Scammers send fake IRS emails

Cyber criminals are continuing to send emails pretending to be from the IRS, it has been reported.

The emails are part of a phishing scam that attempts to garner personal information from unsuspecting internet users. So common are these emails that the IRS has an address for recipients to forward them to so they can be examined. IRS spokesman Jesse Weller told the San Jose Mercury: "These schemes involve unsolicited email purportedly from the IRS, promising a refund to potential victims (or a warning that they are being investigated) and that they should click on an embedded link or open an attachment for more information."

However, many of these emails have a link that is a Trojan horse and can break into and take over a victim's computer, Mr Weller added. The IRS never sends out emails that ask for people's personal financial information or pin numbers, he continued

Microsoft and Bungie Studios to Evolve Relationship

Companies to forge new long-term relationship.

Microsoft Corp. announced a plan for Bungie Studios, the developers of the "Halo(R)"
franchise, to embark on a path to become an independent company. Microsoft will retain an equity interest in Bungie, at the same time continuing its long-standing publishing agreement between Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie for the Microsoft-owned "Halo" intellectual property, as well as other future properties developed by Bungie.

The critically acclaimed Xbox 360(R)-exclusive "Halo 3" achieved $300 million in global sales in its first week. Released on Tuesday, Sept. 25, "Halo 3" is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.

"Our collaboration with Bungie has resulted in 'Halo' becoming an enduring mainstream hit," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "While we are supporting Bungie's desire to return to its independent roots, we will continue to invest in our 'Halo' entertainment property with Bungie and other partners, such as Peter Jackson, on a new interactive series set in the 'Halo' universe. We look
forward to great success with Bungie as our long-term relationship continues to evolve through 'Halo'-related titles and new IP created by Bungie."

"This exciting evolution of our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally in our mission to create world-class games," said Harold Ryan, studio head for Bungie. "We will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft(R) platforms; we greatly value our mutually prosperous relationship with our publisher, Microsoft Game Studios; and we look forward to continuing that affiliation through 'Halo' and beyond." Bungie Studios will remain in its current location in Kirkland, Wash.

Online videos 'could contain malware'

A recent security report has warned that online videos could be disguising viruses and malware which could infect one's computer.

Research from the Georgia Tech Information Security Center found that hackers are finding new means of disguising damaging software and that putting it in online videos is becoming a favored method. Criminals are also using text-based messages and PDF files to disguise viruses, the security report stated.

Chris Rouland, the chief technology officer for IBM's internet security systems unit and a part of the group that drafted the report, commented: "Just as we see an evolution in messaging, we also see an evolution in threats. "As companies have gotten better blocking e-mails, we see people move to more creative techniques."

Media players are simply "the next logical step" for cyber criminals to take to infect victims' PCs, he added. Meanwhile, MessageLabs Intelligence recently reported that the month of September saw a substantial rise in the number of phishing attacks.

Global Entertainment Phenomenon 'Halo 3' Records More Than $300 Million in First-Week Sales Worldwide

Xbox 360 console sales more than doubled; nearly 3 million gamers play online via Xbox LIVE.

Interactive entertainment will never be the same, with the launch of one title that has changed the way the world thinks about video games. "Halo(R) 3" has captured the attention of consumers worldwide and has made history as one of the biggest entertainment launches of all time.

Microsoft Corp. today announced that "Halo 3" has officially become a global phenomenon, garnering more than $300 million in sales in the first week alone. The critically acclaimed Xbox 360(R) exclusive, which was released worldwide on Tuesday, Sept. 25, is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.

Initial reports from retailers worldwide show console sales have more than doubled compared with the weekly average before the launch of "Halo 3." With games such as "Halo 3," "Madden 08" (EA Sports), "Mass Effect" (Microsoft Game Studios) and "Rock Band" (Harmonix), Xbox 360 has the greatest lineup in the history of video games and is the only console where consumers can play all the year's biggest blockbusters.

"'Halo' is truly a cultural phenomenon, and the launch of 'Halo 3' is an important milestone for Xbox 360 and for video games as entertainment and as an art form," said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. "'Halo 3' embodies our vision for the future of entertainment, where some of the world's greatest creative minds will deliver a new generation of interactive storytelling."

Permanent ban on Internet taxes urged by eBay

The internet auction giant eBay has urged Congress to pass a permanent ban on Internet taxes. Without such a ban, fewer businesses will want to sell their goods and services over the Internet, eBay warned. Congress enacted a temporary ban on Internet taxes in 1998, which was renewed again in 2004. However, that ends on November 1st this year.

Brian Bieron, eBay's senior director of federal government relations, told the Associated Press: "More importantly, fewer consumers will use the internet. "And, for the small businesses using the internet, that means fewer sales and less opportunity to compete with the mega retailers." The Internet is a "lifeline" for many of these smaller businesses, Mr Bieron added.

Last month a trio of US senators also called on Congress to pass a permanent ban on Internet taxes. Among them was Arizona senator John McCain, who is bidding to be the Republican presidential nominee.

Miss America aims to ensure internet safety for kids

A new internet browser sponsored by Miss America - Lauren Nelson - is to debut today, it has been reported.

The purpose of the browser is to keep children safe on the internet by steering them away from dangerous websites. Since becoming Miss America, Nelson has made internet safety for children her main platform, stemming from a distasteful experience she had on the internet as a young girl.

She recounted: "We were chatting with people we didn't know, which was our first mistake, and someone asked for our personal information. "A week later, he sent some inappropriate pictures to one of my friends. We were all scared and told our parents, who contacted the authorities." Dubbed the Miss America Kid-Safe Web Browser, the browser has an animated version of Nelson who "supervises" childrens' surfing and can even read their email out loud to them.

Microsoft Unveils Pricing for Small Biz VoIP System

By Jennifer Hagendorf Follett, CMP Channel

While solution providers anxiously await the release of Microsoft's unified communications product portfolio later this month, the company in the meantime is making strides to bring its small business VoIP wares to market.

Microsoft on Tuesday said it has released its Response Point phone system to manufacturing, meaning that OEM partners D-Link and Quanta Computer will soon have general availability for products based on the software. Microsoft also said both partners will be pricing their products below $3,000.

Microsoft joins vendors such as 3Com, Cisco Systems and Digium in recently targeting VoIP systems at small businesses.

The systems, which include VoIP call processing and features such as voicemail, call forwarding and integration with Microsoft Outlook, are targeted at small-business customers with up to 50 users, though they will scale higher, said Jeff Smith, senior product manager at Microsoft, Redmond, Wash.

Microsoft's small business VoIP move comes two weeks ahead of the planned launch of Microsoft's Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 and other communications products at a launch event in San Francisco on October 16. Smith noted that Response Point systems were built from the ground up as small business solutions and are not designed to work as branch office systems off of larger OCS deployments.

Two OEM partners, D-Link and Quanta, are preparing to ship product bundles within the next few months that package Microsoft software with their base hardware units, gateways and phones.

A VoIP Phone That Does Not Need A Broadband Connection

Acellus Announces Rollout of a VoIP Access Device That Does not Need a Broadband Connection

The modem equipped ATA (Analog Terminal Adapter) box will allow users to make inexpensive VoIP long distance calls over a regular phone line using only a dialup connection to the Internet.

Acellus Communications, Inc. (Pink Sheets: ALLU) announced today the rollout of a
device that will allow VoIP calls to be made over a regular phone line without the use of a computer. "This is the only stand alone device of its kind that we know of that can enable people to make long distance VoIP calls over a regular phone line," says company CEO Jeff Miller.

Conventional VoIP requires a broadband connection. Considering that there are almost 40 million people in the US alone that use dialup to connect to the Internet, the potential market for the device is substantial. In addition, Acellus has secured an exclusive with the OEM for distribution rights in the United States and is presently in negotiations with a major international VoIP carrier that has already tested the devices and is looking to utilize them on their network. Acellus plans on providing its own VoIP services in the future through an alliance with this carrier. More
news will follow as these negotiations progress.
Device Features:
* They will work anywhere the Internet can be accessed through a
landline phone service
* They will easily fit into a briefcase
* They provide clear quality sound
* Simply plug in a regular telephone to make calls
* They are inexpensive
* They will also work on a broadband connection
* They are very user friendly
* They don't affect regular phone service
* They work on any SIP based VoIP gateway

Distribution: Acellus plans to market the ATA box to large ISPs and conventional VoIP companies. The devices will allow these companies to market or pre-sell VoIP service in areas where broadband is currently not available. Since the devices will also work on broadband, customers can easily be converted to conventional VoIP service when it becomes available.

For more information contact CEO Jeff Miller: 800-899-2190 or jeff@acellus.net

US Seeks To Enforce Internet Gambling Ban

Federal regulations proposed on Monday would mean that banks and credit card companies would have to forge rules to prevent transactions with Internet gambling sites.

The proposals come in the wake of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act which was passed by Congress last year. Now US authorities are seeking to crystallize the illegality of Internet gambling through clearly-defined laws. All banks will need "to have policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to prevent payments being made to gambling businesses in connection with unlawful internet gambling", the proposal stated.

In December, the World Trade Organization ruled that the US ban on internet gambling broke global commerce rules. Now Antigua & Barbuda are asking the US to pay $3.4 billion a year to make up for lost revenue. And many Internet gambling companies in Europe which have been hit by the ban are lobbying for the EU to request similar compensation.

Facebook Users 'Vulnerable'

Many users of the popular social networking site Facebook expose their personal information to anybody who wishes to see it, Sophos has warned.

The security software company stated that in making their personal details public information Facebook users are making themselves vulnerable to cyber criminals. In the London network on Facebook, the largest network on the site, a full 75 percent of users allow anybody to see their profile, whether they have been accepted as a "friend" or not.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, said: "I was flabbergasted when I joined a network on Facebook using a profile which I thought was secure, only to find Facebook had changed a number of settings and was opening me up to millions of strangers." "Who was to say that cyber criminals weren't in that network too? Is it right that Facebook works this way?" Currently Facebook has approximately 34 million members worldwide.