PacketTrap Networks Announces Immediate Detection and Resolution of Software Flaws

Company Works with Digital Defense

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 29, 2008 — Together with Digital Defense, PacketTrap Networks (www.PacketTrap.com), a leading network management company, published an advisory today describing a minor vulnerability in its pt360 software. Digital Defense Inc. discovered the vulnerability during its testing of the free pt360 Tool Suite beta.

"We're glad we could work with Digital Defense on this issue as it helps us achieve our goal to produce the highest-quality network management solutions," said Steve Goodman. "TFTP server is an important component of our network utilities library but we take any and all technology issues seriously and are committed to addressing them expeditiously."

Within five hours that same day, PacketTrap's development team had fixed the issue (patch #3302), which caused the company's TFTP server tool to terminate at packet sizes of 203 bytes or above. None of pt360 Tool Suite's 17,000 users experienced any problems relating to this vulnerability. Customers can ensure they have the latest version of pt360 by selecting HELP | CHECK FOR UPDTES in the pt360 Tool Suite.

For more information about new feature releases to pt360, please visit http://www.packettrap.com/product/index.aspx. To read about PacketTrap's perspective on the events shaping the network management industry, please visit the Company's blog at http://blog.packettrap.com.

About PacketTrap Networks:
PacketTrap is favored among the IT community for its seamless integration of network monitoring and diagnostic tools into a centralized dashboard. PacketTrap's flagship solution, the pt360, provides IT professionals with a 360 degree view of their network and lets them discover, monitor, and manage their IT infrastructure from a single screen. The suite includes Cisco configuration tools, a TFTP server, WMI, SNMP, and Port Scans, and gadgets to monitor all flavors of operating systems and servers. PacketTrap is committed to providing affordable and robust alternatives to needlessly complex, poorly supported market offerings.

Episode 16 – Bits du Jour

This week, we will talk with the president of a company who offers a referral program – with a twist. We will find out how we can profit from advertising software – and possibly other computer related products and services on our site in a commission based format that is seamless, sticky, transparent, and doesn’t compete with our sites.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:18
Billboard 2:36

News and Comment segment 5:11
Toshiba suspended production of HD-DVD players last week and officially announced it would end sales of the format at the end of March.

Wal-Mart plans to sell through existing HD-DVD stock and will place a greater emphasis on selling only standard DVD formats and Blu-Ray during the next 30 days.

The Force Field is conducting a Trivia Contest during the months of February and March. If you are a regular listener of The Force Field podcast, you now have the chance to take your knowledge of the show and win prizes! All you have to do is listen to the podcast, log into The Force Field web site at theforcefield.net, click on The Force Field Podcast Trivia Contest link on the right sidebar and answer the ten trivia questions. If you answer all ten questions correctly you will be entered into a drawing to win a 1GB USB flash drive or an Nvidia partnerForce T-shirt! Enter The Force Field podcast Trivia Contest today and win! Contest ends March 31, 2008.

Small Business Computing.com released announced the winners of the 2008 Small Business Computing Excellence in Technology Awards this month. In the collaboration category, the winner was GoToMeeting. Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomeeting.com/techpodcasts.

Microsoft released a list of applications that will not work with Windows Vista Service Pack 1, due for release in March. In an article published on its web site February 22, Microsoft listed a dozen applications that had what it termed “compatibility problems” and would be blocked for “reliability reasons”.

Commercial Break 1:00
Totally Cool Tech Podcast Promo :30

Caffination Podcast promo :30

Intro to Interview 2:08
If you own and operate your own web site as part of your business you are likely searching for a way to maximize the valuable real estate on your site to monetize or otherwise profit from it. One of the most universally accepted practices of generating revenue from your web site is the lease or rent of that space on your pages to advertisers and commission based banner or link referral programs.

Nico Westerdale, president of a company called Iconico, Inc. offers a referral program that is different from all others. It is sticky, transparent and offers generous commissions for every item sold.

This week we’re going to talk to Nico and find out what his referral program is, how it works and how we can use it to both sell software from other vendors – and possibly our own services in a new referral program called Bits du Jour.

Nico Westerdale Interview 13:55

Wrap up and Close :46

©2008 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

Microsoft Lists Applications That Do Not Work With Vista SP1

(TheForceField.Net ) February 24, 2008 — Microsoft released a list of applications that will not work with Windows Vista Service Pack 1, due for release in March. In an article published on its web site February 22, Microsoft listed a dozen applications that had what it termed “compatibility problems” and would be blocked for “reliability reasons”.

The list was part of Microsoft KB article 935796 titled  "Information about programs that are known to experience a loss of functionality when they run on a Windows Vista Service Pack 1-based computer".

Among the applications on the list are BitDefender Version 10, Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 and ZoneAlarm Security Suite 7.1.078. According to Microsoft updated versions of most applications on the list that are supported by Service Pack 1 are now available from their vendors.

Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista is an important update for Windows Vista. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) contains many security, reliability, and feature updates for Windows Vista.,” the article states.

Most of the applications on the list are antivirus, firewall and security programs. 

Fusu: Bringing Premium Domain Names To Everyone

For the first time, Fusu, the Domain Stock Exchange, makes it possible for anyone to invest in premium, high value domain names. Investors can participate in an industry that has been called the "real estate of the 21st century".

(PRWEB) February 23, 2008 — Generic domain names have become very much in demand to corporations and investors due to their extraordinary marketing ability to generate revenue and attract clients. Generic names such as Movies.com (owned by Disney), Toothpaste.com (Proctor & Gamble) or Books.com (Barnes & Noble) are extremely easy for the public to remember. More and more companies are beginning to employ a more comprehensive generic domain marketing strategy in advertising.

Contrary to current economic conditions, the domain name market is experiencing unparalleled growth. Hundreds of millions of dollars change hands annually in the domain name aftermarket.

Until now, if investors wanted to participate in the growth of this exciting industry, they had to purchase domains on the domain name aftermarket. However, unless someone was prepared to spend hundreds of thousands, or millions, of dollars on a single premium domain, they were locked out.

Fusu, the Domain Stock Exchange, launched at the Traffic conference in Las Vegas on February 19th, now brings the concept of the traditional stock exchange to the domain name industry. Fusu provides an innovative trading platform for owners, shareholders and investors.

Investors can buy right now into such premium names as eel.com, owned by David and Michael Castello, who possess one of the best domain portfolios in the world and were recently awarded the 2008 Domainers Choice Award for Domain Ambassadors. Valued at $250,000, the Initial Domain Offering, which is available only until the 26th of February, is already 80% subscribed.

A more speculative investment is Flowers.mobi, owned by Rick "Domain King" Schwartz. Always ahead of his time, Rick's purchase of this domain created some stir in the domainers' community. This is the chance for investors to follow Rick's lead and buy in during the Initial Domain Offering (IDO). Recently, Rick sold iReport.com to CNN for $750,000 — if he repeats a similar sale with Flowers.mobi, investors will participate in the sales revenue according to the percentage they acquire.

Also up for investment are Warning.com (initial value $200,000) and Rvx.com (priced very low at $5,000) with more to be announced in the next weeks.

Here is how to participate in the Fusu Initial Domain Offerings:
1.   Sign up at www.fusu.com.
2.   Prefund your Fusu account with the amount you would like to invest in domains.
3.   In the Fusu IDO Auction select the domain you wish to invest in and simply enter your bid for shares.

A tutorial on the IDO process can be found on the Fusu website at https://www.fusu.com/node/172.

About Fusu:
Fusu is the world's first Domain Stock Exchange. Founded in 2007, its mission is to bring fractional ownership to the Domain Name industry through a liquid, professionally run financial Exchange.

Computing Technology Industry Association Names New Members to CompTIA RFID+ Advisory Committee

Technology experts from Alien Technology and SYMX join certification advisory group.

Oakbrook Terrace, IL (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 23, 2008 — The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the leading provider of vendor-neutral certifications for information technology (IT) workers around the world, today announced the appointment of two new members to its CompTIA RFID+™ certification advisory committee.

News Image

Joining the advisory committee is Robert Zielinski, director of education and services marketing for Alien Technology Corporation's RFID Solutions Center, an advanced facility in Dayton, Ohio devoted entirely to the application of RFID technology. The 23,000-square-foot RFID Solutions Center includes educational, research and development and real-world implementation resources.

Also joining the committee is Michael Mancuso, chief technology officer for SYMX Corporation of Miami Lakes, Fla., a global provider of medical equipment services and products. Mancuso has a strong background in active RFID technology and has been a devoted evangelist for the value of real time locating systems (RTLS) solutions in healthcare.

"The number of RFID deployments continues to grow across many industries, including heath care, manufacturing and retail; and in many different applications, such as supply chain, 'closed-loop' deployments and asset tracking," said Neill Hopkins, vice president, skills development, CompTIA. "The guidance and expertise provided by our new advisory committee members assures that CompTIA RFID+ is equipping RFID technicians with the skills necessary to address this growth."

CompTIA RFID+ is a professional certification of skills in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology that addresses the needs of RFID hardware and software manufacturers, value added resellers, training developers, and end-users of the technology. The certification was introduced in 2006 and is the result of the collaboration and support of more than 20 organizations with leadership positions in the global RFID industry.

Skills that CompTIA RFID+ validates include the ability to install, configure and maintain RFID hardware and device software; perform site surveys and site analysis; and tag selection, placement and testing. The certification is intended for technology professionals with a minimum of six to twenty-four months of experience in RFID or related data collection technologies. For more information on CompTIA RFID+, visit http://certification.comptia.org/rfid.

United States military veterans and their eligible dependents may now use their G.I. Bill benefits to cover the full cost of the CompTIA RFID+ certification exam. For more information on this G.I. Bill benefit, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/.

About CompTIA:
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the voice of the world's $3 trillion information technology industry. CompTIA membership extends into more than 100 countries and includes companies at the forefront of innovation; the channel partners and solution providers they rely on to bring their products to market; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their technology investments. For more information, visit www.comptia.org.

Contact:
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
630-678-8468
sostrowski @ comptia.org

Consumer Class Action Filed Against DirecTV Over Satellite Receiver Leases

Wexler Toriseva Wallace LLP files nationwide class action for purchasers of DirecTV satellite receivers.

(PRWEB) February 22, 2008 — The law firm of Wexler Toriseva Wallace LLP, with co-counsel Green Welling LLP, filed a class action complaint against DirecTV and Best Buy, alleging that the companies fail to adequately disclose that a purchase of a DirecTV satellite receiver is considered by DirecTV to be a "lease", for which it charges consumers monthly lease fees. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of consumers nationwide, further alleging that consumers instead believe that they own the receivers they purchase from DirecTV or its retailers, like Best Buy and Circuit City. Only later, according to the suit, do they discover that they must pay lease fees, and return their receivers if they cancel their DirecTV subscription. The lawsuit seeks recovery of all lease fees paid, and a judgment declaring that DirecTV's purported lease is invalid. The class action complaint was filed in Los Angeles federal court (Case No. CV08-00906 ABC (PJWx).

According to Mark J. Tamblyn, a partner in Wexler Toriseva Wallace's Sacramento office, "consumers should be fully advised that their purchases of DirecTV receivers come with strings. They should not have to discover after paying hundreds of dollars for a receiver that their purchase is more like a rental, requiring continuous payments."

Wexler Toriseva Wallace LLP (http://www.wtwlaw.com) is a national leader in prosecuting class actions and other complex litigation on behalf of consumer and business clients in state and federal courts throughout the United States. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and maintains additional offices in California and West Virginia. Contact: Mark J. Tamblyn (916) 568-1100.

Additional Contacts:
Green Welling LLP (http://www.classcounsel.com) represents a wide range of individuals and businesses in class actions and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the nation. This firm is based in San Francisco, California. Contact: Robert S. Green (415) 477-6700.

Kershaw Cutter & Ratinoff LLP (http://www.kcrlegal.com) prosecutes complex wage and hour, consumer and mass tort litigation, and has obtained combined recoveries for plaintiffs of over a billion dollars. The firm is based in Sacramento, California. Contact: Stuart C. Talley (916) 448-9800.

IndustrySafe Safety Software 2008 Event Schedule

IndustrySafe Safety Software is pleased to announce its calendar of events for 2008. IndustrySafe Safety Software provides organizations with incident tracking, OSHA reporting, inspections, training, hazards,corrective actions and more.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 22, 2008 — IndustrySafe Safety Software (www.industrysafe.com) is pleased to announce its calendar of events for 2008. IndustrySafe Safety Management Software provides organizations with web-based safety data management tools including incident tracking, OSHA recordkeeping, and OSHA logs, inspections, training, hazards, behavioral based safety, claims, corrective actions and more.

IndustrySafe will be exhibiting at three of the largest national safety conferences including the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) National Show in Las Vegas in June 2008, the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA) National Conference in Anaheim in August 2008, and the National Safety Council (NSC) Expo in Anaheim in September 2008.

At these trade shows, the IndustrySafe Sales Team will demonstrate the feature and functionality of the easy to use safety software, including incident tracking, OSHA recordkeeping, safety training tracking, inspections, and the safety dashboard. New features for IndustrySafe Release 3.06 will also be displayed at the conferences. Enhancements to the Safety Dashboard, OSHA recordkeeping, and safety training tracking among others are included in the 3.06 Release.

"We look forward to these conferences as an opportunity to meet with new and existing clients and to review enhancements to IndustrySafe. We pride ourselves on our ability to listen to our customers." states President, Kenneth A. Korach. IndustrySafe Safety Software experts will also be speaking at the ASSE National Conference on key safety performance indicators and safety management software.

About IndustrySafe
IndustrySafe Safety Software is a web-based safety data management product developed by TRA so organizations can track incidents, corrective actions, OSHA reporting, training, claims, inspections, hazards, behavioral based safety, and more. IndustrySafe clients include leaders in manufacturing, construction, government, and transportation.

More information about IndustrySafe Safety Software is available at www.industrysafe.com

Ethoca Joins Merchant Risk Council as Signature Sponsor

Vice President, Steve Frook, to present on Collaborating to Defeat Internet Fraud at 6th Annual MRC Conference.

Dublin, Ireland and Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 22, 2008 — Ethoca, the leader in collaborative fraud management, announced today that it has joined the Merchant Risk Council (MRC) as a Signature Sponsor. The MRC is the retail industry's leading trade association dedicated to preventing online fraud and promoting secure e-commerce in global online payments.

News Image
"One of the goals of the Merchant Risk Council is to foster collaboration between online businesses to prevent online fraud, and make the Internet the preferred place to shop and conduct business," said Andre Edelbrock, Ethoca's President & CEO. "As the provider of the leading global anti-fraud network for collaboration, Ethoca absolutely supports the MRC's mission, and is privileged to join as a Signature Sponsor."

The MRC and its mission continue to grow in importance as e-commerce continually expands its footprint in the overall economy. According to the National Retail Foundation, online sales in the US totaled $259 billion in 2007, growing 18% over 2006. The US Census Bureau estimates that ecommerce sales now constitute 3.4% of all retail sales. Although mainstream acceptance of online shopping has taken off in recent years, numerous studies continue to show that consumer fears of online shopping safety and fraud are limiting the speed of growth, despite the obvious convenience and time-saving factors.

"The MRC is pleased to welcome Ethoca as a Signature Sponsor member," said Tom Donlea, Executive Director, Merchant Risk Council. "Ethoca's solutions and commitment to collaborative fraud management complement the MRC's mission to prevent online fraud and promote secure e-commerce."

Ethoca VP, Steve Frook to present at MRC Annual Conference

Steve Frook, Ethoca VP, is scheduled to present at the 6th Annual Merchant Risk Council Conference being held in Las Vegas, March 4-6, 2008. Mr. Frook's talk titled "Collaborating to Defeat Internet Fraud: Better Information Equals Higher Profit" will discuss the practice of "experience sharing" as a technique to more accurately assess transaction risk. By working together to create a more complete picture of their collective payment fraud experiences, merchants have the opportunity to sharply curtail the need for manual reviews to dramatically reduce labor costs, increase the level of process automation to lower operational expense, safely accept a large percentage of the orders that are falsely rejected to increase revenues and profitability, and create a better customer experience for improved loyalty. He will also describe how such a collaborative system is implemented in Ethoca's global fraud-fighting network.

About The Merchant Risk Council
The Merchant Risk Council (MRC), the retail industry's leading trade association for preventing online fraud and promoting secure e-commerce, is dedicated to working with merchants and law enforcement to make the Internet a safer place to do business. The MRC's mission is to foster a secure e-commerce environment and ensure the Internet is a safe and preferred place to shop and do business. The MRC is made up of more than 7,500 members including 120 of the world's largest Internet retailers who account for approximately 15 percent of all e-commerce revenue.

The MRC Board of Directors and Advisors consists of leading industry professionals, e-commerce retailers, solution providers, and financial institutions and includes representatives from Expedia, Adobe Systems, Neiman Marcus Direct, Apple, BestBuy.com, CyberSource, Discover Network, Microsoft, Visa Inc., Blizzard Entertainment, Chase Paymentech, Gap Inc. Direct, iovation, Neopets/MTV Networks, T-Mobile USA, Inc., The 41st Parameter, and Trustwave. The MRC headquarters are in Seattle, Washington. To learn more about the MRC, visit: www.merchantriskcouncil.org

About Ethoca Limited (www.ethoca.com)
Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in Toronto, Canada, Ethoca is the leader in collaborative fraud management. Ethoca enables businesses operating in any customer-not-present environment (i.e., business by internet, phone, fax or mail) to make more informed decisions about their customer transactions by sharing transaction experience data in a way that is secure, automated, effective and ethical. Businesses submit transaction data to Ethoca and can use summary history and analysis based on the collaborative data of Ethoca's clients to gauge the fraud-risk associated with any given transaction.

Ethoca's community includes a number of leading and recognized companies and payment and fraud solution provider partners from around the world.

Ethoca's clients increase profits by finding the optimal balance between allowed transactions and fraud-risk levels, and fraud management costs. Ethoca's use of independent third-party business process and data integrity audits ensures that the privacy and security of data is maintained. For more information about Ethoca visit www.ethoca.com.

Ethoca(TM) is a registered trademark of Ethoca Limited.

British Company Develops Self Destruct Technology for Sensitive Laptop Data

Virtuity UK has developed an intelligent security technology that can block access and even destroy data if a laptop is moved from its designated space. Backstopp constantly monitors the electronic "heartbeat" of a laptop to determine its location. If the laptop is moved from its allowed zone the software steps in to remove sensitive data.

Sheffield, England (PRWEB) February 21, 2008 — A British company has developed an intelligent security technology that can block access and even destroy data if a laptop is moved from its designated space. Backstopp, from technology company, Virtuity, constantly monitors the electronic "heartbeat" of a laptop to determine its location. If the laptop is moved from its allowed zone the software steps in to remove sensitive data.

The development, which is designed to be used in conjunction with encryption software, will allow easier access to data for authorised personnel whilst providing another layer of protection from data theft. The comprehensive system can provide an at-a-glance report of which laptops contain what data, and their level of security.

Backstopp can utilise any wireless communication, such as WiFi, to locate laptops. The PCs can also be tagged with RFID chips to monitor movement when switched off – companies may wish to limit a laptop's movement to one desk, one floor or one building within a facility, for example.

If a laptop owner reports it missing to the control centre, or the control centre concludes that the machine is "at risk", such as being moved through a stairwell, the system seeks out the digital heartbeat and sends the "self destruct" message. Meanwhile the software on the laptop can use any in-built webcam to start taking a series of photographs to help with identification of the culprit, uploading the images as soon as any network becomes available. The system is completely invisible to the thief.

With prices starting at £10 a laptop per month, the new system is set to become an essential add-on security measure for companies and government departments. Data should continue to be encrypted in any case, says Virtuity, with BackStopp being used to bring a firm conclusion to any laptop loss.

"There are millions of laptops out there that contain valuable data," commented Dean Bates, CTO of Virtuity. "The vast majority are not stolen for their data, but the ultimate recipient will often come across the data and use it for criminal purposes. This solution prevents that illicit use."

About Virtuity:
Virtuity is a young technology company delivering IT asset management services in a clear and centralised way through its unique vITILhub which brings together a diverse portfolio of tools and services from different vendors to ensure that IT investment is focused on best practice, asset optimisation, issue resolution, security and deployment. The hub is a great way to enable IT departments to support the whole organisation more effectively. Backstopp is the latest addition to that portfolio and represents a substantial development of new IPR for the company.

Contacts for information:
Peter Linton
Media Link
0118 984 3386
peter @ medialink.co.uk

or

Dean Bates
Virtuity Limited
0203 0040 752
dean.bates @ backstopp.com

HP Survey Reveals Top U.S. Small Business Marketing Challenges

PALO ALTO, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 21, 2008 — Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of all small businesses said they lacked full confidence in their marketing decisions, according to the results of a U.S. survey released today by HP. Furthermore, nearly half (46 percent) said they did not have general marketing expertise and 60 percent felt their small business marketing could be more effective.

The survey, conducted by International Communications Research (ICR), also found that only 33 percent of small businesses had created marketing collateral and a mere 27 percent had designed an official company logo. On average, small businesses expect to grow 27 percent over the next two years. Unsurprisingly considering this anticipated growth, the desire to reach new customers was cited as the primary reason (61 percent) small businesses are seeking more effective marketing strategies.

Other major survey findings include:

  • 46 percent of small businesses were not satisfied with the time currently spent on marketing their companies.
  • 27 percent rated their current marketing efforts as highly effective.
  • Only 18 percent of small businesses felt they were capable of creating in-house marketing collateral.
  • The top two reasons cited by small businesses as to why they would want to create marketing collateral in-house are reducing costs (39 percent) and convenience/speed (33 percent).

In an effort to help small businesses with their marketing and branding efforts, HP recently launched the What do you have to say? Small Business Contest. Prizes include a Logoworks by HP Start Up Package to help refresh or create their brand image and a printing package to print professional-quality marketing collateral in-house.

The contest runs through Feb. 28, 2008. To submit an entry and for more details on terms and conditions of the contest, visit www.hp.com/go/brandcontest.

Methodology

The study was conducted in ICRs SmallBizEXCEL Omnibus, a national monthly telephone omnibus service. The SmallBizEXCEL survey consisted of a standard set of introductory questions supplemented by a changing series of questions on various topics, as contracted by HP.

For the survey, ICR completed 500 interviews with a broad sample of small business owners and managers over a two week period. Targets were established based on the number of employees, type of business and region. In the end, the results are balanced by these three variables to reflect the competitive marketplace of small businesses.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the worlds largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $107.7 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE:HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.