Social Items

Google over the weekend announced the discontinuation of its Sync service which allow access to Gmail, Calender and Contacts through Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync on mobile. Google had earlier in September  commenced support for CardDAV - an open protocol for contacts, joining other open protocols: IMAP and CalDAV (open protocols for mail and calendar respectively) already supported.

Google Sync will ultimately come to a halt, starting January 30, 2013 for new users. But, Google Sync on its Apps for Business, Government and Education will continue to be supported.

While, the company have recommended that users should avails themselves of the new seamless experience by using the open protocols.

However, for those users who already have the Sync connection running would have nothing to worry about, as existing Google Sync will continue to function as normal.

The main reason behind the change according to Google  is to enable third-parties build seamless Google Sync experience. As the open protocols, combined with the options to access Gmail, Calender and Contacts with your desktop or mobile browser, also via native apps on iOS and Android, ensures great seamless experience regardless of device used.

Open Protocols Displace Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync

Google as its tradition goes has on Wednesday released Zeitgeist List 2012, top searches on Google for the year. What makes research into the list interesting is that it holds the key to important social patterns to popular world events through the trending searches.

Information indeed is the most sort after factor on the internet, however, it does not in itself lend any satisfaction except when applied in solving problems.

The year in review presented great social moments: with the Olympic Games, U.S election and perhaps the natural disaster Sandy taking a large chunk.

The "Consumer Electronics" search trends really caught our attention, even more the "Trending Events" category. That the Cupertino behemoth still hold its sway in the smartphone and tablet top list is not a surprise, but how the Korean tech giant, Samsung has become a great force in the smartphone sector is indeed remarkable.

With its flagship smartphone brand Galaxy S3 at number two (No. 2), Samsung have truly done the impossible, beating generation favorites BlackBerry and Nokia down the lane.

Hurricane Sandy at number one on the events trends goes to show emotional pool in social engagement. The social web invariably rides on people and people responds more to emotions, especially the stronger ones: love and danger.

But, how the social web responds on our collective aspiration cannot be questioned, as it has the capacity to bond humanity and harnessed intelligence can serve a stronghold in challenging any opposition to freedom. And that possibility has been demonstrated on state levels, the world outlook is still pending and may soon become a reality too.

Zeitgeist 2012: Search Trends

Microsoft debuted Outlook.com earlier in the year as a modern web-based email service, replacing Hotmail and incorporating next generation technologies like direct integration of the popular social networks, cloud storage facilities and inclusion of web-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

The company now features core security standards in the new webmail service. According to the Outlook blog,  DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) and EV Certificates have been included to boost security in Outlook.com.

DMARC is a standardized specification on email recipient systems authentication. It authenticates incoming message using SPF and DKIM technologies, which helps to check phishing and SPAM mails.

Phishing has become a growing online security concern, leading to notable internet companies devoting enormous resources in combating the menace. Google and Facebook are amongst those who have canvased the implementation of DMARC in cutting down phishing attacks successes, which spoof legitimate addresses to trick unsuspecting users into clicking malicious links.

The EV (Extended Validation) Certificates support will help ensure that users are not tricked into entering personal details on fraudulent websites. EV Certificates on Outlook.com follows the high standardization minimum of 2048-bit encryption, and validated by displaying green bar on the browser, which means the website is legitimate.

The new security features indeed goes to show that Microsoft is really ready for serious business, even as it plans to extending same to its Cloud Storage service, SkyDrive.

Microsoft Beefs Up Security On Its Webmail

Google on Thursday announced the discontinuation of the FREE Google Apps for Business package, which changes start-ups watchers have termed "Big Blow" for small businesses. Google Apps comprises web-based software services offered by Google to enterprises, which invariably runs on its Cloud storage service.

According to the official Google Enterprise blog, the adoption of the basic version (which is FREE) has shown that the experience is not right for both individuals and businesses as they quickly outgrow the package.

The cases of 24/7 customer service and larger storage facilities were specifically cited in favor of the changes.

Clay Bavor, Director of Product Management, offered the straightforward recommendations that: Individuals who intends to use Gmail and Google Drive should create a free personal Google account. While Businesses will have to make-do with the one version, that is, Google Apps for Business: which includes 24/7 customer care, 25GB storage, and priced at $50 per year.

Also, note that the changes does not apply to existing users, including those running the basic version.

However, Google Apps for Education will be available for schools and universities for free. Guess Cloud business is now a really serious business.

Google Apps For Business: What the Changes Imply?

The on-going conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Dubai, which commenced on 3 December and through to December 14, is one in which the future of the internet is at stake. It's a proposal to make changes to a decades-old treaty, in which only governments have a vote.

Google's Vint Cerf, Chief Internet evangelist, in a blog post iterated the original proposal that involved protocols designed to make the networks of the internet non-proprietary and interoperable, and allowed for contributions from many sources. It avoided lock-in, which openness is the reason for the great value of the internet today.

The free and open internet has brought unprecedented freedom to billions of people world wide; to create and innovate, organize and influence, and to speak and be heard.

But all that could change; as a closed-door meeting of the world's governments is right now in progress. The agenda is to regulate the internet, and some proposals could allow governments to justify the censorship of legitimate speech, or may even cut off internet access in their countries.

However, you can join thousands upon thousands of internet users who are standing up for a free and open internet right now. And perhaps our collective voices could be all that is needed to save the Internet; our web from the impending tyranny. Join us at: google.com/takeaction and sign the petition.

Open And Free Internet: Users' Perspective

Google initiated resolves in making the internet open and free have been greatly applauded, especially in state-sponsored blockade of the internet infrastructures. The political revolution in Egypt about two years ago, in which the country's censorship of Twitter was challenged by Google powered Speak2Tweet is a case in point.

Now, the novelty service is back in Syria as the country has decided to clampdown on Twitter access and general internet infrastructure.

Google announced the reactivation of the service in a Google+ post, stating that they have partnered with Twitter to relaunch Speak2Tweet, allowing anyone to tweet using voice call.

The voice connection tweets can be accessed on: twitter.com/speak2tweet and is enabled by simply leaving a voice message on the following phone numbers: (+90 212 339 1447 or +30 21 1 198 2716 or +39 06 62207294 or +1 650 419 4196), then the service will tweet your message.

Guess, that's another way of saying more power to the "Tweeple". And well done Google for championing such great calls.

Google Powered Speak2Tweet Live In Syria

Mozilla's social integration tool, Social API, now has Facebook integrated direct on Firefox, which before now only allows connection to social networks through third-party browser add-on. The company announced the Social API beta since late October, and had on Tuesday commenced full testing of the Social API feature.

The feature is especially useful to keep tab on updates on the social networks without leaving the actual page a user is accessing at the moment. It invariably eliminates frequent tab swapping to keep updated on the social networks proceedings.

However, users are required to upgrade to the latest version of the browser and activate the feature on the Facebook Messenger for Firefox homepage.

Also, Mozilla is currently exploring the possibility of including other social networks on the Firefox Social API, which now has Facebook as the first to join the train.

The company is also calling on developers to contribute to improving the new social tool, even as it awaits feedback from Facebook users who have activated the feature.

Firefox Social API Integrates Facebook

Trend Micro's Rik Ferguson, director of security research and communication, in a blog post on Wednesday reported a vulnerability in Skype application which could allow anyone that knows your email address hack your Skype account. The vulnerability enables one to sign up for Skype with an email address already taken, and then through password reset can gain access to the original account associated to that email address.

But, actual discovery of the vulnerability was credited to a Russian Forum where a proof of concept was posted about three months ago.

Skype on its part has released an official statement acknowledging the vulnerability, and had subsequently suspended the account reset feature temporarily as a precaution; now working on password update process today.

Skype, also added that the issue affected some users where multiple accounts were registered to same email address. The company, however, promised reaching out to those users whose account may have been compromised thereby for necessary actions.

Guess, the days of labeling some information "minor" in security and privacy considerations are over, users discretion to personal details remain paramount.  

Skype Vulnerability: Password Reset Halted

Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger, the pioneering instant messaging platform from the incumbent software giant is scheduled to merge with Skype. Skype, which is a VoIP (Voice-over-Internet Protocol and software application) service was purchased by Microsoft in October, 2011.

According to the Skype Blog,"the aim is to deliver the best communications experience for everyone, everywhere."

Microsoft has planned to shut down Windows Live Messenger in all countries (with the exception of mainland China) starting first quarter of 2013. The company further stated on its resolve to focus on making things simpler for users while continuously improving the overall experience.

Skype 6.0 for Mac and Windows, which was released on 24 October, 2012 allows you to sign into the service using a Microsoft account. IM users simply have to update to this latest version of Skype, sign-in to their account, and all their Messenger contacts will be migrated to Skype form Windows Live Messenger.

The migration to Skype means users can  now avail themselves of both instant messaging and video calling features within the same platform.

Skype Merges With IM And Windows Live!

HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) is a security mechanism by which a web server can indicate to complying user agents (for instance, a web browser) to interact with it using only secure connection. The HSTS specification is currently an IETF Internet-Draft, and the security policy received approval on 2 October, 2012. Mozilla had announced on the company blog that it has added to Firefox a list of hosts that require HSTS enforced by default.

Firefox "Preloaded List" is seeded with domains from Chrome's HSTS preloaded list of a similar function.

The list building procedure is thus: a request is sent to every host with the mode: "force-https" on Chrome's list. And only host that respond with a valid HSTS header and appropriate large max-age value get included in the list.

HSTS can be an effective tool for protecting the privacy and security of users and their data online.

The "preloaded list" makes it even harder to exploit, as when connecting to an HSTS host for the first time, the browser may not know whether to use secure connection or not, because it has never received a HSTS header from that host. Subsequently, an attacker could exploit that to prevent the browser from connecting securely and a user may never detect that. But, the "preloaded list" helps to mitigate this nature of attack.

Mozilla has called upon developers to download the recent build and give it a spin which is currently available in Firefox Beta.

Mozilla Pushes HSTS Preloaded List on Firefox

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