Recall is second-biggest in U.S. history involving electronics or computers

Apple Computer Inc. on Thursday recalled 1.8 million Sony-built laptop
batteries that could overheat and catch fire.

Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple has received nine reports of batteries
overheating, including two consumers who received minor burns after
handling overheated computers. Apple has also received reports of
minor property damage, but no serious injuries have been reported.

Apple's recall comes 10 days after Dell Inc.'s recall of 4.1 million
faulty laptop batteries also made by Sony — the largest electronics
recall in the Consumer Product Safety Commission's history.

In a statement, Sony said the problems arise "on rare occasions" when
microscopic metal particles in the recalled battery cells hit other
parts of the cell and lead to a short circuit.

Both recalls are expected to cost Sony between $172 million and $278 million.

Roger Kay, an analyst with Endpoint Technologies Associates, speaking
of Dell's recall called the situation "a nightmare for Sony" but said
the recall wasn't likely to scare manufacturers away from using
lithium-ion batteries.

"Well-made lithium-ion batteries are perfectly safe," he said. "This
is a manufacturing problem and not an indictment of lithium-ion
technology."

Apple's recall covers 1.1 million lithium-ion batteries in the 12-inch
iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4 laptops sold
in the United States from October 2003 through August 2006. It also
covers an additional 700,000 laptops sold abroad, according to the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The Apple recall only affects laptops that run PowerPC chips built by
IBM Corp. and Freescale Semiconductor Inc. It does not affect Apple's
Intel Corp.-based models, including the MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Apple notebook owners were told to stop using the batteries and to
remove them from their laptops. The machines can continue to be used
as long as they're plugged into an AC power source.

Apple asked customers to consult a Web site or call a toll-free
hotline, 1-800-275-2273, to determine whether they have a battery that
is covered by the recall. A free replacement will be shipped to
affected customers.

Dell's recall affected about 14 percent of the Latitude, Inspiron, XPS
and Precision notebooks sold between April 1, 2004, and July 18 of
this year.

Sony provides battery components for other computer makers, including
Lenovo Group Ltd., which said it gets a "handful" of reports each year
of overheated batteries but does not plan a recall. Spokesman Bob Page
said when Dell recalled its batteries that Lenovo's machines have
other features, including software that disables the machine if it
detects unsafe conditions.

Hewlett-Packard Co. said it does not use Sony batteries and was not
affected by the recall. Fujitsu said it builds its own batteries.

Instead of the usual description of Kevin Mitnick, his consulting
services and books, the famed hacker's Web site on Sunday displayed a
vulgar message.

Online vandals, apparently operating from Pakistan, broke into the
computer hosting Mitnick's Web site on Sunday and replaced his front
page with one of their own. As a result, four Web addresses belonging
to Mitnick, including KevinMitnick.com and MitnickSecurity.com,
displayed an explicit message on Mitnick and hacking.

"The Web hosting provider that hosts my sites was hacked," Mitnick
told CNET News.com in an interview Monday. "Fortunately, I don't keep
any confidential data on my Web site, so it wasn't that serious. Of
course, it is embarrassing to be defaced--nobody likes it."

Mitnick's name is synonymous with "notorious hacker" for many. He was
caught by the FBI in 1995 after a well-publicized pursuit and spent
five years behind bars for wire and computer fraud. Today, he is a
consultant, has written two books, and spends much of his time on the
road at speaking engagements.

Mitnick heard out about the defacement on Sunday afternoon, shortly
after the initial compromise, he said. The attackers gained complete
control over the server that hosts his site as well as others at
hosting provider Hostedhere, Mitnick said. It is common that hosting
companies store multiple customers' Web sites on one server.

"The attackers from Pakistan took over that whole box. There were a
whole bunch of customers, including myself, but my site was the only
one defaced, so I was probably the target," Mitnick said. The server
was taken offline to be reinstalled, Mitnick said. The Web site was
still offline as of late Monday afternoon Pacific Time.

Web site defacements still occur, but they have become less high
profile in recent years as financially motivated threats take the
spotlight.

The message placed on Mitnick's Web site started with: "ZMOG!! THE
MITNICK GOTZ OWNED!!" and continues with expletives and a picture of
Mitnick with some modifications. Security Web site Zone-H first
reported the hack on Monday and has screenshots of the replaced Web
pages.

Defacing Web sites is akin to graffiti in the brick-and-mortar world.
"It is kind of stupid; they do it for the attention," Mitnick said.
"When I was a hacker, I never stooped to defacing sites because that
was more like vandalism; that wasn't any fun. It is more about getting
in and being stealth and looking around and exploring."

So far, Mitnick doesn't know how the server containing his Web site
was compromised. He plans to investigate that at a later time. It
could be that a security flaw on one of the other Web sites that was
hosted on the same server gave the attackers a way into Mitnick's
portion of the machine, he said.
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"When you're with Web hosting companies, your security is as good as
theirs. You just have to live with that," Mitnick said. "When you want
to raise the bar, you have to set it up yourself. I don't have the
time to maintain a Web site."

Hostedhere, Mitnick's hosting provider located in Greenville, S.C.,
did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

"They do a good job. I don't think they're insecure," Mitnick said,
adding that he would switch Web hosting providers only if his site
gets hacked continuously.

This isn't the first time that a Mitnick Web site has been defaced.
Three years ago, a site set up by Mitnick's supporters was repeatedly
hacked. Mitnick did not operate those sites. He was not allowed to use
computers at that time as part of the terms of his supervised release
from prison, he said.

Hey everyone, last night was fun. I went to work in the morning and it was ok. I have a project coming up that will envolve social engineering and a physical thing too. Yes, like sneakers. I went to class after that and it was the second to last class of my current level. I did some great monologues and so ok scenes. Later we went to Molly Wee's for after class drinks. Charlie showed up along with Phlip, Becca, Chris, Danny, Josiah, and Tim. We exchanged information and discussed personal information that generally doesn't come up in class.

This morning, I has to move the car. The problem is they are filming 'American Gangster' in front of my house. It has turned parking into a bad dream and I fear what the night holds for getting in and out of my apartment. Tonight I am going to see Josiah perform at Caroline's. I think I will at Danny there but I am not sure if anyone else from my class confirmed.

Tomorrow my ex-girlfriend and best friend Rebecca will be here on business. We are supposed to meet up for a drink. That's all that's on the top of my head. Lets hope I don't get into a fight with Denzel or RZA.