Palm Pre Spoofs iPhone

The new Palm Pre cellphone has a “media sync” feature which lets the device sync with iTunes in a fashion identical to an iPod. The Palm Pre reports its Product ID as iPod and Vendor ID as Apple with a few other changes. With Palm already pulling tricks like this presumably through software we wonder if this will become a full-on arms race.


Source: Hack a Day

Update: Chinese security software now optional

China's latest attempt at mass censorship has taken another turn. Reports that the "Green Dam" software can allow hackers to easily control the host PC, as well as accusations from US-based security company (Solid Oak) that Green Dam software stole their IP. Chinese government announced on 16 June 2009 that Green Dam will now be optional.

Source: Toms Guide

Update: Chinese security software full of security bugs

Every PC in China could be at risk of being taken over by malicious hackers because of flaws in compulsory government software. The potential faults were brought to light by Chinese computer experts who said the flaw could lead to a “large-scale disaster”.

Source: ZitZot

Chinese government requires all new PCs to include censorship software

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has ordered that all personal computers, whether made in China or imported from abroad, must include specific software to filter inappropriate information. Rebecca MacKinnon, assistant professor at the Journalism & Media Studies Center at the University of Hong Kong, has posted a copy of the Chinese government order on her Web site.

According to her translation, Web filtering software called Green Dam Youth Escort must be installed on all PCs sold in China as of July 1. The software also must be included on a hard-drive partition or on a CD included with the computer to allow for reinstallation.

Source: ZitZot