myspace

Although it's had its fair share of problems this year, we're still pretty hesitant to proclaim, "poor MySpace!" Despite accusations that the online meeting place is a haven for predatory offenders, MySpace has held on as one of the web's most ... popular hotspots. Unfortunately, there's a growing stack of reasons to be wary of it. Recently it became clear that a worm has made its way onto MySpace, and it's baiting gullible users via QuickTime video. The entire ploy is nothing more than phishing. No, we don't mean afternoons on the water with Dad, but instead, mischievous schemes that persuade ... (view more)

If only my old man had this kind of opportunity: thirty years too late for my Dad to become a world-famous drummer, MySpace is giving garage bands around the world the chance to sell their music through its services. The move allows millions of ... MySpace users the ability to become (relatively speaking) legitimate music retailers, something that should have both the music industry and media outlets like Best Buy pretty disgruntled. As if avoiding labels and everyday retailers wasn't controversial enough, the MySpace music download system will also offer files in a format without the usual ... (view more)

Korea's number one online social network, Cyworld, recently launched into the U.S. market on August 15, competing with the U.S.-based MySpace.com. What is Cyworld? Cyworld, which was started in 1999, leads Asia's social networking scene with ... localized sites in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China. In the Korean language, Cyworld means "relationship world" and the media is touting its U.S. debut as a "refreshing and essential platform for the burgeoning online U.S. social networking sector." (Source: biz.yahoo.com ) Entering into the U.S. Market The U.S. Cyworld team is based in San Francisco ... (view more)

On Monday, MySpace.com's parent company, Fox Interactive Media (owned by News Corp) announced a newly launched deal with Google that will give the search engine exclusive rights to online search results and sponsored ads on the MySpace web ... community. The deal also gives Google the same access to Fox Interactive Media's other online enterprises such as RottenTomatoes.com and Scout.com. (Source: news.com ) Agreement Stipulations The agreement stipulates that in exchange for being Fox Interactive's exclusive search engine and ad provider, Google will pay $900 million U.S. from its AdSense ... (view more)

The United States Marine Corps is using MySpace.com, the web's most popular social network, to recruit new prospects. Since the launch of the Marine Corps profile in January, over 12,000 MySpace users have added the Marine Corps to their list of ... online friends, and as many as 430 people have completed online applications on the Marine Corps website. (Source: news.com ) Changing the Way Youth Communicate MySpace has changed the face of socialization for many teens and twenty-something's. The Web-based community has over 94 million registered users that post personal profiles and communicate ... (view more)

As the popularity of MySpace continues to grow, so too do the number of predators crawling within its virtual borders. Not too long ago, Infopackets columnist Chris Sabga wrote a story on the dangers for children and teenagers with MySpace accounts ... -- but recently, threats to pretty much anyone are becoming apparent. The most notable is Zango, the Spyware program that has established its own MySpace account and is thrusting .exe files at anyone silly or curious enough to drop in. For the most part, MySpace has avoided Spyware invaders, including Direct Revenue, the massively spreading malware ... (view more)

In a previous article, I detailed the hidden dangers your kids face on MySpace.com . Specifically: the web site's age verification system requires no proof, thus making it easier for sexual predators to access your child's personal information. Just ... recently, MySpace landed itself in a lawsuit. A 14-year-old girl has sued the company because she was sexually assaulted by a 19-year-old man who lied about his age and status on his MySpace.com profile in order to "gain access" to her web page. According to the lawsuit, MySpace has "absolutely no meaningful protections or security measures to ... (view more)

If you have children and own a computer with an Internet connection, there's a good chance your kids are on MySpace.com. MySpace is a popular online community where users can post personal information about themselves, including: Age Gender Location ... Pictures Where they work Where they go to school ... almost anything at all! And that's the problem. MySpace is an easy way for people to connect with current friends or rekindle old relationships. Unfortunately, it's just as simple for sexual predators. A quick search for "Chris" (my name) on MySpace yields at least a few under-18 profiles. That' ... (view more)

As I reminisce about the year gone by, I realize that there was a lot going on. What really stands out for me as the top tech stories of 2005 are as follows: 1. Google. Google becomes a powerhouse company, rolling out beta after beta. Some bomb (Web ... Accelerator); some are so fantastic I wonder how I lived without them (Gmail/Gmail Mobile), and some just confuse (GoogleBase). Still, Google makes it known they are a force to be reckoned with. Watch out for Google's online office suite in 2006. You know it's coming. 2. Tagging. Everyone is tagging now. Tag photos on flickr. Tag bookmarks on del. ... (view more)