New Facebook threat emerges

FACEBOOK diehards beware. A new threat has emerged in a form of a third-party application.
IT security and control firm Sophos has reminded users to exercise caution about which third-party applications they install on their profile.

The warning follows reports that a rogue application, called ‘Error Check System’ has bombarded some members of the social networking site with bogus notification messages saying that friends had experienced problems viewing their profiles. Since Facebook does not approve applications before they are made available on the site, users are often putting their trust in complete strangers when they choose to install the next application.

In this instance, there was nothing wrong with the recipient’s profiles and the warning messages were in fact a viral attempt by a third party to recruit more users, and - potentially - steal personal information for financial gain. "Facebook applications are very popular and once all your friends have downloaded the latest must-have, it’s very tempting to follow suit," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.

"But, installing all applications sent your way, could open up serious holes in your security and allow hackers to gain access to your profile and the information stored on it. Just like with other computing applications, it's essential to exercise caution when you're not sure of the origin - just because your friends have downloaded it, doesn't necessarily mean it’s safe."

Another IT security firm F-Secure, meanwhile, reported that the latest Facebook fake application is a particularly sophisticated form of social engineering.
This program doesn’t lure users into installing malware promising nude pics of Angelina Jolie or a Nigerian inheritance, this applications spreads to generate publicity for itself. Once the media report on the suspected Facebook threat, and tech-savvy readers google the name of the application to find out more about it, that’s where the actual threat surfaces: rogue anti-virus sites that appear among the search results.

The Facebook application didn't do very much other than spread itself… it did however create a newsworthy story. And now people will be searching for that story and will stumble upon fake anti-virus sites and inject themselves with malware. F-Secure said the "Error Check System" application does not do anything malicious but it does spread to the user's friends without any form of interaction or authorisation from you.

In other words, it spreads like a worm causing more Facebook users to install the application. However, if the user is curious (which in this case, highly likely would because Facebook users kept getting notifications that your friend has faced some errors when checking your profile) and punches in "Error Check System" in Google, the first result returned will prompt you to install a rogueware when clicked on.

Facebook users can recognise what they are seeing is a fake Facebook application because this application has very poor grammar, but then again applications available on Facebook are not verified by Facebook. You are using and installing them at your own risk.
F-Secure said at the moment, Facebook users should exercise extreme caution when installing these third-party applications. Always when in doubt, think twice and if it is too good to be true, it truly is.

For more info go to:

http://www.sophos.com/facebook
http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/
http://www.sophos.com/blogs/gc/g/2009/02/23/beware-error-check-system

The Dawn of Broadband TV

Will broadband TV or Internet-based TV affect the currently popular satellite TV or even the free-t-air TV? It's a difficult question to answer, but what I can say is that broadband TV is slowly making its way here.

In making the first move, Telekom Malaysia (TM) has launched their Web TV initiative known as Hypp.TV last week in a rather big way with 30 channels covering genres such as news and current affairs, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, movie and drama.
The channels include Channel News Asia, Al-Jazeera English, CCTV4, Bloomberg TV, Barclays Premier League, Fashion TV, RED TV, Bollywood entertainment, Korean and Chinese. The TM's broadband TV also features some first-in-Malaysia content such as Luxe TV, Warner Bros Sorothy Forever and Wedding TV.

Actually, Hypp.TV has been around for more than a year ago, but only offers limited content, but this time around, TM is making sure that the revamped version will be a killer application.
The move by the local telecom giant can be seen as timely in the sense that broadband penetration in Malaysia is increasing rapidly. Now the market knows there is an alternative TV on top of the existing free-to-air TV and Astro.

Opportunitiny-wise, it looks great, what more with the country's broadband penetration has reached 21.1 percent as of last year, surpassing the target of 20 per cent that had been set under the National Broadband Implementation Plan, based on a Bernama report. Now the country had set a target of 50 per cent rate in household broadband penetration in 2010.
It's a bit too ambitious to say that broadband TV will be accepted by all as not everybody will agree to the idea of watching TV on a computer screen or mobile devices. But how about watching it on a normal TV, would people buy the idea? Probably yes.

The availability of high-definition TVs will allow consumers to connect their computers to the TV screen. This will drive up the uptake of Web TV services, what more with these TVs getting more affordable from time to time.

Users will just need to connect their PC or notebook computer to their HDTV via HDMI cable and to have the Internet or WebTV content on their big TV screen.
In terms of picture quality, TM assured that users would not face buffering problem as in watching videos on Youtube. That is good, if not it makes no point.

Currently, TM is only offering the service exclusively to its Streamyx subscribers, targeting 30 to 40 percent of them to subscribe to the service (available at www.hypp.tv). TM now has 1.5 million Streamyx subscribers.
TM Group's executive vice president, consumer, Jeremy Kung, said the Hypp.TV is a value-added service for the Streamyx subscribers, but hinted that TM will also made it available to people living outside Malaysia in the near future. The company is using peer-to-peer technology to ensure uninterruptible service.

What will attract users to Web TV, I think, is the flexibility it offers. For example, TM is offering both broadcast and on-demand (pulled content).
The traditional business model of "take-what-we-offer-you" approach now is being undermined by consumer demand for an à la carte, "give-me-what-I-want-when-I-want-it" model. This is one of the best advantages of Web TV - watch what I want and when I want it.

And at just RM9.90 per month, I think there will be positive response from the public.
It probably takes at least five to 10 more years before broadband TV can really become a household item, but it may take even shorter than that if the service providers (not just TM alone) can live up to their promises and service quality.

Broadband access getting more affordable

LIKE it or not, broadband subscription rates in Malaysia over the past years have always been expensive.
For a 1Mbps connection, one has to pay from RM99 and above. That's way above majority Malaysians' affordability bracket.

However, Packet One (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, the first provider of WiMax services in Malaysia has come out with below RM50 package for a broadband connection.
That's good news for all Malaysians who have been waiting for more affordable broadband services all these years.

According to P1, the new subscription plans are introduced in response to feedback received from P1 WiMax subscribers and the general public.
I think such package is great especially for current dial-up users who would like to upgrade to broadband. The service is now available at RM49 and subscribers will get to surf at 400kbps - which is decent enough for doing video streaming like Youtube.
On a bigger picture, P1's offering may be able to help the country achieve its 50 percent broadband penetration target by 2010.

For year 2008, IDC reports a forecast of broadband revenues totaling RM1.0 Billion. This makes up about 0.2 percent revenue contribution to the nation’s forecasted GDP of RM534.7 billion.
In the following two years, IDC projects that Malaysia’s broadband revenues will progressively increase its contribution, at about 0.2 percent per annum, to the nation’s GDP. In 2009, Malaysia’s broadband revenues is projected to be RM1.2 billion against the nation’s forecasted GDP of RM566.8 billion, and in 2010, IDC reports a forecast of broadband revenues totaling RM1.4 billion against the nation’s forecasted GDP of RM600.8 billion.

Lincoln Lee, IDC’s Telecommunication Research Manager for Malaysia, says, "Although the forecasted percentage contribution of broadband revenues to GDP may seem relatively small, we still see this as a positive sign. Potentially, we are looking at an enormous ripple effect - the continuous climb in broadband revenues will stimulate growth in other IT sectors such as e-commerce and PC Sales."

He says it is highly possible for the growth rate of broadband revenues to increase further, with the raise of PC penetration in Malaysian households, the imminent launch of WiMax services, as well as the government's investment in High Speed Broadband Services.
To P1, congratulations for being able to offer this affordable broadband package, and hopefully other players will follow suit.
The latest areas to have P1 W1MAX coverage this week include parts of Bukit Raja in Klang, Ampang in Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Kemuning in Shah Alam, Taman Lian Hoe in OUG Kuala Lumpur, Section 14 in Petaling Jaya, Penang Town Centre and Kampung Syed in Ayer Itam, also in Penang island. Detailed information on the current P1 W1MAX subscription plans and reseller location can be obtained at www.p1.com.my.