By Paul Thomson :: 9:39 PM
Websites affiliated with NBC and its media holdings were infected by hackers today, when they installed malware on the sites that served up programs designed to steal banking information from unsuspecting users.
The company released a statement on its blog that read, “we’ve identified the problem and are working to resolve it. No user information has been compromised.â€
Computer security experts said that the NBC.com website had been hacked to deliver an iframe to users, which is a way to present content on a website from another domain or source. One the iframe loaded on the host site (in this case, NBC’s site), it was able to run an exploit tool called Redkit, which attempts to find open holes in user software.
NBC.com was blacklisted by Google after the attack, and Facebook also intercepted links that were intended to direct users to NBC.com. In addition to NBC media sites, web properties for television talkshow hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno were also compromised.
By Paul Thomson :: 9:38 AM
A thief broke into the Apple retail store in Boulder, Colorado earlier this week, and made off with over $60,000 of merchandise. In addition to the Apple products, the criminal caused over $100,000 worth of damage to the store.
The burglar – described by police as a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and carrying three rocks, broke the glass doors of the Boulder Apple store on 29th street early on Saturday morning. After entering the store, he swiped items on display that included top-of-the-line MacBooks and other Apple gadgets.
Security tapes from the shopping center where the Apple Store is located show a man wearing a black hoodie, white gloves and a black baseball cap. Boulder police have not yet identified a possible suspect in the case, and the items have not turned up for sale on the black market.
To gain entrance to the store, the man smashed the front glass doors, which Apple valued at over $100,000 to replace. See above for picture – the entire front facade of the store is glass.
Anyone with information about the burglary is encouraged to speak with the Boulder police by calling (303) 441-3333.
By Paul Thomson :: 9:20 AM
A series of large explosions rocked a neighborhood in the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh early this morning (EST) – coinciding with the Indian evening rush hour.
The blasts apparently occurred in the crowded area of Dilsukhnagar, and first reports show that at least seven, and as many as 15 people have been killed, and scores sent to nearby hospitals.
Indian television is reporting that the explosions happened adjacent to a bus stop and near a movie theater. New sources say the two blasts happened roughly ten minutes apart, with the first one going off just after 7:00 pm local time.
According to Sky News, another unexploded device has been found nearby, and police are investigating it, and attempting to disarm it.
Officials have not released statements regarding the blasts yet. In 2007, two similar explosions elsewhere in the city killed 40 people.
Cities across India have been placed on high alert. Officials are working on the theory that the blasts were the work of a professional, organized terror group.
By Cynthia Herbert :: 9:05 AM
Social media is leading consumers to have a more self-critical eye, according to a new survey conducted by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). An annual poll of 752 of the organization’s board-certified plastic surgeons revealed that there was a 31% increase in requests for surgery as a result of social media photo sharing.
The study shows that an increasing number of procedures are cosmetic versus reconstructive in nature, accounting for 73% of all procedures in 2012, up from 62% in 2011. Of the procedures requested as a result of social media influence, rhinoplasty, Botox, and facelifts topped the list.
While social media continues to play an increasingly large role in how consumers view themselves, its influence as a trusted informational resource for plastic surgery is diminishing. Last year just 7% of prospective patients used social media to research doctors and procedures, down from 35% in 2011. Instead, 57% got their information about plastic surgery online, with 33% relying on referrals.
“Patients are becoming increasingly more sophisticated in their knowledge of plastic surgery due to the obvious increases in online research and validations,” claimed Ed Williams , MD, Group Vice President for Public and Regulatory Affairs for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “Our members are seeing a much more educated consumer base than ever before, thanks to the increased availability of information.”
By Paul Thomson :: 8:04 AM
Taxes are complicated and confusing, and more than 75 percent of taxpayers filing returns are due refunds which average some $3,000. This tax season, the Chief Tax Officer of a Jackson Hewitt, a national tax preparation firm, will host a Tweet-up to help taxpayers get their questions answered, their returns filed, and their refunds dollars back as soon as possible.
Next Wednesday, February 27, Jackson Hewitt’s Chief Tax Officer Mark Steber will host the company’s first-ever Tax Tip Tweet-Up. Kicking off at 6 p.m. Eastern time and running one hour, tax filers can Tweet @JacksonHewitt to submit their tax questions – in 140 characters or less, or use the #TaxTalk hashtag. Steber will respond to as many inquiries as possible during this time period, using his personal handle, @MarkSteber.
“Social media gives us the unique opportunity to help taxpayers across the country – in real-time –with questions they may have surrounding tax filing,” said Steber. “We are inviting everyone, including our clients, those who have filed with someone else or on their own and those who have yet to file, to stop by and ask whatever question they may have.”
For Twitter users who are unable to participate during the Tweet-up time, Steber will attempt to address questions as frequently as possible via his @MarkSteber account.