Security lapse exposes Facebook photos

SAN FRANCISCO - A security lapse made it possible for unwelcome strangers to peruse personal photos posted on Facebook Inc.'s popular online hangout, circumventing a recent upgrade to the Web site's privacy controls.

The Associated Press verified the loophole Monday after receiving a tip from a Byron Ng, a Vancouver, Canada computer technician. Ng began looking for security weaknesses last week after Facebook unveiled more ways for 67 million members to restrict access to their personal profiles.

But the added protections weren't enough to prevent Ng from pulling up the most recent pictures posted by Facebook members and their friends, even if the privacy settings were set to restrict the audience to a select few.

After being alerted Monday afternoon, a Facebook spokeswoman said the Palo Alto-based company would look into the problem. By late Monday, Facebook appeared to have closed the security hole.

The lapse serves as another reminder of the perils of sharing sensitive photos and personal information online, even when Web sites pledge to shield the information from prying eyes.

Before the fix, Ng's computer-coding trick enabled him to find private pictures of Paris Hilton at the Emmy awards and of her brother Nicholas drinking a beer with friends and photos of many other people who hadn't granted access to Ng.

Using Ng's template, an AP reporter was able to look up random people on Facebook and see the most recent pictures posted on their personal profiles even if the photos were supposed to be invisible to strangers.

The revealed snapshots showed Italian vacations, office gatherings, holiday parties and college students on spring break. The AP also was able to click through a personal photo album that Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg posted in November 2005.

Some members of social networks like Facebook post photos of themselves or others in potentially embarrassing or compromising situations that include illegal drug use or underage drinking that can cause trouble at school or work. None of the photos reviewed by the AP appeared to fall into this category.

- Associated Press

Office romance: What's wrong?

Office romances are commonplace now, what with long working hours, high-pressure situations and close proximity with colleagues. Most offices are quite lax about rules governing these personal relationships.

As long as the employees meet their work objectives efficiently, the boss seldom interferes in their personal lives. Often, light-hearted teasing is a natural consequence of such relationships.

Vineeta Limaye, team member at a BPO, narrates, "My boss refused to allocate adjacent cubicles to my fianc and #233; and me, the reason given was that we wouldn't concentrate on our work if we sat next to each other. It was in good spirit though.

" Boss's quandary Some couples keep their relationship a secret and work with their usual efficiency, like Preeti Vijayakar and Kunal Shah, who are software professionals. The problem arises when the personal relationship encroaches the professional sphere and work is affected.

The boss is in a Catch-22 situation. Getting the people involved to quit is hardly an option, because good employees are hard to come by.

However, missed deadlines and mistakes, because the couple refuses to work on time, throw the project off schedule. Mitali Desai, team leader in a software company faced a potentially explosive situation when a couple in her team got involved.

They spent a lot of time together in office and disappeared for long hours without informing her. This affected team discipline.

Things reached a head when the company had to incur losses because of missed deadlines. The two even covered up for one other's mistakes.

Ultimately, Desai's boss had to intervene and speak to them. Desai says, "My boss told them that this could be detrimental to their careers.

They told him not to interfere in their personal lives. But things got worse.

Eventually the man was moved to another project." Quality at stake Another downside to this is when the couple's personal problems affect their productivity.

Michelle D'Souza, marketing manager in a travel agency, did face a similar situation recently. A girl from her team was involved with a man from another team.

Their parents opposed their relationship. The girl unburdens her emotional distress to D'Souza and has become inefficient in her work.

If she is pulled up, she garners sympathy by citing her personal problems. D'Souza explains, "The man is good at his work.

Talking to the girl is useless. I cannot ask either of them to quit.

I'm contemplating moving the girl to another team, probably with a demotion, so that she wakes up to the reality. It is an unpalatable task for me, but I have to do it.

" Being firm Unfortunately, most companies do not have a clear Human Resources policy for such issues and the boss needs to deal with the impasse. Desai advises, "Speak to the people involved and ask them to pull up their socks.

Let the annual performance appraisal reflect their inefficiency. But then is it enough? "If that doesn't work, move them to different departments.

Only in extreme cases, should the Human Resources department feel the need to ask either of them or both to quit.".

- Yahoo News

Top Healthy Fast-Food Breakfasts

You know those time-crunched mornings when you're starving and an Egg McMuffin seems like the only fast-enough solution? But you know it's a 300-calorie, 12-grams-of-fat freeway to diet disaster? Turn into the McDonald's anyway (or a handy facsimile). There actually are fast-food ways to start the day that won't wreck your waistline.

These choices will tame your appetite (with extra protein), curb afternoon cravings (with a hit of fiber), and even help you concentrate (that protein-fiber combo supplies the brain with a steady stream of energy). Use this cheat sheet when you need a wakeup fast.

McDonald's
There are a couple of options with enough fiber and protein to fill you up and keep you going:

• Fruit n' Yogurt Parfait with Granola
  160 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 85mg sodium, 1g fiber, 4g protein
  
• Snack Size Fruit and Walnut Salad
  210 calories, 8g fat (1.5g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 60mg sodium, 2g fiber, 4g protein

Starbucks
You'll find two good high-flavor choices here:

• Spinach, Roasted Tomato, Feta, and Egg Wrap -- it's a little high in fat but compensates with lots of fiber and protein.
  240 calories, 10g fat (3.5g saturated), 140mg cholesterol, 730mg sodium, 7g fiber, 13g protein
  
• A Skinny Latte and a package of SB's dried fruit and nut mix. The latte's made with nonfat milk and a shot of sugar-free syrup. (Try the caramel or hazelnut: yum!)
  Latte (12-oz. "tall"): 90 calories, 0g fat (0g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 125mg sodium, 0g fiber, 0g protein
  Fruit/nut packet: 150 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 2g fiber, 4g protein

Jamba Juice
Two groups of smoothies will be your wake-up call as long as you add a soy protein booster. For just 30 more calories you'll get an extra 7g of tummy-taming, brain-fueling protein.

• Any 16-oz. "Jamba Light" smoothie
  150-160 calories, 0-0.5g fat (0g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 210-220mg sodium, 2-3g fiber, 6g protein
  
• Any 16-oz. "All Fruit" smoothie
  200-220 calories, 0-0.5g fat (0g saturated), 0mg cholesterol, 5-20mg sodium, 4g fiber, 1-2g protein

Dunkin' Donuts
Make this your last resort but if it's the only choice, go for:

• Egg and Cheese English Muffin Sandwich
  280 calories, 9g fat (4.5g saturated), 140mg cholesterol, 1010mg sodium (yikes -- that's why it's your last resort), 1g fiber, 15g protein
  
• If the smell of doughnuts gets to your head, order 4 Powdered Cake doughnut holes (Munchkins in DD-speak).
  260 calories, 15g fat, 7g saturated fat, 10mg cholesterol, 210mg sodium, 2g fiber, 3g protein

Burger King
Keep driving until the competition appears. BK is behind on banning risky trans fats, and we recommend avoiding it until the place smartens up.

Is breakfast really worth the bother? You bet. Not only does eating it help keep you slimmer and smarter, but skipping it can make your RealAge as much as 3 years older. So it's definitely worth knowing your best AM road-food options.

When 9-to-5 Turns Naughty

Don't Be Shy About Meeting Your Mate At Work (but Follow the Rules):

Work can be romantic. Stephanie Losee and Helaine Olen, the authors of 'Office Mate: The Employee Handbook for Finding -- and Managing -- Romance on the Job,' know a little about that.

The book opens with a note from each woman on how she found her perfect mate at the office. But don’t get the wrong idea: These aren’t your average chickliteers. Both are, as the book’s site jokingly puts it, “otherwise dignified journalists” who felt passionately that office romances were getting a bad rap when they might actually be the best way to find love. So the two decided to apply their journalistic verve to the topic and share the results in this witty guide to everything from “How to Indicate Interest -- Without Indicating Yourself Right Out of a Job” to “When He’s Out of Your Life But Not Out of the Office Next Door.”

# Find a Job in Journalism

It’s help many of us can use. Research cited in the book indicates that half of all office workers have dated an office mate. But then, you probably could have guessed that. As Olen says, “This has been going on since men and women have worked together, since they were sowing crops in the field.” And just because work has gone high-rise and hi-tech, doesn’t mean much has changed in the romantic arena: “The physical community of yore didn’t relocate to the Internet, it relocated to the workplace,” says Losee. “That’s so much more heartening than the possibility that we’re all just sitting in our rooms, plugged in, but completely disconnected from each other.”

So if you’re thinking of making some romantic work history of your own, a few words of encouragement and strategy from our Office Mate experts …


1. Take your time.
Taking it slow is important in any relationship, but it’s crucial when considering a coworker who as could easily be your wonderful future spouse as your insane future ex. And this goes triple for we Yers, who, to put it gently, are perhaps most likely to fall prey to that disaster-waiting-to-happen otherwise known as the happy-hour hookup. (Seriously. Remember “How much is too much at happy hour?”)

“If you jump into an office relationship and turn it into a hookup, you’re not taking advantage of the one thing that meeting someone at the office offers you — the advantage of time,” says Losee. “That’s silly, and it’s just going to lead to drama.” Instead of letting Cupid catch you unawares (or, um, un-sober) at the local watering hole, take the opportunity to get to know your potential office mate as well as possible before pursuing a relationship.

2. Get out of the office.
“Just because it’s an office romance doesn’t mean it’s conducted in the office,” says Olen, who cautions against mooning over your honey in his or her cubicle, or otherwise making yourself insufferable and/or an obvious target for downsizing. This extends to technology, too: Your office romance does not count as office work, so don’t use company tools to carry it out. Because you could find yourself in any number of unpleasant situations, like one Office Mate source, who found herself facing a less-than-sympathetic boss armed with printouts of her instant messenger pillow talk. So try to avoid that.

But doom and gloom aside, knowing your office mate outside of work is ultimately good for the relationship. “You don’t want to be two soldiers in a foxhole, thrown together because you work together,” says Olen. “You want to make sure you have more to talk about than work. And if you don’t, then you should take a strong look at your relationship, because you don’t want to change jobs and realize that you need to change boyfriends.”

3. It’s all about the rules.
The biggest potential pitfall in an office romance is, of course, an office breakup. Any relationship split can be messy, but things can get especially awkward when coworkers part ways. Handle it wrong, and not only can a bad breakup ruin your reputation at work, it can end your job altogether. So our experts say, do yourself a favor and lay down some ground rules at the very start. “It’s much easier to do when you’re first dating, when you’re in love and it’s all very theoretical, than when you’re at each others’ throats,” says Olen.

And even if your partner doesn’t respect the parameters when things go awry, the key is to remain professional and above it all — even if he or she is determined to bring the drama to work and risk taking you both off a professional cliff. But chances are, Olen says, it won’t come to that: “The office romance is the last bastion of old-fashioned courting. Because you were friends, you can remain friends. And you have a different history, because you weren’t always a couple.”


4. Think normal.
Many office romantics suffer from serious anxiety. Can you tell? And if so, whom? And how much? “The first impulse when you start dating someone at the office is to drop out of the office gang,” says Losee, “because that’s the best way you can think of not to divulge anything. But you’re just alienating yourself from your network.” It’s possible, she says, to behave with dignity and intelligence, still be part of the group, and be respected for it. “Besides, they don’t want to know all the details!”

And speaking of details, avoid PDAs. Married couples don’t neck at company dinners, and neither should you. But you shouldn’t stay in hiding forever, either. “Why does etiquette exist?” Losee asks. “To make people feel comfortable. Early on, discretion makes people comfortable. And as a relationship progresses, and everyone’s aware, openness makes them comfortable.”

5. Don’t worry; no one really minds.
Somewhere, somehow, many of us got the notion that office romances were right up there with embezzlement and miniskirts on the list of corporate crimes. Not so, say the Office Mate experts. “Contrary to myth,” says Olen, “most people don’t disapprove. Well over two-thirds are happy for you or don’t care.” It’s a good idea, if you’re considering an office romance, to check if your company has an official policy on dating at work, but the truth is that many companies don’t, and those that do tend to focus on dating subordinates and other potential harassment issues.

That doesn’t mean you should keep your boss out of the loop — after all, you don’t want him or her finding out about your love affair third-hand — but you should go in as a courtesy, not cowering in fear. And believe it or not, many HR professionals are actually supportive of office romances, since nothing builds company loyalty like being in love with a coworker. There’s even evidence that after falling in love, your productivity can increase 20 percent. “It stands to reason,” explains Losee, “you’ve got that buzz on, you’re excited to come to work, you want to impress your honey. You’re committed, and you’re going to produce.”

- AOL

Now, kiss for better health!

Exercise. Dieting. Various therapies. When it comes to healthy living, you are always a sport. Now here is something else you can try: Cheeky kisses!

London: The next time you greet a person, make sure you avoid shaking hands. Instead give a peck on his or her cheek -- it's healthier for you.

A team of international researchers has carried out a study and found that people who greet each other with handshakes are much more likely to pass on germs, such as flu and stomach bugs, than those who settle for a kiss.

According to lead researcher Prof Sally Bloomfield of the London School of Hygiene, "The hands are critical in the chain of infection as they transmit infections from surfaces to people and between people.

"Shaking hands is the main form of physical contact with each other but you don't know what the other person has been touching before you greet them. People avoid kissing each other when they have a cold, but in fact they are more likely to pass on an infection by shaking someone's hand." In fact, the researchers, whose study has been funded by the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, came to the conclusion after analysing the effects of handshakes and kisses on a group of people, according to media reports.

According to co-researcher Carol O'Boyle of the School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, "Hand hygiene is just as important when we are outside the home -- on public transport, in the office, in the supermarket, or in a restaurant.

"Quite often it is not possible to wash our hands in these situations, but carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitiser means we can make our hands hygienic whenever and wherever the need arises."

© Copyright 2007 PTI. All rights reserved

Read this before you swipe! Debit-card dangers

Yes, debit cards are convenient — but consider these points of caution

By Sloan Barnett

TODAY

updated 10:58 a.m. ET Feb. 13, 2008

First, some basics: A debit card looks just like your credit card, but works like an electronic check. The payment is deducted directly from your checking or savings account. When you use your debit card to purchase items, you or the cashier slides the card through a scanning machine that enables your bank to verify that the funds are available and then approve the transaction. Most debit cards can also be used to withdraw cash at ATMs, and can also look just like your ATM card (look at the face of the card to find the “debit” language).

Debit cards are handy — so handy, in fact, that two-thirds of American households have them. They are more convenient to carry than cash or a bulky checkbook, plus swiping the card is easier and faster than writing a check. In addition, there are no interest payments. The money is deducted out of your account right when the purchase is made. Finally, you can use your debit card’s cash-back feature to get cash when you make purchases at a store, avoiding a separate trip to the bank or the ATM.

Despite all these benefits, there are some cautions to keep in mind:

Credit-building
You are not building credit with a debit card like you do with a credit card. Your debit card purchases do not enable you to build up positive credit. That means your good habits go unnoticed. However, by using your debit card instead of your credit card, you can avoid running up a big bill and making late payments, harming your credit. So if you have trouble making payments on time, a debit card would be the way to go.

Fraud protection
Debit cards do not give you the same fraud protection as credit cards do. The federal regulations are very different for debit cards than for credit cards when it comes to financial liability. When using a credit card, you are generally responsible for the first $50 of fraudulent charges, whereas your liability on many debit cards can be as high as $500. In addition, unlike a credit card, if there is a problem with your purchase, you are not able to withhold payment until further investigation by the credit-card company. If your debit card is stolen or lost, report it to your bank immediately. In many cases, if you wait more than 60 days to report your card lost or stolen, you could be responsible for all of the damages. Of course. always check with your bank to understand its policies and applicable state laws. Don't take this lightly: A recent study in 2007 put fraud losses from debit-card purchases at $245 million.

Lost or stolen cards
A debit card is like a blank check, so you need to guard the card and the number on the card. If your card gets stolen, a thief can empty your bank account in minutes. Thieves don’t even need your card. As long as they have your name and card number, they can shop online or over the phone with your card information. If your debit card is lost or stolen, call your bank immediately! Follow the phone call with a letter.

Protect your debit card by holding on to your debit-card receipts and checking them against your bank statement each month.

Merchant disputes
If there is a dispute regarding a purchase you make, you are in a weaker position when you use a debit card instead of a credit card. The merchant already has your money when you pay with a debit card. So while the dispute is taking place, your money will remain with the merchant and you will only see that money again if you win the dispute.

Rewards
While some debit cards are beginning to offer rewards, they are still far fewer and less valuable than those offered by credit cards. Ask your bank if there is a rewards program you can enroll in to earn points toward travel or goods every time you use your debit card. Most likely the rewards will not be as valuable as the ones you get with your credit card.

Immediate deduction
When you use a debit card, the money is immediately taken out of your banking account. With a credit card, there is a float period between the time you make the purchase and the date the credit-card bill is due. This means that you earn a little bit of extra interest on your money sitting in your bank account when you use a credit card vs. a debit card.

No added services
Credit cards often come with added benefits, such as extended warranties on products purchased and insurance for rental cars and airline travel. Debit cards do not offer these services.

Tracking spending fees and overdrafts
When using a debit card, it can be difficult to keep track of what you purchased if you aren’t diligent in writing down everything or if you don’t go online constantly to check your account. Making a mistake on the balance can cause you to think you have more in the account than you really do, and can ultimately result in accidental overdrafts.

If you unintentionally let your balance get too low, each debit that comes through will bounce. With fees as high as $34 per bounce, this can add up to hundreds of dollars in a matter of seconds. So, for example, if you forgot to track a few debits and you have written a large check, many banks will honor the large check and then bounce all the debits, even debits as small as $2.

Even if you do keep track of your accounts, the bank's calculations may not be as accurate as you are. It takes time for deposits to become available and the funds may not be accessible as soon as you would like, leading you to believe you have more in your account than you really have access to. This can cause you to spend more than is in the account and rack up overdraft fees.

Debit-card overdraft loans are more expensive than overdraft loans from any other source, including overdrafts by check. Debit-card overdrafts cost people $2.17 in fees for every dollar borrowed, compared to check overdrafts, which cost $.86 per dollar borrowed.

Fees
Banks prefer the credit option when you use your debit card, because they make more money in fees. For a $200 transaction, for example, a bank could make $1.99 if the customer chooses the “credit” option and signs his or her name. This is more than three times the 60 cents they usually make from customers who choose “debit” and enter a PIN number.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Here are some ways to stop banks from stealing your hard-earned money.

Keep your balance up
Keep a cushion of money in your account to avoid bouncing checks or debits. Decide that you are not going to let your account fall below a certain amount, like $1,000; when you see it getting close, transfer money into it from another account. If you don’t have the money to replenish it, then you should cut back on spending.

Track your account
Sign up for your bank’s online banking program. This is an easy way to see what is going on with your checking account. Pay close attention to the available balance.

A lot of us think that once you deposit a check in the bank, it’s yours for the spending. Watch out, this is not the case! Most banks put holds on checks for several days, even up to a week. Until the money clears, you should not use your debit card. Debits go through right at the time of purchase, and if the bank is holding your deposit, you’ll get huge fees on the overdrawn debits. If you need the money right away, take the check to the bank and have it turned into cash, then deposit it. When you deposit cash it is available almost immediately.

Call your bank
When it comes to overdraft fees, banks hope you won’t fight back and request courtesy credits. Many banks will credit you back the fee or part of the fee if it’s your first offence.

Use cash
Cash can’t bounce and that’s the beauty of it. If you are not willing to use a credit card, then cash is the next best option. I’ve found spending actual cash makes you more aware of what you are spending. It seems when you swipe a debit card, you tend to spend more because it doesn’t seem like spending “actual” money. At the beginning of each week, take out what you think you’ll need and stick with that.

Go.. Get a Red Valentine !!

You have finally fallen in love. There are just two little problems - you have no idea whether the person in question reciprocates your feelings and you don't know how to make him/her do so, either. Make it Happen is a mantra that will help you cross these hurdles.

Tips for Women in Love

Attire

Dress for the occasion. Find a balance between dressing too casual that will make it seem as if you are disinterested in the date, and too provocative that will make it seem as if you are trying too hard.

Make up

Looking good is one of the first steps to attracting anyone's attention. But, it is highly recommended that cosmetic beauty be reserved for occasions like a party or an exclusive restaurant. On a normal day, excessive make up is a complete no-no.

Be Independent

It is but natural to get carried away when men are at their chivalrous best. It never hurts though, to offer to pay for the coffee once in a while. Men respect women who are independent and have a mind of their own.

Body Language

Body language is the most essential part of getting someone thinking about you. An occasional glance, a smile and a friendly demeanour, in general, will give him the confidence to approach you.

Intelligent Conversations

Outward beauty may attract a man for the moment, but it takes more than that to sustain his attention. Most men appreciate a woman with whom they can relate to and with whom they can share a lively conversation. So, an interest in current affairs and topics other than the usual girls' favourites will get you a long way.

Appreciation

People have a tendency to feel insecure if their efforts go unappreciated over time. So, if you notice that the guy in question has missed his usual football game on TV just to meet you or has taken care of you while you were ill, make sure you let him know that you appreciate his efforts with a gift or a timely thank you.

Beyond Looks

Looking beyond a person's physical appearance is a sure way of knowing that you will never miss out on what could have been a wonderful relationship but was lost just because of personal prejudices.

Tips for Men in Love

Assertive vs. Aggressive

There is a thin line between being assertive and being aggressive. Women prefer confident, assertive men versus bullies with an intimidating attitude. Politeness, respect for others and dealing with panache in heated situations are traits that a woman notices in a man.

Modesty

You might own a Ferrari or wear a Rolex but if you cannot stop bragging about them or about your achievements in every conversation, maybe then its time to adjust the attitude a little.

Research vs. Stalking

There is a difference between doing some research about the girl you are in love with and stalking her. It is always good to know something about the girl, like her family background or her hobbies but what needs to be sternly avoided is stalking her by following her around everywhere, giving her blank calls or calling her repeatedly. It is important to give the other person enough personal space to bring in the comfort factor.

Right Moves

The woman in question could be the most beautiful creature one has ever set eyes on, yet it would be considered extremely rude to stare at her. Be a perfect gentleman and avoid staring at her bare shoulders or low neckline. Watch out for her behaviour. If you do not sense the vibes you expect to receive, it is better not to push it. Patience pays.

Appearance

One of the biggest turn offs is body odour. A fresh and neat look not only makes you feel good but also tells a lady that you value the time you spend with her and have taken the effort to be at your best.

Chivalry

Chivalry may sound conservative but it never goes out of style. Women still love men who don't feel shy to show them some old fashioned chivalry like opening the door for them or pulling out a chair for them. Here are a few pointers to get you a head start;

• Be punctual if you have offered to meet her somewhere or are picking her up
• Ask her if she minds before you light up your cigarette
• Open the door for her; be it the car or the restaurant
• Allow her first, whether you're getting into a seating row at a theatre or when you are in a queue
• Lead the way while crossing the road
• Pull out the chair for her at the table
• Sit only after the lady has taken her seat and rise when she does so
• Make the move to pay the bill, but if she insists, back off
• Remember important days like anniversaries and birthdays

Follow these pointers and one never knows, it might lead you to the beginning of a great relationship.