LAS VEGAS -- China's rapid emergence as a hotspot for criminal hacking activities is enabled by the open and unfettered availability of sophisticated hacking tools, according to security researchers attending the Black Hat conference here this week.

Many of the hacking tools are inexpensive, highly customizable, and easy to use.

LAS VEGAS -- China's rapid emergence as a hotspot for criminal hacking activities is enabled by the open and unfettered availability of sophisticated hacking tools, according to security researchers attending the Black Hat conference here this week.

Many of the hacking tools are inexpensive, highly customizable, and easy to use.

Even Microsoft can't move software makers to patch their products.

According to data released Wednesday by the company, third-party developers patched just 45 percent of the vulnerabilities that Microsoft's security team reported to them during the 12 months from July 2009 to June 2010.

Even Microsoft can't move software makers to patch their products.

According to data released Wednesday by the company, third-party developers patched just 45 percent of the vulnerabilities that Microsoft's security team reported to them during the 12 months from July 2009 to June 2010.

Everyone knows the software programmer stereotype: Developers are lone hackers working late into the night, the room illuminated only by their computer monitors. They subsist on delivery pizza and Mountain Dew. They rarely leave their posts when there's coding to be done, sometimes even spending Friday night on the old couch in the office.

I love Northern California and have lived here most of my life. But as enlightened as this part of the world likes to think it is, we have a strain of know-nothing technophobia that masquerades as progressive politics.

If you thought you could get advanced features like remote media mounting, remote power reset, and ultraquick screen refreshes in only the big KVM boxes, think again. The $385 Lantronix SpiderDuo stuffs these features, advanced authentication (LDAP, RADIUS, Active Directory), and a pass-through port for local console access all into a portable package that can support as many as eight remote users without a dedicated KVM server. We carry it around the data center for a quick and easy way to set up new boxes.

Sometimes what starts out as a fun upgrade to improved tools can turn into an emotional roller coaster for no apparent reason. First, you get one error message, and then another. There's a call to tech support, as well as the up-and-down ride of hope and apathy. Frustration, despair, apathy, and intervention -- it's happened to all of us. Eventually you decide to cut your losses.

Data storage needs continue to grow unabated, straining backup and disaster recovery systems while requiring more online spindles, using more power, and generating more heat. No one expects a respite from this explosion in data growth. That leaves IT profession­als to search for technology solutions that can at least lighten the load.

Everyone knows the software programmer stereotype: Developers are lone hackers working late into the night, the room illuminated only by their computer monitors. They subsist on delivery pizza and Mountain Dew. They rarely leave their posts when there's coding to be done, sometimes even spending Friday night on the old couch in the office.

I love Northern California and have lived here most of my life. But as enlightened as this part of the world likes to think it is, we have a strain of know-nothing technophobia that masquerades as progressive politics.

If you thought you could get advanced features like remote media mounting, remote power reset, and ultraquick screen refreshes in only the big KVM boxes, think again. The $385 Lantronix SpiderDuo stuffs these features, advanced authentication (LDAP, RADIUS, Active Directory), and a pass-through port for local console access all into a portable package that can support as many as eight remote users without a dedicated KVM server. We carry it around the data center for a quick and easy way to set up new boxes.

Sometimes what starts out as a fun upgrade to improved tools can turn into an emotional roller coaster for no apparent reason. First, you get one error message, and then another. There's a call to tech support, as well as the up-and-down ride of hope and apathy. Frustration, despair, apathy, and intervention -- it's happened to all of us. Eventually you decide to cut your losses.

Data storage needs continue to grow unabated, straining backup and disaster recovery systems while requiring more online spindles, using more power, and generating more heat. No one expects a respite from this explosion in data growth. That leaves IT profession­als to search for technology solutions that can at least lighten the load.

As if IT admins weren't busy enough securing end-users' computers, servers, and the network, they now need to come up with ways to protect end-users' phones.

As if IT admins weren't busy enough securing end-users' computers, servers, and the network, they now need to come up with ways to protect end-users' phones.

When Jeremiah Grossman, CTO of WhiteHat Security, announced last week that he had found a security hole in the Safari browser, he certai

When Jeremiah Grossman, CTO of WhiteHat Security, announced last week that he had found a security hole in the Safari browser, he certai

Apple has long basked in a glowing reputation as a purveyor of high-end, well-designed products. Sure, the company's wares typically cost more than those of its competitors, but such is the price of quality.

Apple has long basked in a glowing reputation as a purveyor of high-end, well-designed products. Sure, the company's wares typically cost more than those of its competitors, but such is the price of quality.