Toshiba has introduced a new line of computers that, in keeping with
Windows 8's emphasis on touch, offers an array of products with displays
that can be poked and pinched.
Toshiba began taking pre-orders for the new systems Wednesday, and will
be selling them to the public from its online store on Oct. 26, when
Windows 8 debuts.
While all the new Toshiba laptops don't have a touch display, they do
have large touchpads that support touchscreen gestures, so many of the
gesture tasks performed on a touchscreen can be performed on the
touchpad.
The Qosmio X875
In addition, Toshiba is addressing the absence of a start menu in
Windows 8 with a utility program preinstalled on all models, Toshiba
Desktop Assist. The software gives users quick access to their programs,
the Windows control panel and their files and folders, much as the
start menu does in Windows 7.
Toshiba is also including three Windows 8 "tile" apps. Toshiba Central
provides one-click access to a model's user guide, support information,
how-to videos and such. Toshiba Book Place is an e-book reader and
marketplace for purchasing titles. Toshiba News Place is a graphical
news aggregator.
Toshiba's Windows 8 lineup includes:
Satellite S800 series. These all-purpose laptops are designed for
both work and play. They can be configured with either a
third-generation Intel Core processor or AMD A-Series Accelerated
Processing Unit. Options include AMD Radeon HD 7570M graphics in Blu-ray
disc player. Units are offered with a 15.6-inch display ($699.99) and a
17.3-inch model ($749.99).
Satellite S955. This model contains the power and options of units in
the 800 series but is less than an inch thick. With a 15.6-inch display,
the laptop sells for $649.99.
Qosmio X875. Designed for gamers, this model sports a
third-generation Intel Core i7 processor, with support for 32GB of RAM,
and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M graphics with 3GB of GDDR5 discrete graphics
memory. Its 17.3-inch display supports 1080p HD and is 3D ready, with
support for NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 Kit with Lightboost. The Qosmio starts at
$1,479.99.
Satellite P800 series. Third-generation Intel Core processors with
Intel Rapid Start technology and support for up to 8GB of memory are
part of this model's package. The units are available with hard drives
up to 750GB, and they include harman/kardon stereo speakers with
Slipstream port technology. They also support Intel Wireless Display,
which allows the laptop's screen to be shared wirelessly with a
big-screen TV. Two screen sizes are available: 15.6 inches ($799.99) and
17.3 inches ($929.99). In addition, there's a 14-inch touchscreen model
available for $929.99.
Satellite L800 series. These units can be configured with an Intel
Core i3 or i5 processor, as well as an AMD A-Series APU. The hard drives
max out at 640GB. Units are offered with display sizes of 15.6 inches
($579.09) and 17.3 inches ($629.99). In addition, a thinner model, the
L950, with a 15.6-inch display, is available for $579.99.
Satellite C800. This is Toshiba's budget line. They're offered with
Intel Core i3 processors or AMD E-Series and A-Series APUs, with support
for up to 8GB of RAM and hard drives with up to 750GB of storage.
Models are offered with a 15.6-inch display ($379.99) and 17.3-inch
display ($499).
Ultrabooks. Toshiba's Ultrabook models include the U925t, a hybrid
laptop-tablet with a 12.5-inch touchscreen ($1,149.99); a 14-inch model,
the U945 ($699.99); and a 14.4-inch model with a wide display, the
U845W ($1,049.99).
All-in-one desktops. Toshiba is also offering two all-in-one desktop
models, the 21.5-inch LX815 ($699.99) and the 23-inch LX835 ($849.99).
Both models support 1080p HD, but touchscreen support is optional.
The virus locks your computer with a fake warning from the FBI that threatens your arrest unless you pay a ransom.
PORTLAND, Ore. – A cute little kitty did Terry Wells in.
“All of the sudden this window popped up,” Wells said. “It said we’ve been watching you. We’re the FBI.”
Wells’ computer caught the MoneyPak computer virus after she clicked on a photo of a cat online.
The virus locks your computer with an FBI seal on the screen and a stern warning accusing you of downloading illegal files.
The virus demands a ransom of $200.
“Usually they’re kind of creeped out, especially on laptops,” said
Beaverton computer repair shop owner Mark Biggs. “Most laptops have a
camera. So they’re looking at it and they can see themselves. It kind of
creeps you out.”
Hackers figured out a way to hijack web cameras and put computer
users’ faces right on the screen with that fake warning. Then they
demand their ransom in three steps.
“See they tell you, take your cash to a retail location,” said Biggs. “They actually explain it."
The hackers even show you where to buy an untraceable MoneyPak card.
Biggs said the virus spreads when you click links, download files or
even visit infected websites, so it's hard to prevent. His best advice
is to get antivirus software and make sure you update it often.
Terry Wells said she knew better when her computer locked up.
“I didn’t fall for it,” said Wells. “I knew right off the bat.” By Dan Cassuto
A novel technique based on MapReduce could let hackers hijack computing resources used by cloud-based mobile browsers and use them anonymously, according to security researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Oregon.
MORE MOBILE: The smartphone is 20 years old, believe it or notA
Cloud browsing uses outside computing power to process web pages and deliver them to end users, instead of doing the heavy lifting on the end-user's own device. The researchers say that the technique is particularly useful for mobile browsing, which would otherwise have to rely on a mobile device's less-powerful hardware. Opera Mini and Android Silk are the best-known browsers to use the technique, though there are others available.
However, the clouds used to do the heavy lifting can be tricked into doing a number of other things, according to the researchers, who have written a paper on the subject. They call the technique browser MapReduce or BMR.
The team tested its idea by storing pieces of data on URL shortening sites, effectively tricking both those sites and the cloud browser providers into performing computations for them. NCSU assistant professor William Enck, a co-author of the paper, said in a statement that the team limited the amount of data processed in this way to 100MB.
"It could have been much larger, but we did not want to be an undue burden on any of the free services we were using," he said.
Used maliciously, Enck added, the technique could provide hackers with vast, temporary and completely anonymous computing horsepower, allowing them to crack passwords or perform other nefarious tasks at great speed.
Depending on the scale of the attack, users may not notice anything is going on, he said in an email to Network World.
"[It] depends on how well-provisioned the cloud browser platform is, as well as how large of a job the attacker is executing. Cloud browsers operators who are monitoring resource use will definitely notice a spike in service use. However, reacting to BMR jobs requires the operator to build additional defenses into their framework," Enck said.
Enck and his fellow authors will present the paper - titled "Abusing Cloud-Based Browsers for Fun and Profit" - at the 2012 Annual Computer SecurityApplications Conference on Dec. 6 in Orlando.
