Ethel Lindley

Creepy app uses Twitter and Flickr data to track anyone on a map

When you post a photo online -- especially from a phone with a built-in camera -- you're likely sharing more than the picture itself. The same is true for updates you post on Twitter. Location data is commonly included, and crafty types can do all kinds of creepy things with that information.

A good example of what's possible is Creepy, a desktop app which lets you track a Flickr or Twitter user's position on a map. Just pop in a Twitter or Flickr ID, and if the person has posted any geocoded data Creepy will pin the corresponding locations on a map. Satellite, street, and hybrid maps from Google and Virtual Earth are available, as are OpenAerialMap and OpenStreetMap.

Above, you can see where @scobleizer has been puttering around. Pop in anyone you want and then wait patiently -- Creepy analyzes quite a bit of data, so it can take a while for your results to appear. The mapping magic works as long as the user you search for has enabled geolocation features -- and that likely includes the vast majority of Twitter and Flickr users using a mobile app.

Creepy is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and the application's source code is also downloadable.

Creepy app uses Twitter and Flickr data to track anyone on a map originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coco Lee Katy Perry Vinessa Shaw Rebecca Romijn Nadine Velazquez

Microsoft Security Essentials vulnerability reminds that security risks are everywhere

Microsoft recently delivered a patch for its malware and antivirus tools, including Security Essentials, Windows Defender, MSRT, and Forefront -- its enterprise antivirus solution. The patch addresses a flaw in Microsoft's scanning engine which could allow an attacker who had a valid username and password to gain elevated rights on a system.

As is often the case with these flaws, the fact that the attacker has valid credentials is arguably a bigger problem than the vulnerability itself. However, there's an important takeaway: at any time, any program on your computer could be putting you at risk. Even your antivirus or anti-malware app.

It's important (and imperative) to keep your operating system and apps as up-to-date as possible. It also helps to know what other programs you can use to ensure your system is safe. Free Windows programs like Secunia PSI -- which scans your system for vulnerable programs -- and Returnil's System Safe -- which lets you complete roll back changes to your computer, including those made by malware -- can be a big help in locking down your system.

Microsoft Security Essentials vulnerability reminds that security risks are everywhere originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amerie Rachel Bilson Karen Carreno Bijou Phillips Marika Dominczyk

When the Internet Is Dumberware

Rachael Leigh Cook Elisha Cuthbert Ciara Rachel Hunter Heidi Montag

Best of Smartphone Experts, 27 Feb 2011

Join the Search for 7 competition to find a Nokia E7

Best of Smartphone Experts, 27 Feb 2011 posted originally by Android Central

Sponsored by Android Cases and Accessories

Keira Knightley Monica Keena Anne Marie Kortright Paige Butcher Amanda Peet

Backdoor Trojan For Windows Ported To Mac OS

An anonymous reader writes "A Remote Access Trojan (RAT) for Windows, known as darkComet, has been ported to Mac OS X. The new backdoor Trojan is not yet finished, but it could be indicative of more underground programmers attempting to take advantage of Apple's growing market share."

Win a year of basic service from YouMail, the voicemail replacement service

voicemail youmail giveaway

I reviewed YouMail last week, and now we've got 10 codes to give away allowing you access to the basic features of the voicemail replacement service. By replacement, I mean YouMail supercedes your current voicemail system (provided by your carrier), and extends the ability to check your voicemails on your iPad, iPod touch or the web. As I mentioned in my review, there are other features as well, like human-powered translation.

These codes will unlock one year of the US$8.99/month "basic" service, which includes 50 transcriptions each month, storage of 5,000 messages (are you really getting that many in a year?), extended greeting times and YouMail's Privacy Guard service. To enter, let us know your funniest voicemail gretting (created by you or someone else). Good luck!

Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
To enter leave a comment telling us the funniest voicemail greeting you've ever heard.
The comment must be left before MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2011, 11:59PM Eastern Time.
You may enter only once.
Ten winners will be selected in a random drawing.
Prize: One year of Basic YouMail service (Value: US$108)
Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Win a year of basic service from YouMail, the voicemail replacement service originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Avril Lavigne Bridget Moynahan Noureen DeWulf Nicollette Sheridan Amber Heard

Ajax.org Debuts Development-As-A-Service Platform For Javascript, HTML5

Ajax.org is today introducing Cloud9 IDE, a fresh cloud-based development platform for JavaScript incorporating HTML5, and supporting Python, Ruby and PHP. The environment aims to enables developers to easily build, test, debug, and deploy Web and mobile applications with a minimum of technical skills and time required. If the name of the project (Cloud9 IDE) rings a bell, you may remember that it merged with Mozilla Skywriter, a Web-based framework for code editing, back in January 2010.

Shannyn Sossamon Rachael Leigh Cook Elisha Cuthbert Ciara Rachel Hunter

Monday, February 28, 2011