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(Credit:
Soliant Energy)

Earlier investors RockPort Capital Partners, Nth Power, Trinity Ventures, and Rincon Venture Partners also participated in the funding.

• 3Tier on Monday published a map of the solar resource in the Western hemisphere based on satellite day, which it says is more detailed than existing maps.

Soliant Energy’s devices concentrate sunlight with several Fresnel lenses onto high-performance solar cells to maximize electricity output. Each lens, which magnifies the light 500 times, is mounted on a tracker so that it follows the sun over the course of the day.

3Tier's solar map gives detailed information on solar resources.

• In another sign of thin-film cells’ growing influence, Menlo Park, Calif.-based Signet Solar said that it has begun volume manufacturing of its thin-film cell panels in Mochau, Germany after receiving the proper certification.

With the map, financiers, developers, and policy makers can rapidly get an idea of the availability of sun, particularly in South and Central America, according to 3Tier. The company released a global wind resource map earlier this year.

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3Tier)

• Sharp Solar said that it will have thin-film solar cells available to utility customers next year. The move is significant because it further validates the viability of thin-film solar cells for large-scale solar projects.

Announcements from solar vendors at the conference reflect that optimism and the growing diversity of solar technologies.

Soliant Energy's solar concentrators designed for corporate rooftops.

GE estimates that commercial and industrial buildings comprise 60 percent of building roof area in the U.S. Soliant Energy estimates that corporate rooftops will represent $13.2 billion in revenue by 2010.

• General Electric said Tuesday that it is investing $2.5 million in Soliant Energy, part of a $21 million investment in the company which makes solar systems for corporate rooftops.

Sharp is one of the largest suppliers of polysilicon cells and modules–the incumbent technology. Thin-film cells, made from alternate materials, are less efficient in converting light to electricity but are cheaper because less material is used.

Unlike many specialized concentrating photovoltaic systems, Soliant Energy makes devices that are the same size as traditional solar panels, which makes them suitable for rooftops and relatively easy to install, according to the company.

Despite concerns about the economy overall, the primary subsidy for the solar industry–a renewable energy federal tax credit–was extended for eight years, which solar industry experts say ensure the continued pace of fast growth.

SAN DIEGO–The Solar Power International conference kicked off in a buoyant mood.

The company said that it will modify its liquid-crystal display manufacturing lines to ramp up production of thin-film cells, starting in March 2010 with a factory capable of producing 480 megawatts a year.

Having completed its pilot production, it expects to produce at a rate of 20 megawatts a year and ramp up to 130 megawatts by the end of next year. The modules and films are expected to be sold to utilities for solar power plants, large commercial installations, and building-integrated photovoltaics.

The hospitals affected are St. Bartholomew’s, the Royal London Hospital, and The London Chest Hospital. The BBC quotes a spokesman for Barts and The London as saying the virus was “not malicious” and the infection was “self-contained.”

“Emergency procedures have been activated to ensure that key clinical systems continue while network access is being established. We have maintained a safe environment for our patients throughout the incident,” a statement on the site for Barts and The London NHS Trust hospital system said.

“There will, no doubt, be concerns that the confidentiality of patients’ data may have been put at risk, and the hospitals will surely be keen to reassure the public that security has been maintained,” Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, wrote in a post on his blog.

Doctors are using pen and paper as backups as a result of the infection, according to The Register.

Three hospitals in London were forced to shut down their networks Tuesday after being infected with a computer virus.

(Credit: Barts and The London)

The virus is believed to be the Mytob worm, which spreads via e-mail and plants a backdoor Trojan on infected computers that can be used to remotely take control of the machine, according to security firm Sophos.

“Manual backup systems are in use and we are in the process of restoring the computer systems with priority being given to the most important areas for maintaining patients services,” the statement said.

About 70 percent of the control servers behind the attack had Internet Protocol addresses assigned to China, but researchers also found such servers in the U.S., Sweden, South Korea, and Taiwan. Of the nearly 1,300 infected computers, Taiwan had the most, followed by the U.S., Vietnam, and India.

The capabilities of GhostNet are far-reaching. The report reveals that Tibetan computer systems were compromised giving attackers access to potentially sensitive information, including documents from the private office of the Dalai Lama. The report presents evidence showing that numerous computer systems were compromised in ways that circumstantially point to China as the culprit. But the report is careful not to draw conclusions about the exact motivation or the identity of the attacker(s), or how to accurately characterize this network of infections as a whole. The report argues that attribution can be obscured.

The system directs infected computers to download a Trojan known as gh0st RAT that allows attackers to gain complete, real-time control. These instances of gh0st RAT are consistently controlled from commercial Internet access accounts located on the island of Hainan, People’s Republic of China.

The breaches tended to stem from a so-called social-engineering exploit, in which targets in the Tibetan community were sent an e-mail that appeared to be from the address campaigns@freetibet.org and that carried an attached Word document titled “Translation of Freedom Movement ID Book for Tibetans in Exile”–and that Word document was infected with the malicious code.

Despite going into great detail about how the GhostNet operates, and acknowledging the Chinese government’s interest in the strategic exploitation of cyberspace, the Munk Centre researchers stop short of pointing fingers directly at a perpetrator:

Both reports also addressed the broader implications of the practices and behaviors observed in the Tibet-related malware efforts, and warn of the need for increased vigilance by both IT professionals and everyday computer users. As in many other breaches, from the Melissa virus 10 years ago to the Conficker worm today, breaches succeeded in part because people using the computer systems failed to take precautions when surfing the Web or opening e-mail messages.

The University of Cambridge report, “The snooping dragon: social-malware surveillance of the Tibetan movement,” doesn’t refrain from charging that the Chinese government was directing malware attacks: “(I)t was a targeted surveillance attack designed to collect actionable intelligence for use by the police and security services of a repressive state, with potentially fatal consequences for those exposed.”

A pair of recent research reports have cast some light on shadowy online initiatives with roots in China. Completed separately, both reports–”Tracking GhostNet,” from the Munk Centre for International Studies in Toronto, and “The snooping dragon,” from the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory–address the Chinese government’s efforts to monitor the activities of the Dalai Lama and the governing of Tibet.

Given that China has the world’s largest Internet population, the researchers say, “the sheer number of young digital natives online can more than account for the increase in Chinese malware. With more creative people using computers, it’s expected that China (and Chinese individuals) will account for a larger proportion of cybercrime.”

Our investigation reveals that GhostNet is capable of taking full control of infected computers, including searching and downloading specific files, and covertly operating attached devices, including microphones and web cameras.

See also:

The compromise of targeted systems could be substantial:

China is coming under scrutiny as the possible source of malicious software and Internet attacks directed at foreign governments and other institutions.

As social-malware attacks spread, they are bound to target people such as accounts-payable and payroll staff who use computers to make payments. Prevention will be hard. The traditional defence against social malware in government agencies involves expensive and intrusive measures that range from mandatory access controls to tiresome operational security procedures. These will not be sustainable in the economy as a whole. Evolving practical low-cost defences against social-malware attacks will be a real challenge.

• Conficker worm might originate in China
• ‘60 Minutes’: What’s next for Conficker worm?
• U.K. parliament computers get Confickered
• FAQ: Conficker time bomb ticks, but don’t expect boom
• Melissa virus turns 10

And while the Tibetan computer systems were “conclusively compromised,” the report says, “it is not clear whether the attacker(s) really knew what they had penetrated, or if the information was ever exploited for commercial or intelligence value.”

Meanwhile, Vietnamese security firm BKIS says it has come across clues suggesting that the
Conficker worm, which is supposed to start communicating with computers on April 1, may have Chinese origins. BKIS reported Monday that it spotted similarities between Conficker’s code and that of the 2001 Nimda virus, though in both cases the findings are not at all definitive.

In “Tracking GhostNet: Investigating a Cyber Espionage Network,” issued over the weekend, the Canadian researchers say that the GhostNet comprises 1,295 infected computers in 103 countries, almost one third of them being “high-value targets, including ministries of foreign affairs, embassies, international organizations, news media, and NGOs.”

Asked about the reports, analysts in China say that such claims are exaggerated and politically motivated, according to CNN.

The costs could be significant, according to the Cambridge University report:

Wired.com, the Internet arm of stalwart tech pub Wired magazine, has cut its staff by 10 percent and an unknown number of employees outside of editorial also were laid off, according to sources close to the company.

Wired.com has laid off three of its 28 employees, but the publication's staff writers were unaffected.

Hansen declined to discuss who was let go, but sources familiar with the situation said none of the publication’s staff writers was cut. This is only the latest reduction of editorial staffing for Wired.com’s publisher, Conde Nast.

Last month, The New York Times reported that Conde Nast was preparing to reduce company-wide budgets by 5 percent. The plan called for reducing the number of issues for magazines such as Portfolio and Men’s Vogue and folding some of Portfolio’s divisions into Wired magazine. The Times story said that most of the job cuts would come at Portfolio and Men’s Vogue.

“Revenues are expected to be up year over year but not as much as we expected,” Hansen said. “We’re concerned about 2009 because visibility is murky. We’re taking steps to make sure we’re in good position.”

(Credit:
Wired.com)

Out of 28 editorial positions, 3 employees were laid off, according to the sources. In an interview with CNET News, Evan Hansen, Wired.com’s editor in chief, said the company downsized to prepare for the economic downturn.

Compromised computers that send spam as part of their regular botnet activity increased dramatically in September, according to a Symantec study (PDF) released Monday.

Turkey topped the list of countries hosting spam-sending compromised PCs, responsible for 12 percent of such traffic, according to Symantec. It was followed by Brazil (9 percent), Russia (8 percent), the U.S. (6 percent), India (6 percent), China (6 percent), Germany (5 percent), Argentina (4 percent), Poland (4 percent), and Thailand (3 percent).

After seeing a 37 percent drop in botnet-related spam for August, Symantec reported a 101 percent increase in September. The growth appears to be focused in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with South Korea experiencing the largest increase at 4,236 percent. It was followed by Kazakhstan (761 percent), Romania (607 percent), Saudi Arabia (555 percent), and Vietnam (540 percent).

The Symantec report follows a study from MessageLabs also illustrating the increased use of automated spam relays.

Compromised PCs sending spam had been part of the background noise until recently, when their usage surged in September.

(Credit:
Symantec)

In looking for a reason behind the one-month increase, Symantec speculated it had something to do with the increase in e-mail with sensationalistic news headlines that included links to downloadable malware. These include malicious spam campaigns emulating e-mail from CNN and MSNBC.

He said Comcast has to take certain steps to ensure its future success, such as continuing to expand its DOCSIS 3.0 wideband service and offering content in different formats.

(Credit:
Stephanie Condon/ CNET Networks)

The cable industry gained 7 million net customers in 2008 and this year will invest $14 billion in network upgrades and expansions. As its continues to adopt new technologies and develop new business models, the cable industry should attempt to ensure it is allowed to grow unfettered, McSlarrow said.

“I believe it’s not regulation that preserves what America is about,” he continued. “It is much more about entrepreneurialism and investment and innovation, and they occur best when we have functioning free markets.”

One highlight of the Cable Show is the “broadband nation” exhibit, which shows what the near future may look like with the widespread adoption of broadband through cable.

WASHINGTON–Many industries have come to Washington this year to repentantly seek government protection from a brutal economy. This week, though, the cable industry brought the 2009 Cable Show to the capital to defiantly show off its optimistic outlook for the future–a future, they say, best brought to bear by private sector innovation rather than government regulation.

Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who has been praised for his understanding of the tech industry, said the cable industry has showed how innovation can lead to economic growth. He said the industry should take a stand against political moves to restrain innovation.

“The advent of broadband and cable and all variants of telecommunications is the next great economic development that will rival electrification of rural America,” he said. “When we think about the opportunity of broadband, I don’t think any of us really understand the full potential of this technology.”

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Clearwire Chairman Craig McCaw, Suddenlink Communications CEO Jerald Kent, Cox Communications President Patrick Esser, and former FCC Chairman Kennard talk about the cable industry at the Cable Show in Washington, D.C.

“There is consensus here in Washington (that) we have to do something to turn this economy around,” Cantor said. “Much of the discussion focuses on putting in regulations that are allegedly needed. I hope your message here can counter that.”

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke officially opened the exhibit, noting that the telecommunications industry may pull the country out of the recession, just as rural electrification helped end the Great Depression.

“We should tread cautiously before assuming that traditional regulatory responses apply in a
marketplace that is experimenting, growing, and changing before our eyes,” he said.

“It is impossible for any of us to think about our customers or our businesses without also thinking about today’s economic and financial backdrop,” said Kyle McSlarrow, the CEO of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, the organization that hosts the Cable Show. “Fortunately, we have every reason to believe that our industry will continue to be resilient and grow. And I would go further…and say that we have a central role to play in our economic recovery
as well.”

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts acknowledged the industry faces many uncertainties, such as how to offer content online without crippling cable television. Yet those uncertainties offer as many opportunities as dilemmas, he said.

“The advent of broadband and cable and all variants of telecommunications is the next great economic development that will rival electrification of rural America.” –U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke

“I don’t think we should put our head in the sand,” he said. “We should allow customers to get video wherever they want. We have to have really thoughtful conversations with our partners in content and make it a win-win outcome for customers and programmers, and I think we can do that.”

“Everything changes in an all-digital world, and if we have the fastest Internet and an unlimited appetite to take some risks, I think we’re going to have a fabulous future,” he said.

Oh boy. I’m sure Stringer winces whenever that quote gets trotted out. Now Stringer, who has been CEO since 2005, is reportedly mulling what the U.K.’s Times suggests will include “job cuts and sweeping changes to management and manufacturing processes.”

That’s left Stringer exhorting Sony to get more imaginative. Last May, he reportedly urged his minions to “get mad.” Jawboning only got Sony so far. If the Times’ report is correct, the company’s about to go to Defcon 1.

If you think you’ve heard that before, well, you have. Sony’s been hampered by internal bureaucratic rivalries for years. Inconclusive fights over formats and digital rights management have put too much distance between Sony and its consumers. The upshot: Products that are good, not great. That title has been passed along to Apple.

Sony boss Sir Howard Stringer has to be one of the most charming executives in all of techdom. But as Arthur Miller taught us, a smile and a shoeshine go only so far.

Remember this quote?: “You can take
iPod and beat us over the head with it, but it’s only one product. And we have a thousand products. Apple has two or three.”

The Times’ sources say the changes likely will get announced after the Consumer Electronics Show and will “abolish or fundamentally alter many of Sony’s long-established business practices.”

I’m not sure how much to get excited about all of this. If Stringer’s as capable an executive as he’s been portrayed–and the guy definitely is a blue-chip talent–this is the point where he must prove his super hero cred. Anything less, and he’s going to wind up as toast. Will the same also be said of Sony?

In the broader markets, the Nasdaq rose 58.74 points, or 3.43 percent, to 1,770.03. The Dow Jones Industrials rose 413.21 points, or 4.67 percent, to 9.265.43 while the S&P 500 rose 44.85 points, or 4.77 percent, to 985.40.

Motorola was up 8 percent on a report that its Android smartphone is getting closer to reality, and Time Warner was up 9 percent on news of pending layoffs at Yahoo, which could force the struggling search company into a deal with Time Warner’s AOL division. Yahoo itself was down slightly, just 0.31 percent.

After the bell, Sun Microsystems warned that its first-quarter profit would be well below expectations, sending its stock down 6.6 percent in after-hours trading.

James Faucette of Pacific Crest Securities rained on RIM’s parade with a research note Monday suggesting that October sales of RIM’s BlackBerrys have been less-than-impressive, causing the stock to plunge $5.10, or 8.64 percent, to close at $53.91 on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The note also comes a day before Apple is expected to report iPhone sales of around 5 million units during the past quarter.

Research In Motion was a big loser in an otherwise positive day for tech stocks after it was the subject of a research note authored by a pessimistic financial analyst.

(Credit:
Yahoo Finance)

(Credit:
Yahoo Finance)

It wasn't the best day for RIM after an analyst published a negative research note.

Most stocks on the CNET Tech Index were positive, with an overall increase of 4.13 percent on the day.

An up-and-down day on the Nasdaq finished strong.

Dubbed Community Center 2.0 ProEdition, LiveWorld’s software includes moderation tools, widgets, community segmentation features for a more robust social network, and community-optimized search engine optimization. Most importantly, the ProEdition also includes LiveWorld’s API to let companies create a unique social network that runs over the LiveWorld platform. According to the company, the average social network can be deployed in a few weeks.

But just how affordable is Community Center 2.0? You’ll need to call the company to find out — it doesn’t divulge pricing information to the public due to the unique nature of each company’s needs. Regardless, LiveWorld is operating in an extremely competitive market. And with major companies like IBM and its Lotus Connections solution offering outstanding opportunities for the enterprise to “go social,” LiveWorld may not be able to easily take the leadership role in the space.

LiveWorld, a social media marketing agency that’s trying to expand its business into social networking, announced Thursday that it will offer a new edition of its Community Center 2.0 software, which is intended to provide businesses with a lower-cost social networking option for creating an online community around a company’s brand.

“Brands realize that creating a loyal, active online community to engage their customers is critical to marketing in the 21st century, and all the more so in a tough economic climate,” Peter Friedman, LiveWorld’s Chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “That’s why we’ve created ProEdition. It lets businesses deploy social networks based on LiveWorld’s…platform, but at a lower entry and ongoing price than previously available.”