How to Boot the Computer in Safe Mode

Booting the computer in safemode is necessary in many cases like when a recent changes caused a failure or if computer is infected by a Virus. 

What is Safe Mode? 

Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. The words Safe Mode appear in the corners of your monitor to identify which Windows mode you're using.

If an existing problem doesn't reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers as possible causes. If you don't know the cause of the problem, you can use the process of elimination to help you find the problem. Try starting all of the programs you commonly use, including the programs in your Startup folder, one by one to see if a program might be the cause of the problem.

If your computer automatically starts in safe mode without prompting, a problem with your computer might be preventing Windows from starting normally. If you think the cause of the problem might be a recently installed program or device, try using Recovery in Control Panel.

Advanced startup options (including safe mode)

The Advanced Boot Options screen lets you start Windows in advanced troubleshooting modes. You can access the menu by turning on your computer and pressing the F8 key before Windows starts.

Some options, such as safe mode, start Windows in a limited state, where only the bare essentials are started. If a problem doesn't reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers and services as possible causes. Other options start Windows with advanced features intended for use by system administrators and IT professionals. For more information, go to the Microsoft website for IT professionals.

 Repair Your Computer

Shows a list of system recovery tools you can use to repair startup problems, run diagnostics, or restore your system. This option is available only if the tools are installed on your computer's hard disk. If you have a Windows installation disc, the system recovery tools are located on that disc. For more information, see Startup Repair: frequently asked questions.

 Safe Mode

Starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services. For more information, see What is safe mode? 

 Safe Mode with Networking

Starts Windows in safe mode and includes the network drivers and services needed to access the Internet or other computers on your network.

 Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Starts Windows in safe mode with a command prompt window instead of the usual Windows interface. This option is intended for IT professionals and administrators.

 Enable Boot Logging

Creates a file, ntbtlog.txt, that lists all the drivers that are installed during startup and that might be useful for advanced troubleshooting.

 Enable low-resolution video (640×480)

Starts Windows using your current video driver and using low resolution and refresh rate settings. You can use this mode to reset your display settings. 

 Last Known Good Configuration (advanced)

Starts Windows with the last registry and driver configuration that worked successfully. For more information, see Using Last Known Good Configuration.

 Directory Services Restore Mode

Starts Windows domain controller running Active Directory so that the directory service can be restored. This option is intended for IT professionals and administrators.

 Debugging Mode

Starts Windows in an advanced troubleshooting mode intended for IT professionals and system administrators.

 Disable automatic restart on system failure

Prevents Windows from automatically restarting if an error causes Windows to fail. Choose this option only if Windows is stuck in a loop where Windows fails, attempts to restart, and fails again repeatedly.

 Disable Driver Signature Enforcement

Allows drivers containing improper signatures to be installed.

 Start Windows Normally

Starts Windows in its normal mode.

You can access the menu by turning on your computer and pressing the F8 key before Windows starts. 

When you get this menu, you can choose the required option and press enter to load

Beware of FAKE Anti Virus - Winwebsec :: Live Security Platinum , System Progressive Protection , Essential Cleaner , Security Shield ,

Winwebsec is a category of malware that attacks the users of Windows operating system and produce fake claims as genuine Anti-Malware softwares. They show popups that claim to scan for malware and displays fake warnings similar to "32 Virus and Trojans Detected on your computer. Click on Fix Now button to clean these threats". They then show a message to the user that they need to pay money to activate the software in order to remove these threats which actually doesn't exist. These malwares may display a dialog that looks similar to Windows Security Center or it may have names like Live Security Platinum or Security Shield. The GUI varies from variant to variant.

Winwebsec

These are programs that generate misleading alerts and false detections in order to convince users to purchase illegitimate security software. Some of these programs, including Win32/Winwebsec, may display product names or logos of some well known companies like Microsoft in an apparently unlawful attempt to impersonate some Genuine products.

Variants

•System Progressive Protection

•Live Security Platinum

•Personal Shield Pro

•Smart Fortress 2012

•Smart Protection 2012

•Security Sphere 2012

•Security Shield

•Win 8 Security System

Diagnosis

Few Variants of this malware can be removed by using some softwares and tools like McAfee Stinger or Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. Most variants of this malware prevents the user from accessing Internet Browsers and programs with names like chrome.exe, firefox.exe, iexplore.exe, opera.exe and safari.exe. Users infected with this virus may have to boot the computer in advance boot options like Safe_mode to diagnose these virus variants.

Removal of this Virus

Boot your computer is windows advanced mode known as safemode with Networking. For details on how to boot the computer in safe mode, click here. Update your Windows Defender,  Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool or you may download either Microsoft Safety Scanner or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. Then run a full scan using these tools. The virus file will be detected and it will be usually under the folder C:\Users\All Users\ and inside some random folder. You may move that to your recycle bin or quarantine using the software and then restart the computer to Normal Mode.

Further Questions.. ? 

Have more questions regarding this Virus. Please feel free to leave your question as comment in the comment section. Find More about Virus through other posts in this blog. .

Screen Shots of this Virus

Below are the screen shots of this Virus Variant.

Logos and Names of Variants

The common names of this variant virus is given below,

System Progressive Protection
Live Security Platinum
Essential Cleaner
MS Removal Tool
Security Shield
System Security
Winweb Security
Security Tool
System Tool
Personal Shield Pro
Security Sphere 2012
Smart Protection 2012
Smart Fortress 2012
Win 8 Security System

The text of this website [or page, if you are specifically releasing one section] is available for modification and reuse under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License and and the GNU Free Documentation License (unversioned, with no invariant sections, front-cover texts, or back-cover texts). mirror: http://blog.bigbangnerd.com/2014/06/winwebsec-category-of-malware-attacks.html

Simple Steps to protect the computer from Virus

Protect your PC from Virus

There is no method that can 100% guarantee that your computer will be not be infected with malware, but there are a number of steps that you can take to lessen the probability of this happening. 

1, Always Install the Antivirus program from a trusted source.

2, Update your Operating System, Antivirus, Java and Adobe regularly. 

3, Create strong passwords, keep them safe and change them frequently.

4, Don't be tricked into downloading malware.

5, Always use the Firewall. 

6, Use Flash drives cautiously.

7, Create an standard user ( non-administrator ) account for regular use.

8, Keep your User Account Control in ( or above ) recommended level. ( only if you use windows 7 , 8 or vista )

In addition to the above you may follow the below steps: 

a, You should also be vigilant about what information you share on the Internet, and who you share that information with. 
b, Get reputable anti-malware programs from a vendor you trust.
c, Subscribe to automatic software updates whenever they are offered.
d, Uninstall software that you don't use.

Source : http://iamdigiman.blogspot.in/2012/09/simple-steps-to-prevent-computer-from.html

mirror at :http://blog.bigbangnerd.com/2014/06/simple-steps-to-protect-computer-from.html

Remove the FBI Moneypak Virus - FBI blocking warning - with easy steps.

You may Read following links before proceeding Further.


http://iamdigiman.blogspot.com/2012/10/About-FBI-MoneyPak-Virus.html
http://digimanvirusremoval.blogspot.com/2012/10/fbi-moneypak-virus-win32-revaton-or.html


Please read Carefully and follow the steps below.

1, Don't Panic. Just relax and turn of the computer. You may do so by pressing and holding the power button for about 5 to 7 seconds or by unplugging the power cord ( in desktops ).


2, Start tapping the "F8" turn on the computer. Continue tapping the F8 button until you see a screen which says Advanced Boot Options.

3, Choose the option "SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING" using your arrow keys and press "ENTER" to start loading the WINDOWS.


4, Login to the account by entering your password ( if you have any)


5, Connect to the Internet


6, Open your Run Window.

• Press and hold the "Windows key" and click on "R" to open the Run Window.

7, Type in the Run window as "iexplore www.myredirects.blogspot.com/2012/10/kaspersky-virus-removal-tool.html" or "iexplore www.mcaf.ee/L6C4W"


8, Follow the link on the web page, select the version 11, choose your favourite Language and click on Download.


9, Click on Run when prompted.

• The options may come up in bottom of your browser if you are using latest version of Internet Explorer

10, This tool will run a Scan and Detects the Virus Infections in your Computer.

• To start a Scan, Click on Automatic Scan Tab and Click on Start Scanning. 
• Once the scan is completed apply recommended actions for all threats detected.

11, Restart the computer to Normal Mode and now you are absolutely Infection Free.

Visit http://support.kaspersky.com/avptool2011/start?qid=208284205 for more help on using this tool. 

As Simple As That

mirror: http://blog.bigbangnerd.com/2014/06/remove-fbi-moneypak-virus-fbi-blocking.html

FBI Moneypak Virus - Win32 : Revaton or Reveton

FBI Moneypak Virus - It is a common name in recent days among the computer users of United States



In 2012, a major ransomware worm known as Reveton or Revaton or Win32/Revaton , also nicknamed the "Police Trojan", began to spread. Based off the Citadel trojan (which itself, is based on the Zeus trojan), its payload displays a warning purportedly from a law enforcement agency, claiming that the computer had been used for illegal activities; such as downloading pirated software. The warning informs the user that to unlock their system, they would have to pay a fine using a voucher from an anonymous prepaid cash service such as Ukash or Paysafecard. To increase the illusion that the computer is being tracked by law enforcement, the screen also displays the computer's IP address as well, while recent versions can also purportedly show footage from a computer's webcam to give the illusion that the user is also being recorded by law enforcement.

Revaton's payloads are localized, displaying the names and logos of local law enforcement agencies. Variants that targeted the United Kingdom included ones branded as being from the Metropolitan Police Service, the collection society PRS for Music (which specifically accused the user of illegally downloading music), and the Police National E-Crime Unit. In a statement warning the public about the malware, the Metropolitan Police clarified that they would never lock a computer in such a way as part of an investigation.

Reveton initially began spreading in various European countries in early 2012. In May 2012, Trend Micro threat researchers discovered templates for variations for the United States and Canada, suggesting that its authors may have been planning to target users in North America. A Norwegian version exists.  By August 2012, a new variant of Reveton began to spread in the United States, claiming to require the payment of a $200 fine to the FBI using a MoneyPak card.

FBI MoneyPak Virus - Win32/ Revaton or Reveton

FBI MoneyPak Virus -  Screenshot by DiGiMan

The FBI - MoneyPak virus has many user interfaces, most of them are having the Computer's IP address in them to make the users believe in it. Sometimes it comes with the name of United States Cyber Security. Almost all variants of this malware blocks the whole screen of the computer once the users log into their user account. In most cases it won't even allow us to Kill it's process from task manager. Actually we can't even open task manager by pressing "CTRL+ALT+DEL"

Removing this malware is pretty simple and for that please read the next blog.. It is my time to sleep. See Ya.

mirror at: http://www.bigbangnerd.com/2014/06/fbi-moneypak-virus-win32-revaton-or.html

FBI Moneypak Virus - It is a common name in recent days among the computer users of United States

FBI Moneypak Virus - It is a common name in recent days among the computer users of United States



In 2012, a major ransomware worm known as Reveton or Revaton or Win32/Revaton , also nicknamed the "Police Trojan", began to spread. Based off the Citadel trojan (which itself, is based on the Zeus trojan), its payload displays a warning purportedly from a law enforcement agency, claiming that the computer had been used for illegal activities; such as downloading pirated software. The warning informs the user that to unlock their system, they would have to pay a fine using a voucher from an anonymous prepaid cash service such as Ukash or Paysafecard. To increase the illusion that the computer is being tracked by law enforcement, the screen also displays the computer's IP address as well, while recent versions can also purportedly show footage from a computer's webcam to give the illusion that the user is also being recorded by law enforcement.

Revaton's payloads are localized, displaying the names and logos of local law enforcement agencies. Variants that targeted the United Kingdom included ones branded as being from the Metropolitan Police Service, the collection society PRS for Music (which specifically accused the user of illegally downloading music), and the Police National E-Crime Unit. In a statement warning the public about the malware, the Metropolitan Police clarified that they would never lock a computer in such a way as part of an investigation.

Reveton initially began spreading in various European countries in early 2012. In May 2012, Trend Micro threat researchers discovered templates for variations for the United States and Canada, suggesting that its authors may have been planning to target users in North America. A Norwegian version exists.  By August 2012, a new variant of Reveton began to spread in the United States, claiming to require the payment of a $200 fine to the FBI using a MoneyPak card.

FBI MoneyPak Virus - Win32/ Revaton or Reveton

  

FBI MoneyPak Virus -  Screenshot by DiGiMan

The FBI - MoneyPak virus has many user interfaces, most of them are having the Computer's IP address in them to make the users believe in it. Sometimes it comes with the name of United States Cyber Security. Almost all variants of this malware blocks the whole screen of the computer once the users log into their user account. In most cases it won't even allow us to Kill it's process from task manager. Actually we can't even open task manager by pressing "CTRL+ALT+DEL"

Removing this malware is pretty simple and for that please read the next blog.. It is my time to sleep. See Ya.

Are you waiting for Apple iPhone 5 - some one else is waiting - guess who..? Samsung

Know why Samsung is waiting for iPhone 5 launch

It is not just the Apple fanboys who are eagerly awaiting the iPhone 5 to launch. Apple's arch rival Samsung too is waiting to get its hands on the iPhone 5 . However, rather than comparing its capabilities with its flagship Galaxy S III, the South Korean manufacturer is waiting to see how many of its patents does the new iPhone violate.

According to Foss Patents, a blog that covers news about wireless patents and mobile devices, Samsung has filed a case management statement with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Apple. In the filing, the company said that it is certain Apple iPhone 5 will infringe upon eight of its patents, just like the previous iPhones.

The filing, as per Foss Patents, says, "Samsung anticipates that it will file, in the near future, a motion to amend its infringement contentions to add the iPhone 5 as an accused product. Based on information currently available, Samsung expects that the iPhone 5 will infringe the asserted Samsung patents-in-suit in the same way as the other accused iPhone models. Samsung plans to file a motion to amend its infringement contentions to address the iPhone 5 as soon as it has had a reasonable opportunity to analyze the device. Because Samsung believes the accused functionality of the iPhone 5 will be similar to the accused functionality of other accused Apple products, Samsung does not believe that amendment of its infringement contentions should affect the case schedule."

On Thursday, Samsung said in a separate statement: "Apple continues to take aggressive legal measures that will limit market competition. Under these circumstances, we have little choice but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights."
Apple Korea reiterated its position that it was the victim of copying, not vice versa. "At Apple, we value originality and innovation... We make these products to delight our customers, not for our competitors to flagrantly copy."

This move is part of a larger patent war between Apple and Samsung, where both litigants stressthat the other violates its patents. The biggest development in the battle was last month, when Apple won a lawsuit in the US, its home ground, and Samsung was ordered to pay it over $1 billion in damages. The jury also found that Apple did not infringe any of Samsung's asserted patents.

The iPhone maker then gave a list of 21 Samsung smartphones that it wants banned in the US, including the current flagship Galaxy S III, as well as Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note and Galaxy Ace.

Samsung has appealed against the verdict to the court.

Samsung, the biggest Android phone maker, received a second US legal setback last week when a judge at the International Trade Commission said in a preliminary ruling that Apple did not violate patents owned by Samsung.

Apple's victory was also a blow to Google, whose Android software powers the Samsung products that were found to infringe Apple patents.

All India Free Roaming - Roam all over India with home circle tariff -

 The communications ministry will do away with roaming charges paid by mobile users when travelling within India from 2013, telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar told ET, even as he added that it would not be possible to specify the exact month of execution.

The finance ministry asked the telecom department to submit the road map for implementation of the 'one nation-free roaming' that was announced by communications minister Kapil Sibal earlier this year. In May, the Union Cabinet had approved the National Telecom Policy - 2012 that aimed at doing away with roaming charges and introducing a pan-India mobile permit (unified licence) that would enable mobile phone firms to offer all communication services.

"Our first priority is the upcoming spectrum auctions. At the same time, we are working on the Unified Licence (UL) and we want to finalise this by December. Once the UL regime is rolled out post December, concepts like 'One nation-free roaming' that is part of it will be introduced. This will happen sometime next year (2013). At this stage it will be impossible to specify the exact timeframe," Chandrasekhar said.

This consumer-centric move, which is bound to bring down the mobile bills of frequent travellers, will dent revenues of India's beleaguered telecom companies since roaming charges account for about 10% of the sector's annual sales.

Low Cost Tablets Pour in India, They aren't successful.. Why.. ?

Low Cost Tablets Pour in India, They aren't successful.. Why.. ?

Cheap Tablets - A big No

Low-cost tablets from HCL, Beetel, and others no match yet for iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab

 When little-known tablet maker Zync Global started selling its first 7-inch device in November last year, director AnujGarg realized his big customers were not in the metros but in smaller towns and cities. And he faced some peculiar problems. "We would get calls for even the most basic inquiries, for instance, 'how do you switch it on?'," he says.

While the Delhi-based company claims to have sold about 100,000 tablets, mostly in the sub- Rs 5,000 segment, Garg admits that low-cost tablets are not exactly flying off shelves.

Multiple research agencies tracking the Indian tablet market say Samsung, Apple and BlackBerry hold anywhere between 80% and 90% of the Indian market, even though it's raining low-cost tablets with a new device entering the market every second day, at least for the last couple of weeks.

So far, Indian challengers such as HCL, Beetel, OliveTab, Aakash, Acer, Reliance Communications and BSNL have not been able to make a significant mark in the tablet market, despite prices starting as low as Rs 3,000.

Analysts blame it on poor quality of products, lack of free public wi-fi hotspots, low uptake of 3G connections and little clutter-breaking differentiations.

Also, the worldwide craze for tablets has yet to reflect in India.

"One of the big challenges which tablets are facing (in India) is the uncertainty in consumers' mind about the usage of these devices," says Vishal Tripathi, principal analyst at Gartner India.

Voice & Data estimates that about 800,000 tablets, worth 1,962 crore, were sold in India in 2011-12. This was a huge 749% jump year-on-year, but just a fraction of the 65 million tablets sold globally.

BEETEL EXITS

Urban consumers, who buy tablet as an additional fun device to support smartphone and laptop, have mostly preferred iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab because of their superior product quality, user interface and ever-growing bank of apps. BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has amassed about one-tenth of the tablet market largely due to massive cuts in the retail price of its PlayBook.

As a result, many local challengers have been struggling to stay in the game.

Beetel Teletech, which launched Magiq brand of tablets with much fanfare in September last for Rs 9,999, has stopped making tablets.

Executives privy to the developments say the Bharti Enterprises' company had changed its strategy and would only focus on offering products for the enterprise market in the future. But some say that the advent of tablets priced much lower than Beetel's instigated the company to move away from tablets.

Beetel did not respond to ET's query asking the reasons for this decision.

HUGE POTENTIAL

So, why are Indian companies-from handset makers Micromax, Karbonn Mobiles, Zen Mobiles and Wishtel to peripheral-makers Go Tech Digital and Alphabetics Computer Services-still rushing to the tablet market?

Because of its huge potential.

Frost & Sullivan expects the Indian tablet market to 23.38 million units by 2017, with sales doubling every year starting 2011. Even a conservative projection by ABI Research pegs the tablet market at 9.66 m units by 2017.

Experts expect low-cost utility-based devices driving much of this growth as demand from rural areas and small towns picks up with improved broadband and Internet connectivity.

"Tablets could be the first computing and Internet access experience for the rural areas and that's where low-cost tablets will find a massive market," a senior executive of a multinational smartphone maker says.

To succeed, however, local players will need to focus on applications, technology and built, say analysts. Price card alone cannot win the game.

"There has been an increased uptake of tablets in the education segment due bundled and innovative content, which some of the tablet providers are offering," Gartner's Tripathi says.

"Uptake of utility based tablets in school will definitely help the growth in consumer adoption in time to come," he says.

Many tablet makers have identified that content is king and are bundling relevant educational, health and other content in their tablets.

BSNL - Connecting India - Now even FASTER : Through Fibre To Home

FIOS connection in INDIA. believe because it is true.

BSNL is about to offer fiber to home.


BSNL - Connecting India - Now even FASTER : Through Fibre To Home

Read more below.

BSNL here would launch by this month-end 'Fibre to Home' (FTH) facility for customers seeking internet, telephone and TV channels' access. 

A high speed up to 100 mbps on internet would be given with FTH in which customers could download a movie in just one minute, a BSNL spokesman said today quoting Senior General Manager G C Pandey. 

Besides, most of the popular TV channels, and landline phone services were annexed with FTH, he said. 

BSNL also planned to extend FTH service at the Global Investor Meet, slated here next month for which mobile towers were erected, he said. 

FTH network is being laid at the important points including High Court, State Bank of India, GP, IT Park, IIM and University area in the city too for the launch of the very service by the end of this month, he said. 

For getting a FTH connection with a speed of one mbps the customers would have to pay Rs 300 per month, and for 100 mbps it would be about Rs 84,000 per month. Installation charges would be around Rs 1000, according to the BSNL tariff. 

What was the fate of IPT service provided to customers on fixed landline, when asked the GM said there was some difficulty in getting private service players for IPT, and now FTH would get momentum.

Got an old mobile. Recycle it and get the money immediately. - HERE COMES OLD MOBILE EXCHANGING ATM

Got an old mobile. Recycle it and get the money immediately. - HERE COMES OLD MOBILE EXCHANGING ATM

A recycling ATM offers gadget freaks the option to trade in their discarded mobile phones for cash, rather than dumping them when they go in for the latest model.

Californian company ecoATM has rolled out the machine that is sophisticated enough to see if a screen is cracked, evaluate unwanted goods for resale and recycling - hoping to inspire people to go green.

Old gadgets still have a value as either an affordable alternative, spare parts, or even melted down for the residual value of the metals inside. ecoATM has developed the device with support from the US National Science Foundation (NSF).

The ecoATM finds second homes for three-fourths of the phones it collects, sending the remaining ones to environmentally responsible recycling channels to reclaim any rare earth elements and keep toxic components from landfills. More than 300 kiosks are hoped to be rolled out across the US by the year-end, the Daily Mail reported.

Company co-founder Mark Bowles said: "The basic technologies of machine vision, artificial intelligence, and robotics that we use have existed for many years, but none have been applied to the particular problem of consumer recycling."

"But we've done much more than just apply existing technology to an old problem - we developed significant innovations for each of those basic elements to make the system commercially viable," Bowles said.

Using artificial intelligence (AI) ecoATM kiosks can differentiate varied consumer electronics products and determine a market value. If the value is acceptable, users have the option of receiving cash or store credit for their trade - or donating all or part of the compensation to one of several charities.

The system began as a wooden-box prototype that required the presence of an ecoATM representative to ensure that users were being honest with their trades.

The team therefore developed AI that delivered 97.5 percent accuracy for device recognition, removing human oversight and making the system viable. They are currently trying to eliminate the accuracy gap.

"We are now able to tell the difference between cracked glass on a phone, which is an inexpensive fix, versus a broken display or bleeding pixels, which is generally fatal for the device," Bowles added.

The company's databases are now trained with images of more than 4,000 devices, and when an identification mistake occurs, the system learns from that mistake.

When a phone is presented, the AI system conducts a visual inspection, identifies the device model and provides one of 23 possible connector cables to link it to the network.

A value is then determined based on the company's real-time, worldwide, pre-auction system in which a broad network of buyers have already bid on the old technology, so the kiosk can immediately provide compensation.

Hey India Haters, Beware : Government of India is planning to create a special cyber surveillance agency to monitor the Internet

NEW DELHI: Faced with recent episodes of misuse of internet in creating unrest, the Centre is planning to set up a dedicated 'cyber surveillance agency' to monitor the web and social media network for malicious content, having implications on law and order, and forewarn security agencies and state police for taking preventive steps.

The idea is to keep a watch on web content which are in the 'public' domain and which may have potential to create law and order problems like what the country witnessed in the wake of the recent Assam violence.

"The agency will have an effective monitoring system, comprising duly tasked and technologically empowered cyber monitoring and surveillance agencies, which can report build-up in time and forewarn government of any malicious use of the internet and social media," said an official. Such a central agency will, however, be set up only after putting in place a legal regime to take care of the issue of individuals' privacy and citizens' freedom of speech/expression.

The matter was discussed at a recent meeting chaired by national security advisor Shivshankar Menon in the backdrop of misuse of various websites including social media networks in spreading rumours by uploading inflammatory messages and doctored videos of Assam violence to create panic among people of the northeast.

The meeting also took stock of the impact and effectiveness of the government action to block certain content on the internet and social media. The official said it was decided to prepare a legal regime to fill the gaps in the Information Technology (IT) Act for dealing with such situations, including deterring malicious use of the internet and social media. It was felt that public guidelines and standard operating procedures needed to be set in motion by the government and service providers in such crises, he added.

"This will introduce predictability with regard to what kind of content is liable to be regulated and for how long, the structure and process for such regulation, proactive dissemination of information to counter false propaganda as well as a system of graded response and graded penalty to perpetrators ," the minutes of the meeting said.

"Our agencies need to be legally and financially empowered . The legal position on whether the law of the land or the law of the intermediaries will take precedence in cyberspace also needs to be clarified while putting a legal regime in place," it added.

The home ministry was asked to authorize Intelligence Bureau, Defence Research and Development Organization and other agencies to monitor the web and social media services for malicious content.

Hey India, Now you can make Video Calls in your Land Line. Beleive Because it is true. BSNL Launches Landline with Video Calling Facility - Connecting India

New Delhi, India

PTI
September 21, 2012



Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched telephones with video calling facility in India.

It will primarily be used to set up public Video Call Offices by replacing many of the PCOs. 

"We will convert existing Public Call Offices (PCOs) to VCOs with these phones. People will be able to make voice calls to any phone and video calls to any other IP (internet based) phone," BSNL Chairman and MD R K Upadhyay told reporters in New Delhi. He said that most of the revenue of BSNL comes from landline phones and this new services is one of the initiative to increase company's revenue.

BSNL will charge Rs 3 for 45 second video call made from VCO which will include 30 per cent commission for the franchise owner.

"There will be no need to use computers for making video calls for user of these video phones," Upadhyay said.

BSNL's Senior General Manager for Broadband, AK Jain said that around 770 PCOs have confirmed to shift their business to VCOs and the target is to have 10,000 VCOs set-up across the country.

The service was inaugurated by Advisor to Prime Minister Sam Pitroda who stressed on the use of video phones to reach rural masses.

"It will bridge the gap between urban and rural India. This will be a platform for growth as this network can be used for purposes like job interview, tele-medicine, tele-education and host of other services," Pitroda said.

BSNL will provide various categories of VCO franchisees based on the services that a franchisee owners wants to provide.

SIS officials said that people looking for franchisee will have to pay for VCO devices which starts from Rs 25,000 and will have to sign an agreement for the business.

An official said VCOs having medical devices attached to it for remote diagnosis of a patient will also be made available. Many other services will be launched shortly for which prices will differ.