Researchers find German-made spyware across globe

London, Mar 14 - The discovery of a group of servers linked to an elusive espionage campaign is providing new details about a high-tech piece of spy software that some fear may be targeting dissidents living under oppressive regimes. A Canadian research center said yesterday that it had identified 25 different countries that host servers linked to FinFisher, a Trojan horse program which can dodge anti-virus protections to steal data, log keystrokes, eavesdrop on Skype calls, and turn microphones and webcams into live surveillance devices. Citizen Lab, based at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs, said that Canada, Mexico, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Serbia, and Vietnam were among the host countries newly identified in yesterday's report. That alone doesn't necessarily mean those countries' governments are using FinFisher, a program distributed by British company Gamma International, but it is an indication of the spyware's reach. Morgan Marquis-Boire, the report's lead author, said his goal was Òto show the proliferation of this type of active intrusion and surveillance.Ó In telephone interview, he said that the world of government surveillance was changing and urged journalists, aid workers, and activists to take note. ÒIt's not just phone tapping,Ó he said. ÒIt's installing a backdoor on your computer to record your Skype conversations and go through your email.Ó Advocacy group Privacy International described the report as evidence that Gamma had sold FinFisher to repressive regimes, calling it a Òpotential breach of UK export laws.Ó Gamma did not comment on the report. The company, based in the English town of Andover, has come under increasing scrutiny after a sales pitch for the spyware was recovered from an Egyptian state security building shortly after the toppling of dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Reporting by Bloomberg News subsequently identified opposition activists from the Persian Gulf kingdom of Bahrain as targets of the company's surveillance software. The discovery of FinFisher servers in countries run by authoritarian governments such as Turkmenistan and Ethiopia have raised further questions about the company's practices. On Tuesday, Paris-based journalists' rights group Reporters Without Borders named Gamma one of its five Òcorporate enemies of the Internet.Ó The report said evidence for the Ethiopian government's use of FinFisher was particularly strong, explaining that Citizen Lab had found an example of the spyware which spread through a booby-trapped email purporting to carry images of Ethiopian opposition figures.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 Released

Alexandria, VA, October 14, 2009 - fCoder Group, Inc announces the release of its Image Converter Plus 8.0. The new version is based on a new graphics engine and features improved performance, new sharing options (email and FTP upload), support for 17 new formats and numerous formats dialects, support for multi-core and 64-bit systems, and an improved user interface.

Image Converter Plus

Improved graphics engine

Image Converter Plus 8.0 features an improved graphics engine. Most of the changes in Image Converter Plus are in the engine. Here are some highlights:

Image Converter Plus 8.0 works faster
It's a computing paradox that computers are becoming more powerful but software is working slower. Image Converter Plus 8.0 has undergone profound optimization and now operates 15% faster. This is a feature users will definitely notice.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 converts huge files*
Modern cameras with more megapixels produce larger photos. Not just a couple of megabytes or even several dozen megabytes (a piece of cake for Image Converter Plus), but really HUGE files several gigabytes in size. The new Image Converter Plus 8.0 eats them up! This is the kind of feature business users were waiting for. Work easily with big multipage TIFF files or aerospace photos.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 supports more formats and dialects
Image Converter Plus already supported all the popular image formats and most of the rare ones. Now the new Image Converter Plus 8.0 supports more than 260 formats and format dialects.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 works better with HDRI formats
HDRI formats are becoming popular as more people get into HDR photography. Image Converter Plus 8.0 offers complete support for HDRI formats.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 supports more RAW formats
New professional cameras hit the market every month, and almost all of them use their own file formats. Image Converter Plus 8.0 adds support for a number of new RAW formats, including photos created by cameras like Kodak, Nikon, Canon, Minoltra, Sony, Casio, Fuji, Pentax and Panasonic.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 supports multi-core processors
Multi-core systems are intended to make working with software more convenient. Enjoy that convenience to the full extent with Image Converter Plus 8.0.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 works on 64-bit systems
Image Converter Plus 8.0 offers complete support for 64-bit systems. Users working on the latest models will love it.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 provides extended support for 16-bit/channel in many formats, including PDF
16-bit images contain more colors and provide more flexible and precise image processing. Image Converter Plus 8.0 extends 16 bit/channel support.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 can work with EXIF and IPTC information
EXIF and IPTC tags contain metadata for formats like JPEG, TIFF, or RAW. With Image Converter Plus 8.0, users can save or change this information even when converting formats (as long as both the source and destination formats support EXIF or IPTC).

New sharing options
Images have to save to the hard drive or local network, right? Wrong! Image Converter Plus 8.0 makes it easy to reach more distant destinations.

Image Converter Plus 8.0 emails converted files
Email converted files with just a single mouse click.


Image Converter Plus 8.0 uploads converted files to FTP
Upload files to FTP or a website easily with Image Converter Plus 8.0. There's no need to open an FTP client.

Improved user interface
Do more in less time! That's always been the main idea behind the Image Converter Plus user interface. The new Image Converter Plus 8.0 takes it one step further. It isn't a different interface - it's just better. The streamlined interface of Image Converter Plus 8.0 is easier to use and saves valuable time.

ElcomSoft Updates Distributed Password Recovery With Dictionary Attacks

NEW YORK, October 14- ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. updates Distributed Password Recovery with dictionary attacks and a password cache, making near-instant recovery of strong encryption keys possible. Password cache automatically stores all discovered passwords, unlocking other documents protected with the same password momentarily. Enhancements to Distributed Password Recovery will help forensics and government authorities to combat and prevent criminal activities by unlocking up to 40-50 per cent of protected documents in real-time.

Dictionary Attack

The newly added dictionary attack allows unlocking information protected with strong passwords faster. Visa EU Password Selection Survey and ElcomSoft Survey suggest that 40 to 78 per cent of passwords are susceptible to dictionary attacks. Dictionary attack can recover the majority of passwords used by general public, and up to 40 per cent of passwords employed in corporate environments. By adding the dictionary attack, ElcomSoft reduces time required to access information protected with strong encryption algorithms and long, complex passwords.

Password Cache

Computer users tend to use the same password to protect various types of information. Elcomsoft Distributed Password Recovery stores all passwords it discovers to a separate dictionary. The dictionary of discovered passwords is being used to recover other documents protected with the same password. By attacking the weakest link, ElcomSoft dramatically decreases time required to recover strong encryption algorithms.

About Elcomsoft Distributed Password Recovery

The tool enables accelerated password recovery for Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDF, PGP, personal security certificates and exchange keys, MD5 hashes, Oracle passwords, Windows and UNIX login and domain passwords. ElcomSoft's patent-pending GPU acceleration technology and zero-overhead scalability to over 10,000 workstations make it a high-end solution offering the speediest recovery.

About ElcomSoft Co. Ltd.

Established in 1990 in Moscow, Russia, ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. manufactures state-of-the-art computer forensics tools and provides computer forensics training and computer evidence consulting services. Since 1997, ElcomSoft was serving the needs of businesses, law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies. ElcomSoft tools and products are used by most of the Fortune 500 corporations, multiple branches of the military all over the world, governments, and all major accounting firms. ElcomSoft and its officers are members of the Russian Cryptology Association. ElcomSoft is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and an Intel Software Partner.

Prices for Elcomsoft Distributed Password Recovery start from $599. For more information visit ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. at http://www.elcomsoft.com/edpr.html

Performance Optimization Software for SQL Server Analysis Services

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — SQL Sentry, Inc., the developer of award-winning software for Microsoft SQL Server, announced today the availability of monitoring and optimization software for Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services. SQL Sentry Performance Advisor for Analysis Services provides unparalleled insight into Analysis Services performance, including bottlenecks related to memory and storage systems, aggregation usage, unoptimized queries, and query and processing tasks competing for the same resources.

“Building on the success of Performance Advisor for SQL Server, we are proud to bring exciting new capabilities to the market for managing Analysis Services,” said Greg Gonzalez, President and CEO of SQL Sentry. “And when combined with SQL Sentry Performance Advisor for SQL Server and Event Manager, we are providing the only solution in the market covering Microsoft’s entire BI platform, including the relational data warehouse (SQL Server), Analysis Services (SSAS), Integration Services (SSIS), and Reporting Services (SSRS).”

“Performance Advisor for Analysis Services is truly a game changer. This is the first software that brings all of the pertinent information together in a clear and concise fashion, providing a level of insight into Analysis Services performance that before now just hasn’t been possible,” said John Welch, SQL Server MVP, Chief Architect, Mariner.

Performance Advisor for Analysis Services is packed with many groundbreaking features, all designed to simplify the process of optimizing Analysis Services performance. Key Features include:

Powerful SSAS Performance Dashboard
Innovative Workload and Bottleneck Profiling
Capture of all High Impact MDX, XMLA and DMX Commands
Alerting and Response for SSAS Commands and Runtime Deviations
SSAS Cache and Storage System Monitoring
Calendar Views Combining SSAS, SQL Server, SSIS, and SSRS Events
Monitoring and Alerting for SSIS Data Warehousing Jobs and SSRS Reports
Pricing and Availability

SQL Sentry Performance Advisor for Analysis Services is available now and is priced at $2,495 per Analysis Services instance. The SQL Sentry BI Suite provides a complete performance monitoring and optimization solution for the entire Microsoft BI platform by combining SQL Sentry Event Manager, Performance Advisor for SQL Server and Performance Advisor for Analysis Services. The BI Suite is priced at $3,995 and represents a 20% cost advantage compared to purchasing all products separately. Users may download a trial version at http://www.sqlsentry.net .

About SQL Sentry(R)

SQL Sentry, Inc. delivers software products that optimize the performance of Microsoft(R) SQL Server(R) environments. SQL Sentry Performance Advisor(R) for Analysis Services provides unparalleled insight into Analysis Services performance, including bottlenecks related to memory, storage systems, aggregation design, queries and processing. SQL Sentry Performance Advisor for SQL Server delivers advanced performance dashboard with relevant Windows and SQL Server metrics in a single view along with detailed insight of heavy SQL, blocking, deadlocks, and disk bottlenecks. SQL Sentry Event Manager(R) is the ultimate scheduling, alerting and response system for managing SQL Server jobs and other events that impact performance.

Forensic Software

SIM card data restoration software is useful to restore deleted data from corrupted mobile phone sim card. SIM card files recovery utility facilitates to salvage lost inbox and outbox messages, contact number and network detail from sim card memory.

Mobile phone sim card data recovery software provides facility to salvage SMS, phone book detail deleted due to virus infection, software corruption or human error. Professional sim card files restoration utility also recovers ICC-ID number, IMSI ( International Mobile Subscriber Identity ) and service provider name from damaged sim card memory. SIM card message rescue tool restores erased call history such as missed calls, received calls and dialed calls with date and time from corrupted sim card. Cell phone sim card files recovery utility safely retrieves lost important data from corrupted sim card based on GSM/3G technology. SIM card SMS salvage tool helps to rescue deleted inbox and outbox messages, call logs and other sim card information from sim card memory. Mobile phone sim card data retrieval software displays network information and location of damaged sim card of any country. SIM card files recovery tool supports all windows operating system including Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Enterprise. Features: * SIM card message restore utility recovers complete deleted data from corrupted mobile phone sim card. * Cell phone sim card data rescue software restores all SMS, call logs and valuable message lost due to sim card corruption or malicious program. * Mobile phone sim card data recovery software also salvages deleted call history and files from logically crashed sim card. * SIM card files restoration utility salvages erased sim card information from sim card memory using PC/SC standards based SIM card reader or phoenix type USB SIM card reader. * Mobile phone sim card unread data recovery software is very easy to use and does not require any technical knowledge to operate it.

BSD SpecLink(R)-E Software Announced

ATLANTA — Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD) today announced the final beta release of its new BSD SpecLink-E (SLE) software and master database for preparing construction specifications. SpecLink-E is the successor to BSD’s award-winning BSD SpecLink+ software currently being used by thousands of design professionals nationwide. SLE is client-server software that uses Microsoft’s SQL Server database management system to support multi-user collaboration over a local area network or a wide area network between multiple offices. The SLE software is also easily installed on a single computer for standalone operation by a single user.

SpecLink-E will participate in the building information modeling (BIM) process through integration with CAD environments such as Revit Architecture 2009 via an integration manager called BSD LinkMan-E(TM) (LME), also in development at BSD with a patent pending. With LinkMan-E and SpecLink-E in place on the same computer or the same network, relevant project data can be transferred in both directions between the CAD environment and the specifications environment. Users will also be able to set SLE so that data from the drawings will inform the specifier about product choices, or the software can be set to automatically select appropriate sections and “pre-edit” the specifications, based on decisions made in the CAD environment. In addition to showing its current products, BSD will demonstrate linking between BSD SpecLink-E and Autodesk’s Revit at the AIA National Convention and Expo in San Francisco, April 30 - May 2, 2009.

SpecLink-E has been designed to allow real-time updating of its master database over the Internet at any convenient time. The master database updating can be scheduled in off hours with little or no disruption to the specification preparation process. Updates to the individual user’s client software take advantage of Microsoft technology called ClickOnce installation. This allows the client software on each user’s computer to update itself automatically from a central location on the network once the site manager decides to make the update available to users at that site. As with the previous generation SpecLink+ software, data updates to SLE will not overwrite user modifications in any existing projects, including so-called “office master” projects, because of the product’s unique database structure. Project-specific information entered by a user is stored in separate project overlay tables that are automatically merged with the master database content when a project is viewed or printed.

The version of SLE that will be demonstrated at the AIA convention in San Francisco will be distributed to current BSD SpecLink subscribers this summer, together with updates to BSD SpecLink+ and BSD CostLink/AE.

About BSD: Building Systems Design, Inc. develops, maintains, and provides training and technical support for innovative cost estimating and specification writing software tools for the architecture, engineering, and construction markets of North America. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bsdsoftlink.com.

Accelerator for .NET at Common

New Application Development Toolset opens options to IBM i Power Systems

BLOOMFIELD, N.J., — Surround Technologies today announced Accelerator for .NET, a new offering in its Accelerator line of Application Development tools. Accelerator for .NET offers compelling new front-end presentation and deployment opportunities for the IBM i Power Systems community, including AS/400, iSeries, and System i.

Accelerator for .NET, available now, fully generates code for both Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Silverlight, granting exciting new User Experience potentials for modernization efforts.

Like all Accelerator Development Solutions, the .NET version provides developers with a high level of advanced functionality, a structured architecture and wizard-driven code generation that drives developer productivity to groundbreaking new levels.

WPF is Microsoft’s new feature-rich Windows desktop front-end platform, supporting advanced components like complex images, 3D graphics, video and audio. Silverlight brings the same rich user experience to web applications, offering cross-browser, cross-platform, and cross-device compatibility that simplifies development.

“We are extremely excited over the potential the new Microsoft technologies offer the IBM mid-range world,” says Derek Maciak, Surround’s Chief Technology Officer. “They are truly transformational technologies and we think they will change a lot of people’s minds when they come to know what we know.”

Accelerator for .NET in its first release supports back-end legacy systems under the Visual LANSA programming environment with future versions expanding that support later this year.

Surround chose the Common Annual Meeting this week in Reno, NV, the largest gathering of IBM mid-range users, as the logical stage to make the announcement, nicely coinciding with general availability.

About Surround Technologies

Surround Technologies develops highly usable software tools that accelerate custom application development for Power IBM i, Windows, .NET, Unix and Linux Platforms. With offices in New Jersey and Florida, Surround provides software products and professional services that help enterprises produce advanced agile software. Surround Technologies’ Accelerator products appeal to companies large and small, and are in use modernizing applications at companies like Gannett, Verizon, and GE. More information at http://www.SurroundTech.com.