Guess who is going to join the Dow? Apple!

Apple is joining the Dow effective March 19.

Apple will replace AT&T.

More to come...refresh for the latest.

Here's the press release:

Apple Inc. (NASD:AAPL) will replace AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) after the close of trading on Wednesday, March 18. The change will be effective with the opening of trading on Thursday, March 19. 

The index change was prompted by Visa Inc.’s (NYSE:V) 4:1 stock split which is scheduled to be effective at the same time. The post-split adjusted lower price of Visa will reduce the weighting of the Information Technology sector in the index. Adding Apple to the index will help to partially offset this reduction. In price weighted indices such as the DJIA, a large change in price of a high priced stock can have a material impact on sector representation in the index and this index change is designed to minimize that impact. The Telecommunication Services sector will continue to be represented in the DJIA by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ).

“As the largest corporation in the world and a leader in technology, Apple is the clear choice for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the most recognized stock market measure,” says David M. Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “The DJIA is price weighted so extremely high stock prices tend to distort the index while very low stock prices have little impact. The timing of Apple’s addition to the DJIA hinged on two stock splits: Apple’s 7:1 last June and Visa’s 4:1 on March 19th this year. Apple’s split brought the stock price down closer to the median price in the DJIA. The Visa split will reduce the technology weight in the DJIA and make room for Apple. Among the current DJIA constituents, AT&T has one of the lowest prices. Moreover, the DJIA is over-weighted in telecommunications and AT&T and Verizon are quite similar, though AT&T has a smaller market capitalization.”

Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, CA, designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players. The change won’t cause any disruption in the level of the index. The divisor used to calculate the index from the components’ prices on their respective home exchanges will be changed prior to the opening on March 19. This procedure prevents any distortion in the index’s reflection of the portion of the U.S. stock market it is designed to measure.

Read more:  http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-is-joining-the-dow-2015-3#ixzz3TcAtKR6u

FYI: Tracking the FREAK Attack

"On Tuesday, March 3, 2015, researchers announced a new SSL/TLS vulnerability called the FREAK attack. It allows an attacker to intercept HTTPS connections between vulnerable clients and servers and force them to use weakened encryption, which the attacker can break to steal or manipulate sensitive data. This site is dedicated to tracking the impact of the attack and helping users test whether they’re vulnerable.

The FREAK attack was originally discovered by Karthikeyan Bhargavan at INRIA in Paris and the mitLS team. Further disclosure was coordinated by Matthew Green. This report is maintained by computer scientists at the University of Michigan, including Zakir Durumeric, David Adrian, Ariana Mirian, Michael Bailey, and J. Alex Halderman. The team can be contacted at freakattack@umich.edu.

For additional details about the attack and its implications, see this post by Matt Green, this Washington Post article, and this post by Ed Felten." 

Continue Reading at https://freakattack.com

Russian Malware Is Infecting 100,000+ Wordpress Sites

About 100,000 or more websites running the WordPress content management system have been compromised by mysterious malware that turns the infected sites into attack platforms that can target visitors, security researchers said.

The campaign has prompted Google to flag more than 11,000 domains as malicious, but many more sites have been detected as compromised, according to a blog post published Sunday by Sucuri, a firm that helps website operators secure their servers. Researchers have yet to confirm the cause of the infection, but they suspect it's related to a vulnerability in Slider Revolution, a WordPress plugin, that was disclosed in early September. Update: In a new blog post published after Ars went live with this brief, Sucuri says it has confirmed the so-called "RevSlider" vulnerability is the culprit.

Continue reading at http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/12/some-100000-or-more-wordpress-sites-infected-by-mysterious-malware/

Microsoft, Adobe Push Critical Security Fixes

If you use Microsoft or Adobe software products, chances are that software is now dangerously out of date. Microsoft today released seven update bundles to fix two dozen security vulnerabilities in Windows and supported software. Adobe pushed patches to correct critical flaws in Acrobat, Reader and Flash Player, including a bug in Flash that already is being exploited.

Four of the seven updates from Microsoft earned a “critical” rating, which means the patches on fix vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malware or attackers to seize control over vulnerable systems without any help from users (save for perhaps visiting a hacked or malicious Web site). One of those critical patches — for Internet Explorer — plugs at least 14 holes in the default Windows browser.

Another critical patch plugs two vulnerabilities in Microsoft Word and Office Web Apps (including Office for Mac 2011). There are actually three patches this month that address Microsoft Office vulnerabilities, including MS14-082 and MS-14-083, both of which are rated “important.” A full breakdown of these and other patches released by Microsoft today is here.

Adobe’s Flash Player update brings the player to v. 16.0.0.235 for Windows and Mac users, and fixes at least six critical bugs in the software. Adobe said an exploit for one of the flaws, CVE-2014-9163, already exists in the wild.

“These updates address vulnerabilities that could potentially allow an attacker to take over the affected system,” the company said in its advisory.

Read more on http://krebsonsecurity.com/

Apple goes green with renewable energy

Apple is moving to shrink its carbon footprint, building the nation’s largest privately owned solar farm to run its data center. NBC chief environmental correspondent Anne Thompson reports.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Learn more https://www.apple.com/environment/

BBC News - Heartbleed Bug: Public urged to reset all passwords

Several tech firms are urging people to change all their passwords after the discovery of a major security flaw. 

 "On the scale of one to 10, this is an 11” -Bruce Schneier Security technologist 

 The Yahoo blogging platform Tumblr has advised the public to "change your passwords everywhere - especially your high-security services like email, file storage and banking". 

 Security advisers have given similar warnings about the Heartbleed Bug. It follows news that a product used to safeguard data could be compromised to allow eavesdropping. 

 OpenSSL is a popular cryptographic library used to digitally scramble sensitive data as it passes to and from computer servers so that only the service provider and the intended recipients can make sense of it.  

If an organisation employs OpenSSL, users see a padlock icon in their web browser - although this can also be triggered by rival products.

Continue Reading BBC Heartbleed Bug Story

Security Now 450

How the Heart bleeds
The end of updates for Windows XP, AnyDVD, the Heart Bleed Bug, and more.
View or listen to Security Now 450

Security Now 451

TrueCrypt & Heartbleeds Part2
The previous week consisted of nearly a single story: Heartbleed. It was only "nearly", though, because we also received the results from the first phase of the TrueCrypt audit.
View or listen to Security Now 451

littleBits the future of your child's education?

littleBits (spelled lower case L, upper case B, all one word) consists of tiny circuit-boards with specific functions engineered to snap together with magnets. No soldering, no wiring, no programming, just snap together for prototyping, learning and fun. Each bit has a specific function (light, sound, sensors, buttons, thresholds, pulse, motors, etc), and modules snap to make larger circuits. Just as LEGO™ allows you to create complex structures with very little engineering knowledge, littleBits are small, simple, intuitive, blocks that make creating with sophisticated electronics a matter of snapping small magnets together.

With a growing number of available modules, littleBits aims to move electronics from late stages of the design process to its earliest ones, and from the hands of experts, to those of artists, makers, students and designers. 

littleBits make BIG things happen for MoMA Stores

Make Something That Teaches Something

Visit them http://littlebits.cc/

Parallels Survey of IT Professionals Finds Macs are Moving Beyond BYOD Phenomenon, Now Considered for Broader Corporate Deployment

SAN FRANCISCO & RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MacIT Conference – Parallels® (www.parallels.com/mac-pro), a global leader in cross-platform solutions, today announced results of its commissioned survey of more than 200 IT decision makers about their attitudes toward Macs in the enterprise. The results are telling – almost half of businesses (45 percent) currently offer their employees Macs, and more than nine out of 10 businesses (95 percent) that don’t currently provide Macs would be more likely to offer employees Macs if they had a single central management system for both Windows PCs and Macs.

Macs are in high demand – and respondents who already support Macs shared the top reasons why:

• Eight out of 10 businesses (77 percent) say Macs are more reliable overall than Windows machines
• Seven out of 10 (65 percent) say they are easier to support
• Seven out of 10 (65 percent) say offering Macs would likely help attract employees (a very important factor given the competition for talent)

Continue reading http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140325005604/en/Parallels-Survey-Professionals-Finds-Macs-Moving-BYOD#.UzGp79y3jlM

Apple Rolls Out CarPlay Giving Drivers a Smarter, Safer & More Fun Way to Use iPhone in the Car

CarPlay Premieres with Leading Auto Manufacturers at the Geneva International Motor Show

GENEVA―March 3, 2014―Apple® today announced that leading auto manufacturers are rolling out CarPlay, the smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone® in the car. CarPlay gives iPhone users an incredibly intuitive way to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with just a word or a touch. Users can easily control CarPlay from the car’s native interface or just push-and-hold the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate Siri® without distraction. Vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will premiere CarPlay to their drivers this week, while additional auto manufacturers bringing CarPlay to their drivers down the road include BMW Group, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota Motor Corp. 

“CarPlay has been designed from the ground up to provide drivers with an incredible experience using their iPhone in the car,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPhone and iOS Product Marketing. “iPhone users always want their content at their fingertips and CarPlay lets drivers use their iPhone in the car with minimized distraction. We have an amazing lineup of auto partners rolling out CarPlay, and we’re thrilled it will make its debut this week in Geneva.”

Apple has led consumer technology integration in the car for more than a decade. CarPlay brings your car and iPhone together for a thoughtful experience that lets drivers focus on driving, while also tapping into everything they want to do with their iPhone. 

Once iPhone is connected to a vehicle with CarPlay integration, Siri helps you easily access your contacts, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails. When incoming messages or notifications arrive, Siri provides an eyes-free experience by responding to requests through voice commands, by reading drivers’ messages and letting them dictate responses or simply make a call.

CarPlay makes driving directions more intuitive by working with Maps to anticipate destinations based on recent trips via contacts, emails or texts, and provides routing instructions, traffic conditions and ETA. You can also simply ask Siri and receive spoken turn-by-turn directions, along with Maps, which will appear on your car’s built-in display. 

CarPlay gives drivers access to all of their music, podcasts, audiobooks and iTunes Radio℠ with easy navigation through listening choices from the car’s built-in controls or simply by asking Siri to pull up what you’d like to hear. CarPlay also supports select third-party audio apps including Spotify and iHeartRadio, so you can listen to your favorite radio services or sports broadcast apps while driving.

Pricing & Availability
Apple CarPlay is available as an update to iOS 7 and works with Lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5. CarPlay will be available in select cars shipping in 2014.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.

Press Contacts: 
Christine Monaghan
Apple
cmonaghan@apple.com
+1 (408) 974-8850

Adam Howorth
Apple
adamh@apple.com
+44 207 184 1202

Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iPhone, Siri and iTunes Radio are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2014/03/03Apple-Rolls-Out-CarPlay-Giving-Drivers-a-Smarter-Safer-More-Fun-Way-to-Use-iPhone-in-the-Car.html

Update NOW: OS X Mavericks v10.9.2 and Security Update 2014-001

Apple released OS X 10.9.2 and Security Update 2014-001, which includes a fix for a major SSL security flaw that first came to light on Friday, after the release of iOS 7.0.6. 

You can test if your OS has been patched by visiting https://gotofail.com.

OS X Mavericks 10.9.2 Update (Combo) http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1726

Security Update 2014-001 (Mountain Lion) http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1729

Security Update 2014-001 (Lion) http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1727

Security Update 2014-001 Server (Lion) http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1728

OS X Mavericks 10.9.2: Using FaceTime Audio on a Mac

Everything We Know About The Huge Security Flaw That Affects (Nearly) All iPhones, iPads, And Apple Computers

 "A software bug called "Gotofail" currently affects every single Apple device, whether it's an iPhone, iPad, or desktop or laptop computer. If you have not updated your machine in the last few days, your Apple device is currently vulnerable.

Apple revealed that the security flaw in its iOS operating system for iPhone and iPad affects encryption. That's how data gets sent over the Internet without you having to worry about people reading your emails or stealing your credit card number when you buy something from Amazon. 
The name "Gotofail" is a reference to the "goto" computer command.

A fix recently went out to iOS customers that renders this bug a non-issue, so if you haven't updated your iPhone or iPad's software recently, be sure to do so. There's a full guide right here, but you'll want to plug your phone in as if you're charging it, open the Settings app, select "General," then "Software Update," and follow the instructions that appear.

OS X users are still waiting for a fix. Official word from Apple is that it will come "very soon."
"

Continue reading the Business Insider Story by Dylan Love

How Your Computer Gets Hacked in Under a Minute

Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) – With just a few clicks, hackers can access all of your online information and stay in your system for years. Bloomberg’s Megan Huges talks to the experts to show you how it’s done. (Source: Bloomberg)

Hackers-for-hire uncovered using hit-and-run 'Icefog' APT on Mac OS X and Windows systems - IT News from V3.co.uk

Kaspersky Lab confirmed uncovering the Icefog campaign in its The Icefog APT: A Tale of Cloak and Three Daggers threat report. The researchers said the campaign has been active since at least 2011 and has hit a number of high profile targets.

"Icefog is an Advanced Persistent Threat that has been active since at least 2011, targeting mostly Japan and South Korea. Known targets include government institutions, military contractors, maritime and shipbuilding groups, telecom operators, industrial and high-tech companies and mass media," read the report.

"There are versions for both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. In its latest incarnation, Icefog doesn't automatically exfiltrate data, instead it is operated by the attackers to perform actions directly on the victim's live systems."

Continue Reading: Hackers-for-hire uncovered using hit-and-run 'Icefog' APT on Mac OS X and Windows systems - IT News from V3.co.uk

Apple iPhone 5s review by StuffTv

Utilities Try to Learn From Smart Meters

Vast customer data is starting to transform the ways companies operate

By REBECCA SMITH

"Utilities have installed more than 60 million smart meters in North America in the past decade.

Now they have to figure out what to do with all the information the devices are generating.

It's a mind-boggling amount of data. Consider that traditional meters did nothing more than track consumption. They were read 12 times a year by meter readers. In contrast, smart meters bombard utilities with data, often passing along meter readings every 15 minutes, or 35,000 times a year. They also alert utilities to electricity theft and dozens of other useful things.

And that's just part of the story. In addition to the smart meters, information is streaming in from the grid itself, where millions of sensors and smart controllers are giving utilities deeper, more timely information on equipment performance and power flows.

"The flow of data is increasing fast," says Matt Wakefield, director of information technologies for the industry-funded Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif. "The challenge [for the industry] is in understanding the opportunities. There's a gap in analytics."

Blame It on the Pump

As utilities get their arms around the data, the implications for consumers could be significant."

Continue Reading

Ms. Smith is a staff reporter in The Wall Street Journal's San Francisco bureau. She can be reached at rebecca.smith@wsj.com.
 

A version of this article appeared September 23, 2013, on page R3 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Data, Data and More Data.

Utilities Want Solar Customers to Pay More

Their argument: The few (homes with solar power) are being subsidized by the many (everyone else).

 By CASSANDRA SWEET

"People with solar panels on their roofs often get a pretty good price break on their energy bills.

Too good, some utilities say.

Now, utilities in several states—including the country's sunniest, California and Arizona—are trying to do something about it.

Here's the issue: For most homes, solar panels don't generate all the power the residents use. At night and on cloudy days, and sometimes even on sunny days, these homes draw power from the grid that serves all a utility's customers. But at other times, the panels generate more power than the home is using, and that surplus power flows into the grid.

Under state rules known as net metering, customers are credited on their bills for any power that flows from their homes to the grid, usually at the same rate they pay when they draw power from the grid. 

So, customers with solar panels not only are buying less electricity from their utilities, but also are able to offset much of the cost of what they do buy.

The utilities say solar customers are paying so little that they don't cover their share of the cost of maintaining the grid, which they still rely on. That drives up costs for nonsolar customers, utilities say, and they warn that the burden will grow as the number of solar customers continues to swell.

Solar companies and their customers deny that people with solar panels aren't paying their share of utility costs, and argue that rooftop solar systems benefit utility grids by relieving demand and providing extra power. Cutting incentives would reduce the appeal of solar energy, they say, depriving the grid of some of that additional power, blunting the environmental benefits of solar power and hurting the young, fast-growing industry."

Continue Reading

 Ms. Sweet is a Wall Street Journal staff reporter in San Francisco. She can be reached at cassandra.sweet@wsj.com.

A version of this article appeared September 23, 2013, on page R3 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Utilities Seek to Raise Bills for Solar Customers.

Proof That The Fingerprint Sensor On The iPhone 5S Isn't Just A Gimmick

By Steve Kovach and William Wei



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-5s-fingerprint-sensor-setup-2013-9#ixzz2fiBZEF82

Secure Our Smartphones Coalition Statement On Release Of Apple's iOS 7 

Gascón & Schneiderman: After Months Of Pressure, Apple Responds With The World's First Attempt To Implement A Technological Solution To The Global Smartphone Theft Epidemic

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón and New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released this joint statement following today's deployment of Apple's newest operating system, iOS 7:

"After months of pressure from a global coalition of elected officials and law enforcement agencies, we are pleased that Apple is set to release a new mobile operating system that includes a theft deterrent feature called Activation Lock. This is an important first step towards ending the global epidemic of smartphone theft.

“In the months ahead, it is our hope that Activation Lock will prove to be an effective deterrent to theft, and that the widespread use of this new system will end the victimization of iPhone users, as thieves learn that the devices have no value on the secondary market. We are particularly pleased that – because Activation Lock is a feature associated with Apple's new operating system as opposed to a new device – it will be available to consumers with older phone models who download the free upgrade.

“While it is too early to tell if Activation Lock will be a comprehensive solution to the epidemic of ‘Apple Picking’ crimes that have victimized iPhone and iPad owners around the world, we believe it is a step forward and strongly urge iPhone users to download iOS 7, and most importantly, ensure they utilize both an Apple ID and Find My iPhone. We also encourage Apple to make Activation Lock a fully opt-out solution in order to guarantee widespread adoption, and strongly urge the other leading manufacturers of smartphones to quickly implement effective theft deterrents that protect their customers from violent crime.”

Gascón and Schneiderman also urge consumers to enable basic security features such as a password or the newly available fingerprint scanning technology on the iPhone 5S. While password and fingerprint scanning security features can help protect data on a device, they do not deter thieves from stealing smartphones. Theft deterrence for iPhone users will occur only if adoption of iOS 7, and the utilization of an Apple ID and Find My iPhone is widespread. Additionally, the success of Activation Lock is largely dependent on the failure of hackers' rumored exploits.

Finally, they noted that simply downloading iOS 7 and enabling Activation Lock through the use of an Apple ID and Find My iPhone does not mean consumers are safe from potential theft. Even if Activation Lock proves effective, thieves will not react overnight. Accordingly, it is vital that consumers beare aware of their surroundings at all times, especially when using their smartphones in public places.

The Secure Our Smartphones (SOS) Initiative coalition is a groundbreaking coalition of state Attorneys General, major city Mayors, District Attorneys, major city Police Chiefs, state and city Comptrollers, public safety activists and consumer advocates from around the world. This initiative is working to encourage the industry to implement meaningful solutions that will end the national epidemic of violent thefts of mobile communications devices such as smartphones and tablets.
For more information on efforts by District Attorney Gascón and Attorney General Schneiderman to combat “Apple Picking,” visit the San Francisco District Attorney’s website and the New York State Attorney General’s website.

 http://www.ag.ny.gov/press-release/secure-our-smartphones-coalition-statement-release-apples-ios-7

iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7

Overview and frequently asked questions

With iOS 7, Find My iPhone includes a new feature called Activation Lock, which makes it more difficult for anyone else to use or sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if you ever lose it. It starts working the moment you turn on Find My iPhone in iOS 7. With Activation Lock, your Apple ID and password will be required before anyone can:

• Turn off Find My iPhone on your device
• Erase your device
• Reactivate and use your device

This can help you keep your device secure, even if it is in the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it. Even if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock can continue to deter anyone from reactivating your device without your permission. All you need to do is keep Find My iPhone turned on, and remember your Apple ID and password.
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about Find My iPhone Activation Lock.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818

 

 

There's Basically No Way To Get A Gold iPhone On Friday Unless You Stand In Line

Apple is releasing its highly-anticipated iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C this Friday.

But the big question on a lot of people's mind is probably, "How can I get it as fast and as painless as possible?"

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/buying-iphone-5s-on-friday-2013-9#ixzz2fLbDgE7t

TIM COOK ON APPLE VS. ANDROID: 'We're Not In The Junk Business'

By just about every statistic Apple's mobile software, iOS is beating Google's software, Android.

In profit share, Apple leads all other Android manufacturers combined. In web traffic, iOS has 55% of the market, according to NetMarketShare. 

The iPhone has been the top rated smartphone in consumer satisfaction in nine consecutive studies by JD Power and Associates. 

In less concrete statistics, iOS is generally still the first choice for developers. Reader interest at our site, and at others, is off the charts for iOS, but just so-so for Android. 

Apple's also the company that rivals compare themselves against. Microsoft, Samsung, and even Motorola all make fun of the iPhone in their ads. They wouldn't do that if Apple wasn't the real leader. 

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook-on-apple-vs-android-were-not-in-the-junk-business-2013-9#ixzz2fLbv3S3J

New Mac Trojan Discovered Related to Syria

"A new Mac Trojan has been discovered that creates a backdoor on an affected user’s machine. It was found on VirusTotal, sent by a user in Belarus. At the time of writing, the Command and Control (C&C) server is down and no longer sending commands to affected users. This appears to be a targeted attack, though the method of delivery is not yet known. So, while this has been affecting users in the wild, the overall threat level appears to be low.

The Trojan is an application that is disguised as a picture – the .app file-extension is not visible by default."

Continue Reading