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Stay One Step Ahead: Toto Betting Site’s Fraud Control

business

John Rodriguez

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September 18, 2021

Stay One Step Ahead: Toto Betting Site’s Fraud Control

Introduction

Online sports betting has become a global phenomenon, offering sports enthusiasts an exciting opportunity to engage with their favorite games and events while potentially winning substantial rewards. However, the digital landscape of online betting is not without its challenges, particularly the proliferation of fraudulent websites and scams that target unsuspecting bettors. To ensure a secure and trustworthy betting environment, Toto betting sites have taken proactive measures to implement robust fraud control systems. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore these fraud control mechanisms, highlighting their significance, the technologies involved, and their crucial role in keeping users one step ahead of fraudsters.

The Appeal and Risks of Online Sports Betting

Online sports betting has revolutionized the way people interact with sports, providing unparalleled convenience and excitement. Nevertheless, it carries inherent risks, including:

Scam Websites: The prevalence of deceptive betting platforms that aim to deceive and defraud unsuspecting bettors.
Data Security: The need to safeguard personal and financial information from unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
Fair Play: Ensuring that betting activities are conducted transparently and without manipulation.
The Proactive Stance of Toto Betting Sites

Toto betting sites have emerged as leaders in prioritizing user safety, security, and transparency. To tackle these challenges head-on, they have introduced a comprehensive array of innovative fraud control systems.

Exploring Robust Fraud Control Mechanisms

Toto betting sites employ various robust fraud control methods and technologies to enhance security and eliminate fraudulent activities:

License Eat and Run Verification: Licensing information is prominently displayed on their websites, allowing users to independently 먹튀검증 it with the relevant regulatory authority, confirming the site’s legitimacy.
SSL Encryption: Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption secures data transmission between users and the betting site, protecting sensitive information.
Biometric Authentication: Advanced biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, provide an additional layer of security for user accounts.
Blockchain Technology: Some Toto betting sites have embraced blockchain technology to ensure transparency and immutability in their betting processes, thwarting fraud and manipulation.
AI-Powered Fraud Detection: Artificial intelligence-driven algorithms continuously analyze user behavior and transaction patterns in real-time, promptly identifying and preventing fraudulent activities.
Smart Contracts: Utilization of smart contracts on blockchain platforms automates payouts, ensuring that winnings are distributed fairly and transparently.
Enhanced KYC (Know Your Customer) Protocols: Comprehensive identity Eat and Run Verification processes, including biometric scans and document Eat and Run Verification, confirm users’ identities and prevent underage gambling.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA is extended to include advanced authentication methods, such as hardware tokens or biometrics, providing an extra layer of security.
The Significance of Fraud Control

The implementation of robust fraud control mechanisms is pivotal for maintaining the overall security of Toto betting sites:

User Protection: These enhanced security measures shield users from scams, fraud, and identity theft, creating a secure and enjoyable betting experience.
Trust Building: Betting sites that prioritize security and transparency build trust among their users, a cornerstone of their reputation and success.
Regulatory Compliance: Toto betting sites must adhere to stringent regulations. Implementing robust fraud control helps them remain compliant and avoid legal issues.
Fair Play: Fraud control methods contribute to a fair and transparent betting environment, ensuring that all users have an equal chance of winning.
Benefits for Users

Users can enjoy numerous benefits from these robust fraud control mechanisms:

Peace of Mind: Users can place bets with absolute peace of mind, knowing that their personal and financial information is fortified against threats.
Protection from Scams: Fraud control measures help users avoid scam sites and fraudulent activities by Eat and Run Verificationing the authenticity of the betting site.
Responsible Gambling Empowerment: These measures empower users to manage their betting activities effectively and responsibly, reducing the risk of problem gambling.
Transparent and Equitable Betting: Enhanced security measures ensure that every user participates in a transparent and equitable betting environment, where fair play is the norm.
Tips for Choosing a Toto Betting Site with Strong Fraud Control

When selecting a Toto betting site, users should consider the following factors to ensure a secure and trustworthy betting experience:

Licensing: Eat and Run Verification that the site holds a valid license from a reputable regulatory authority.
SSL Encryption: Confirm that the website employs SSL encryption by checking for the padlock symbol in the browser’s address bar.
Biometric Authentication: If available, consider platforms that offer biometric authentication for added security.
Blockchain Integration: Explore platforms that utilize blockchain technology for transparency and security.
AI-Powered Protection: Sites employing AI-driven fraud detection offer enhanced security.
KYC Protocols: Evaluate the comprehensiveness of identity Eat and Run Verification processes.
User Reviews: Read user reviews and testimonials to gauge the site’s reputation and trustworthiness.
Customer Support: Inquire about the site’s fraud control mechanisms and the responsiveness of customer support.
Conclusion: Staying One Step Ahead

Toto betting sites have made significant strides in enhancing security and eliminating fraud in the realm of online sports betting. Through the deployment of robust fraud control mechanisms, the integration of blockchain, and strict adherence to regulations, they are at the forefront of creating a secure and trustworthy betting environment. By choosing a Toto betting site that prioritizes these features, users can place their bets with absolute confidence, secure in the knowledge that their information is impenetrable, transactions are tamper-proof, and they are part of a genuinely fair and transparent betting ecosystem. In the dynamic world of online sports betting, staying one step ahead is the key to a winning experience.

game

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September 15, 2021

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Donovan dropped Bandarq from US squad

Landon Donovan, all-time top scorer for the USA, will not be going to the 2014 World Cup after Jurgen Klinsmann left him out of his final 23-man squad.

Jurgen Klinsmann.Donovan has 57 goals in 156 appearances for his country and, age 32, was looking forward to his fourth World Cup finals.

The Californian has scored two memorable goals for the US at World Cups, a header to knock out CONCACAF rivals Mexico in the round of 16 in Korea in 2002 and a last-gasp winner against Algeria in 2010 which sent the USA into the second round as group winners above England.

If Klinsmann was wanting to be bold in his choices, he could hardly have dropped a bigger name, and with a ‘group of death’ awaiting in Ghana, Portugal and Germany in Group G, we will see if fortune really favours the brave.

USA final squad:

USA SquadGoalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting KC), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders).

Midfielders: Michael Bradley (Toronto), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Ten of the 23 selected are from Major League Soccer, up from four in 2010 and there are six survivors from the squad taken to South Africa – Howard, Guzan, Bradley, Dempsey, Altidore and Beasley.

The so-called Maracanazo (Maracana disaster) has obsessed Brazilians ever since. Nelson Rodrigues, the great Brazilian writer, called it “our Hiroshima.”

Other writers concur on its significance beyond football: Joao Maximo believed it split Brazilian history into two, Paulo Perdigao likened the footage of Uruguay’s second goal to the Kennedy assassination, while novelist Carlos Heitor Cony thought a monument to defeat should have been built, because nothing had ever united the nation more.

Brazil went on to win five World Cups bandarq and their 1970 team is feted as the greatest of all time, yet the nation is still haunted by having lost at home 64 years ago.

2014 affords the world’s most famous football nation a chance to atone at last, yet the historical baggage of another final at the Maracana will be an emotional burden.

When the tears of joy dry up and the catharsis of exorcising 1950 is over, Brazilians can get back to tackling their nation’s myriad problems, but first they must win ‘their’ World Cup.

Open-source alternatives to Office

Microsoft Office

John Rodriguez

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August 24, 2021

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Are there any real open source alternatives to Microsoft Office?

Sun’s Star Office works and can be used at no charge, although whether it’s open source depends on your point of view. Another free usable tool is EasyOffice from e-press.com. There are open source office tools available, and an effort is underway to build a complete open source desktop. I wrote this column under Windows in AbiWord, a cross-platform GNU Public Licensed word processor I downloaded from www.abiword.org. So far, so good. The file/save menu supports Rich Text Format (RTF), HTML, LaTeX and Palm document formats, but not Microsoft DOC. After saving in RTF, it’s off to find a spreadsheet. The open source desktop project is called GNOME (www.gnome.org). The GNOME-Office project site (www.gnome.org/gnome-office) promotes interoperability coordination and provides links to open source office applications, including AbiWord. Here I found a link to the cross-platform spreadsheet OpenCalc, included in OpenOffice from www.openoffice.org, which is available under a dual GNU Public License/Sun Industry Standards Source License arrangement in binary versions for Solaris, Linux and Windows. OpenOffice is being integrated into GNOME with support from Sun. You may lose some bells and whistles, and experience file compatibility conflicts with users of the newest Microsoft Office releases, but you’ll be able to get the job done.

Sun exec demos Mad Hatter desktop

Desktop

John Rodriguez

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August 24, 2021

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Presenting a vision of cooperation rather than competition between Java and Linux, Sun Executive Vice President of Software Jonathan Schwartz told an audience here at LinuxWorld Conference & Expo on Tuesday to worry more about the quality of their code than the software licenses that govern it.
“The thing I worry about most with the open source community is the sentiment that open source is somehow different. It isn’t,” he said. What makes the company’s forthcoming bundle of desktop software, Mad Hatter, appealing is not that it is based on open source software, he said, but rather that it’s “better and it’s cheaper.”

Schwartz demoed Sun’s best efforts to build a better and cheaper desktop, giving the audience a peek at not only Mad Hatter, which is expected to be released this fall, but also demoing a prototypical three-dimensional desktop environment called Looking Glass.

Sun has maintained an air of mystery about what specific Linux distribution will form the basis of Mad Hatter, and yesterday Schwartz declined to name the distribution that his demonstration was based on, but in an interview he did confirm that Mad Hatter’s distribution will contain code contributed by Sun. The product that Schwartz demoed contained the name “Sun Desktop.”

Red Hat sues SCO in Linux dispute

Linux

John Rodriguez

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August 24, 2021

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Raleigh-based Red Hat Inc. on Monday fired its first salvo against Utah-based SCO Group, which has sued Red Hat Linux partner IBM for copyright violations. Red Hat, the largest distributor of Linux software in the United States, said it has filed a lawsuit in a Delaware court accusing SCO of “unfair and deceptive” actions.

Red Hat also announced the setting up of a $1 million Open Source Now Fund to cover the legal expense of companies developing software under open-source licensing rules.

In addition to its lawsuit, SCO sent letters threatening about 1,500 Linux users with legal action for using the operating system. SCO claims IBM integrated Unix code belonging to SCO into the open-source Linux code.

“We filed this complaint to stop SCO from making unsubstantiated and untrue public statements attacking Red Hat Linux and the integrity of the Open Source software development process,” said Mark Webbink, Red Hat’s general counsel, said in a statement.

“Red Hat is confident that its current and future customers will continue to realize the significant value that our Red Hat Linux platform provides without interruption,” said Webbink.

Also Monday, Red Hat and data storage specialist Network Appliance Inc. announced a partnership to develop network storage solutions that work on Linux.

The two companies pledged to produce Linux storage protocols and collaborative support for customers to maximize Network Appliance product Net App’s storage capabilities in the Red Hat Enterprise Linux environment. The companies also said they plan to jointly market storage consolidation, data protection and technical applications while focusing on database and layered applications areas.

TECHNOLOGY; Computers Hit Around Globe By New Form Of Old Virus

Linux

John Rodriguez

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August 24, 2021

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TECHNOLOGY; Computers Hit Around Globe By New Form Of Old Virus

A new version of a malicious computer program known as Nimda is making its way through the world’s computer networks, computer security experts said yesterday.

Nimda.E, the latest version of the computer worm, has been detected on computer networks since Monday. The first version, Nimda.A, was spotted on the Internet on Sept. 18.

The New York Times experienced an interruption of Internet service on Tuesday and part of Wednesday that has been attributed to Nimda, said Catherine J. Mathis, a spokeswoman for the company. ”All of our operations have returned to normal,” she said.

The program is spread primarily through e-mail messages; when a machine on a network is infected, the program searches out and infects servers, the computers that run applications, and causes those machines to flood their own networks with packets of data. That, in turn, slows system performance greatly.

The program, which takes advantage of vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s operating system and server software, can also lay infected systems open to computer intruders.

Microsoft published software patches in September that users could download from the Internet to protect their systems from Nimda. Security experts estimate that Nimda.A infected as many as two million machines before users took measures to protect their computers. Security companies said that because of that earlier effort, the threat from the newly circulating version was not great.

”If you’re not already infected and if you have applied the patches, you’re O.K.,” said Craig Schmugar, a virus researcher at Network Associates, a computer security company based in Santa Clara, Calif. He added, however, that a single infected machine could cause significant disruption throughout a network of computers.

Representatives of the Computer Emergency Response Team, a federally-funded computer security organization at Carnegie Mellon University, said yesterday that they had not seen a significant surge in Nimda.E since it was first detected.

How You Can Ditch Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office

John Rodriguez

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August 24, 2021

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When it comes to home office suites, you don’t have to go with the best known. Get the lowdown on the alternatives.

Sun Microsystem’s StarOffice 5.2

This much-touted suite comes with a word processor, spreadsheet, email, HTML editing, graphic design, and presentation applications. It doesn’t come with a price tag. StarOffice 5.2 is freeware for Windows and Linux (Mac version coming soon), and it is compatible with Microsoft Office files.

StarOffice 5.2 is the most powerful of the alternatives but is also a huge 80MB download. It’s not as friendly as Office, so novice users may want to try it out before they rip out their Microsoft products.

Microsoft marshals forces to try to stem open source momentum

Microsoft

John Rodriguez

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August 24, 2021

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Microsoft marshals forces to try to stem open source momentum

Linux’s bark is turning into a bite for Microsoft. As a result, the software giant is stepping up to protect itself and keep corporate customers from turning to the open-source operating system to satisfy server and desktop needs.

The company says Linux, which gained double-digit market share in the past 12 months, is its No. 2 challenge behind the slumping economy. That assessment – together with Microsoft’s efforts to smooth customer discontent over its costly and complex annuity licensing program and the impending expiration of nearly one-third of its customer licensing contracts – means the company could suffer customer defections and lost revenue.

One of the vendor’s next high-profile battles, according to sources, is DaimlerChrysler. The automaker is said to be squirming under Microsoft’s annuity licensing plan and contemplating replacing some of its Windows server infrastructure with Linux. DaimlerChrysler officials would neither confirm nor deny the possibility of such a move.

Two years ago, DaimlerChrysler made a highly publicized commitment to Linux by replacing a Unix cluster with an IBM-built cluster of 108 Linux workstations. The goal was to reduce the cost of running crash-test simulations, the company said.

“We continue to work with DaimlerChrysler,” says Scott Handy, director of Linux software solutions for IBM, although he would not provide specifics.

Microsoft is said to be in talks with DaimlerChrysler to stem any defection to Linux by negotiating licensing terms under Microsoft’s Licensing 6.0 and Software Assurance program, the annuity licensing program that has caused a backlash since its introduction in May 2001.

Microsoft said it does not comment on specific customer deals.

“Licensing 6.0 is the best thing to ever happen to Linux,” Handy says.

It’s a beast Microsoft created and is trying to tame.

Ballmer sounds alarm

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a memo to employees in June that the company would need to fix mistakes it made in implementing the annuity licensing program. He added that Linux requires Microsoft’s “concentrated focus and attention.”

As a result, Microsoft has become more flexible in contract negotiations, willing to offer discounts that sometimes reach 45% and other unusual concessions, especially when battling against Linux, according to analysts and customers.

The most striking example of change is a high-profile flop by Microsoft that might have set a tone in Germany, where DaimlerChrysler has its headquarters in Stuttgart.

In June, the Munich city government said it will migrate 14,000 Windows desktops to Linux beginning in early 2004. The city decided Linux would be less expensive over time, even though Microsoft’s bid was nearly $12 million less than those from IBM and SuSE Linux, which is based in Germany.

Microsoft’s bid, which Ballmer delivered personally, started at $36.6 million and was slashed to $23.7 million at the 11th-hour, including an unusual offer to unbundle Word from Microsoft Office.

The loss in Munich overshadowed Microsoft victories in other European cities, including in Frankfurt, according to Ballmer’s remarks at the company’s July 24 financial analysts meeting. But Microsoft won’t provide specifics on that deal.

The tit-for-tat lends credence to Linux’s climb up Microsoft’s challenge meter, as does an open source test lab that Microsoft opened in May and an attack on Linux that Ballmer delivered at the analysts meeting. Ballmer said there were misconceptions about Linux’s overall value, citing research from Gartner and IDC that said Windows was up to 30% less expensive on the desktop and up to 22% less expensive on the server than Linux.

“What’s going on with Linux and some of the big Linux distributions, and open source, is that the rate of deployment, the rate of creation, [and] of releases of Linux that address security problems also has, perhaps, even bigger problems than we have,” Ballmer said.

Rockin’ on without Microsoft

Microsoft

John Rodriguez

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August 24, 2021

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Sterling Ball, a jovial, plain-talking businessman, is CEO of Ernie Ball, the world’s leading maker of premium guitar strings endorsed by generations of artists ranging from the likes of Eric Clapton to the dudes from Metallica.

But since jettisoning all of Microsoft products three years ago, Ernie Ball has also gained notoriety as a company that dumped most of its proprietary software–and still lived to tell the tale.

In 2000, the Business Software Alliance conducted a raid and subsequent audit at the San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based company that turned up a few dozen unlicensed copies of programs. Ball settled for $65,000, plus $35,000 in legal fees. But by then, the BSA, a trade group that helps enforce copyrights and licensing provisions for major business software makers, had put the company on the evening news and featured it in regional ads warning other businesses to monitor their software licenses.

Humiliated by the experience, Ball told his IT department he wanted Microsoft products out of his business within six months. “I said, ‘I don’t care if we have to buy 10,000 abacuses,'” recalled Ball, who recently addressed the LinuxWorld trade show. “We won’t do business with someone who treats us poorly.”

Ball’s IT crew settled on a potpourri of open-source software–Red Hat’s version of Linux, the OpenOffice office suite, Mozilla’s Web browser–plus a few proprietary applications that couldn’t be duplicated by open source. Ball, whose father, Ernie, founded the company, says the transition was a breeze, and since then he’s been happy to extol the virtues of open-source software to anyone who asks. He spoke with CNET News.com about his experience.

Q: Can you start by giving us a brief rundown of how you became an open-source advocate?
A: I became an open-source guy because we’re a privately owned company, a family business that’s been around for 30 years, making products and being a good member of society. We’ve never been sued, never had any problems paying our bills. And one day I got a call that there were armed marshals at my door talking about software license compliance…I thought I was OK; I buy computers with licensed software. But my lawyer told me it could be pretty bad.

The BSA had a program back then called “Nail Your Boss,” where they encouraged disgruntled employees to report on their company…and that’s what happened to us. Anyways, they basically shut us down…We were out of compliance I figure by about 8 percent (out of 72 desktops).

How did that happen?
We pass our old computers down. The guys in engineering need a new PC, so they get one and we pass theirs on to somebody doing clerical work. Well, if you don’t wipe the hard drive on that PC, that’s a violation. Even if they can tell a piece of software isn’t being used, it’s still a violation if it’s on that hard drive. What I really thought is that you ought to treat people the way you want to be treated. I couldn’t treat a customer the way Microsoft dealt with me…I went from being a pro-Microsoft guy to instantly being an anti-Microsoft guy.

Did you want to settle?
Never, never. That’s the difference between the way an employee and an owner thinks. They attacked my family’s name and came into my community and made us look bad. There was never an instance of me wanting to give in. I would have loved to have fought it. But when (the BSA) went to Congress to get their powers, part of what they got is that I automatically have to pay their legal fees from day one. That’s why nobody’s ever challenged them–they can’t afford it. My attorney said it was going to cost our side a quarter million dollars to fight them, and since you’re paying their side, too, figure at least half a million. It’s not worth it. You pay the fine and get on with your business. What most people do is get terrified and pay their license and continue to pay their licenses. And they do that no matter what the license program turns into.

What happened after the auditors showed up?
It was just negotiation between lawyers back and forth. And while that was going on, that’s when I vowed I was never going to use another one of their products. But I’ve got to tell you, I couldn’t have built my business without Microsoft, so I thank them. Now that I’m not so bitter, I’m glad I’m in the position I’m in. They made that possible, and I thank them.

So it was the publicity more than the audit itself that got you riled?
Nobody likes to be made an example of, but especially in the name of commerce. They were using me to sell software, and I just didn’t think that was right. Call me first if you think we have a compliance issue. Let’s do a voluntary audit and see what’s there. They went right for the gut…I think it was because it was a new (geographical) area for them, and we’re the No. 1 manufacturer in the county, so why not go after us?

So what did swearing off Microsoft entail?
We looked at all the alternatives. We looked at Apple, but that’s owned in part by Microsoft. (Editor’s note: Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple in 1997.) We just looked around. We looked at Sun’s Sun Ray systems. We looked at a lot of things. And it just came back to Linux, and Red Hat in particular, was a good solution.

So what kind of Linux setup do you have?
You know what, I’m not the IT guy. I make the business decisions. All I know is we’re running Red Hat with Open Office and Mozilla and Evolution and the basic stuff.

We were creating the cocktail that people are guzzling down today, but we had to find it and put it together on our own. It’s so funny–in three and half years, we went from being these idiots that were thinking emotionally rather than businesslike…to now we’re smart and talking to tech guys. I know I saved $80,000 right away by going to open source, and each time something like (Windows) XP comes along, I save even more money because I don’t have to buy new equipment to run the software. One of the great things is that we’re able to run a poor man’s thin client by using old computers we weren’t using before because it couldn’t handle Windows 2000. They work fine with the software we have now.

How has the transition gone?
It’s the funniest thing–we’re using it for e-mail client/server, spreadsheets and word processing. It’s like working in Windows. One of the analysts said it costs $1,250 per person to change over to open source. It wasn’t anywhere near that for us. I’m reluctant to give actual numbers. I can give any number I want to support my position, and so can the other guy. But I’ll tell you, I’m not paying any per-seat license. I’m not buying any new computers. When we need something, we have white box systems we put together ourselves. It doesn’t need to be much of a system for most of what we do.

But there’s a real argument now about total cost of ownership, once you start adding up service, support, etc.
What support? I’m not making calls to Red Hat; I don’t need to. I think that’s propaganda…What about the cost of dealing with a virus? We don’t have ’em. How about when we do have a problem, you don’t have to send some guy to a corner of the building to find out what’s going on–he never leaves his desk, because everything’s server-based. There’s no doubt that what I’m doing is cheaper to operate. The analyst guys can say whatever they want.

The other thing is that if you look at productivity. If you put a bunch of stuff on people’s desktops they don’t need to do their job, chances are they’re going to use it. I don’t have that problem. If all you need is word processing, that’s all you’re going to have on your desktop, a word processor. It’s not going to have Paint or PowerPoint. I tell you what, our hits to eBay went down greatly when not everybody had a Web browser. For somebody whose job is filling out forms all day, invoicing and exporting, why do they need a Web browser? The idea that if you have 2,000 terminals they all have to have a Web browser, that’s crazy. It just creates distractions.

Have you heard anything from Microsoft since you started speaking out about them?
I got an apology today from a wants-to-be-anonymous Microsoft employee who heard me talk. He asked me if anyone ever apologized, because what happened to me sounded pretty rough to him, and I told him no. He said, “Well, I am. But we’re nice guys.” I’m sure they are. When a machine gets too big, it doesn’t know when it’s stepping on ants. But every once in a while, you step on a red ant.

Ernie Ball is pretty much known as a musician’s buddy. How does it feel to be a technology guru, as well?

I think it’s great for me to be a technology influence. It shows how ridiculous it is that I can get press because I switched to OpenOffice. And the reason why is because the myth has been built so big that you can’t survive without Microsoft, so that somebody who does get by without Microsoft is a story.

It’s just software. You have to figure out what you need to do within your organization and then get the right stuff for that. And we’re not a backwards organization. We’re progressive; we’ve won communications and design awards…The fact that I’m not sending my e-mail through Outlook doesn’t hinder us. It’s just kind of funny. I’m speaking to a standing-room-only audience at a major technology show because I use a different piece of software–that’s hysterical.

You’ve pretty much gotten by with off-the-shelf software. Was it tough to find everything you needed in the open-source world?
Yeah, there are some things that are tough to find, like payroll software. We found something, and it works well. But the developers need to start writing the real-world applications people need to run a business…engineering, art and design tools, that kind of stuff…They’re all trying to build servers that already exist and do a whole bunch of stuff that’s already out there…I think there’s a lot of room to not just create an alternative to Microsoft but really take the next step and do something new.

Any thoughts on SCO’s claims on Linux?
I don’t know the merits of the lawsuit, but I run their Unix and I’m taking it off that system. I just don’t like the way it’s being handled. I feel like I’m being threatened again.

They never said anything to me, and if I was smart, I probably wouldn’t mention it. But I don’t like how they’re doing it. What they’re doing is casting a shadow over the whole Linux community. Look, when you’ve got Windows 98 not being supported, NT not being supported, OS/2 not being supported–if you’re a decision maker in the IT field, you need to be able to look at Linux as something that’s going to continue to be supported. It’s a major consideration when you’re making those decisions.

What if SCO wins?
There are too many what-ifs. What if they lose? What if IBM buys them? I really don’t know, and I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. But I can’t believe somebody really wants to claim ownership of Linux…it’s not going to make me think twice.

You see, I’m not in this just to get free software. No. 1, I don’t think there’s any such thing as free software. I think there’s a cost in implementing all of it. How much of a cost depends on whom you talk to. Microsoft and some analysts will tell you about all the support calls and service problems. That’s hysterical. Have they worked in my office? I can find out how many calls my guys have made to Red Hat, but I’m pretty sure the answer is none or close to it…It just doesn’t crash as much as Windows. And I don’t have to buy new computers every time they come out with a new release and abandon the old one.

Has Microsoft tried to win you back?
Microsoft is a growing business with $49 billion in the bank. What do they care about me? If they cared about me, they wouldn’t have approached me the way they did in the first place…And I’m glad they didn’t try to get me back. I thank them for opening my eyes, because I’m definitely money ahead now and I’m definitely just as productive, and I don’t have any problems communicating with my customers. So thank you, Microsoft.

Novell Acquires Ximian to Expand Linux Solutions and Open Source Commitment

Linux

John Rodriguez

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August 24, 2021

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Novell Acquires Ximian to Expand Linux Solutions and Open Source Commitment

Open source pioneer brings Linux management and desktop productivity offerings to Novell cross-platform services
Ximian’s Linux leadership and expertise teams with Novell to accelerate development of open source-based solutions and help drive wider adoption of Linux in the enterprise
Novell reiterates support of key Ximian-sponsored GNOME and Mono open source projects

PROVO, Utah — Aug. 4, 2003 — Novell, Inc., today announced it has acquired privately held Ximian® of Boston, Mass., the leading provider of desktop and server solutions that enable enterprise Linux adoption. This acquisition expands Novell’s capacity to provide flexible information solutions to customers worldwide. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition of Ximian expands Novell’s ability to support Linux solutions as the company adds best-of-breed Linux desktop, groupware and management technologies, and welcomes several of the open source community’s leading visionaries to the Novell® team and a strong core of Linux developers into the Novell fold.

Novell gains, and will carry forward, two key Linux market initiatives through Ximian that reinforce Novell’s commitment to the open source community: GNOME, a project to provide a full-featured Linux desktop, and Mono™, designed to allow applications developed using Microsoft .NET to run on Linux, UNIX*, Windows* and other platforms. The combination of Novell’s network and infrastructure services with Ximian’s Linux solutions provides compelling new value to customers leveraging the power of open source technologies.

“Linux is the fastest-growing platform in the market today because it helps customers meet challenges effectively, both from a cost and a performance perspective,” said Jack Messman, chairman and CEO of Novell. “But customers still face two key business issues: how to provide cost-effective management and maintenance of Linux systems, and how to deploy and support low-cost Linux desktops within the organization. Novell now delivers market-leading solutions for both. Just as important, Ximian brings Novell unparalleled Linux expertise, helping us not only deliver more value to customers, but also strengthening our ability to work with and leverage open source initiatives more constructively.”

“Together, Novell and Ximian offer tremendous benefits for customers,” said David Patrick, president and CEO of Ximian, now general manager of what will be called the Novell Ximian Services business unit at Novell. “Our breakthrough management and desktop products strongly complement Novell applications on Linux and Novell Nterprise™ Linux Services. The global Novell channel, partnerships with industry leaders and proven customer support will benefit customers. Novell as an enterprise company is the ideal choice for us to drive growth for the Linux market as a whole.”

Ximian Offerings Bolster Novell Linux Strategy for Enterprises
Ximian, a market-leading Linux company founded in 1999, has over a million users worldwide of its desktop and management products aimed at lowering the total cost of Linux ownership for enterprise customers. Ximian Red Carpet™ is the de facto standard for software updating across leading Linux distributions. Red Carpet Enterprise software provides enterprise customers with centralized software management of Linux servers and desktops. Over time, Red Carpet Enterprise will be tightly integrated into the Novell ZENworks® product line, leveraging Novell directory services and policies management functionality.

Ximian Desktop 2 (XD2) is a complete Linux desktop environment and a tightly integrated suite of Linux desktop applications that delivers robust support for Windows file formats, networks and standards. Ximian Evolution® software seamlessly integrates e-mail, calendaring, contact management and task lists in one easy-to-use application that connects to popular corporate communications architectures like Microsoft Exchange, Sun* ONE and, soon, Novell GroupWise® via client-side Ximian Connector extensions. These solutions, supporting Red Hat, SuSE and other leading Linux distributions, make Ximian software a strong choice for organizations using Linux desktops within a mixed Windows/Linux computing environment.

“This acquisition allows us to pursue our shared goal, and that is to reduce the barriers to Linux adoption in the enterprise. This combination can do just that, and make Novell the number one Linux solutions company in the process,” said Nat Friedman, Ximian co-founder and senior vice president, now vice president of research and development in the Novell Ximian Services business unit at Novell. “We’re extremely excited to join with Novell to pursue a shared vision of leadership in a full range of integrated Linux desktop and server software for the enterprise, backed by world-class management tools, support and services. We also believe that Novell’s commitment and resources can help further energize a very dynamic open source development community.”

Novell to Build on Ximian Commitment to Open Source Community
Ximian plays an important leadership role in the broader open source community and helps drive several key open source projects. Ximian’s founders Miguel de Icaza and Nat Friedman, well-known open source visionaries, helped found the GNOME and Mono projects, both initiatives they will continue to lead at Novell.

The GNOME project (www.gnome.org), initiated by de Icaza in 1997 and involving hundreds of developers globally, is creating a full-featured open source desktop, including a set of development tools; file, desktop management and help systems; and a set of applications, including spreadsheets, word processors, Web browsers, image editors and music players. The GNOME Foundation, which includes Friedman, de Icaza and other Ximian employees on its board, boasts IBM, HP, Sun and Red Hat among its members.

The Mono project (www.go-mono.com) is an open source effort led by Ximian to provide developers with open source tools for building cross-platform Microsoft .NET applications that can run on Linux, UNIX, and other support platforms. More than 150 developers worldwide contribute to Mono, including a range of companies building commercial products using Mono technology.

De Icaza, CTO of Ximian and now chief technology officer for the Novell Ximian Services business unit of Novell, said, “It’s a huge step forward for the open source community to gain strong support from a company like Novell. Initiatives like GNOME and Mono will only improve with Novell’s resources behind them. Novell has already made a strong commitment to open source with its recent decision to put the full range of its network services on Linux and its inclusion of MySQL*, Apache and other open source technologies in NetWare®. Ximian’s leadership within the open source community along with Novell’s strength and reputation in the enterprise market are a powerful combination that will help move GNOME and Mono forward.”

The acquisition of Ximian was an all-cash transaction and is not expected to have a material effect on Novell’s financial statements in the current fiscal year. No further details as to the specific terms of the transaction are being disclosed.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release includes statements that are not historical in nature and that may be characterized as “forward-looking statements,” including those related to future financial and operating results, benefits and synergies of the company’s brands and strategies, future opportunities and the growth of the market for open source solutions. You should be aware that Novell’s actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations of Novell management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, Novell’s ability to integrate acquired operations and employees, Novell’s ability to deliver on its one Net vision of the Internet, Novell’s ability to take a competitive position in the Web services industry, business conditions and the general economy, market opportunities, potential new business strategies, competitive factors, sales and marketing execution, shifts in technologies or market demand, and the other factors described in Novell’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2002 fiscal year. Novell disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell Nsure™), Web application development (Novell exteNd™) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell Ngage^SM). Novell’s vision of one Net – a world without information boundaries – helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell’s Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

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