Technology Report: New cyber attack targets chemical firms: Symantec

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	10/31/2011
Good afternoon Bit Barnes & Noble sent out invites on Monday to a Nook-related event coming up on November 7. Most tech watchers expect the company to use the occasion to unveil a new version of its Android-powered Nook Color tablet e-reader, which could sport a better screen and upgraded hardware. As CNet points out, the most anticipated question will be how much Barnes & Noble decides to charge for the new device. "With the Kindle Fire on sale at $199 (it ships November 15), there's some pressure on B&N to come close to matching that price, though Amazon is allegedly losing money on each Fire it sells (our sources suggest the Fire currently costs around $220 to build). With that being the case, Barnes & Noble is more likely to come out with a faster, more powerful Nook Color that costs $249, though we wouldn't be surprised to see it at $299," writes David Carnoy. Netflix has added a slew of new TV show episodes to its streaming video catalogue through an expanded licensing deal with ABC Television Group, a division of Disney. In addition to extending licensing for popular ABC shows such as "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy" that it already offers, Netflix added ABC's "Switched at Birth," "Alias" and episodes from past season of Disney Channel's animated series "Kick Buttowski" to its streaming selection. Amazon.com also unveiled a content agreement with Disney on Monday that will let Amazon Prime subscribers stream shows from ABC studios, Disney Channel, ABC Family and Marvel. A single hacker based in China launched a coordinated cyber attack earlier this year that compromised computer systems belonging to at least 48 chemical and defense companies, according to a new report from security firm Symantec. Computers belonging to these companies were infected with malicious software known as "PoisonIvy," which was used to steal information such as design documents, formulas and details on manufacturing processes, Symantec told Reuters on Monday. The companies were not identified, but Symantec said the bulk of the infected machines were found in the U.S., Bangladesh and the UK and included some chemical companies that develop advanced materials used in military vehicles. It's no secret that Steve Jobs used to enjoy taking the occasional potshot at Microsoft co-founder and chairman Bill Gates. But Walter Isaacson's new biography of the Apple co-founder, which was released shortly after he died earlier this month, reveals just how harsh Jobs could be in his criticism of Gates. In addition to calling Gates "unimaginative", "weirdly flawed as a human being" and "fundamentally odd", Isaacson quotes Jobs as saying "He just shamelessly ripped off other people's ideas." When ABC's Christiane Amanpour brought up the comments in an interview last week, Gates dismissed the criticisms, saying "none of that bothers me at all." He went on to praise Jobs in the interview. At one point, he even went so far as to claim he helped Jobs invent the Mac. LATEST NEWS New cyber attack targets chemical firms: Symantec October 31, 2011 04:16 PM ET (Reuters) - At least 48 chemical and defense companies were victims of a coordinated cyber attack that has been traced to a man in China, according to a new report from security firm Symantec Corp. | Full Article Insight: Dreaded "Brazil cost" may dim Foxconn's iPad dreams October 31, 2011 01:37 PM ET JUNDIAI, Brazil (Reuters) - The nondescript stretch of asphalt is an unlikely symbol of Brazil's attempt to lift its economy into a new high-tech era. | Full Article Panasonic sees $5.5 billion annual loss, worst in a decade October 31, 2011 06:39 AM ET TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese electronics maker Panasonic Corp forecast an annual net loss of 420 billion yen ($5.5 billion), its biggest in a decade, as restructuring costs ballooned, and a soaring yen and weak demand in the United States and Europe eroded income. | Full Article App for discovering what's happening nearby October 31, 2011 03:23 PM ET PERTH, Australia (Reuters) - Instead of checking the local newspaper or social networks, a new app takes the guesswork out of finding local events and what is happening nearby. | Full Article Wall St down, MF Global falls victim to Europe October 31, 2011 04:47 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street closed its best month in 20 years on a down note on Monday as the failure of trading firm MF Global Holdings Ltd and new worries about Europe's debt crisis hammered financial shares. | Full Article BUSINESS NEWS Corzine's MF Global files for bankruptcy October 31, 2011 05:20 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jon Corzine's bid to revive his Wall Street career crashed and burned on Monday when his futures brokerage MF Global Holdings Ltd filed for bankruptcy protection following bad bets on euro zone debt. | Full Article Anadarko has bigger loss on BP settlement October 31, 2011 05:12 PM ET (Reuters) - Anadarko Petroleum Corp reported a wider quarterly loss on Monday, as the U.S. oil and gas company spent $4 billion to reach a settlement with BP Plc over that company's Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster last year. | Full Article Analysis: Dollar's many woes complicate Japan intervention October 31, 2011 04:17 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - When it comes to weakening the yen, currency speculators are the least of Japan's problems. | Full Article Investors cut stocks, buy U.S. debt in October: poll October 31, 2011 04:33 PM ET LONDON (Reuters) - Investors were so concerned that euro zone leaders would not reach agreement on solving the debt crisis in October that they cut equity holdings to the second lowest level in 12 months, Reuters polls showed on Monday. | Full Article Insight: Did Corzine's risk taking cripple MF Global? October 31, 2011 05:01 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - In early April, Jon Corzine was in a tough spot. MF Global, the company he had run for the previous year, was about to post a fourth-quarter loss, marking its fourth successive fiscal year of red ink. | Full Article U.S. TOP NEWS UNESCO grants Palestinians full membership Cain denounces "witch hunt," denies sex harassment Japan intervenes to tame soaring yen ahead of G20 Greek PM calls referendum on new EU aid deal Naked and drunk motorist crashes into 17 cars RELATED VIDEO NASA launches next generation satellite Samsung overtakes Apple in smartphone sales Sony's billion euro bet on mobile A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today. Your daily briefing on the latest tech developments from around the world from Reuters expert tech correspondents. Register Today. 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