Malicous user is a very common word which we would come across when we read about tetsing and security. This type of user could be anybody, he could even be a user with out any wrong intention!

Coming back to the topic, applications are rarely stand alone or self sustained. Especially enterprise level applications would definatly require to communication withthe upstream and downstream stystems. which would mean they would have to exchange information or data in the form of files, user input, feed etc or may be share resources or consume them like hardware, databases, services etc or communication with the outside world via emails etc. This itself would open up the possibilities for the exploiting the system.  Now since we have looked at very common channels of inter and intra system interactions areas, lets take a look at how can these be exploited especially the last piece of  it.

In an application if there is a facility for mailing the clients or users, developers must take are of few things like

1) The user data who is using the serives is being logged somewhere. If this is not anyone can send malicious content over this channel and it would be difficult to trace back once the damage is done. The very first argument the development team would have would be the user cannot send any executables! but user can exploit information disclosure by exposing confidential information to places where is can be misused.

2) Usage of SMTP is a strict no no. This is known to whole world that SMTP is not very safe, yet in some cases this is used. If the application has to use this protocol the developers whould eliminate any possibilities of sending scripts, attahcments, etc and also log the mail transactions via this channel.

3) This channel of communication could open up the possibility for hi jacking the server by blocking t he bandwidth using a BOT. Imagine the situation the mail through put has hit the roof and the application went slow. Alarms should be raised by this !

These are just a few ways to exploit this and developers have to keep these pot holes in mind.

keep reading this space for the updates on this topic.

Features like ability to edit in SharePoint designer gives one so much flexibility. Connecting to data sources be them custom or out of the box is very intuitive is what I would say.

A basic portal features come straight out of the box which  are easy to edit. New features are easier to add either through code or by drag & drop.

I would recommend to try SharePoint if not for anything then for joy of code.

Bubby

Anvesh

Reddy

Sahil

Betu (mote)

Shantan, Vijay and Haroon

Aziz and Khaled

Wasi & Tausi

Raje

Sandy

The names are to be well remembered as these make the integral part of the story. There would be more characters coming in cameos but they are limited as they were limited to this story. As I continue with the book I’d give a brief introduction for each one of them. Perhaps, not required in abundance because they’d be exposed to their best.

I want to repeat this time and over that parents would always be parents because in the first news shared, if I had my share of happiness and excitement as part of my personal entertainment, the second news brought a big cunning excited smile onto my mom’s face. Well, I thought it was her personal sadistic entertainment but she tried to probably prove the Newtons 3rd law of motion. Some words need not be told, I was able to Q and A her facial expressions. Rest assured, the curve of my smile didn’t take long to become a straight line after the first shock that I received and later to an inverted curve upon receiving the second shock. Getting a shock treatment was nothing new to me. I always needed this kick start to whatever I was to do and the shock treatments was the only remedy my parents thought suited me the best.

See, I was always lazy and for me laziness was like a gravity which always needed a hard push, just like the ball in the pinball game is pulled back and then released hard to get the desired force with the use of a spring. That’s how my life is. Simple remedies were performed to give me that push to perform to the closest of my potential.

So, the second news was not told to me but shown. 2 applications were placed on the dining table underneath the newspaper. It was so planned that my mom simply gestured to me to bring the newspaper as she wanted to read out some news for me. She knew the application forms under the newspaper would attract my attention and it did. My face turned pale and the expression on it showed misery.

“What is this?” – I asked, quizzed.

“I don’t know” – Mom responded. But she was well aware of it and I knew it.

“What do you mean you don’t know? Stop all this nonsense and let me join the college that I want to. Please don’t change my fate by pushing me into this well.” – I said, helpless.

“I really don’t know. You may want to talk to your dad about this. He’s the one who got these application forms for you. Don’t drag me into this and don’t trouble me.” – Mom said, her voice louder to show she really knows nothing about it.

“Yeah right!! As if I believe you. You both are playing with my life and wishes.” – I said, my voice shivered with fear.

“See, I asked you to speak to your dad and not trouble me, you get that !!” – Mom said, this time annoyed.

“These guys beat the students more and teach less education. They manhandle the students at every instance, don’t you know that” – I grinned.

“Wow!! – Mom said as she shrugged. Then this is the perfect place for you to be. They’ll probably teach students like you some manners first,” – Mom said with a cunning smile.

“Oh yeah! They don’t teach manners, they beat. Beating probably brings fear but not manners. Do you understand that? I’m not joining these kind of colleges.” – I said firmly.

“Listen, I got lot of work to do. So, please don’t disturb me. Even if you do so, I’m not answering your questions. Talk to your dad and sort out your problems.” – Mom said, her expression put a full stop to the topic and cornered me from all aspects.

***

The bad time is just about to start, I thought and told myself .. don’t argue with dad at the peak of your vacations jackass… Instead of sending you to the college of your choice, he’d rather put you in the colleges that are compared to living hell. Peace my boy peace…. Just say OK dad sorry dad to everything he says.. My inner voice and I always spoke with each other.

Babu, what are doing all day, these days , Dad asked.

Nothing daddy, I said.

What do you mean, nothing? , Dad said a little louder. “there should be something that you did?”

“Nothing as in nothing Daddy”.. I said.  I think this is enough to trigger someone that is already angry on you to lay their hands on you.

“I’ll tell you what he does. The little master wakes up late with pride as if he’s achieved a lot in his life. He needs bed coffee and breakfast and only after that does the master want to brush his teeth or get ready. He doesn’t want to do anything productive. After he takes bath he wants to see the ladies’ TV soaps that I watch. I think we have 2 daughters. He also wants to listen to the gossips that my friends and I have. He probably wants to be a girl. He doesn’t let me live in peace if he’s at home. At sharp 4:30 p.m. he goes out to play on the streets even before anyone comes. He disturbs everyone and calls them to play. They would be studying and he disturbs them all. Until they all come he keeps looking at the roads and collects all the stones. He can be used a labor or a sweeper or a roadroller.” – My mom screams all the way from the kitchen as she says all this about me to my dad.

“No one asked you to speak up and stop yelling for everything” I say loudly to my mom.

“See, this is how he speaks to me” – she tells as she comes to the living room where I’m standing next to my dad. She has couple of tears rolling out of her eyes as she says this.

“What drama, by God. Where do you learn all this from? – pointing to her tears” I said.

“You either ask him to get out of this house or put him in a boarding school, he can’t respect his mother, so why does he need to stay here” she said to my dad pointing her index finger towards me.

“You deserve an Oscar for you drama. What a superb performance!” I thought but couldn’t say as I knew that if I said anything further, I’d have some torrid time ahead and my chances of getting into the college that I chose would be bleak.

“Say Sorry Babu” – Dad demanded me.

“Sorry Daddy” I said.

“Not to me, say sorry to mummy!” He said firmly.

“Why do I have to be sorry to her, I think I should say thank you for the wonderful display of her drama, no?” I said with a notorious look.

“you idiot, will you listen to your dad or not?” He shouted.

“ ok, Sorry!” – I said with an attitude.

“say properly!” he said.. “ I said nicely” – I said.  “Will you!!!” – he said almost ready to slam me on my head. He raised his hand.

“Sorry mummy” – I said softly. Petrified at myself and kept mumbling agrily “What great parents I have who don’t let me do anything.

My mom then served me rotis and the vegetable curry. I had my dinner and then slipped into my room to avoid anymore talks and quarrels at home with mom.

As I was lying on my bed in my room, I could hear my parents talking something about me in a soft voice. I was very curious to know what was being spoken. I opened the door and went towards the fridge in the living room to get myself some water and thought I could listen to them speak. But they’re my parents and are obviously smarter than me. They kept quiet and waited for me to go back to my room. I stayed there in the living room glancing at the TV while sipping the water and stood there a couple of minutes expecting them to continue with their talk. Having understood that my try has failed, I walked back helplessly to my room and shut the door and stood by the door. They probably saw my feet movement from under the door and shouted –“ you don’t have to try to listen to what we’re talking, go off to sleep!!”

“who said am trying to listen to you?” I yelled back, helplessly.

But when I got onto my bed and was trying to give a keen ear to what they were talking about, I could hear a few words from their conversation… “Something Bubby….. Something college…… something better…… something strict……… something….. set right………”

“It’s all over, I don’t know what their something’s were but it’s going to be all nothings for me”– I thought.

I went off to sleep to see what’s in store for me the next.

I woke up at 12:45 p.m the following day in the middle of the hottest summer for the city and me. As I expected that the worst was yet to come. To my surprise or shock, it did as I woke up and walked to the living room, I see my nightmare.

All-Time Top Paid iPhone Apps

1. Doodle Jump
2. Tap Tap Revenge 3
3. Pocket God
4. Angry Birds
5. Tap Tap Revenge 2.6
6. Bejeweled 2 + Blitz
7. Traffic Rush
8. Tap Tap Revenge Classic
9. AppBox Pro Alarm
10. Flight Control

All-Time Top Free iPhone Apps

1. Facebook
2. Pandora
3. Google Mobile App
4. Shazam
5. Movies by Flixster
6. The Weather Channel
7. Google Earth
8. Bump
9. Skype
10. Paper Toss

All-Time Top Paid iPad Apps

1. SoundHound
2. StickWars
3. FlightTrack
4. Backbreaker Football
5. Calorie Tracker
6. BlocksClassic
7. iFart Mobile
8. GoodReader for iPad
9. Cro-Mag Rally
10. Ambiance

All-Time Top Free iPad Apps

1. Pandora
2. Google Mobile App
3. Movies by Flixster
4. Google Earth
5. Yelp
6. Fandango Movies
7. Remote
8. iBooks
9. Bible
10. Solitaire

One important thing to notice, if your app doesn’t have a blue icon, there’s no chance you’ll be in the all time top-ten any day !!!

Glad you had some kind of an oversight of our gully professional cricket.

The sunset usually was at about 6:45 p.m. and then was the time we used to discuss our already finished game. By the time we reached home, Mom used to give me a glass of milk and something to eat. Then as and when I would relish my snacks, she would tell me, Daddy had called for you asking what you were doing?

So? what did you tell him?, I said. That you watched Tv all day and then went to play and didn’t return home yet, Mom said to dad. Why do you say that ? I yelled. You want me to lie to him? she yelled back. As usual, I keep mumbling, What great parents I have who always trouble me, Thank god.. Sarcastically. I can hear you… she said. Good you heard, now what you want me to dance?.. I cried back. I’m gonna tell all this when he returns… she said gripping my hand tightly demanding respect. I don’t care, you think I’m scared of him… go tell him and I’d sleep before he comes… I signaled with a killer look. I then went to wash my feet which were worse than the legs of the labors in India. As I wash my feet, I could see the dirt of entire Hyderabad flowing from under my feet. hehe… That’s how neat I was.

As I was cleaning the dirt up, Mom calls dad secretly in a low voice and asks him to call back to talk to me. Damn, they are great parents I used to think.. sarcastically who always were hellbent to screw my happiness up. By the time I walk across the living room I hear the phone ring which is located in the corner of my living  room. I always loved to play smart, having known that it could be Dad and dad only. But, mom’s smarter. She screams at me from the kitchen.. why don’t you take the call, don’t you hear it ringing at its loudest. Ya right. As if I don’t know that my biggest villain is calling me, I thought and yelled back… you can hear it too right… you better come and take the call. Her voice at its loudest..” Bubby, take the call or else I will….” … “ok ok ok relax I am”.. she always scares me like that… and yeah that’s my nickname..”Bubby”.

I would pick up the call and with no wrong guesses.. yes It’s my dad. “Hello Babu” .. he says…that’s what he calls me “Babu”. “Haan Papa”.  ”what takes you so long to pick up the call” .. he said. “Nothing papa.. I was washing my legs and I was in the bathroom and couldn’t hear your call” .. I said. ” He’s lying, don’t believe him.. I was yelling since long asking him to take Papa’s call but he said he wouldn’t..” came a voice from far..That’s my mom yelling from the kitchen. “Ya right. Stop yelling from there…mummy, if you so want to tell him all these then why don’t you come here and talk to him”I said. ” Babu.. Babu.. Babu.. what’s this babu.. why do you trouble her and then she troubles me by calling and shouting at me..” he cries. “So, what should I do.. why can’t she just live her life and ask her to stop bothering me.. I don’t like to stay with you people..” I cried back..

“you’re crossing your limits” .. I’ll come home and talk to you, you scoundrel…. Dad said. “ha, ok..come” I said and hung up hard. ……

Interested please contact me.

A fine morning, when everything in life felt beautiful. A beautiful summer morning, the sun shining bright, the birds chirping early, no wake up alarms, no disturbance of any sort. I could sleep for as long as I wished to and do the things I wanted to. Yes, it was my vacations after I had given my boards for the 10th grade. I felt great about it and felt I’ve done something majestic, to be precise, I actually felt that I’ve grown up because I’ve written my 10th grade finals and was waiting for my results. Who on this bloody earth would disturb me.

Every morning I woke up late and by the time I got out of my bed and rubbed to eyes to see a new day (afternoon), my dad would have left home for work, my mom would be busy chitchatting to her friends talking about each of their sons’ progress and about their next steps and my sister would be off to her college.

I used to feel like a king.. spending all my days time watching tv shows.. that my mom watches. Watching every cricket match, football matches from the Barclays premier league; Spanish La Liga; Italian Seria A and the Champions league, Followed every Formula 1 race from the grid positions to the start of the race, cheering for Ferrari for the two superb drivers Micheal Schumacher and Rubens Barichello against the Mclaren Mercedes team of Mika Hakkinen until the chequered flag was flown at the end. Having said that, used to eat a lot of stuff cooked by my mom while I was watching these on Tv. My body needed a lot of kickstart to be able to start off with something. That lazy i was.

I used to wait for the time to tick 4:30 p.m everyday and you know why. In India every boy is destined to hold a bat and a ball in his hand right from the time he’s born, no matter what. Else he’s never considered to be a male. Right, you really got it right. That’s how it is in India. So, I used to go down at 4:30 p.m. everyday and wait for other members of the colony to come down to gear up for the game. We had no grounds, no parks, no big play area to play. All we needed was a street to play some fighting game of cricket. I used to go down first, collect 3 big stones and place it on the middle of the street, you probably got it wrong this time; that’s not to run down and flatten a 2 or a 4 wheeler. We used those stones as our imaginary wickets.. Imaginary?? why?? well, we used to place these stones and then imagine the height of the stumps based on our convenience. Having placed those stones, oops, wickets, I lay the bat down 1 and a half size to draw the crease. Yes, we didn’t have a big open place to play but our game was just too professional you know. WE never found a chalk like substance to draw the crease. We had our own ideas to that too. We either used a brick to rub against the tar road, or plucked a few leaves to rub on the tar road to make the crease green or even sometimes just use the same stone that we use as a wicket to draw a line on the road. Intelligent boys, aren’t we..? Now, walking 22 steps straight across the wickets we had just planted and placing 3 more or sometimes just 1 big stone at the 22nd step  was necessary to complete our so called desired pitch to play. We didn’t give much importance to the non striker end which is the 22nd step side of wicket because we usually did the one side batting. Now that we had the pitch ready, we next moved to draw lines for our 2D(2 runs declared, to avoid some running and save some energy) and for the boundary(4 runs).. perhaps we just used to call the 2nd tree behind the bowler side wickets as 2D and 4th tree as 4runs. ok but these are not just the rules. See, the gully cricket and/or the street cricket was played with great enthusiasm and character but at the same time we had it in mind that we are playing in a street and there are so many houses surrounded which made us modify several rules. I’ll go by the rules as we start playing…!!!

Zynga, who has 4 games in the top 10 and pulling roughly around 36 million monthly active users (stats from appdata.com) must be raking in a LOT of money. But how? First thing that popped into my mind is through those ads that appears on the side of your Facebook. Just like blogging with Google Adsense, those ads can become great moneymakers. Upon researching some more, it’s not those ads that’s bringing in the money. Besides, if I’m playing Mafia Wars or any other games I wouldn’t bother clicking those ads.

So how do game developers earn money with Facebook ???

Direct Sale of Game Currency

Game developers are banking on those competitive or elitist players to buy items to give their character an edge over others or look better or simply just to feed their desire to play more. Poker addicts will generally buy poker chips just so that they can continue playing. There are people who just can’t wait another day to receive a new batch of poker chips. I know someone who actually bought loads of stuff  just so that she can have the grandest looking Farm among her peers on FarmVile. Insane, Hehehe.

Basically, revenue from the sale of virtual goods is a tried and tested way to earn money from online games. This has been true with those free MMORPG and other online community games.

Revenue from Offer-based Advertising

You probably have seen the option to get those Godfather Reward Points by simply downloading and installing a Zynga software, signing up on a dating site or order an anti-snoring product. These are called offer-based advertising.

Companies like Offerpal and Super Rewards have tools that allow game developers to incorporate offers from advertisers to be exchanged for the game’s currency. These tools handle everything from tracking, analytics and integration so that developers can focus on building the game itself.

So How much money are we talking about !?

A comprehensive new report claims that U.S. consumers alone will spend more than $ 1 billion on virtual goods this year, rising up to $ 1.6 billion in 2011, as the market grows thanks to social gaming.