targets

Symantec report focuses on threat of targeted attacks

In the world of security, targeted attacks should be a real concern--and extremely worrisome--to organizations around the world, Symantec said in a new quarterly report on attacks on critical infrastructure.

"The customization of targeted attacks can make them more dangerous than non-targeted attacks because they are tailored explicitly to affect a target group," Symantec wrote in its quarterly report (PDF). The company said that targeted attacks are currently being used to take data from companies, steal information for financial gain, or to simply cause "mischief."

Targeted attacks have been gathering some notoriety over the past couple … Read more

Quick! Behind you!

Clay Shooter Mania is a clay-pigeon shooting game that uses the iPhone 4 accelerometer and gyroscope features to make for a unique gaming experience, but you're going to need room to move around to play it.

One of the more-amazing features of the iPhone 4 when it came out was the gyroscope, which enabled users to move the device and view an object as though the iPhone screen were a window into a different world. There have only been a few apps so far at the iTunes App Store that take advantage of this feature (Eliminate: GunRange, for example).… Read more

Black Friday's online sales rise over last year

This year's Black Friday saw a healthy rise in online sales, according to stats out today from ComScore.

Cybershoppers collectively plunked down $648 million online on Friday, a gain of 9 percent over the same day last year. Thanksgiving, a day where people typically spend more time filling their bellies than emptying their wallets, saw a solid 28 percent rise in cybersales from last year, hitting $407 million.

Overall, the online holiday shopping season has been robust so far, according to market researcher ComScore, with $11.64 billion spent at e-commerce outlets from November 1 to 26, a gain … Read more

Facebook applies for ad-targeting patent

This is interesting: Earlier this month, Facebook filed for a patent to further hone its ad-targeting technology so that ads can be based on what a user's friends interests may be. The reason for this, it appears, is so that Facebook can better serve ads toward users who have not filled out their profiles with enough information for traditional ad targeting.

Facebook calls this second-degree targeting "inferential."

"Members of social networks often do not populate their profiles to include all of their interests and other personal information," the patent application explains. "As a result, … Read more

Bionic-armed driver dies after crash

Update at 10:00 a.m. PDT: BBC News reported Friday that Christian Kandlbauer "was pronounced brain-dead in intensive care...and his life support was switched off." The story has been updated throughout to reflect this.

Christian Kandlbauer, who was fitted with an experimental bionic arm after losing both arms when he was shocked by a 20,000-volt power line in 2005, has died following a car accident in Austria.

In hopes of leading a normal life again, he had become a guinea pig in a four-year research project on a novel bionic arm.

The 22-year-old had fought … Read more

Digital Dead Sea Scrolls

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

HP announces the Palm Pre 2 and a new operating system WebOS 2.0

Xbox.com gets a makeover with some new features

Microsoft launches Office 365

Target lets you print your Facebook photos at the store

Barnes and Noble may be getting a new Nook ready to launch

Pandigital launches a new eReader called the Novel

Google is tasked with digitizing the Dead Sea Scrolls

And don't miss CNET's live blogging of the Apple conference today where we believe new MacBooks are on the way! If you do miss it, … Read more

Sam's Club to sell iPhone and iPad

Warehouse chain Sam's Club will be selling Apple's iPad and iPhone.

The large members-only retail outlet confirmed the news at an investor meeting today. No date was given as to when the popular tablet and smartphone would be available. But the news follows yesterday's announcement by Sam's Club's parent Wal-Mart that it would start selling the iPad at some stores on Friday, and that the tablet would be available at all 2,300 stores by mid-November.

Wal-Mart and Sam's Club join Best Buy and Target on the growing list of retailers selling the iPad. … Read more

Target to begin selling iPad in October

Target will start selling Apple's iPad on October 3, the company announced at a news conference in Minneapolis today.

Target will carry all six versions of the tablet, including the 16-, 32-, and 64GB versions of the iPad with Wi-Fi and the iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G. Prices will start at $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model, which is the same price that Apple sells the device for.

A Target spokeswoman told CNET in a phone interview today that the iPad will be included in a special store promotion beginning October 17 that gives customers a 5 percent discount … Read more

Target to be first to sell Facebook Credits

Facebook Credits is making its way to Target stores, the retailer announced on Wednesday.

Starting on Sunday, Target stores nationwide will feature Facebook Credits gift cards in increments of $15, $25, and $50. The Credits can be used on the more than 150 games and applications available on Facebook. The retailer said cards will also be available on Target.com.

Facebook Credits is quickly gaining ground as an alternative payment option on the social network. It's currently supported by wildly popular Zynga titles, FarmVille and Mafia Wars, as well as Bejeweled Blitz and the recently announced Madden NFL Superstars. … Read more

Target starts in-store trade-in of iPhone, games

Target has started rolling out a new electronics trade-in program designed for mobile devices and video games.

According to the company, customers can now walk into a supported store and trade in their iPhone, iPod Touch, any cell phone, or a video game. Upon doing so, a value will be placed on the product at the company's new in-store mobile centers. Customers will receive a gift card in that amount for as little as "a few dollars up to more than $200 per item depending on the product and its condition."

Target also offers an online service … Read more