’s “Lyger” and “Jericho,” falsely believing them to be criminally minded hackers-for-hire – with the expressed goal of jacking up his college GPA – during an exchange that spanned 22 e-mails over two weeks this past summer. “These are people misrepresenting themselves for a laugh,” the aide complains. Click here for more.
Twisted Pair: Yuletide spectacular
Keith and Jason get ready to kick off the holidays with news of logic bombs, vista security exploits for sale, data breaches, Firefox patches, christmas shoppping. Plus, the Pair reveal their favorite Christmas movies of all time. Listen now.
Today on Layer 8, where it’s been our pleasure:
Happy Holidays from Mac and PC; one small embarrassing step for Zune; SNL uses ‘Net for uncensored sketch; and The Queen podcasts; all this today and more at your home for not-just-networking news.
For news updated throughout the day, go to Network World’s NetFlash news page.
