Google was recently in news for indexing password protected pages of a North Carolina school website, now it has indexed pages from Microsoft site where it requires users first to download Windows Genuine Advantage(WGA) before they can get to the actual page.

Microsoft recently had released free software Private Folder 1.0 for download, to download this software the users had to first download ActiveX Windows Genuine Advantage(WGA) which actually checks if windows is Genuine, and only later they were taken to the actual page for the software download. Surprisingly the GoogleBot has indexed the actual link to the software bypassing the Windows Genuine Advantage check [check screenshot].





Recently Private folder software was deleted for some reason by Microsoft. But if you have not downloaded it yet here is the direct link to the software as it is still alive.


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A Chinese software firm claims that they have cracked the popular Internet phone software Skype by doing reverse engineering.

According to Charlie-Paglee confirms this is true and even he have some screenshots to prove it. This cracked software will be released by the end of this month and it seems that we may have the ability to interoperate with the Skype network without the need of Skype software.

Skype is aware of the claim, but so far company officials "We have no evidence to suggest that this is true," Skype spokeswoman said in an email message.

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Earlier Microsoft had released free encryption utility known as Microsoft Private Folder and now it was quietly removed. This utility allowed users to encrypt and store files inside a private folder.

"Private Folder 1.0 was designed as a benefit for customers running genuine Windows," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. "However, we received feedback about concerns around manageability, data recovery and encryption, and based on that feedback we are removing the application."

"There are lots of passwords out there and with this, if you forget it then there was no way to get back into it," said the Microsoft spokesperson.

But still for some reason you have not downloaded you can still do here without any WGA check.
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According to a latest survey conducted on use and importance of Wireless network shows that nearly 80 percent of respondents would give up their home phone rather than their Wi-Fi network, while some 80 percent would giveup their iPod in lieu of their Wi-Fi network. This survey queried subjects between the ages of 18 and 64.

Other details about the survey includes that a average person takes more than 60 minutes to set up a new Wi-Fi network, while only 31 percent of all respondents said it took less than 30 minutes to set up their wireless network.


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Mozilla has released Firefox 2 Beta 1 and is available for download and is for testing purposes only. This is the fourth developer milestone focused on testing the core functionality provided by many new features and changes to the platform scheduled for Firefox 2.

New features in this Beta Release include:
* Built in Phishing Protection
* Search suggestions now appear with search history in the search box for Google, Yahoo and Answers.com
* Changes to tabbed browsing behavior
* Ability to reopen accidentally closed tabs
* Better support for previewing and subscribing to web feeds
* Inline spell checking in text boxes
* Search plugin manager for removing and re-ordering search engines
* New microsummaries feature for bookmarks
* Automatic restoration of your browsing session if there is a crash
* New combined and improved Add-Ons manager for extensions and themes
* New Windows installer based on Nullsoft Scriptable Install System
* Support for JavaScript 1.7
* Support for client-side session and persistent storage
* Extended search plugin format
* Updates to the extension system to provide enhanced security and to allow for easier localization of extensions
* Support for SVG text using svg:textPath
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Logitech announced an agreement with YouTube, the largest video content website that will make it easier for people using Logitech QuickCam webcams to upload their videos to the largest video entertainment site on the Internet in one click.

"When we launched Logitech Video Effects software last year we were targeting the people who would use webcams to express themselves in fun and creative ways", said Gina Clark, Logitech's vice president of product marketing for Internet communications. "The amazing growth of YouTube usage shows that we are driving the next wave of video communications, called Personal Expression. By offering one-click access to YouTube in our software, we make it simple for our customers to record and share their videos. And with our popular Video Effects software, almost anyone can be creative and add fun to their video recordings."

The Logitech webcam will have integrated blogging/sharing/podcasting tab that offers a link to a landing page on the YouTube Web site.


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Yahoo Messenger the most popular IM joined hands with Windows Live Messenger, the next generation of Microsoft instant messager to connect users of Yahoo and Microsoft instant messaging programs directly with each other.



With Windows Live Messenger, you can talk to your Yahoo! contacts which eliminates the need for multiple accounts to talk to all your friends. Now you will be able to see when your buddys are online and communicate with them from one place. You can send and receive messages with other contacts even if they appear to be offline and they will get your message next time they log in. Messenger uses icons next to people's names to denote whether that person is on the Yahoo or Microsoft system.

Consumers worldwide from Microsoft and Yahoo! will be able to take advantage of IM interoperability and join the limited public beta program. They will be among the first to exchange instant messages across the free services as well as see their friends online presence, view personal status messages, share select emoticons, view offline messages and add new contacts from either service at no cost.Yahoo! and Microsoft plan to make the interoperability between their respective IM services broadly available to consumers in the coming months.

The trial version of the software is being made available to users of the two networks in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK and US.


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Google has added a new GMail Empty Trash Now option to Gmail in response to remands from its users.



This feature allows the users to delete all the messages in the Trash in one click. Earlier users of GMail had to select all the messages in the Trash and click delete multiple times depending on the number of messages in the trash. Google will auto delete messages from the Trash if it is more than 30 days.


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Security experts warned of a widespread phishing email pretending to offer a cash prize from Gmail.

The emails claim that the recipient has been selected for a $500 cash prize, and that the money will be paid automatically if they click on the weblink.

The Email looks like:

You won $500! Gmail congratulates you!
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU WON $500!
Gmail gives members random cash prizes. Today, your account is randomly selected as the one of 12 top winners accounts who will get cash prizes from us. Please click the link below and follow instructions on our web site. Your money will be paid directly to your e-gold, PayPal, StormPay or MoneyBookers account.

When clicked on the web link it takes to a webpage where they ask to enter bank details and pay a membership fee of $8.60.

"Of course this email wasn't really sent by the folks at Gmail, and the $500 cash prize doesn't exist. Anyone tempted to try and collect it is in danger of walking straight into a trap set by these fraudsters," said Graham Cluley

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SanDisk, the world's largest supplier of flash memory card storage products, and Skype, the global Internet communications company, have announced that Skype users can now make free calls and chat on almost any PC without having to download software. The Skype software will now come preloaded on SanDisks newest Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium lines of Skype certified U3 enabled smart drives. This will allow consumers to make free PC-to-PC audio and video calls to Skype users in most major markets.

SanDisk's Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium with U3 gives users a portable way to carry files and programs without leaving any personal information behind on a computer. This means Skype users can take their Skype account complete with their contacts, settings and preferences on a device that is smaller than a pack of chewing gum and make calls, with video as an option, from any PC such as those in Internet cafes and hotels. This compact Skype is particularly useful for business travelers, leisure travelers, students and anyone who uses multiple computers.

The new drives will display the Skype logo on the packaging and will feature one free month of Skype voicemail for the mobile user to get messages from their Skype calls even when on the go. The SanDisk Cruzer Micro with Skype preloaded is available at retail outlets in U.S. and Europe.

Skype is one of four productivity software tools bundled on SanDisk’s newest Cruzer Micro and Titanium flash drives. The U3 technology provides a resident environment for applications that operate directly from the flash drive. Other U3-compatible programs on the SanDisk drives offer anti-virus, file synchronization and password management functions.


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Microsoft announced its Genuine Advantage software initiative in March 2006. It's designed as part of the company's wider assault on software piracy (another infamous part of this fight, Product Activation, won fame and fortune for Microsoft went XP was released in late 2001). The Genuine Advantage initiative is comprised of three parts: Education (customers should understand the risks of pirated software), Engineering (Microsoft's ongoing investment in anti-counterfeiting technologies and product features), and Enforcement (Microsoft is helping law enforcement agencies go after the world's worst software pirates).



WGA[screenshots] is a component of the Engineering part of that unholy triumvirate. It's a bit of software that gets installed on Windows XP (it's part of Windows Vista right out of the gate, naturally) and is comprised of two components. The first, dubbed WGA Validation, determines whether the version of Windows on which its running is legitimate. The second component, WGA Notifications, displays annoying alerts on pirated Windows copies and provides a way for the user to pay for a legitimate copy of Windows.


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PayPal users are again being targeted by a different type of phishing email that now tricks users into calling a phone line to confirm their creditcard details.

The email sent to users looks like it has come from PayPal , claims that the recipients account has been subjected to fraudulent activity. However it doesn't have web link or response address unlike normal phishing emails. Instead, the email asks to call a phone number to verify their creditcard details. When called, users are greeted by an automated voice Message as:

"Welcome to account verification. Please type your 16 digit card number."

Once the user enters their credit card details, the scammer is free to steal the information for their own gain. If a incorrect card details are entered, a request for to reentre is made. Funny part is that still this fraudulent number is still alive.

"Users that type in their card information may think they're verifying their PayPal account, but in actual fact, they're handing their details over to cyber criminals on a plate," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Though it's an US cellphone number, the fact that PayPal is used globally means that anyone could potentially be tricked into making this call."

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Apple has come up with new innovation the talking iPod.


Scotmon speculates that the next version of Apple iPod will have text-to-speech technology inbuilt that allows to read the text of music tracks removing the need for users to look at the screen while selecting music, and making the device safer and easier to use while driving, cycling or in badly-lit locations.

Apple has flatly refused to comment on the design, but a patent lodged by the company in the United States makes clear the sixth generation of iPods will be able to convert those famous text menus into speech.

The ingenious system will rely on home PC processing power and clever software. The computer being used to download tracks will analyse each album title, song name and artist and convert them into sound files. These will be loaded into the iPod, along with the song files.

The patent reveals the idea is driven largely by safety considerations. When you use your iPod in an "eyes-busy" activities like driving an automobile, exercising and crossing the street text-to-speech technology makes more conviniant as there is no need to see the display as iPod will tell you what it is about to play.

The move by Apple expected to spark a new digital player war as competing manufacturers like Microsoft attempts to cram more and more features into their digital music players in a bid to keep up.


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