Technology Report: Facebook hit with unsolicited porn, violent videos

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	11/15/2011
Good afternoon Microsoft Corp shareholders left the software giant's annual meeting grumbling that they did not get to ask more questions in their once-a-year opportunity to quiz Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer. One thing the chief executive did tell shareholders was that there is no benefit in breaking the company up. In response to a question about how the company can jolt its stock price out of a 10-year rut, Gates played up the company's strong balance sheet and said the market would respond to innovation. Some of Facebook's estimated 800 million global users received a shock over the past 24 hours when unsolicited graphic content such as pornography and violent images appeared in their news feeds. It is unclear how the material was distributed across the social network but many Facebook users vented their anger through other social media such as Twitter. "It seems every other day there is some new Facebook 'threat,' but this is just the new reality of Web 2.0 and social networking," online security expert Paul Ferguson told Reuters. "It is 'low-hanging fruit' for criminals." The LinkedIn lockup is almost over and shareholders are winding up to sell more than 6.7 million shares. They are looking to realize gains in the stock, which has risen 74% since its initial public offering in May. Bain Capital is unloading its entire stake in the professional networking company now that the lockup period restricting insider sales is expiring, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bain led a $53-million investing round in LinkedIn in 2008 which valued the company at more than $1 billion. Cellphone market growth slumped in the third quarter, with the grim economic climate prompting consumers to cut back or delay purchases, particularly in western Europe, research firm Gartner said. Global smartphone sales grew 42 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, but that was down from a 74 percent rise in the previous quarter and the more than 100 percent growth rates the market has seen over the last few years. LATEST NEWS Facebook hit with unsolicited porn, violent videos November 15, 2011 02:47 PM ET (Reuters) - Facebook Inc said on Tuesday that it is investigating a rash of unsolicited graphic images that hit some users' accounts this week. | Full Article Microsoft shareholders grumble at brief annual meet November 15, 2011 03:13 PM ET BELLEVUE, Washington (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp shareholders filed out of the software giant's annual meeting grumbling that they did not get to ask more questions in their once-a-year opportunity to quiz Chairman Bill Gates and CEO Steve Ballmer. | Full Article Amazon tablet has chips from TI, Samsung, Hynix November 15, 2011 03:50 PM ET (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc's Kindle Fire tablet computer uses components from Texas Instruments, Samsung and Hynix Semiconductor, according to repair firm iFixit, which cracked the device open on Tuesday. | Full Article Google's Schmidt blasts Internet copyright bills November 15, 2011 03:47 PM ET CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Google Inc Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt blasted proposed legislation to tighten online copyright regulation on Tuesday, saying the bills would lead to censorship of the Internet. | Full Article Cellphone market growth dives in third quarter: Gartner November 15, 2011 08:30 AM ET (Reuters) - Cellphone market growth slumped in the third quarter, with the grim economic climate prompting consumers to cut back or delay purchases, particularly in western Europe, research firm Gartner said. | Full Article BUSINESS NEWS Wall St higher as tech offsets Europe fears November 15, 2011 03:04 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks rose in a choppy market on Tuesday, led by gains in technology shares that offset worries the euro zone's debt troubles will spread. | Full Article Economy shows signs of momentum in 4th quarter November 15, 2011 02:51 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy showed signs it maintained speed into the fourth quarter as retail sales rose in October and a gauge of manufacturing in New York state showed growth this month for the first time since May. | Full Article Analysis: SEC targets low-level bankers, spares top execs November 15, 2011 03:51 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government is not taking advantage of an enforcement tool that could potentially hold top Wall Street figures accountable for their role in the recent financial crisis, despite its prior success. | Full Article France draws fire after "alarm bells" warning November 15, 2011 03:30 PM ET PARIS/ROME (Reuters) - France came under heavy fire on global markets Tuesday, reflecting fears that the euro zone's second biggest economy is being sucked into a spiraling debt crisis after a warning that Paris's failure to adapt should be "ringing alarm bells." | Full Article CFTC gets closer in MF Global fund mystery: official November 15, 2011 11:42 AM ET (Reuters) - U.S. regulators are closer to discovering what happened to an estimated $600 million in missing customer money tied to bankrupt brokerage MF Global, but the search continues, an official said on Tuesday. | Full Article U.S. TOP NEWS Reid, Boehner huddle on budget deal Iran ready to help Turkey with nuclear plant: aide Monti to form new Italy government Lawyer: alleged Penn St victim disputes testimony Arab League meets Assad foes after 69 die in Syria RELATED VIDEO How technology can end corruption Volcano drone a hovering sentinel for future eruptions "Shaun the Sheep" studios threatens move A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. 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