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Oct 20, 2011
@ 3:45 am
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64 notes

McAfee loses high-profile researcher and CTO


* Worldwide CTO George Kurtz leaves at end of OctoberBy Jim FinkleBOSTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Two senior technology executives have resigned from McAfee Inc, the anti-virus software maker that Intel Corp bought in February, according to a company spokeswoman.Worldwide Chief Technology Officer George Kurtz, who helped lead the company’s product strategy, will leave at the end of this month, the spokeswoman said.Kurtz could not be reached for comment.Vice President Dmitri Alperovitch, a highly regarded threat researcher whose work at the company help give it a reputation for conducting cutting-edge research on hacking, quietly left last month, without the company issuing any announcement.Alperovitch led a research team that produced several high-profile studies on suspected Chinese-government backed hackers during his tenure at McAfee.Those studies included a landmark January 2010 report in which Alperovitch coined the term “Operation Aurora” to describe attacks suspected by Chinese hackers on Google Inc and several dozen other companies. His team identified the malware used in those attacks, which exploited previously unknown flows in Microsoft Corp’s Internet Explorer browser.In August his team uncovered “Operation Shady RAT,” the biggest series of cyber attacks disclosed to date, which involved the infiltration of the networks of 72 organizations including the United Nations, governments and companies around the world.Alperovitch, who has been doing consulting since he left the company, declined to comment on the reason for his resignation.Company spokeswoman Heather Edell said the company is currently looking for replacements for the two executives.


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Oct 17, 2011
@ 2:45 pm
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26 notes

Leave me be, says Lohan, “I am working hard”


Lohan, 25, was sentenced to 360 hours community service earlier this year as part of her sentence for stealing a gold necklace from a jewelry store. The “Mean Girls” actress also served 35 days under house arrest.The judge in the case warned Lohan to take the requirements seriously and complete her community service on time. If not, she might violate probation and be sent back to jail.Lohan has until May 2012 to complete the program and is due to return to court on October 19 for a progress meeting.Los Angeles District Attorney’s spokeswoman Jane Robison said Lohan was now working with the Red Cross after several missed visits at the women’s shelter.Celebrity website TMZ.com said Lohan repeatedly failed to show up at the women’s center and when she did, she stayed less than the required four-hour session.Lohan, whose once promising movie career has been derailed by multiple trips to jail and rehab since 2007, did not address the allegations in detail. But she responded on Twitter saying: “I am not to be made an example of anymore. I am working hard and fulfilling my obligations every single day, to the court as well as myself. If I travel, it’s for work and it’s been approved.”…I’d appreciate it if people will just let me do what is asked of me, so that I can get my life back. Please ignore the reports which have no truth to them,” she added.


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Oct 14, 2011
@ 7:16 am
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56 notes

TEXT-Fitch assigns SMART Series 2011-3 Trust final rtgs


AUD144m Class A-1 notes: ‘F1+sf’AUD473.4m Class A-2A notes: ‘AAAsf’; Outlook StableGBP110m Class A-2G notes: ‘AAAsf’; Outlook StableAUD20.25m Class B notes: ‘AAsf’; Outlook StableAUD24.75m Class C notes: ‘Asf’; Outlook StableAUD22.5m Class D notes: ‘BBBsf’; Outlook StableAUD22.5m Class E notes: ‘BBsf’; Outlook StableAUD18m seller notes: not ratedThe notes have been issued by Perpetual Trustee Company Limited as trustee for SMART Series 2011-3 Trust. SMART Series 2011-3 Trust is a legally distinct trust established pursuant to a master trust and security trust deed.At the cut-off date, the Macquarie Leasing’s representative collateral portfolio consisted of 48,892 automotive and equipment lease receivables totalling approximately AUD891m, with an average size of AUD35,795 and a weighted average seasoning of 6.8 months. The pool comprises motor vehicles and equipment lease receivables originated by Macquarie Leasing to Australian residents across the country. The pool comprises amortising principal and interest leases with varying balloon amounts payable at maturity. The weighted average balloon payment for the portfolio is 24.8% (as a percentage of original balance). The majority of leases consist of novated contracts (52.5%), where the lease is novated to the employer in salary packaging arrangements.Historical gross loss rates by quarterly vintage on passenger vehicle leases originated by Macquarie Leasing were found to have ranged between 0.6% and 1.5%, for light commercial between 0.5% and 5% and for equipment from 1% to 4.8%.The final Short-Term ‘F1+sf’ rating assigned to the Class A-1 notes and the final Long-Term ‘AAA(EXP)sf’ rating with Stable Outlook assigned to the Class A-2A, and A-2G notes, are based on the quality of the collateral; the 12% credit enhancement provided by the subordinate Class B, C, D and E notes and the unrated seller notes and excess spread; the liquidity reserve account sized at 1% of the aggregate invested amount of the notes at closing; the interest rate swap arrangements the trustee has entered into with Macquarie Bank Ltd (‘A+’/Stable/’F1’); the currency swap provided by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (‘AA-‘/Positive/’F1+’); and Macquarie Leasing Pty Ltd’s lease underwriting and servicing capabilities.The ratings assigned to the other classes of notes are based on all the strengths supporting the Class A notes, excluding their credit enhancement levels, but including the credit enhancement provided by each class of notes’ respective subordinate notes.Fitch’s stress and rating sensitivity analysis is discussed in the corresponding new issue report entitled “SMART Series 2011-3 Trust”, published today, now available on www.fitchratings.com or by clicking on the below link.Included in a corresponding new issue appendix, entitled “SMART Series 2011-3 Trust”, is a description of the representations, warranties, and enforcement mechanisms, published today, now available on www.fitchratings.com.Link to Fitch Ratings’ Report: SMART Series 2011-3 Trust here