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Unemployed targetted in cyber attacks
Software security developer Symantec said the unemployed are being targetted in spam and phishing attacks, as cybercriminals try to take advantage of the global economic downturn. In its Mid-year update; 2009 Security trends report, it said it is additionally seeing an increase in the number of malware attacks each month, that social networks are still a popular target and that spam is hitting record levels. It has also seen the large scale distribution of a small number of threats, such as the CodeRed and Nimda attacks. Attackers are also increasingly sophisticated and organised, the report said, with them using deceptive methods that imitate traditional business practices.
Skype plans Bahrain HQ
Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has said that the Luxembourg-based internet telephony company Skype has contacted the watchdog to set up its Middle East headquarters in the kingdom, the Gulf Daily News has reported. 'Their interest is serious and negotiations are ongoing,' TRA chairman Dr. Mohammed Al Amer has said.
Kaspersky opens Dubai HQ
Security software developer Kaspersky Lab has set up its regional headquarters in Dubai. The company will offer technical support, partner management and marketing activities from its new HQ, located in Dubai Internet City. The move is part of Kaspersky's growth plans. Since 2007, the company says it has grown 400% in the Middle East and wants to push its way into the top three anti-virus software providers in the region.
HP profits tumble as sales suffer
Hewlett-Packard saw a 19% drop in quarterly profit following a steep sales decline in several of its key businesses. It reported earnings of $1.64bn and revenue of $27.45bn for the quarter ending July 31, 2% off the same period last year. HP is the world's largest PC manufacturer, but saw revenue for the division tumble 18% to $8.43bn. Revenues from its servers and storage division fell 23% to $3.66bn and the printer unit suffered a 20% to $5.66bn. In the software division, operating profit rose 13% but its revenue fell 22% to $847m. Last year HP bought services giant EDS, HP said revenue for this unit was up 93% to $8.47bn. Analysts described HP's results as decent enough considering the trading conditions, and felt the company had probably hit the bottom of the market.
Spinneys signs IT infrastructure deal with Dell
Dell and IT services and consulting firm NTS have won a Dhs2.34m contract from the wholesale division of UAE supermarket chain Spinneys, to update its IT infrastructure. Spinneys wants to increase the efficiency of its supply chain that provides products to its retail outlets. It is implementing a range of Dell kit, including 27 PowerEdge servers, two EMCCX4 storage area networks, a storage tape library and ProSupport four-hour mission critical services.
Offtec inks Visa Jordan security deal
Jordan-based Offtec, a subsidiary of Offtec Investment Group, has signed an agreement with Visa Jordan Cards Services to provide Visa Jordan's new cards personalisation centre with the latest solutions to issue all types of smart cards (Chip) including Visa, MasterCard or Amex. Under the agreement, Offtec will also provide, deploy and integrate systems including Entrance Access Control, Mantrap Entrances, Bullet Proof Windows, Vault Doors, Safes and Surveillance Cameras.
STS opens Bahrain office
Specialized Technical Services (STS), a Jordanian IT service and enterprise solutions provider, has announced the opening of its new office in Bahrain, as part of its expansion strategy in the region. It is the group's third direct office in the GCC, along with its two current offices operating in Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Hilal inks Red Hat deal
Bahrain-based Hilal Computers has signed an agreement with Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions, under which it has become a Red Hat Advanced Business Partner for IT infrastructure. Hilal Computers offers the deployment and support of Red Hat open source solutions including Red Hat Enterprise Linux which offers a wide range of advantages for enterprises in the banking, oil and gas, telecommunications, education and healthcare sectors in the kingdom.
INTAJ urges tax reconsideration
The Information and Technology Association of Jordan (INTAJ) along with telecommunications companies have urged concerned governmental bodies to reconsider their decision to increase the income tax on the IT and telecommunications business, the Jordan Times has reported. Increasing the tax to 35% will have a negative impact on the competitiveness of the sector and its expansion, INTAJ has said.
Google launches Palestine engine
Internet search giant Google has launched a local Arabic search engine for the Palestinian Territories, which will enable Palestinians to access more relevant data based on their searches, Lebanon's The Daily Star has reported. 'With the launch of google.ps, we bring the total number of Google domains worldwide to more than 160,' the Google Arabia blog has said.
Microsoft banned from selling Word
A Texas district court has ruled in a patent infringement case against Microsoft Corp. in favour of Canadian software firm i4i Ltd and filed an injunction preventing the software giant from selling the 2003 and 2007 versions of Word, Reuters has reported. The court has also ruled that Microsoft would have to pay more than $290m in damages to i4i, which makes software for manipulating documents, for infringing the patent. The patent relates to XML, or extensible markup language, which is used to manipulate a document's content and architecture separately. Microsoft has said it plans to appeal the verdict.
Benq launches eco-notebook U121
BenQ has launched their latest portable netbook, the 11.6" display Joybook Lite U121 Eco. Joybook lite U121 Eco weighs 1.3kg, with 11.6" LED backlight display, 160GB storage capacity, a bigger and more user-friendly full size keyboard and longer battery life. The company has said the brand is Certified Energy Star, Taiwan/China/Japan Green Labels, and EPEAT Silver, and draws 40% less power than the previous generation courtesy of Intel's least power-consuming processor, the Atom, and the mercury-free, low-energy LED screen. Over the product's life, 75% of the mechanical elements and 70% of packaging are also recyclable. The Joybook Lite U121 Eco is available from 1st August, 2009 in Middle East and Africa.
Hardware re-exports from Dubai down 30%
Re-exports of IT hardware from Dubai to non GCC countries have fallen by at least 30% this year as buyers in Africa and the former Soviet republics choose to deal directly with distributors in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. IT hardware resellers and traders are being buffeted by the fluctuating dollar rate, global recession and in some cases increases in visa charges to enter Dubai. (Mac Capital Advisors)
Google releases 'social' features
Google has announced the release of two new features called 'Friends Group' and 'Updates' as part of a larger roll out of new social features for users of its home page. The new features are part of a wider Google initiative to add social features to all of its offerings. The 'Friends group' is a list of friends users can create based on a subset of users' Google Contacts to be able to interact and share social gadgets with. The Updates feature lets Google users share their activities with other friends. Analysts view the latest move by the search giant as jumping into a territorial war going on between Facebook and Twitter.
Yahoo, Hotmail top Jordan users poll
A new survey by Arab Advisors Group has revealed that 79.1% of internet users in Jordan use Yahoo and 69.5% use Hotmail as their email account provider. A total of 61.6% of respondents reported that MSN Messenger was their preferred chatting medium, while 54.6% have said they use Yahoo Messenger for online chatting, according to the survey. 'Arabic was the preferred language for reading and listening on the internet amongst respondents. However, English was the preferred language for writing on the internet. Preferences for languages other than Arabic and English lag far behind,' Noura Abdulhadi, Arab Advisors Senior Research Analyst has said. The survey covered media consumption habits, online habits and trends, online advertising and online security.
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