GLENN’S SHOWNOTES
Microsoft silently alters user files on OneDrive
a blogger Seán Byrne in Ireland has found Microsoft appears to be silently modifying user data stored using its OneDrive for Business service by injecting uniquely identifiable code into some files.
According to Byrne’s tests, OneDrive adds UUIDs (universally unique identifiers) to HTML and PHP files. Microsoft Office files were enlarged by about eight kilobytes, Byrne noted.
“Microsoft Office files had what appears to be uniquely identifiable code added, potentially making it possible to match them to a company and possibly even to a specific user’s account,” Byrne wrote.
Files being silently modified by a cloud storage service without users’ knowledge could have serious consequences, Byrne said.
“… let’s say a file is used as evidence in a court case. How do you prove that the company did not intentionally modify it?” he said.
Microsoft’s consumer version of OneDrive does not alter files,
Byrne ran into a syncing issue with some files on OneDrive and decided to check if they were damaged by running a message digest algorithm checksum utility on them to see if the data stored in the cloud was the same as what he had locally.
To Byrne’s surprise, the checksums for most of the files did not match and he became concerned that they had been corrupted.
Further testing by Byrne showed that some script files from a website theme had had code injected into them, which would not happen during data corruption.
By creating some empty files with different extensions, Byrne was able to verify that OneDrive altered these during syncing.
Nokia to be renamed ‘Microsoft Mobile’?
Nokiapoweruser.com reported that Microsoft intends to change the name of Nokia to Microsoft Mobile.
The letter that Nokiapoweruser.com obtained also states that Nokia does not plan to make any changes to its supplier base. “Under the terms of the sale, Microsoft will assume all rights, benefits and obligations of the Nokia Devices and Services business, including Nokia’s agreements with suppliers, customers and partners that pertain to the Devices and Services business,” the letter states.
Microsoft General Counsel and Executive Vice President Brad Smith confirmed in a blog post that Microsoft had completed the steps necessary to finalise the Nokia acquisition very very soon
Apple ships Mac OS X updates
Apple has released a security update for Mac users running its Mountain Lion, Mavericks and Lion Server operating systems.
On Tuesday US time, the update addressed 13 OS X vulnerabilities in total, including numerous bugs that could allow arbitrary code execution.
Of note, a patch for OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.5 and OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 remediated a bug (CVE-2014-1314) which could allow malicious applications to execute arbitrary code outside of the sandbox security mechanism, Apple said.
Mountain Lion v10.8.5 and Mavericks 10.9.2, which could be exploited simply by opening a malicious PDF file or viewing a malicious JPEG image.
and a couple more so an important update. How do you update a mac?
Is Apple’s free OS X Beta a sign of big changes?
Apple released a free beta of its OS X operating system to all Mac users, raising the prospect of big changes ahead for the look and feel of OS X. In a post on the OS X Beta Seed Program website, Apple said the aim of the new seed program is to allow current Apple customers to “test-drive beta software and provide quality and usability feedback that will help make OS X even better.”
“This may be foretelling that the next OS release will be a radical departure, and a little inventive,” said Jerry Zigmont, owner of MacWorks, an Apple consultant based in Madison, Conn
The last time Apple released a free beta version of its operating system was the original OS 10, and only Apple loyalists who couldn’t wait for the jump from OS 9 were the ones using the program.
In the past, Apple has made beta versions of its operating systems available to developers who paid $99 annually. Making the beta free to Mac customers begs the question why? familiarity, big changes?
http://www.guidebookgallery.org/screenshots/macosxpb
Macworld enters Apple resale market
Described as a “marketplace”, the site allowing Apple users to buy and sell hardware has been setup in conjunction with Swedish company mResell.
The site allows Apple users to sell hardware which is refurbished and sold via the mResell site. Repairs and refurbishment is done by iExpert.
The site promises products will be shipped within 48 hours and “tracked to your door”, as well as refunds if products are returned within two weeks. The site also states that warranties are offered “on all our products.”
The site also allows users to register to be alerted when mResell has stock of their preferred product.
According to the site, sellers enter the serial number of their product, answer questions about the condition of the product, and are then given a quote. Sellers post their product to iExperts, and receive payment once the product has been checked.
As well as listing hardware for sale, the site includes reviews, blogs, news, features, tips and app guides from Macworld Australia.
mResell have drop-off and pick-up services through iExperts in the Sydney CBD, Bondi Junction Westfield, Penrith Westfield and Melbourne CBD.
Google takes maps back in time with Street View improvement
Google has began letting people turn back the clock on Street View images to show how places have changed over the seven years it has been collecting pictures for its free online map service.
images from Street View archives dating back to 2007 can be explored at Google Maps on desktop computers in what Google depicted as a “digital time capsule of the world
If you’’re a kid today, 50 years from now you’ll be able to walk through the memories of your old neighbourhood,” Google senior vice president of infrastructure Urs Holzle said of the “cool new feature” couldnt get it working,
The feature is gradually being rolled out to users. Users will know if the feature is available if they see a clock icon in the upper left-hand portion of a Street View image. They can click on it and move the slider through time and select a thumbnail to see that same place in previous years or seasons, Shet said.
Australian schools go cashless
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has rolled out mobile payment technology at 17 Australian schools, in a program it claimed is a world first.
Developed by MasterCard, QkR mobile payment technology – pronounced “quicker” – has been piloted at eight schools in Victoria since July last year.
The app lets parents use their iPhone or Android smartphones to order meals, contribute to fund raising, and pay for school items like uniforms without having to give their children money to carry to school. The bank also said the app provides schools with improved stock management and better control over cash flow.
These schools join the eight schools involved in the pilot program. CBA said the app is now ready to roll out to schools nationwide.
The QkR app was first rolled out in early 2012 at La Premiere Hoyts cinemas, enabling users to order food and drinks from their seats using an iPhone or Android smartphone.
RSL fundraising campaign allows Australians to pay to listen to a minute of silence on Anzac Day
http://www.minuteofsilence.com.au/
IN AN Australian first, an Anzac Day campaign allows Australians to pay to listen to a pre-recorded minute of silence. We’re not kidding.
RSL organisations all around the nation have banded together to create the Minute Of Silence, a prerecorded minute of actual silence which can be purchased and listened to over the phone. All profits go to supporting the Anzac Appeal.
The silence was recorded by more than 80 currently serving and former Australian Defence Force members and their families, including veterans from conflicts as recent as Afghanistan and Iran and as long ago as WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
A campaign of this nature has never been attempted before in Australia.
Microsoft silently alters user files on OneDrive
Nokia to be renamed ‘Microsoft Mobile’?
Apple ships Mac OS X updates
Is Apple’s free OS X Beta a sign of big changes?
Macworld enters Apple resale market
Google takes maps back in time with Street View improvement
Australian schools go cashless
RSL fundraising campaign allows Australians to pay to listen to a minute of silence on Anzac Day
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