bots

Terminate programs in a snap

Although it duplicates existing Windows' functionality, this effective tool shuts down processes with ease.

AutoSysBot Process Terminator has a sparse, but functional, interface that greatly resembles Windows Task Manager. The program functions much like the default Windows program as well. If users are having issues with a program that won't shut down properly, they can select the appropriate processes to shut down with just a couple quick clicks. A built-in pop-up menu prompts users to double check the process they are requesting to terminate, which may prevent unwanted system crashes. Interestingly enough, the program offers no way to close … Read more

Fluther's Q&A service gets IM support

Users of the eclectic questions and answers service Fluther have a new way to post questions and keep an eye on answers. Early Wednesday the company rolled out support for instant messaging through the use of an IM bot. By messaging the Flutherbot, your question will get posted immediately with any replies getting sent back as both instant messages and to whatever e-mail address you specify.

The service is limited to AOL IM users for the time being, although Fluther founder Ben Finkel tells me bots for other protocols are on the way in the next couple of weeks.

When … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 866: Harsh the mellow

Important revelations on today's show: cigars smell like dog poop, Facebook Connect is going to win, the NFL looks awesome in 3-D, and Barack Obama uses an iPod, not a Zune. Like I said, important. Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 866

Listener co-host details: E-mail buzz@cnet.com with your name, phone number, preferred time of day (with time zone). We are shooting for doing the interviews next Monday 3-4 p.m. PST and Wednesday 4-5 PST.

Facebook Connect opens up http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10113604-2.html

So does Google Friend Connect http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10113648-2.html… Read more

Study: DDoS attacks threaten ISP infrastructure

Internet service providers now spend most of their IT security resources detecting and mitigating distributed denial-of-service attacks, concludes a report from Arbor Networks.

The fourth edition of the Worldwide Infrastructure Security Report, released Tuesday, was based on how 70 lead security engineers responded to 90 questions. As in the previous three reports, ISPs reported attacks where their networks were overloaded with packets, what's called a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. However, this year, the ISPs indicated the attacks were not only larger in size but that most of them were stretching the upper limits of their security resources in order … Read more

Security expert talks Russian gangs, botnets

In February of 2005, a Miami man sued Bank of America for not adequately protecting him against a $90,000 fraudulent wire transfer to the Parex Bank in Latvia. Joe Lopez was the first online user to sue his financial institution for not protecting his assets from a computer hacker.

Lopez, owner of a computer and copier supply business, accused Bank of America of negligence and breach of contract for not alerting him in advance to the existence of a piece of malware known as "Coreflood" prior to April 6, 2004, when the alleged theft took place.

Shortly … Read more

Bar2D2 is the life of the party

If you want to be the life of the party, it turns out you're better suited if you happen not to be alive at all. Case in point: Bar2D2. This non-sentient bartender-bot certainly seems to be the life of the party in this Flickr photostream.

Designed and constructed by Jamie Price, the radio-controlled bartender/bar was unleashed on the crowd at the recent ArcAttack Mad Scientist Ball. Far from an unwelcome robotic intrusion, Bar2D2 made friends with everybody from Darth Vader to Freddy from Nightmare on Elm Street at the Sci-fi-themed convention.

And who wouldn't want Bar2D2 unleashed … Read more

iRobot preps pared-down PackBot for civilians

iRobot announced a new addition to its lineup of industrial robots Wednesday.

The Negotiator, another tactical mobile robot that can climb stairs, seems to be a pared down, civilian version of the PackBot.

Like the PackBot, the Negotiator can climb stairs, work by remote control, and be outfitted with tools for reconnaissance and chemical detection.

iRobot already offers a version of the PackBot 510 with a kit for first responders. While some municipalities have adopted it, the PackBot hasn't exactly become a common sight at your local police station.

It seems that iRobot has finally realized that the PackBot, … Read more

Army recycles PackBots to sniff out chemicals

The U.S. military has been working on a new use for old PackBots that will save soldiers time and aggravation, though not replace them completely, when it comes to chemical warfare.

With new Foster-Miller Talon and 510 PackBot models being introduced, the old PackBot models will be rotated out of use in combat.

The Department of Defense ordered that the older models be put to good use. Through a program towards that end, the 95th Chemical Company at Fort Richardson in Alaska has been testing out modded PackBots since 2005.

The new/old PackBot, called a Chemical, Biological, Radiological … Read more

Photos: BigBots at Robot 250

Famous Pittsburgh landmarks are the backdrop for BigBots, 11 giant robotic art installations.

The robotic art pieces, which went up on Friday, will be displayed through July 28 as part of Robot 250, one of this summer's festivals celebrating Pittsburgh's 250-year anniversary.

The collection is whimsical. Many of them are not what one might consider a robot, but each seems to speak to a philosophical topic currently being discussed in the technology community.

Here are some highlights.

Mower, a robot designed by Osman Khan, a visiting assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon's School of Art, can be found … Read more