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Malware's new infection route: photo frames
It wasn't a pretty picture when Rick Sandy plugged in the digital photo frame his wife had given him for Christmas. When he started downloading pictures to the device, his computer froze. He restarted it, and his Norton anti-virus software went blank. Then, the files that controlled his computer disappeared. And Sandy - an information technology expert himself - was shut out of his own machine. "It was the nastiest virus I've ever encountered," said Sandy, who spent 12 hours rebuilding his computer. Sandy's experience was an example of how the continually adapting world of cyberhackers is spreading its tentacles from computers to the electronic devices that plug into them. Malicious software code has turned up on a wide range of popular electronics, from digital photo frames to compact flash cards to MP3 players - even MP3-playing sunglasses - and retailers are scrambling to respond.
UN Chief Calls For Climate Change Action
In key reports last year, a U.N. network of climate and other scientists warned of severe consequences _ from rising seas, droughts, severe weather, species extinction and other effects _ without sharp cutbacks in emissions of the industrial, transportation and agricultural gases blamed for global warming.
To avoid the worst, the Nobel Prize-winning U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by 25 percent to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 _ and by at least half by 2050.
"This is just as important as stopping nuclear proliferation. This is just as important as stopping terrorism," New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday in the keynote address.
The new agreement would replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which requires 36 industrial nations to radically reduce emissions by 2012, when it expires.
The Vicky Files: Is Emery in the doghouse?
Super Bowl Sunday is upon us, and in my opinion, the biggest story isn't the perfection of the New England Patriots. It isn't whether another Manning can win a Super Bowl. Or even if "Spygate" will hang over the whole thing. It's halftime. Ever since the "wardrobe malfunction", the NFL has chosen "safe" acts for its biggest stage. This year, it turned to "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, who -- many, many years ago -- had a music career. Now, she wasn't the most gifted singer or dancer, nor was she the most attractive musician, but somehow, she maintained a career long enough that she got the producers of one of America's top shows to buy into her. Her behavior on that show often is cringe-worthy, but it's nothing compared to what she is up to now. You see, Ms. Abdul wants to pre-tape her routine, because, ummm, she is too nervous to perform live.
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