Do You Really Need A Custom Wordpress Theme?
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One of the hardest parts of running a Wordpress (or similar CMS/blog script) is finding the right layout and look for your content. After all, the first few minutes that your visitor arrives at your website are some of the most crucial. You need to make a good first impression. Even if you have the best content in the world, if your website does not look appealing to visitors you are going to lose them to a competitor. If your primary purpose is to make money from your website or if you rely on the revenue that you generate, then this could seriously harm your pocket. But how much should you spend on your design? Or should you even spend at all?
‘Zombie’ PC Plague Hits Internet Hard
Summer 2008 has seen a huge increase in the amount of hijacked home computers, known as “zombies”, experts say.
The Shadowserver Foundation who track the number of infected computers, have seen a threefold increase in the last three months alone. More than 450,000 computers are now part of zombie networks or botnets, run by hi-tech criminals, they said. The rise is believed to be linked to the number of attacks that booby-trap websites or try to infect the machines of users.
Criminal gangs are very keen to recruit new machines to a botnet to create a resource that they can use or that they can hire out to other criminal gang for profit. A lot of spam and junk mail is routed through the machines, forming the botnet. The botnet can then be used to launch attacks on websites, as an anonymous store to collect details and stolen data, and to help with phishing scams. Most of the machines in the botnets are PCs running a version of Microsoft’s Windows.
The jump in individual zombie numbers is linked to a series of wide-spread attacks that inject malicious code on to legitimate websites that tries to compromise any visiting machine.
In recent months many hi-tech criminals have turned to web attacks to recruit new victims rather than rely on sending viruses out via e-mail.
Typically, a machine is compromised via a vulnerability in one of the programs it runs. Inside this initial attack program will be code that directs it to contact a C&C server which then downloads software to put it completely under the control of a botmaster.
Windows 7 First Glimpse: October
Microsoft has announced that the first details and chance to look into Windows 7 will be this coming October at two technical conferences they run. Windows 7 developers will be showing off their work at the Professional Developer’s Conference and the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference.
Based on Microsoft’s current Operating System – Vista, Windows 7 is currently expected to be released in January 2010.
The announcement about the release of Windows 7 details was made on a new Windows 7 blog, which is being written by the engineers who are designing and creating the software. Writing on the blog, Jon Devaan and Steven Sinofsky, two senior engineers on the project, said that Microsoft had been keeping details about Windows 7 fairly quiet as they didn’t want to ‘talk up’ features that may never make it into the finished product.
What we know about Windows 7, is that it will be using core components from Windows Vista and it will have a touch interface, that when coupled with the right type of screen, will allow the system to recognise gestures to complete tasks. For the current technology trends with people purchasing iPhones in droves, these sort of features will be very welcome.
The one hope we here at Cupoftech.com have, is that Microsoft make Windows 7 a lot less bulky than Windows Vista is. Please think of the more advanced end user as well as Joe Bloggs who is using his first computer and appreciates ‘pretty’ interfaces.
Preview: Football Superstars (PC)
We’ve all heard of MMO’s (Massively Mutliplayer Online Games), such as World of Warcraft, Eve Online and the upcoming Age of Conan. However, there haven’t been very many games where you could create your own footballer and build up his skills as you progress through the game. Cybersports are trying to change this with their upcoming game – Football Superstars.
The game allows you to take control of your own footballer and pit your skills against other players from around the world as you compete to improve your player and work hard with your teammates. You earn experience points based on your stats from matches that you play in, and you can use these points to improve your players stats, earn money and increase your fame.
Football Superstars will be free to download and play, however you will need to subscribe to gain access to all of the options available. It remains to be seen whether it can compete against the top football games currently on the market, such as Fifa, Pro Evolution Soccer and Football Manager, however – the FPS-style control of your single player and the ability to work as a team with 10 other players from around the world will certainly appeal to many football fans.
The game is currently in a private beta and looks like it will be released in the 4th quarter of this year. Watch this space…
Netflix Launch Set-Top Box
The online DVD rental service, Netflix, have launched a new set-top box that will allow subscribers to watch streamed movies on their televisions. The $99.99 set-top box is made by Roku and will link up with any wireless or wired network and TV. Once linked up, it will then stream content straight to the TV. The service will cost $8.99 per month, for the unlimited viewing option.
Netflix have announced that they already have over 10,000 movies available for download and they plan to offer more titles every week. The set-top box is really an extension of their current service where they allow users to stream content to their PCs, but using the set-top box they can now play these movies in their living rooms which are undoubtedly going to be more comfortable and convenient.