Week in Geek: Google and Mozilla Sign Billion Dollar Deal

Our Christmas edition of WIG is filled with news link goodness such as Facebook’s upcoming addition of sponsored story ads to your newsfeed, the breach of US Chamber of Commerce systems by Chinese hackers, the lawsuit against Sony for their no-suing rules, and more.

Weekly News Links

What’s Firefox worth to Google? Nearly $1 billion
Don’t let the StatCounters and the NetApplications of the world fool you: despite stagnant and even slightly negative market share growth, Firefox and its default search box is still extremely valuable to Google.
Mozilla: We’re more than just Firefox, you know
Although Mozilla has never limited its stated goals to merely building an open-source browser, there’s no doubt that Firefox has been the highest-profile project from the Mozilla Foundation.
Facebook to plop sponsored story ads into your news feed
Facebook is aiming to ramp up the impact of its sponsored story ads by including them in your regular news feed starting next month.
China extends microblog real-name rule
After unveiling a regulation that required microblog users in Beijing to register their accounts with their real names, the Chinese government has now extended the regulation to include sites in other parts of China.
BitTorrent downloads linked to RIAA, DHS IP addresses
The TorrentFreak blog has outed the RIAA and U.S. Department of Homeland Security as harboring downloaders of pirated songs by hip hop artists and crime-based TV shows, but the RIAA denies it.
Pro-copyright group takes SOPA to task
The Heritage Foundation, probably the nation’s most influential conservative advocacy group, has long been a reliable ally of large copyright holders. But not when it comes to the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act.
Facebook: Changes to come following Irish privacy audit
This past Wednesday Facebook announced plans to change parts of its service in Europe following an audit by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC).
Sony sued over PlayStation Network no-suing rules
In September, after the much-hyped hacking of the PlayStation Network, Sony instituted new language in its terms of service forcing PSN users to agree not to sue the company. But according to CNET sister site GameSpot, some didn’t take kindly to being strong-armed in that way.
Senators call for FTC probe of Google’s results
Two prominent members of the Senate antitrust subcommittee are urging federal regulators to investigate whether Google unfairly promotes its own properties in search results.
Facebook can be sued over use of ads liked by friends, rules court
Facebook has landed in some legal hot water over its use of ads that snatch the names of members of the social network to promote a product or business.
Chinese hackers breach US Chamber of Commerce systems
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the latest victim of online attacks by Chinese hackers after the business lobbying group revealed some of its computer systems were breached, allowing them access to everything stored there including information about its three million members, a report stated.
Microsoft confirms Windows vulnerability
Microsoft has posted on its German-language Chief Security Advisor Blog about the Windows vulnerability reported last Tuesday. The post states that the company was able to reproduce a situation in which a specially crafted HTML page could cause a blue screen when opened with Safari on a 64-bit system.
Localised ransomware identified by Microsoft
Criminals are going to an increasing amount of trouble to adapt ransomware for different countries in order to give it a veneer of credibility. One example is BKA, which has been circulating since the start of this year.
Android trojan sends revolution messages
According to a report from security specialist Symantec, hacktivists are spreading a manipulated version of a popular Islamic compass app for Android called AlSalah that secretly sends text messages with links to political messages.
Busy Signal Service Targets Cyberheist Victims
A new service on the cyber criminal underground can be hired to tie up the phone lines of any targeted mobile or land line around the world. The service is marketed as a diversionary tactic to assist e-thieves in robbing commercial customers of banks that routinely call customers to verify large financial transfers.

Random TinyHacker Links

Create and Organize Notes Online
A neat web based note taking and organization tool.
How Careless Installations Ruin Performance
Learn how making quick (default) installations for your computer’s applications is the best recipe for ruining your system’s performance and computing experience.
Ever used the Resource Monitor in Windows 7?
Learn how to take advantage of all its features so that you can figure out at any time what’s going on with your computer.
Have you considered using AVG Internet Security?
AVG is famous for its free antivirus. However, it offers also commercial security solutions, such as AVG Internet Security 2012. Read this review to learn more about its effectiveness in securing your system.
Want to become a self-published author?
Here’s what the famous author Scott Berkun learned when going the self-publishing route.