Simon Hendery: Cyber swine tap global flu hysteria with spam blitz

Crooks have been quick to latch on to global swine flu hysteria as a way to turn a quick profit.

Security company Symantec said in a blog post yesterday the outbreak had "spawned a spamming frenzy, like sharks smelling blood in the water".

Tricks used by spammers include sending malicious emails with subject lines typical of news item headlines.

Symantec's advice: avoid opening emails that appear to be news alerts you have not subscribed to receive, be wary of suspicious links or potentially malicious attachments, and cautious with any messages that arrive unexpectedly and from an unknown or untrusted source.

WEBBY SITE

Local web and technology developers appear to be punching above their weight on the world stage if this year's nominations for the Webby Awards - the Oscars of online creativity - are any indication.

New Zealand websites and mobile applications have been nominated 17 times, making this country the third most nominated behind the US and the UK. Kiwi-founded mobile marketing company The Hyperfactory, which now has offices and clients around the world, is the standout with nine nominations and four honoree selections.

Other local organisations tapped for online innovation include listed accounting firm Xero and cybersafety organisation Netsafe for its website designed by Parnell-based design agency Apropos.

Winners will be announced at a gala event in New York early next month.

BELLS AND WHISTLES

Telecom's expensive advertising campaign featuring Top Gear celebrity Richard Hammond to promote the telco's new 3G mobile technology may be raising awareness of the new XT Network ahead of next month's launch but is only one of the hooks needed to get customers to sign up.

Another vital element is a range of sexy handsets. Telecom has only announced two devices for the network so far, but is promising more. The touch-screen Samsung F480 has been available in other markets for a while now, but will be new to New Zealand when XT starts up on May 13.

The big coup for Telecom so far appears to be a "world-first exclusive" deal to get the yet-to-be-launched Sony Ericsson W995, with top-end bells and whistles including an 8.1 megapixel camera and Walkman music player. Unfortunately the phone is so new it won't be available until July, rather than at network launch date.

EXPANSION TRAIL

While the recession has sent most businesses into defensive mode, Certus Solutions, which describes itself as New Zealand's largest specialist IBM software and services provider, is expanding into Australia.

Certus, which has a staff of about 50, says it is taking advantage of changes in the way global giant IBM structures sales and partner relationships there.

"Changes in the IBM model for software and services delivery have seen stronger emphasis on partners, creating new opportunities for us," managing director Brian Allen said. The company has opened an office in Melbourne.