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Microsoft releases emergency update to patch Internet Explorer bug

Microsoft has released an emergency update to patch a security vulnerability in Internet Explorer that is being exploited in attacks aimed at government contractors and other targeted organizations. The patch fixes a “use after free” bug in versions 6, 7, and 8 of the Microsoft browser and will be automatically installed on affected machines that have automatic updating enabled, Dustin Childs, the Group Manager of the company’s Trustworthy Computing program wrote in a blog post published Monday . The unscheduled release comes just six days after Microsoft’s most recent monthly Patch Tuesday batch of security updates, but it was pushed out to counter an experienced gang of hackers who have infected websites frequented by government contractors to exploit the vulnerability. Monday’s update came hours after Oracle released an unscheduled patch to fix a critical vulnerability in its Java software framework. As Ars reported last week , the zero-day Java exploits were added to a variety of exploit kits that criminals use to turn compromised websites into platforms for silently installing keyloggers and other malware on the machines of unsuspecting visitors. Read 3 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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Microsoft releases emergency update to patch Internet Explorer bug

New Threadlike Carbon Nanotube Fiber Unveiled

Zothecula writes “At about 100 times the strength of steel and a sixth the weight, with impressive electrical conductive properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have promised much since their discovery in 1991. The problem has been translating their impressive nanoscale properties into real-world applications on the macro scale. Researchers have now unveiled a new CNT fiber that conducts heat and electricity like a metal wire, is very strong like carbon fiber, and is flexible like a textile thread.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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New Threadlike Carbon Nanotube Fiber Unveiled

CES 2013: Laptop and Ultrabook roundup

CES is done for another year, but before we can drop the microphone, we need to put together a reminisci-package to summarize the week in notebook computing. This year’s show was chock-full with Ultrabooks, leading many to believe that full-fat notebooks are going the way of the Dodo. However, Intel’s Kirk Skaugen feels that rumors of the laptop’s demise at the hands of the Ultrabook are greatly exaggerated — seeing the latter as merely a subset of the overall mobile PC firmament. Intel announced its power-sipping Haswell architecture and revealed its highly desirable North Cape reference design, which offered us a tantalizing glimpse of what future hardware could be like. However, before we get to that, we need to deal with the hardware hitting stores this year, so if you’d like to know more, follow us after the break. Continue reading CES 2013: Laptop and Ultrabook roundup Filed under: Laptops , Samsung , HP , Lenovo Comments

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CES 2013: Laptop and Ultrabook roundup

“Red October” Espionage Malware Campaign Uncovered

L3sPau1 writes “For five years, it hid in the weeds of networks used by Eastern European diplomats, government employees and scientific research organizations, stealing data and infecting more machines in an espionage campaign rivaling Flame and others of its ilk. The campaign, called Rocra or Red October by researchers at Kaspersky Lab, focused not only on workstations, but mobile devices and networking gear to gain a foothold inside strategic organizations. Once inside, attackers pivoted internally and stole everything from files on desktops, smartphones and FTP servers, to email databases using exploits developed in Chinese and Russian malware, Kaspersky researchers said.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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“Red October” Espionage Malware Campaign Uncovered

NASA pays $17.8M for inflatable ISS expansion, orbital ball pit unconfirmed

Were you one of those lucky kids whose parents got you an inflatable castle for your birthday party, thus making all the other kids in the neighborhood jealous? You’re about to get one-upped. NASA has just signed a $17.8 million contract with Bigelow Airspace to built an inflatable, expandable module to plug into the International Space Station . Bigelow already has prototype habitats orbiting the globe and last year announced a partnership with SpaceX to launch its BA 330 (pictured above) sometime in 2015. Details of the ISS expansion are set to be announced this upcoming Wednesday, giving you just a few more days to gloat about any childhood bouncy-bounce exploits. Filed under: Science , Alt Comments Source: Forbes

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NASA pays $17.8M for inflatable ISS expansion, orbital ball pit unconfirmed

First Ultra HD channel goes live in Europe

Eutelsat Communications launched the first dedicated demonstration Ultra HD channel in Europe on January 8th. Delivered via satellite with the resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 ( 4K ) at 50 frames per second — the European equivalent to 60p — the stream is encoded in MPEG-4 with help from video compression solution provider, ATEME, and transmitted at 40 Mbps. This is over twice the bandwidth used by most 1080i broadcasts, but not necessarily an indication of future Ultra HD broadcasts utilization, as they’re expected to use the more efficient HEVC codec — depending on color space and other factors, Ultra HD broadcasts might use less throughput than 1080i does now. With only three very expensive Ultra HD TVs on the market, there aren’t many who can take advantage of this. Hopefully if you are one of the lucky few, you’re in a position to take advantage of this native content on your latest prized possession. Continue reading First Ultra HD channel goes live in Europe Filed under: Home Entertainment , HD Comments

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First Ultra HD channel goes live in Europe

Oracle patches Java exploits, toughens its default security levels

Oracle hasn’t had a great start to 2013. It’s barely into the new year, and Apple and Mozilla are already putting up roadblocks to some Java versions after discoveries of significant browser-based exploits. The company has been quick to respond, however, and already has a patched-up version ready to go. The Java update goes one step further to minimize repeat incidents, as well — it makes the “high” setting the default and asks permission before it lauches any applet that wasn’t officially signed. If you’ve been skittish about running a Java plugin ever since the latest exploits became public, hit the source to (potentially) calm your nerves. [Thanks, Trevor] Filed under: Internet , Software , Apple Comments Via: Reuters Source: Oracle

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Oracle patches Java exploits, toughens its default security levels

Tiny Pill-Shaped Cameras Make Endoscopy Easy To Swallow

There’s nothing quite like getting heavily sedated and having a big ol’ camera crammed down your throat so that doctors can take a look at your esophagus and cut out a little peice to study in the lab. A fun Friday night. Fortunately, endoscopy doesn’t have to be like that too much longer thanks to a small, easily-swallowable endoscope that requires no sedation at all, and returns a full 3D rendering. More »

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Tiny Pill-Shaped Cameras Make Endoscopy Easy To Swallow

Nuclear Rocket Petition On White House Website

RocketAcademy writes “A petition on the White House website is calling for the United States to rapidly develop a nuclear thermal rocket engine. Nuclear rockets are a promising technology, but unless NASA develops a deep-space exploration ship such as Johnson Space Center’s Nautilus X, a nuclear rocket would be wasted. Launching nuclear rockets may pose regulatory and political problems as well. Practical applications may depend on mining uranium or thorium on the Moon.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Nuclear Rocket Petition On White House Website