The Houston Record

The Great Security Caper

HOUSTON, TX -- Something is happening in the city of Houston. One of the town's best-known technology companies has been hit with a crime. Research data from Evans Business Solutions has been stolen and passed to their fiercest competitor, Santa Clara-based Extar Systems. The result: their new breakthrough product has been relegated to second fiddle as Extar announces its own identical product, beating Evans to the punch.

Who committed this dastardly crime? Police are investigating, and it could have been an inside job, a business partner, or a hacker. They need your help to uncover clues and unmask the perpetrator. If you can point the finger at the right person, you could win a brand new Apple iPod. Watch for clues on this website and in Bytware print and web ads. At the end of the year you can submit your accusation.

Get started by meeting the suspects and reading the rules of the game.



Connection Made Between Evans Executive and Extar

HOUSTON -- Evans Business Solutions Chief Security Officer Peter Evans has been linked to Extar Systems in a discovery that police say may be a turning point in the case.

Santa Clara-based Extar Systems was accused in January of receiving stolen research data belonging to local software company Evans Business Solutions. Although investigators have so far been unable to identify the thief, they believe that it was an inside job. There are some who believe that an outside hacker infiltrated the system, possibly with the help of a kind of virus known as a Trojan Horse.



[Peter] Evans was recently seen sporting a silver watch with the name "Extar" engraved near the face. The watch has been confiscated by police and is being held as evidence in the event that charges are brought against Evans.

A lawyer representing the CSO denies any involvment between his client and Extar, saying that the watch was a gift received from a friend several years ago. Investigation are still underway to identify the source of the gift. The Houston Record will continue to cover this developing story.

::: Make your accusation now! :::





Virus Scanning Enabled in IBM's New i5/OS

RENO, NV -- Bytware, Inc., is excited to announce that, to fill the growing demand for virus protection on the iSeries, On-Access scanning for viruses is now an enabled feature within i5/OS (the latest incarnation of OS/400) and fully supported by Bytware’s StandGuard Anti-Virus security solution.

Beginning with i5/OS, IBM has enabled the operating system to support virus scanning, including On-Access scanning. The On-Access scanning enablement will allow third-party native anti-virus solutions to scan files dynamically, as they are accessed and changed. The enablement itself does not scan, detect or clean viruses, but instead provides the necessary enhancements to allow a third-party native anti-virus solution to scan files upon open and close (On-Access). The enablement feature, which is shipped with a default of ON, is designed to tie into a native anti-virus solution to scan for, detect, and clean viruses. The addition of a native anti-virus solution is required in order to use this new functionality of V5R3.

To ensure iSeries customers are realizing the maximum security potential, Bytware has worked very closely with IBM’s Security and Integrated File System team to re-engineer StandGuard Anti-Virus to take advantage of the new V5R3 enablement. The result is a seamless integration of StandGuard Anti-Virus with OS/400 V5R3, and the closure of the virus threat to iSeries servers.

For full details, visit the Press Room area of Bytware's website.



::: Make your accusation now! :::


Other Front Page Stories

Connection Made Between Evans Executive and Extar
Evans Business Solutions Chief Security Officer Peter Evans has been linked to Extar Systems in a discovery that police say may be a turning point in the case. :: View full story.

Area Companies Report Strangers Snooping Around

Several companies in the Houston area have reported incidents of probing by hackers in recent weeks. IT managers at several local organizations say that hackers seem to be focusing on specific targets, looking for weaknesses to exploit. :: View full story.

Brookside Village Briefcase Cleared by Law Enforcement
Police announced today that the mysterious briefcase found recently outside the Brookside Village post office has been thoroughly examined and appears to be nothing more than an old piece of luggage that someone tossed out. :: View full story.

Extar Systems Upstages Evans Business Solutions
Santa Clara-based technology firm Extar Systems takes the wind out of the highly anticipated product announcement by Evans Business Solutions. :: View full story.

Security Experts Say Flash Drives Risky
Known by a variety of names including "flash drives," "jump drives," and "mini drives," portable USB memory storage devices make transporting data easy, but not without security risks. :: View full story.

Other Current Story Highlights...

Evans/Extar Case Rocks Stocks
The ongoing investigation into the data theft scandal involving software developers Evans Business Solutions and Extar Systems is beginning to show real impact on investors.
View full story.

Look Out Papa Smurf! '80s Makes Comeback with a Vengeance

Proving that history is doomed to repeat itself and that some things just never go completely go out of style, the toys of the '80s are back. :: View full story.

Evans's Diane Webber to File Huge Tax Return
Reports leaked to the media indicate that Diane Webber, controller of local software company Evans Business Solutions, will be filing a personal tax return that shows an abnormally large jump in income during 2004, possibly linked to Extar. :: View full story.

Kate Hoffman Arrives in San Francisco
IT superstar Kate Hoffman, recently applauded for her quick thinking in a crisis situation at Evans Business Solutions, arrived today in San Francisco, shadowed by undercover agents from the Houston police department. :: View full story.

DOT Heeds Mandate from the People: Lark Lanes on America's Highways
The U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled plans today for the nationwide implementation of "Lark Lanes" on the nation's interstate system, giving seniors on scooters their own express lane. :: View full story.

Major League Baseball Hit with Mascot Steroids Scandal

Just when it looked like it couldn't get any worse for fans of America's pastime, Major League Baseball was again rocked by scandal today when Congress subpoenaed Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster. :: View full story.

Slash Again in Evans Spotlight
Famed hacker and virus author "Slash," who was once a prime suspect in the Evans Business Solutions data theft case, is again under close scrutiny by Houston police.
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Previous Story Highlights...

Kate Hoffman: IT Superwoman Saves the Day at Evans
IT Manager saves local software developer Evans Business Solutions from chaos across the company's international network. :: View full story.

Police Investigate Evidence Found at Evans Offices
Local law enforcement officials are investigating a piece of evidence uncovered earlier this week in the main computer facilities of Evans Business Solutions. :: View full story.

Matt Williams Questioned by Police in L.A.
L.A. city law enforcement officials last night took local waiter and aspiring actor Matt Williams into custody for questioning in connection with the Evans Business Solutions data theft case. :: View full story.

Health Insurance Providers Consider New Approach: Appendage Insurance
Health insurance providers are considering a new "a la carte" style of coverage that would require individuals to anticipate which parts of their body might become injured down the road. :: View full story.

Is Jelly Belly on your Breath?
The candy maker is considering a new approach to marry the consumers lack of time for breakfast with the desire for a sugar rush. :: View full story.

Bytware and IBM Ink Anti-Virus Distribution Agreement
Bytware, Inc. and IBM signed an agreement this week allowing Bytware's StandGuard Anti-Virus for iSeries to be shipped with all distributions of IBM's eServer iSeries new operating system, i5/OS V5R3 (OS/400 Version 5 Release 3). :: View full story.

Alarm Clock Maker Unveils Shocking New Product
One Japanese company aims to turn "snooze slapping" into a constant revenue stream using a shocking new method. :: View full story.

PETA Plans Focus on Nature with New "Animal-Friendly" Football League
Rumor in the sports world is that PETA is forming a new football league to compete with the NFL, complete with animal-friendly mascots. :: View full story.

Lollapalooza Out, Carbapalooza In
The waning music festival Lollapalooza finally ran out of steam this week as organizers cancelled the entire upcoming summer concert season. But a new festival is ready to step into the empty shoes. :: View full story.

Extar Stock on the Rise
Extar Systems, the California-based software company announced that it has enjoyed a steady rise in stock value since the launch of its new product. :: View full story.

Arrest made in Evans Data Theft Case
Houston police sergeant Raymond Edwards announced in a press conference yesterday evening that an arrest has been made in the data theft case currently under investigation at local software company Evans Business Solutions. :: View full story.

Precious Metal Investors Get Gas, Rejoice
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Mydoom.F Strikes iSeries Shops
A new variant of the Mydoom worm recently made its way around the Internet, and this particularly nasty worm caused a great deal of damage to users—including iSeries shops—thanks to its ability to delete files. :: View full story.

Apple iPod to go to Grand Prize Winner
Bytware, Inc., world leader in iSeries monitoring, security, and notification solutions and sponsor of the Great Security Caper of 2004 mystery contest , announced today that an Apple iPod will go to the Grand Prize Winner in the contest. :: View full story.

Area Security Executive Probed in Theft Case
Officers from the Houston police department along with federal agents seized documents this morning from the office of Evans Business Solutions Chief Security Officer, Peter Evans. The seizure comes several weeks after the reported theft of company trade secrets. :: View full story.

After Ted, Other Airlines Consider Offshoots
With the initial positive reaction to United Airlines' new low-cost carrier, "Ted," other airlines are considering similar moves. :: View full story.

Automatic Picture Shaker a Godsend for Polaroid Fans
For decades users of Polaroid's instant camera technology have been shaking their snapshots. Common belief holds that this action helps the photo develop. Now that the popular musical group Outkast has encouraged millions to "shake it like a Polaroid picture," the activity has become the latest craze. :: View full story.

New Reality TV Show to Feature iSeries Operators and Programmers
Programming executives at Aoba Entertainment announced today that they are developing a new reality TV show that will feature iSeries operators and programmers, pitting IT professionals against each other to see who can respond the quickest and most effectively to crisis situations. :: View full story.

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