News

5 Tips for Using Facebook’s New Promoted Posts

Promoted Posts is the newest advertising feature to hit Facebook business pages. Here's what you need to know about it, plus tips from Facebook on how to use it successfully.

Adobe Patches Critical Vulnerabilities in Photoshop and Illustrator CS5.x

Adobe keeps its promise and releases security patches for older Photoshop and Illustrator versions

Firefox 13 Arrives with Snazzy Features that Rival Chrome

It's been a while since a new version of Firefox was more than ho hum. But the latest upgrade — Firefox 13 — puts the open source browser back in the game against Chrome.

BYOD Empowers the Free Agent

Consumer tech frees employees from the old lie of corporate loyalty rewarded.

Facebook Wants to Sell Kids’ Personal Info, Asks Parents for Approval

Facebook is asking for permission from pre-teen-Facebook users' parents to sell those kids' personal information, in order to protect itself from "regulatory risks."

Are Android Users from Mars, iOS Users from Venus?

CIO.com blogger James A. Martin looked at the most popular free and paid apps in the Android and iOS app stores and noticed some telling differences. But are Android users really that different from iOS users?

Boston Celtics are the BlackBerrys of the NBA, Heat are the iPhones

CIO.com's Al Sacco is an avid Boston Celtics fan—and a BlackBerry user—and he can't help but see similarities between his favorite team and smartphone, along with some likenesses between the iPhone and Celtics-rival the Mi

10 Most Powerful SaaS Delivery Companies

Analysts and industry watchers agree that the next frontier for SaaS is setting distribution channels designed specifically for the cloud and providing mechanisms for managing multiple SaaS offerings from a single control point. Here are 10 SaaS deli

Google Acquires Social Media Toolbar Maker Meebo

Meebo's advertising-driven toolbar integrates with social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook

Improve the IT Job Interview Process with Targeted Selection

Targeted Selection is a process based on the premise that past performance in work situations is often a good indicator of future performance in similar situations. Targeted Selection can also be a valuable interviewing tool for hiring companies as w

How to Keep Cloud Projects Agile, Simple

Roger Fisher and William Ury (literally) wrote the book about 'Getting to Yes' in a negotiation. With users, the right answer is often 'No.' Here are some hints to make sure that your cloud project doesn't fall victim to we

Finance Services Leaders Appeal for Limited Government Aid to Fight Cyber Attacks

Industry experts seek limited action from feds in areas such as sharing information about threats and securing the supply chain.

‘SwaggSec’ Claims Hack of China Telecom, Warner Bros.

The alleged data haul includes internal documents and administrator login credentials

Look Before You ‘Like’ — Your Employer May Start to Monitor You

A new Gartner report reveals that social media monitoring in the workplace is on the rise. Until now, concerned companies simply blocked access. Would you rather your company block social networking sites or allow them and subject yourself to monito

‘Instagram for Video’ App No. 1 in iTunes—For Now

The free Socialcam app for iOS has skyrocketed to success recently, but there’s already been backlash. CIO.com blogger James A. Martin thinks the app is okay, but it feels familiar.

Weekly Cybersecurity Roundup: Tinba Trojan v Flame Malware; Obama’s Cyber Attacks on Iran; and More

This week's cybersecurity roundup has stories on the Tinba Trojan and Flame malware; increased U.S. cyber attacks on Iran; a popular tool meant to provide online anonymity that's installing spyware on users' machines; and more.

First Look at Belkin’s WeMo Home-Automation System for iPhone, iPad

Belkin’s brand new home-automation system that's controlled by iOS devices won't be available until later this month, but CIO.com blogger Paul Mah managed to get his hands on the gadget early. Here's everything you need to kno

Does Virtual Outsourcing Mean the End of ‘Labor Lift and Shift’?

As the IT outsourcing market continues to evolve, IT customers are starting to realize that it is about engaging the IT service provider with the best overall value proposition, as opposed to the provider the lowest price and the most people.

Microsemi Denies Existence of Backdoor in its Chips, Researchers Disagree

Researchers who claim that ProASIC3 chips have a built-in backdoor respond to Microsemi

U.S. Lawmakers Blast U.N. for Internet ‘Powerplay’

While a State Department official says that the proposed expansion of U.N. Internet authorities would have only a modest effect on the U.S., lawmakers say they are united when it comes to keeping the Internet free from centralized control and prevent

Data Protection Officer Role Will Be Key If You Operate in the E.U.

The European Union is considering sweeping new data protection laws that would mandate many organizations in Europe formally appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO). To get ahead of the potential high demand for qualified candidates, organizations sh

Flame’s Bluetooth Functionality Could Help Spies Extract Data Locally, Researchers Say

Attackers could pinpoint the physical location of infected computers using Flame's Bluetooth functionality

In a BYOD World, Is IT Redundant?

Reports of the death of IT departments in the Bring Your Own Device era have been exaggerated. However, if IT doesn't accept its new role — one that's focused less on individual user support and more on setting policies — then it might b

Online Services Increased Their Effort to Protect User Data, EFF Says

The Electronic Frontier Foundation hopes to stimulate transparency and encourage companies to stand up for user privacy

Cricket’s Pre-Paid iPhone Plan: How Good Is This Deal?

You can save money by going with Cricket's pre-paid iPhone deal. But there are some "gotchas," including questionable service, that a savvy consumer should consider.

Browser Feature Can Be Abused to Misrepresent Download Origin, Researcher Says

A researcher shows how users can be tricked into thinking that rogue downloads have been initiated by legitimate websites

BYOD’s Phone Number Problem

A simple smartphone number can be an incredibly important corporate asset, but companies will have to give it up in a BYOD scenario.

How to Conquer Your To-Do List

A LinkedIn study shows that only 11 percent of respondents accomplish the tasks on their to-do lists. Here are five tips for making and adhering to your tasks.

Gamereplays Invites Hackers to Probe Site Following Data Breach

An Anonymous hacker alienates potential supporters

Proposal Aims to Improve EU Software Repository System

Adding more metadata should make European open-source projects easier to find and reuse

BYOD Drives Communism Out of IT

Freedom of choice when it comes to technology decisions has traditionally ended at the doors of the enterprise, where IT tells you what hardware and software you can use. But BYOD and consumerization of IT may be the new Glasnost.

IT Innovation Won’t Be Slowed by Cloud Concerns

Those who continue to deem the cloud "rogue IT" fail to see the forest for the trees, CIO.com's Bernard Golden writes. Institutions dead set in their ways should prepare to see smaller, more innovative firms embrace the cloud — and ra

Mobile Tech, Social Media Force FTC to Revisit Advertising Guidelines

The Federal Trade Commission is looking to update 12-year-old framework for disclosure and privacy as marketers increasingly seed messages on mobile devices and social networking sites.

Three Steps To Productive Meetings

Meetings are a necessary evil in the business world — few people like them, but without face-to-face discussion time, problems persist. Minimize the anguish and get the most out of precious time by following this expert's advice.

CIOs Need a Wakeup Call

Many CIOs think they're more relevant than ever before, but their CEOs often disagree. IDG Enterprise's own CEO is calling for CIOs to figure out how to better include innovation in their job descriptions

Big Brother’s Mining Our Data, Do We Care?

CIO magazine Editor in Chief Maryfran Johnson considers our June 1 cover story on Equifax's new business strategy, which involves massive amounts of consumer and business data. Gen Y is at the edge of a brand new world devoid of privacy. Do they

CIOs Extend Unified Communications to Mobile Devices

A survey finds that IT leaders are accelerating their plans to invest in unified communications and collaboration technologies. But the systems aren't cheap.

For CIOs, the Games Are Just Beginning

Companies are starting to use the motivational techniques of video games — such as points, leaderboards and levels — to create more engaging business applications. It's called "gamification."

Jive Software Faces Slew of Competitors in Field it Pioneered

The pioneer in enterprise social networking is in a fast-growing market that has attracted competitors big and small.

CIOs: Don’t Let Microsoft’s Marketing Drumbeat Drown Out Priorities

Microsoft is in the midst of a marketing storm for product launches later this year. While CIOs shouldn't be seduced into thinking they need Windows 8 and Office 15 right away, planning for them may help clarify what your company really needs.

Cartoons Lampoon Facebook’s Slumping Stock

Facebook's declining stock value isn't a laughing matter to investors, but cartoonists are having a field day.

The Office at Play: Using Time Wasters to Your Advantage

I’d Cap That iOS App Adds Crude Captions to Pix

Depending on your taste in mobile apps, you may think the free I’d Cap That software represents the decline of mankind. Then again, you just might LOL.

Meet Flame, the Ebola Virus of Malware

What's bigger and more complex than Stuxnet or Duqu; scarily efficient at stealing information; only found in the middle East and created by a government, likely a Western one? The Flame malware, of course.

Sony Hand-Crank Charger Lets You Manually Power Up Gadgets

Sony recently unveiled a portable, hand-crank-powered charger that can recharge your gadgets when no power outlets are available. Unfortunately, it may never be sold outside the Land of the Rising Sun.

BYOD: Time to Adjust Your Privacy Expectations

Employees who want to use their smartphones and tablets for work better be prepared to sign on IT's dotted line and essentially give away their privacy rights.

10 Ways to Use Smartphones to Grow Your Sales

Smartphones can give your sales reps–and your business–a competitive edge by enabling them to respond quickly to customer needs and questions. Smartphones also provide instant access to customer data and let your workforce share information and pre

European Commission Favors Consumer Choice Over Net Neutrality Legislation

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes won't legislate net neutrality for all, but those who want "access to a robust, best-efforts Internet with all the applications they wish" should have the opportunity to buy such a servic

Copies of Anti-Censorship Software Used in Iran and Syria Contain Keylogger

Rogue copies of Green Simurgh, an Internet proxy software application used in Iran and Syria, have been found to contain malware that records users' activities and keystrokes.

Getting More Business Value Out of Vendors

How CIOs are rebooting vendors' mind-sets to get away from the same old outsourcing contracts