It appears that PDF spam has had its 15 minutes of fame. Having reached its peak volume on Aug. 7 at nearly 30 percent of all spam messages sent, PDF spam today is hardly registering on email security vendors’ spamometers.

The unwanted emails with PDF files attached–usually pushing the recipient to purchase a penny stock that the spammer then dumps once the trading price goes up–comprise less than 1 percent of spam today, according to security vendor Sophos.

Security pros are warning that distributors of the Storm Trojan are now using a YouTube video to lure users.

Contained in emails with subject lines such as "sheesh man what are you thinking," the malicious link claims to go to YouTube.com, but actually goes to a URL harboring exploit code.

Amid mounting criticism of the deal, the chairman and CEO of Acer has vowed to step down if the company’s bid to join with Gateway does not succeed.

"The merger will definitely succeed. If it doesn’t… I will resign," the Chinese-language newspaper, Economic Daily News, quoted Acer Chairman and CEO J.T. Wang as saying in an interview published Wednesday. Acer spokesman Henry Wang confirmed the statement.

Judging by the recent swell of coverage of the clash between employee technology and workplace technology while IT plays both the middleman and the villain, it seems that the topic is burdening more than just technology careers writers.

An Aug. 6 report by the Yankee Group noted that 50 percent of employees reported that their personal technology was more advanced than their workplace’s technology. Analysts reasoned that IT could either ban employee technology, creating an endless game of whack-a-mole, or they could manage both the technology and the rogue employee. They advocated taking a "Zen" approach.

What’s the difference between a satisfied and an engaged employee? Only everything, argues Globoforce, a Westborough, Mass., work force solutions company.

The crux of the difference between the two is discretionary effect, or in laymen’s terms, the likelihood that an employee will go the extra mile to get a job done. A satisfied worker probably will not, but an engaged one doesn’t think twice before pulling out all of the stops.

Up against competition for markets and for hiring staff, Indian software outsourcers are focusing on building reusable software that automates specific business processes. These software components can in turn be used across a number of clients, saving costs, and time.

Top Indian outsourcers such as Infosys Technologies and HCL Technologies for example, have developed a variety of components including an RFID (radio frequency ID) component for supply chain applications, according to Forrester Research senior analyst Sudin Apte.

With the help of three new partners, NetSuite now provides extensions to its hosted mid-market applications suite so it will run on mobile devices. NetSuite’s integrated software-as-a-service online suite includes ERP, CRM and e-commerce functionality.

The partners–Antenna Software, Explore Mobile (a wholly owned subsidiary of Explore Consulting) and iEnterprises–have used NetSuite’s SuiteFlex application development and integration software to build extensions to the NetSuite apps so they can be accessed wirelessly by BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Palm Treo users. Pricing is up to the partners; NetSuite CEO Zach Nelson expects each extension to typically cost $25 per user per month.

NetSuite users can also now access the suite via their iPhones, as the much-hyped Apple device inches into enterprises. NetSuite 2007.0, the latest version of the SaaS suite, includes native support for the most recent release of Apple’s Safari Web browser, functionality that NetSuite has dubbed SuitePhone.

According to IBM, the certification paths for IBM Lotus Notes and Domino 8 will mirror those that are currently available for IBM Lotus Notes and Domino 7. Individuals must have attained professional or advanced certification in Lotus Notes and Domino 7 System Administration and/or Application Development in order to recertify in their chosen path(s) in Notes Domino 8. There are three levels of certification available in Notes Domino 8 Application Development and Notes Domino 8 System Administration; Associate (pass one exam); Professional (pass the first and two more core exams), and Advanced (pass the three core exams and one of four electives).

CertFX is once again the first practice test provider to release the long awaited recertification tests. Their Domino 8 prep tests will help you not only pass the recertification exam, but learn how to put all of these new features to use. These practice tests are offered in advance of the real exam to allow you to begin studying now. As the exams are released and updated throughout the year, they will continue to manage their content to provide you with the best, most accurate study materials on the market.

IBM is working with IBM Business Partners to deliver Impact Comes to You customer events in more than 70 locations around the world. ICTY events provide the opportunity for local customers and business partners to gain a greater understanding of the business and technical value of SOA. Successful events have already been held in Europe, Asia Pacific, and throughout the United States. It is expected that thousands of additional customers will attend these additional events and is another example of IBM’s continued focus on driving customer success with its Business Partners around SOA.