Major Security Flaw in iPhone Software 2.0.2 (Try Push Kerio Mail Service for iPhone)

Major Security Flaw in iPhone Software 2.0.2
Many users were excited about Apple’s iPhone Software Update 2.0.2, expecting it to clarify some on-going network and reception issues. Unfortunately, the 3G network issues remain the same, and now a major security flaw has been exposed in 2.0.2. Despite Apple’s acknowledgment about poor 3G network reception, the latest update was supposed to “partially fix” the [...]

Many users were excited about Apple’s iPhone Software Update 2.0.2, expecting it to clarify some on-going network and reception issues. Unfortunately, the 3G network issues remain the same, and now a major security flaw has been exposed in 2.0.2.

Despite Apple’s acknowledgment about poor 3G network reception, the latest update was supposed to “partially fix” the reception between the device and the network.

Unfortunately, most, if not all of the 3G reception issues remain, and now a major security flaw has been exposed. MacRumors forum user greenmymac has posted the flaw, and listed the steps necessary to recreate it.

1. Set iPhone to use passcode lock, have contacts marked as Favorites with links, phone numbers, addresses, etc in address book entry.

2. Tap “Emergency Call” keypad from passcode entry screen.

3. Double-tap home button.

4. Tap blue arrow next to contact’s name. You now have full access to applications such as Safari, complete Contacts list, SMS, Maps, “full” Phone access, and Mail by accessing various entries on the Favorite’s page, i.e. tapping their home page brings up a full, unrestricted Safari.

Pretty scary stuff here people. The iPhone has much more personal information inside of it then a regular phone. If it gets into the hands of the wrong person, they may have access to all of your email, notes, phone numbers, pictures, and any other personal information you may have stored on the device. Switching on the passcode lock was supposed to secure most of this information from prying eyes, however a savvy user may now be able to find his way around your passcode lock and into your information.

[via CultofMac via Macrumors Forums]

Hosted Server Solutions Firm, Rack-Soft, Unveils New VoipNow Browser Module

Wilmington, Delaware - (The Hosting News) - August 28, 2008 - Server management and data center administration facilitator, Rack-Soft, has unveiled its VoipNow Browser Module, a free plug-in designed to enable web page click to call functions.

Bogdan Carstoiu, General Manager at Rack-Soft explained, ”We created this plug-in software because we wanted to offer our customers better integration with software from other vendors. For all applications that work in the browser, we addressed the integration at the browser level. VoipNow users will be able to add click to call features to any application, which is unique in industry. We are offering this experience for free, so our customers do not have to pay for the hidden costs, wait for integrations to become available or install and maintain third party software. Once the browser plug-in is configured, it will work with any web based application.”

VoipNow Browser Module can be downloaded from Rack-Soft website at www.4psa.com/getvoipnowbm and used for free. The browser plug-in is working only together with a 4PSA VoipNow Call API interface. Providers using 4PSA VoipNow platform to deliver PBX services can redistribute the module free of charge to their customers.

The Browser Module searches inside web pages for phone numbers and highlights them, allowing VoipNow users to call anyone directly from a web page. 4PSA VoipNow Browser Module is available for Microsoft Internet Explorer, a version for Mozilla Firefox being scheduled later this year. The new software add-on integrates 4PSA VoipNow with virtually any web based application on the market, like CRMs, ERPs, Intranet, web based email services, regular websites etc. The browser plug-in is compatible with dynamic web pages using AJAX technologies, delivering productivity boost to employees that heavily use phone communication, like sales and customer relationship representatives.

Rack-Soft is a developer and integrator of software solutions for the server market, utilized by ISP, HSP, small and medium businesses. Rack-Soft products are developed to simplify server management, data center administration, and voice communications. Rack-Soft implements CMM (Capability Maturity Model) in order to maximize software reliability.

To learn more, please visit: www.4psa.com.

Dedicated Server, Colocation Provider, iWeb Group, Attains $22M Financing

Quebec, Canada - (The Hosting News) - August 28, 2008 - Web hosting services company, iWeb Group Inc., has entered into a partnership for a $22M financing agreement, with Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., covering long term growth of the company’s data centers, dedicated server leasing and web hosting operations.

Eric Chouinard, Chief Executive Officer of iWeb remarked, ”With this agreement, Goldman Sachs will provide financing to allow us to further our business objectives.”

iWeb will initially receive $ 10M USD in senior debt, 5 years, 16% and $ 1M in common shares will be issued to Goldman Sachs at $ 1.30 per share, these common shares will be subject to a four-month hold period. A subsequent $ 1M in shares will follow at $ 1.30, subject to certain market conditions. Under the second part of the agreement, Goldman Sachs can provide an additional $ 8M in senior debt with $ 2M in shares to be issued at market price, all subject to certain conditions and performance indicators.

Marc Guindon, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer added, ”A deal of this magnitude will allow us to continue investing in the infrastructures which are vital to maintaining our growth, which has been outstanding thus far.”

Last year, iWeb’s financial results indicated a revenue of $3.2 million, with a 62% increase in revenues compared to the first quarter of previous fiscal year.

Other highlights included: - Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $0.8 million, a 65% increase over the first quarter of fiscal 2007 - Closing of a 3.3 million of shares public offering with gross proceeds of $4.1 million - Beginning of installation work of the Nuns’ Island premises for a new co-location data center.

For the first quarter of 2008, consolidated revenues increased $1.2 million or 62% to $3.2 million compared to the same quarter of last year. This revenue growth can be attributed primarily to a steady rise in dedicated server demand. Gross profit margin for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 was in line with last year margin at 54%. The benefits of tight operating cost control were offset by the decrease in value of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar, having a negative effect on Company’s revenues in the last quarter. More than 70% of iWeb revenues are generated in U.S. currency. Total operating expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, were 53% of revenue, compared to 47% for the same three-month period of fiscal 2007.

As discussed, net earnings for the last quarter were impacted by a stronger Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar, by higher overhead costs in order to support the Company’s growing operations, and by a higher non-deductible share-based compensation expenses which have also a negative impact on the Company’s effective tax rate, increasing it to 42%, from 32% in the first quarter of fiscal 2007.

Founded in 1996, iWeb offers a full line of advanced IP hosting services either through shared hosting, dedicated servers or co-location in three data centers, featuring over 52,000 square feet of floor space and the latest technological equipment. iWeb provides services in English, French and Spanish to clients in more than 130 countries.

For more information about iWeb, please visit: www.iweb8.com.

Violent Comic Book Application Rejected from App Store; Outrage Ensues
Murderdome, a dark and violent comic strip noted for its excessive gore that has made its entire genre of fiction so popular, has been the first digital book to get the boot from Apple’s App store censors. After word of the comics’ Tuesday night disappearance spread, publisher, Infurious Comics, had offered up the first episode for [...]

Murderdome, a dark and violent comic strip noted for its excessive gore that has made its entire genre of fiction so popular, has been the first digital book to get the boot from Apple’s App store censors.

After word of the comics’ Tuesday night disappearance spread, publisher, Infurious Comics, had offered up the first episode for free along with a call for reader support on their blog.

“PLEASE leave a comment,” wrote the strip’s creator, Paul Jason Holden. “We’ll forward ALL of these to Apple, so that we can ensure that not only Murderdrome, but that ANY comic submitted to Apple doesn’t fall foul of the same censorship.”

In Murderdome’s defense, the post went on to cite several other, what appear to be equally violent media on the iTunes store including, South Park, Reservoir Dogs and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. By this morning the plea for help had grabbed the attention and support of numerous readers, all primarily critical of Apple’s censorship.

For all intents and purposes, Murderdome is not actually a book, but rather an application, called a comic reader of which Murderdome was the leading title. The app was rejected by Apple under violation of a paragraph in the SDK agreement saying, “Applications must not contain any obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple’s reasonable judgment may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users.”

The terms written in the SDK give Apple the freedom to not even have to play the role of a censor as the agreement is so cut and dry, yet they run the risk of upsetting current and future users. Instead of instituting such concrete rules, it would perhaps be in there best interest to purpose a rating system. This way users are warned of potentially offensive content, yet still have access to it if they wish to view it.

[via Fortune]

Managed Hosting Services Provider, Attenda, Deploys Real Time Infrastructure

London, United Kingdom - (The Hosting News) - August 28, 2008 - Web hosting managed services company, Attenda Limited, has been engaged to manage iWantGreatCare.org, through Attenda’s launch of Real Time Infrastructure (RTI) services.

Following a year in development and running Attenda’s live internal applications for over six months, Attenda’s Real Time Infrastructure is now live.

iWantGreatCare.org is as an independent organization that brings together healthcare professionals, patient groups and others with a passion for making sure that every patient in the UK gets the very best care. Attenda RTI is an extension of Attenda’s Virtualisation Platform and builds upon the company’s investment and expertise in VMware, recognised through its VMware EMEA Hosting Partner of the Year Award.

Neil Bacon, Founder and CEO, iWantGreatCare.org remarked, ”As one of the fastest growing networking sites on the web, the agility and scalability of the Attenda RTI were key to our decision. The solution allows our organisation to invest in computing resources when we need it, eliminating the need to over-invest in unused capacity at the outset.”

Simon Hansford, VP Products and Marketing, Attenda added, ”CEOs are starting to recognise that a Real Time Infrastructure is a critical pre-requisite to achieving business goals within the enterprise. We see Attenda RTI as a vital new component in our IT Managed Services portfolio, enabling clients to transform their IT with rapid provisioning of resources, increasing their service quality whilst reducing their upfront costs.”

Mr. Bacon continued, ”Our service demands high availability, with 24 x 7 user access, and looking at the marketplace Attenda was a clear leader in the provision of high availability managed services.”

Solutions deployed on Attenda RTI benefit from the high levels of business agility and service availability when compared to a comparable physical infrastructure. This includes immediate access to 150% of the subscribed processor, memory, storage and bandwidth capacity to meet unpredicted business or capacity demands - free of charge. Capital costs are significantly reduced through the use of virtualisation and leveraging elements of Attenda’s M.O. shared infrastructure including networking and storage. Additionally, RTI resources can be combined with dedicated physical resources to provide the flexibility required for enterprise solutions.

Attenda is both ISO9001 and ISO27001 accredited, an HP SP Signature Partner, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a SAP Adaptive IT Hosting Provider, a SunTone accredited managed service provider and an Accredited Catalist Supplier. Attenda is one of only seven companies to have been ranked in the UK’s Sunday Times ARM Tech Track 100 for three consecutive years and was voted 2007 Best Managed Services Provider by Data Centre Europe Awards 2007.

To learn more, please visit: www.attenda.net.

iMacs to Recieve Speedbump Before the Holidays?
Apple has plans to update a massive part of its product line over the next two months. Latest in the round of rumors is a speed-bumped iMac. Nothing radical or revolutionary, just some minor speedbumps. “Separately, Apple is also planning to refresh its line of 20- and 24-inch iMac seasons ahead of the holidays. People familiar with [...]

Apple has plans to update a massive part of its product line over the next two months. Latest in the round of rumors is a speed-bumped iMac.

Nothing radical or revolutionary, just some minor speedbumps.

“Separately, Apple is also planning to refresh its line of 20- and 24-inch iMac seasons ahead of the holidays. People familiar with these plans have described the refresh to consist of ’speed bumps’ rather than major internal or external changes. Based on the roadmap presented to AppleInsider, these systems would debut later this fall following the release of the new MacBooks, making their way to market with little fanfare,” Apple Inisder reports.

To catch up on the latest rumors, click here.

UK iPhone 3G Ad Banned; ‘Misleading Claims’ to Blame
According to the UK’s Guardian, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of the UK has pulled an Apple iPhone 3G add claiming it “over-hyped the Internet capabilities of the smart phone.” The television ad is nothing short of advertisement we see here in the states. While a voice over exclaims, “You never know which part of [...]

According to the UK’s Guardian, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of the UK has pulled an Apple iPhone 3G add claiming it “over-hyped the Internet capabilities of the smart phone.”

The television ad is nothing short of advertisement we see here in the states. While a voice over exclaims, “You never know which part of the Internet you’ll need…Which is why all the parts of the Internet are on the iPhone,” a visual of a live phone navigates from the weather forecasts of Cape Town to directions on getting to Heathrow airport. (No, they did not forget the whimsical music softly playing in the background.)

Reportedly, the ASA received two separate complaints stating that the ad is misleading in part because the iPhone does not support Flash or Java, which are both integral parts to a slue of web pages. Apple has recently shot back explaining that the iPhone was built to “open Internet standards” and that Flash and Java are not open source technology (yet) and that Apple could not guarantee compatibility with “every third-party technology in the marketplace.” Apple reiterated that the aim of said ad was to highlight the newest capabilities that the iPhone can offer, with more than common access to WAP versions of sites.

While Apple continues to defend itself by stating that none of the content used in the ad was Flash of Java based and that the line “all parts of the Internet” meant website availability, the ASA refuses to bend. And even though Clearcast (advertising pre-vetting service) gave the go ahead to Apple after they gave a “demonstration and gave advertisers assurance,” the ASA has ordered the TV ad banned from viewing in the same format.

This is the second time in two weeks that we have reported Apple having to bend overseas for cultural presidents. First, China and the debacle with iTunes. Now, the UK, and their yanking an ad after TWO complaints. What’s next,_________________________________? (You fill in the blank.)

Watch the banned ad on guardian.com here.