News: Might virus writers be hiding in China?

By | November 24, 2011
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 AP reports that Taiwan has sent a formal letter to rival China asking for help in tracking down computer hackers who allegedly sent a virus to a Taiwanese software company.The letter alleged that on Sept. 2, Taiwan-based Eha Technology Ltd. received e-mail that contained a virus, said the Straits Exchange Foundation, a semiofficial organization that handles Taiwan’s relations with China. The e-mail came from four Web sites registered in the Chinese provinces of Fujian and Hubei, the foundation said. The Web sites were stockfound.com, Lsaeraid.com, Feeledu.net, memoryfree.com, according to the foundation’s letter.
 
I haven’t looked at this but I have read that Chinese hackers have been reported to be working on viruses recently. Anyone know any more about this?

News: Terrorist List Hit By, Er, Virus

By | November 24, 2011
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 AP reports that the State Department’s electronic system for checking every visa applicant for terrorist or criminal history failed worldwide for several hours late Tuesday because of a computer virus, leaving the U.S. government briefly unable to issue visas. The virus crippled the department’s Consular Lookout and Support System, known as CLASS, which contains more than 12.8 million records from the FBI, the State Department and U.S. immigration, drug-enforcement and intelligence agencies. Among the names are those of at least 78,000 suspected terrorists. There was apparently no backup.

News: Horses For Main Courses; Handphones for Bones

By | November 24, 2011
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 Good piece by the BBC on how micropayments may not be taking off online, but are with handphones. “While many of us are happy to use a credit card online, spending tens, hundreds, and occasionally thousands, of pounds, parting with just 50p is less common.” Despite the lack of any common system for micropayments, the BBC says, “spending via mobiles is starting to take off, albeit only for extra mobile phone content.” 
 
Read techdirt’s take on it here.  My tupennies’ worth: people need to be confident of several things before they adopt a system of payment that they’re not previously exposed to:
a) it’s easy to figure out;
b) it’s convenient, both for the transaction and the eventual physical payment;
c) it feels safe.
Micropayments mostly don’t work online because they’re too hassly for what you’re doing. You’re sitting at home, you got everything you need, what is there to make a micropayment for that could make your life any richer? But if you’re stuck in the subway at midnight and need a chocolate bar, or a ticket home, that’s a whole different game.

News: Observe Mice Fleeing Sinking Room

By | November 24, 2011
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 From the Useful Research Dept comes a report that narrow exits may be safer. Nature magazine says that research indicates that, faced with a narrow door, mice form a kind of queue and make a relatively orderly escape. Wider doors cause the animals to block one another, making their getaway sporadic and inefficient. Escape is also erratic when there are several doors, as crowds around one can obstruct the next.

Update: SimCity Expansion Pack Hits Stores Shock

By | November 24, 2011
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As predicted a month or two back, EA has issued an expansion pack for SimCity 4, called Rush Hour. allowing players to “take charge of vehicles in their cities to drive or solve missions that earn reward buildings and vehicles. Players have the ultimate level of control over their city’s transportation network by completely taking charge of roads, rail, air, and even waterways.” It costs $20 (sheesh, that’s what the whole game would have cost a few years back.)