cloud-computing posts

Filed under: Security, Windows, Freeware, Beta

Panda introduces free, cloud-based antivirus for Windows

by Lee Mathews Apr 29th 2009

Panda has been working on Cloud Antivirus for nearly three years, and it's now available to the public in beta form.

The application aims to leverage the power of the cloud to better and more quickly detect and analyze new threats as they appear - which can be done in as little as six minutes, according to Panda. Called "Collective Intelligence," Panda's system utilizes anonymous data from users running the application and processes about 50,000 new threats each day.

In exchange for your participartion in Cloud, you're given totally free virus protection for your personal computer (sorry, no commercial use). That's a pretty good deal for a tool that is able to provide near-realtime detection and analysis. Temporarily off the 'net? No problem. Cloud maintains a local cache to keep you protected when you're apart from the Collective, Locutus.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to take Cloud Antivirus for a spin on my personal laptop. Not only is it not available as a native 64-bit application, but it won't even install on Windows 7 or Vista x64. I had to snag the screencap above via TeamViewer on my XP Pro system at work.

While running the scan, Cloud's processes consumed about 90Mb of memory total on my system, but CPU utilization was very light - rarely spiking above 10% and humming along at 4-6% most of the time. CNet reported much lower RAM use, but their number may have been referring only to Cloud's main process. (update: my system is now reporting about 20Mb idle).

If you're running a 32-bit version of Windows, Cloud Antivirus is a good, lightweight option.

[via webware]

Tags: antivirus, cloud-computing, heuristics

Filed under: Internet, Office, Web services, Google, web 2.0

Google stumbles again, accidentally shares docs

by Lee Mathews Mar 7th 2009

Google has confirmed that a TechCrunch tipster was telling the truth: an error indeed caused some users' text documents and presentations to be unintentionally shared with others.

According to Google's statement, the glitch affected "less than .05% of documents" and only shared files to people with whom a user (or one of their collaborators) had previously shared another document.

Somehow, that's not very comforting.

Regardless of the number of users affected or how isolated an incident this was, it raises some serious concerns. Even if none of your documents were involved, they could have been. Accidentally violating privacy and exposing data (whether it's confidential or not) is a massive problem, and one that just shouldn't happen. Period.

None of my Google Docs contain any sensitive details. They don't contain any useful information about anything, for that matter. That doesn't mean I'm not concerned about who sees them and who doesn't. They're my documents, and I certainly don't want collaborators being accidentally given permission to access them.

For a while I've been pondering finally moving my documents from my desktop to my Google Docs, but that's a move that I'll be putting on hold for the time being.

Tags: cloud-computing, cloud-storage, google-docs, privacy

Filed under: Internet, OS Updates, Web services, Open Source, web 2.0

Set up a DIY cloud OS on your LAN with eyeOS MiniServer

by Lee Mathews Jan 9th 2009

Like the idea of your machines running a cloud operating system, but you'd rather keep your data and activities local? If so, the eyeOS MiniServer is a download you might want to check out.

It really doesn't get any easier to create a DIY server. Download and run the executable, tick a couple checkboxes, and it's ready to go. Other machines on your network can access the server by opening http://hostname:8080 in a supported browser - Firefox, IE, and Chrome all worked nicely.

The usual basic apps are available: web browser, rss reader, bulletin board, contacts, calendar, word processor, calculator, and notepad. There's even a basic chess game.

Unfortunately, the available version is a bit old. Nevertheless, it's still an incredibly easy way to set up a server to provide the system-in-a-browser experience on your own LAN or WAN. It's very light on resources all the way around: the server only used about 11mb on my Vista x64 machine, and there wasn't a significant increase in Firefox's footprint when running the OS in a tab.
If you're after a bit more information, you can check the MiniServer forum on the eyeOS site. It is, however, largely inactive at this point. Download links in this post point to Brothersoft, as I was unable to find any active links on the eyeOS web site.

Tags: cloud-computing, cloud-os, eyeos

Filed under: OS Updates, Linux, Web services, web 2.0

gOS Cloud - From zero to web browser in just a few seconds

by Brad Linder Dec 1st 2008

gOS is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that's designed to make it easy to interface with web-based applications like Gmail, YouTube, and Meebo. It uses the slightly OS X-like Enlightenment desktop environment, and the developers have been pushing it as a good operating system for low powered netbooks, thanks to its integration with web applications.

The latest version of gOS goes a few steps further, by emphasizing the web browser above all else. gOS Cloud is a stripped down Linux distro that can load in just a few seconds. And instead of loading a typical desktop, the first window it opens is a web browser (which looks suspiciously like Google Chrome in the press shots).

You also get a dock-style program launcher for starting desktop applications. And the operating system is designed for dual boot systems that also run Windows XP. Good OS, the company behind the Linux distro are working with netbook makers Gigabyte to build an ultraportable laptop that will come preloaded with gOS Cloud and Windows XP in early 2009.

Tags: cloud-computing, good-os, gos, gos-cloud

Filed under: Internet, Web services, Google

Google experiences downtime, so does faith in cloud computing

by Brad Linder Nov 12th 2008

Google is experiencing some downtime this afternoon. While some users report that they experienced a hiccup or two when sending an email using Gmail, others (myself included) seem to be experiencing a total Google blackout. No Gmail, no Google Reader, no Google Docs, and no Google Talk. Oh, and the search engine isn't accessible either.

I have no doubt that service will be restored momentarily. But I suddenly find myself temporarily helpless. I rely heavily on Google Reader and Gmail for my workflow as a home office worker. And I'm not alone. A quick scan of Twitter Search shows that a lot of other people are experiencing the same problems.

While there are many advantages to cloud computing (like being able to access your data from any computer, anywhere in the world), this outage shows one of the most significant downsides. If Google experiences technical difficulties, millions of people around the world who rely on Google services experience those difficulties as well. It's almost enough to make me go back to Thunderbid and FeedDemon.

Oh wait, after about 18 minutes of downtime, Google's back online. Nevermind.

Update: Word on the street is that the problem was with Verizon, not Google. Verizon high speed internet customers were also unable to access Facebook, CNN, and a number of other sites during the same period.

Tags: cloud-computing, downtime, google, outages

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Web

Microsoft launches Windows Azure: Cloud operating system

by Brad Linder Oct 27th 2008

Microsoft has launched a "cloud operating system" called Windows Azure, or the operating system formerly known as Windows Cloud. Azure is basically a platform for developers of web applications. It combines hosting and tools for managing service delivery and will compete directly with Amazon's EC2 platform.

Developers can build applications using existing Microsoft tools like Visual Studio. Azure can be used to add web capabilities to existing desktop applications or to host completely cloud-based apps. In other words, you could build an online calendar or task management service and host it on Windows Azure, or you could create a desktop calendar that synchronizes with a web calendar. Or you know, something far more creative.

Microsoft unveiled the platform at the Professional Developers Conference today, saying that what's being made available today is just a community preview. More features will be available when the full version is released.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

Tags: amazon-ec2, cloud-computing, windows-azure, windows-cloud

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