I’ve always been fascinated about the world of IT Security.

On a daily basis I log into customers PC’s remotely to install updates, fix problems, help with email issues etc etc…

But for someone, a criminal, to be able to gain ” root level ” ( like that unix term? i did it just for you geeks ) access to a PC is really a heinous act all to itself.

More and more our entire lives are going online, i for one base all my work email on Google’s GMail software. Google now has complete control over my life, and if its not working….. well its not a pretty site around the office let me tell you.

So ok end the rant… Whos the #1, head honco, the Goldfinger to the USA’s James Bond?

Ladies and Gentleman! I give you….. THE U S S R….. I mean China… yes China.

They are numero uno! Just do a quick search on Google ( i know they own my life ) for:

” China Internet Attacks ” Heres a great little article on it [SperoNews]

In 2007 almost 13,000 ” direct assaults on federal agencies and more than 80,000 attempted attacks on Department of Defense computer network systems.”

WHOOAA…. Hello.

Now i know i know, people dont want to look at China as the next Cold War Competitor…. But trust me they are already looking at us. Now of course all of those 93,000 Plus attacks cant all be from China…. But lets say HALF of them are.

China is in a love / hate relationship with us. Most of the money in their Economy comes from Western buyers ( half the equipment your reading this blog on comes from China!! )

But at the same time, we are the worlds number 1 super power and China knows that in the secert battle over the hearts and minds of counties around the world, its the USA vs. Red China.

Now China is coming on board more and more with Western Ideals, but make no mistake that the communists will only let Western ideals of a Free Market go so far. And they are making sure that their Computer Hackers are razor sharp in case some kinda conflict does occur.

But hey, lets all remember…. Hackers keep PC Techs like me in business, so really we kinda dont mind the occasional virus or trojan taking over peoples PCs now do we.

Original Posting
The Electric Pulse IT Blog
http://gcsincblog.blogspot.com/

How many of these items do you have? 

[PRWeb]  

iPhone^TM Finishes on Top; Oreo^® and Healthy Products Dominate Top 10 

BOSTON (Business Wire EON) December 18, 2007 — Products featuring new technologies dazzled mainstream consumers in 2007 with the Apple iPhone^TM topping the list of the Sixth Annual Most Memorable New Product Launch (MMNPL) Survey. Thirty seven percent of consumers named the iPhone the most memorable new product launch, while two other high-tech products —Windows Vista^® at No. 2 and Motorola Razr2^TM at No. 9 — made the Top 10. Additionally, the iPod^® video nano came in at No. 11. 

The study, sponsored by Schneider Associates, BNP Media’s New Products Magazine and IRI and conducted by comScore, surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. consumers about the most memorable new product launches of the year, current purchasing and behavioral trends. 

Nabisco had a great year with its Oreo brand as Domino’s Oreo Dessert Pizza finished at No. 4 and Oreo Cakesters came in at No. 6. Oreo has a long list of co-branding projects, with past partnerships with T.G.I. Friday’s (Oreo Madness), Burger King (Oreo Sundae Shake) and most recently with Baskin-Robbins (Oreo Explosion). This year, strong marketing support of both products, including the popular “Domino’s Oreo Pizza Moustache” ad campaign directed by the Perlorian Brothers, gave Oreo two of the most memorable launches of the year. 

“These Oreo branded products aren’t mere line extensions. They are great examples of incorporating long-adored products into innovative new platforms,” said Joan Holleran Driggs, editor of New Products Magazine. “As an ingredient in everything from ice cream to pizza, Oreo cookies have found a home in a broad array of product categories. Every marketer should embrace such strategic thinking.” 

An interesting trend arose from this year’s list with three “health-on-the-go” products making the Top 10: alli^TM Weight Loss Capsules at No. 5, Diet Coke Plus^TM at No. 7 and Subway Fresh Fit^TM Meals at No. 8. Subway continued building its brand with a stunning 90 percent of respondents saying that whether a product is “fresh” has at least some influence on their purchase decision. Seventy eight percent of consumers polled said they look for “whole grains” and 75 percent look for “no trans fat.” 

“Consumers are continuing their quest for healthy alternatives,” said Char Partelow, Senior Vice President of Consumer and Shopper Insights at IRI. “Even outside of the top 10, two of the products with the highest awareness among respondents were Dannon Danactive Yogurt Drinks and Hostess 100 Calorie Cupcake and Brownies, reinforcing consumer’s unwavering focus on better-for-you products.” 

Recall of new products remained low this year as 77 percent of respondents failed to name a single product in the Top 50 new products launched in 2007, including the iPhone. This is just a slight change from the five-year all-time high of 81 percent who couldn’t recall a product on the Top 50 list in 2006. 

“It has become increasingly difficult to launch new products and services that really capture consumers’ attention,” said Joan Schneider, president of Schneider Associates, a Boston-based marketing communications firm, and author of “New Product Launch: 10 Proven Strategies.” “Even with the stunning success of the iPhone, recall is still remarkably low.” 

New Product Trends for 2007 

The 2007 Schneider Associates, New Products Magazine and IRI Most Memorable New Product Launch Survey asked consumers which trends influenced their purchases most. Seventy four percent said they were more likely to purchase a product if it was “Made in the USA.” Additionally, 67 percent said their purchasing decisions were influenced by the country of origin, perhaps indicating a backlash from the recalls of toys manufactured in China due to concerns over lead paint poisoning. 

While the iPhone dominated memorability, just 1 percent of Americans surveyed said it was a “must have” item for this holiday season. Nevertheless, high-tech products still commanded top spots on holiday wish lists. Thirty one percent of all respondents wanted some kind of technology or consumer electronics product, with 9 percent reporting they wanted a flat screen, HDTV/LCD or plasma TV and 6 percent saying they wanted a Nintendo Wii^TM (which was No. 2 on last year’s Most Memorable New Product Launch list). 

Top 10 Most Memorable New Product Launches 2007 

Based on the feedback of 1,024 consumers nationwide, here is the complete Top 10 list, with percentage of respondents who listed the product launch as one they most remember in 2007: 

1.) Apple iPhone^TM (37 percent) 

2.) Microsoft Windows Vista^® (26 percent) 

3.) Febreze^® Candles (14 percent) 

4.) Domino’s Oreo^® Dessert Pizza (10 percent) 

5.) alli^TM Weight Loss Capsules (10 percent) 

6.) Oreo^® Cakesters (10 percent) 

7.) Diet Coke Plus^TM (9 percent) 

8.) Subway Fresh Fit^TM Meals (8 percent) 

9.) Motorola Razr2^TM (8 percent) 

10.) Listerine Whitening^® Quick Dissolving Strips (7 percent) 

Survey Partners 

Schneider Associates is a full-service marketing communications agency that launches products, services, companies and communities. www.schneiderpr.com and www.launchpr.com 

BNP Media’s New Products Magazine is devoted to providing information on new food and beverage products from concept to consumer. www.newproductsonline.com 

Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) is a global leader in providing consumer, shopper, and retail market intelligence and insights supporting 95 percent of the FORTUNE Global 500 consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail and healthcare companies. www.infores.com 

comScore is a market research firm and global Internet information provider that measures the digital age. www.comscore.com 

The Annual Most Memorable New Product Launch Survey identifies which product launches are most memorable to consumers each year. Now in its sixth year, the survey was based on feedback from 1,024 respondents aged 18 or older and was conducted online in the United States during November 2007 by comScore. The complete survey results can be downloaded at schneiderpr.com/news. 

[PRWeb]Digtal Branding, owner and operator of popular online loyalty program QuizPoints.com, announces the launch of a new business dubbed “GoFreebies.” GoFreebies.com is a directory of links to free stuff online.

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) December 18, 2007 — Digtal Branding, owner and operator of popular online loyalty program QuizPoints.com, announces the launch of a new business dubbed “GoFreebies.” GoFreebies.com is a directory of links to free stuff online. The site offers freebie links to various categories such as babies, games, music, paid surveys, free samples, and numerous others. Digital Branding boosts hype for its new service by offering a daily drawing for prizes. Members that sign up for the GoFreebies daily newsletter are automatically entered into the drawing, and they can win up to once per day. Typical prizes include ten-dollar gift cards to online retailers and similar electronic prizes. Users can increase their chance of winning by referring friends, submitting freebies, and by participating in other bonus opportunities. The site also promises even larger rewards as its membership base expands.

The GoFreebies daily freebies newsletter includes links to the newest freebie posts, reminders for expiring offers, and links to the most popular and best-rated content for the previous day. Members have responded very positively to the newsletter’s format, its non-intrusive sponsors, and most importantly, the daily prize drawing. Members who earn bonus entries can use up to ten entries per day. GoFreebies recommends that its visitors sign up early while the chances of winning are greater.

GoFreebies contains a rapidly growing directory of quality links for its visitors. Visitors are able to vote on their favorite links, and links that receive poor rankings from subscribers are removed automatically.

Digital Branding is an advertising agency based in Raleigh, NC. Digital Branding specializes in online marketing primarily via its loyalty cash back program QuizPoints.com, where users can earn free gift cards for completing offers online, and GoFreebies.com, its newest web property.

For more information about this site or contest, visit GoFreebies.com

Computer Medics of Northern Virginia LLC
Serving Richmond to D.C. and surround communities
Phone: 540-786-1144
Web Site: www.cmonova.com

Description: Computer Medics of Northern Virginia LLC provides residential and business services to include computer repair, networking, web design, sales & upgrades. Maintenance contracts available. 24/7 Operation.

Ok…..I know this is not “tech” related but I wanted to let everyone know about a show that I have been listening to for a few years now.

It’s called “The David Stein Show”. Here is a brief description of it:

“It’s a Celebration of Life Through Sports that touches, moves and inspires others to pay it forward, perform RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS, and encourage everyone to get off the bench and onto the court.”

Now if you are like me and you are up all hours of the night working on pc’s then you need something to listen to. The David Stein show is what you should/need to be listening to. Unlike the typical sports shows etc this show actually has meaning….

Give it a shot and see what you have been missing. You can visit The David Stein MySpace site here: http://www.myspace.com/thedavidstein