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Weighing the pros and cons of HDTV

Thursday, November 24th, 2005

Picking the right screen is a matter of knowing what you need (and want)

Marc Saltzman
Province

Abdulahi Mahamad looks over Samsung’s TechSpot display at a Brick Warehouse store. — CANWEST FILE PHOTO

The big question among television shoppers used to be whether or not to invest in a HDTV-ready set. Not anymore.

Prices today are comparable between standard TVs and HDTV-compatible ones, while flat-panel television technologies are dropping in cost about 45 per cent per year. And there’s plenty of high-def stations to choose from.

HDTV-ready televisions feature many more lines of resolutions (up to 1080) than what older TVs display (525 lines). This results in a much sharper, more life-like picture. HDTVs also features a wider screen more akin to a movie theatre. Lastly, many HDTV programs also offer multi-channel surround sound.

Today’s big question is what kind of HDTV to purchase: plasma, LCD, or rear-projection DLP? Here’s a brief look at the pros and cons of each and recommended buys (prices may vary between retailers).

PLASMA TV

What is it: Plasma TV panels contain an array of tiny pixels, which contain phosphors corresponding to the colours red, green and blue; a mixture of gases are then stimulated by electricity, producing a rich and vibrant picture.

Pros: Plasma TVs produce the most lifelike images. They are also ideal for those looking for a big-screen experience (42-inches and higher), yet are still svelte enough to wall mount. These TVs enjoy a wide viewing angle (usually 160 degrees), so there’s not a bad seat in the room. Current-generation plasma HDTVs enjoy a long life at about 60,000 hours.

Cons: Compared to other TVs, plasma is usually the most expensive. Plasma TVs also suffer from phosphor “burn in” caused by static images left on the screen too long. Compared to LCD TVs, plasma televisions also use more power and tend to run hotter.

Top picks: Panasonic’s TH-50PX50 ($5,999) and the Pioneer PDP-5060HD ($6,999). A great value is HP’s new 42-inch PL4200N ($3,499).

LCD TV

What is it: Similar to a laptop monitor, LCD televisions use a liquid crystal display to produce a sharp picture.

Pros: While generally smaller in screen size than plasma and rear-projection HDTVs, LCD televisions have their advantages: they are extremely thin (about 4-cm thick) and lightweight. LCDs have exceptional contrast ratios and are ideal for rooms with windows. They also enjoy a wide viewing angle, at 170 degrees. They do not suffer from phosphor burn-in and have a 60,000-hour lifespan.

Cons: LCD televisions are very expensive. They often have a poorer refresh rate than plasma and rear-projection TVs, meaning they don’t typically handle motion very well. Try before you buy. (The lower the LCD TV’s response rate, the better.)

Our picks: Sony’s 40-inch Bravia XBR LCD TV ($4,499), Samsung’s 32-inch LN-R328W ($2499.99) and Sharp’s 32-inch Aquos LC32DA5U ($2,199).

DLP TV

What is it: Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology TVs are rear-projection units offering a sharp and extremely bright display in a lightweight cabinet. At the heart of every DLP TV is an optical semiconductor (a sophisticated light switch) which contains more than one million microscopic mirrors (each one less than one-fifth the width of a human hair) that sways back and forth to create the picture.

Pros: They’re not thin enough to hang on a wall, but with some as deep as 20 cm, they won’t take up too much space, either. DLP sets are less expensive than their flat-panel counterparts, yet are usually larger in size and offer a brighter picture.

Cons: They contain a large lamp that will burn out after a few years (consumers must purchase and replace them). Also, viewers must sit farther back from DLP sets than flat-panel TVs or else the image may look pixilated; some DLP models may suffer from a “rainbow effect.”

Our picks: Go big or go home. Feast your eyes on the 61-inch Samsung HLR6164 ($3,799; www.samsung.ca) or 62-inch Toshiba 62HM85 ($3,499; www.toshiba.ca).

– – –

DO YOU REALLY NEED A HIGH DEFINITION TELEVISION?

High Definition Television is stunningly clear and sharp, even better than a real movie theatre or home DVD.

But be prepared to pay.

You will need an additional HD receiver and service from a cable provider or a satellite service.

And don’t be fooled by the direct cable card feature on the newest TVs — that’s years away in Canada and doesn’t work with satellite feed.

There are, however, the little things, like HDMI cabling between receiver and TV — for optimum quality — at $100 a metre.

There is also the issue of HD widescreen content, which is limited to half a dozen U.S. prime-time feeds and weekend sports or playoffs.

The rest of the programming is a mix of regular square TV and similar-sized digital-quality broadcasts.

If you still want something better than your present set, splurge several hundred bucks on a new tube and DVD player and rent movies for less than subscription pay-per-view . . . you will be pleasantly surprised.

© The Vancouver Province 2005

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Flat Panel Plazmas & LCD TV’s dropping in price at 45% per year

Thursday, November 24th, 2005

Marc Saltzman
Sun

Panasonic’s plasma TV, TH50PX50 retails for %5,999 and is on a lot of wish lists

Sony’s 40-inch Bravia XBR LCD TV (Model # KDLV40CBR1) sells for $4,499

The 62-inch Toshiba 62HM85 Digital Light Processing, or DLP, TV ($3,499 www.toshiba.ca)

Rewind all the way back to 2003 and the big question among television shoppers was whether to invest in a HDTV-ready set.

After all, there was a significant price difference between high-definition TVs and those without, not to mention programming was, in a word, scarce.

Boy, have times changed.

Prices today are comparable between standard rear-projection and tube-based TVs and HDTV-compatible ones, while flat-panel television technologies are dropping in cost by about 45 per cent per year. And there’s plenty of high-def stations to choose from; Bell ExpressVU, for example, boasts 28 dedicated HDTV stations.

For the uninitiated, HDTV-ready televisions feature many more lines of resolutions (up to 1,080) than what older TVs display (525 lines). This results in a much sharper, more life-like picture. HDTVs also features a wider screen, which is more akin to a movie theatre (a 16:9 ratio, horizontal to vertical), opposed to the boxy 4:3 screens. Lastly, many HDTV programs also offer multi-channel surround sound (and in many cases, Dolby Digital) instead of mere left and right stereo audio.

So, today the new question isn’t whether to invest in a HDTV, but rather, what kind of HDTV to purchase? Plasma? LCD? Or rear-projection, such as DLP? The following is a brief look at the pros and cons for each decision, and recommended buys per category (note: prices may vary between retailers).

PLASMA TV:

What is it: Plasma TV panels contain an array of tiny cells, referred to as pixels, which contain phosphors corresponding to the colours red, green and blue; a mixture of trapped neon and xenon gases are then stimulated by an electrical current, thus producing a rich and vibrant picture to the viewer on the other side of the glass.

Pros: While some may disagree, plasma televisions produce the most lifelike image compared to competing technologies. Plasma TVs are also ideal for those looking for a big-screen experience (42-inches and higher), yet are still svelte enough to mount on a wall. These TVs enjoy a wide viewing angle (usually 160 degrees), so there’s not a bad seat in the room. Current-generation plasma HDTVs enjoy a long life at about 60,000 hours.

Cons: Compared to other TV types, plasma is usually the most expensive to invest in. Plasma TVs also suffer from phosphor “burn in” caused by static images left on the screen too long, such as a video game score that is always displayed. If this happens, you’ll forever see a “ghost” image burned into that part of the screen. Compared to LCD TVs, plasma televisions also use more power and tend to run hotter.

Our picks: Two award-winning 50-inch plasma TVs are Panasonic’s TH-50PX50 ($5,999; www.panasonic.ca) and the Pioneer PDP-5060HD ($6,999; www.pioneerelectronics.ca). A great value is HP’s new 42-inch PL4200N ($3,499; hpshopping.ca).

LCD TV:

What is it: Similar to your laptop computer’s monitor, LCD televisions use a “liquid crystal display” to produce a sharp picture. Liquid crystals are sandwiched between two panes of polarized glass, which are stimulated by an electric current and illuminated by fluorescent tubes housed behind the glass.

Pros: While generally smaller in screen size than plasma and rear-projection HDTVs, LCD televisions have its advantages: they are extremely thin (about 2-inches thick) and lightweight, so they can be easily mounted on a wall. They are also more energy efficient compared to other TV technologies. LCDs have exceptional contrast ratios and are ideal for rooms with ambient light (e.g. a family room with many windows). They also enjoy a wide viewing angle, at 170 degrees. They do not suffer from phosphor burn-in and enjoy long life-spans (roughly 60,000 hours).

Cons: Because big-screen LCD televisions are still very expensive, most consumers opt for the smaller-sized models (32-inches or less). Another downside is they often have a poorer refresh rate than plasma and rear-projection TVs, meaning they don’t typically handle motion very well — such as fast-paced sporting events — so be sure to try before you buy (rule of thumb: the lower the LCD TV’s response rate, the better).

Our picks: Sony’s 40-inch Bravia XBR LCD TV (model # KDLV40XBR1; $4,499; www.sonystyle.ca), Samsung’s 32-inch LN-R328W ($2499.99) and Sharp’s 32-inch Aquos LC32DA5U ($2,199).

DLP TV:

What is it: Based on the Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology from Texas Instruments, these rear-projection TVs offer a sharp and extremely bright display in a lightweight cabinet (less than 100 pounds). At the heart of every DLP projection TV is an optical semiconductor that can be considered the world’s most sophisticated light switch; this chip contains more than one million microscopic mirrors (each one less than one-fifth the width of a human hair) that sway back and forth to create the picture on the screen.

Pros: They’re not thin enough to hang on a wall like a picture frame, but with some as narrow as seven inches deep, they won’t take up too much space in the room, either. DLP sets are less expensive than their flat-panel counterparts, yet are usually larger in size and offer a brighter picture.

Cons: Aside from being thicker than the sleek LCD and plasma TVs, DLP sets contain a large lamp that will burn out after a few years (consumers must purchase and replace them). Also, viewers must sit farther back from DLP sets than flat-panel TVs or else the image may look pixilated; some DLP models may suffer from a “rainbow effect,” which can be best described as bursts of colour visible to some viewers.

Our picks: Go big or go home, as they say. Feast your eyes on the 61-inch Samsung HLR6164 ($3,799; www.samsung.ca) or 62-inch Toshiba 62HM85 ($3,499; www.toshiba.ca).

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

Posted in Other News Articles | Comments Off on Flat Panel Plazmas & LCD TV’s dropping in price at 45% per year

Flat Panel Plazmas & LCD TV’s dropping in price at 45% per year

Thursday, November 24th, 2005

Marc Saltzman
Sun

Panasonic’s plasma TV, TH50PX50 retails for %5,999 and is on a lot of wish lists

The 62-inch Toshiba 62HM85 Digital Light Processing, or DLP, TV ($3,499 www.toshiba.ca)

Sony’s 40-inch Bravia XBR LCD TV (Model # KDLV40CBR1) sells for $4,499

Rewind all the way back to 2003 and the big question among television shoppers was whether to invest in a HDTV-ready set.

After all, there was a significant price difference between high-definition TVs and those without, not to mention programming was, in a word, scarce.

Boy, have times changed.

Prices today are comparable between standard rear-projection and tube-based TVs and HDTV-compatible ones, while flat-panel television technologies are dropping in cost by about 45 per cent per year. And there’s plenty of high-def stations to choose from; Bell ExpressVU, for example, boasts 28 dedicated HDTV stations.

For the uninitiated, HDTV-ready televisions feature many more lines of resolutions (up to 1,080) than what older TVs display (525 lines). This results in a much sharper, more life-like picture. HDTVs also features a wider screen, which is more akin to a movie theatre (a 16:9 ratio, horizontal to vertical), opposed to the boxy 4:3 screens. Lastly, many HDTV programs also offer multi-channel surround sound (and in many cases, Dolby Digital) instead of mere left and right stereo audio.

So, today the new question isn’t whether to invest in a HDTV, but rather, what kind of HDTV to purchase? Plasma? LCD? Or rear-projection, such as DLP? The following is a brief look at the pros and cons for each decision, and recommended buys per category (note: prices may vary between retailers).

PLASMA TV:

What is it: Plasma TV panels contain an array of tiny cells, referred to as pixels, which contain phosphors corresponding to the colours red, green and blue; a mixture of trapped neon and xenon gases are then stimulated by an electrical current, thus producing a rich and vibrant picture to the viewer on the other side of the glass.

Pros: While some may disagree, plasma televisions produce the most lifelike image compared to competing technologies. Plasma TVs are also ideal for those looking for a big-screen experience (42-inches and higher), yet are still svelte enough to mount on a wall. These TVs enjoy a wide viewing angle (usually 160 degrees), so there’s not a bad seat in the room. Current-generation plasma HDTVs enjoy a long life at about 60,000 hours.

Cons: Compared to other TV types, plasma is usually the most expensive to invest in. Plasma TVs also suffer from phosphor “burn in” caused by static images left on the screen too long, such as a video game score that is always displayed. If this happens, you’ll forever see a “ghost” image burned into that part of the screen. Compared to LCD TVs, plasma televisions also use more power and tend to run hotter.

Our picks: Two award-winning 50-inch plasma TVs are Panasonic’s TH-50PX50 ($5,999; www.panasonic.ca) and the Pioneer PDP-5060HD ($6,999; www.pioneerelectronics.ca). A great value is HP’s new 42-inch PL4200N ($3,499; hpshopping.ca).

LCD TV:

What is it: Similar to your laptop computer’s monitor, LCD televisions use a “liquid crystal display” to produce a sharp picture. Liquid crystals are sandwiched between two panes of polarized glass, which are stimulated by an electric current and illuminated by fluorescent tubes housed behind the glass.

Pros: While generally smaller in screen size than plasma and rear-projection HDTVs, LCD televisions have its advantages: they are extremely thin (about 2-inches thick) and lightweight, so they can be easily mounted on a wall. They are also more energy efficient compared to other TV technologies. LCDs have exceptional contrast ratios and are ideal for rooms with ambient light (e.g. a family room with many windows). They also enjoy a wide viewing angle, at 170 degrees. They do not suffer from phosphor burn-in and enjoy long life-spans (roughly 60,000 hours).

Cons: Because big-screen LCD televisions are still very expensive, most consumers opt for the smaller-sized models (32-inches or less). Another downside is they often have a poorer refresh rate than plasma and rear-projection TVs, meaning they don’t typically handle motion very well — such as fast-paced sporting events — so be sure to try before you buy (rule of thumb: the lower the LCD TV’s response rate, the better).

Our picks: Sony’s 40-inch Bravia XBR LCD TV (model # KDLV40XBR1; $4,499; www.sonystyle.ca), Samsung’s 32-inch LN-R328W ($2499.99) and Sharp’s 32-inch Aquos LC32DA5U ($2,199).

DLP TV:

What is it: Based on the Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology from Texas Instruments, these rear-projection TVs offer a sharp and extremely bright display in a lightweight cabinet (less than 100 pounds). At the heart of every DLP projection TV is an optical semiconductor that can be considered the world’s most sophisticated light switch; this chip contains more than one million microscopic mirrors (each one less than one-fifth the width of a human hair) that sway back and forth to create the picture on the screen.

Pros: They’re not thin enough to hang on a wall like a picture frame, but with some as narrow as seven inches deep, they won’t take up too much space in the room, either. DLP sets are less expensive than their flat-panel counterparts, yet are usually larger in size and offer a brighter picture.

Cons: Aside from being thicker than the sleek LCD and plasma TVs, DLP sets contain a large lamp that will burn out after a few years (consumers must purchase and replace them). Also, viewers must sit farther back from DLP sets than flat-panel TVs or else the image may look pixilated; some DLP models may suffer from a “rainbow effect,” which can be best described as bursts of colour visible to some viewers.

Our picks: Go big or go home, as they say. Feast your eyes on the 61-inch Samsung HLR6164 ($3,799; www.samsung.ca) or 62-inch Toshiba 62HM85 ($3,499; www.toshiba.ca).

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

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Fewer conventions planned for Vancouver next year

Thursday, November 24th, 2005

TOURISM I But delegates who do come here in 2006 are expected to stay longer, spend more

BRUCE CONSTANTINEAU
Sun

Vancouver will host fewer major citywide conventions next year but delegates will stay longer and spend more money than they did this year — boosting the total economic impact on the city, Tourism Vancouver vicepresident Dave Gazley said Wednesday.
   “If you use citywide conventions as a barometer, 2005 was not a strong year for us, to be honest,” he said in an interview. “But 2006 should be a stronger year, partly because of some big conventions we got on the books several years ago.”
   Vancouver hosted 21 citywide conventions this year — events that attracted at least 1,000 outof-town visitors. That figure is expected to drop to 17 or 19 in 2006.
   But Gazley said the 41,000 visitors to the conventions in Vancouver in 2006 will stay longer than the 50,000 who attended major conventions here this year, so the total economic impact will increase from $54 million this year to $60 million in 2006.
   Some of the biggest conventions to be held in Vancouver next year include:
   World Federation of Hemophilia congress in May, with 4,000 delegates.
   American Roentgen Ray Society in May, with 3,000 delegates.
   Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in May, with 2,000 delegates.
   World Urban Forum in June, with 3,500 delegates.
   Canadian Cardiovascular Society in October, with 2,000 delegates.
   Two other major meetings are also expected next year but Tourism Vancouver has not yet counted them as officially done deals — the National Hockey League draft in June and the Assembly of First Nations in July. Gazley also said the city convention market will benefit next year by the reappearance of two conventions that are held in the city every two years, including the Cruise-A-Thon cruise industry conference and the Globe Conference on the environment.
   He said Tourism Vancouver’s Be a Host program, which encourages local people to try to attract international conferences in their fields of work, has been extremely successful in the past decade — helping bring about 30,000 conference delegates to Vancouver this year.
   “Often, you can’t bid on a big international event unless you have a strong local organizing committee and people involved in that field that can act as local hosts for the group,” Gazley said. “The idea is to get people to take local ownership of showcasing the city to their professional colleagues from around the world.”
   He said it can be difficult to convince some people to bid on a big conference because if they succeed, they could become responsible for setting up a local flavour to the agenda. But Gazley said the prestige and altruism associated with the effort often convinces people to take a shot.
   “If there’s something going on here in cancer research that the world needs to know about, this is a way to share it with your colleagues,” he said.
   [email protected]
Convention traffic
Citywide conventions in Vancouver (attracting at least 1,000 out-of-town visitors): 2003: 23, with a total economic impact of $48 million 2004: 25, with a total economic impact of $70 million 2005: 21, with a total economic impact of $54 million 2006: 17, with a total economic impact of $60 million
   Source: Tourism Vancouver

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Restaurant listings: Critic’s Picks

Thursday, November 24th, 2005

Sun

Aurora Bistro The first fine dining room on Main St. Inventive food, hip spot. 2420 Main St., 604-873-9944. $$

Bishop’s Consistently one of the city’s best. Almost 100 per cent organic foods. 2183 West Fourth Ave., 604-738-2025. $$$

Bin 941 Tapas bar in tiny eclectic space. 941 Davie St., 604-683-1246. $$/$$$

Bin 942 Creative, delectable tapas dishes. 1521 West Broadway, 604-734-9421. $$/$$$

Bridges For fine dining, head upstairs, and for casual, try the downstairs bistro. 1696 Duranleau, 604-687-4400. $$/$$$

Brix Large tapas selection, 60 wines by the glass. 1138 Homer St., 604-915-9463. $$/$$$

Chartwell Beautiful food, wonderful service. Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia St. 604-689-9333. $$$

Cru Blurs the lines of fine dining, lounge and bistro. Lovely “small plates” or a four-course prix fixe. 1459 West Broadway, 604-677-4111. $$

Diva at the Met High-end food, gorgeously presented. Metropolitan Hotel, 645 Howe St., 604-602-7788. $$$

Feenie’s Comfort food with a modern tweak and quality ingredients. 2563 West Broadway, 604-739-7115. $/$$

Fiction Young crowd, great tapas dishes. 3162 West Broadway, 604-736-7576. $$

Five Sails Big view, impeccable food, conservative atmosphere. Pan Pacific Hotel, 999 Canada Place, 604-662-8111. $$$

Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar Hip, happening destination. Creative chef. 1079 Mainland St., 604-602-0835. $$

Lift Bar and Grill Gorgeously perched over Coal Harbour. Sibling to Monk McQueen’s. 333 Menchions Mews, 604-689-5438. $$$

Lucy Mae Brown Intimate space, assertive dishes. 862 Richards St., 604-899-9199. $$

Nu A sophisticated version of casual dining. Beautiful flavours, great atmosphere. 1661 Granville St., 604-646-4668. $$

Parkside Handsome room in residential West End, richly flavoured food. Great spot. 1906 Haro, 604-683-6912. $$/$$$

Raincity Grill A Vancouver moment by English Bay. Regional food. 1193 Denman St., 604-685-7337. $$$

Show Case West Coast menu that doesn’t shy from adventure. Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, 1128 West Hastings St., 604-639-4040. $$$

Watermark Stunning Kits Beach view, sexy architecture, casual food. 1305 Arbutus St., 604-738-5487. $$

West Vies for best restaurant in the city. 2881 Granville St., 604-738-8938. $$$

– ITALIAN

Adesso Neighbourhood Italian spot with light, elegant food. 2201 West First Ave., 604-738-6515. $$

Amarcord Food from the Bologna and Emilia Romagna area of Italy, elegantly presented. Clear, natural flavours. 1168 Hamilton St., 604-681-6500. $$

Borgo Antico Tuscan looks. Fine Italian food. 321 Water St., 604-683-8376. $$/$$$

Cin Cin Restaurant and Bar A well-coiffed crowd. Entrees, pasta and pizzas. Nice summer patio. 1154 Robson St., 604-688-7338. $$/$$$

Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill Fine Italian cuisine with a light touch. 1133 Hamilton St., 604-688-7466. $$$

Don Francesco Ristorante Romantic, classic Italian restaurant with heart. 860 Burrard St., 604-685-7770. $$$

Il Giardino “New Italian” food, light with exotic elements. Big on game. 1382 Hornby St., 604-669-2422. $$$.

Incendio Great wood-oven pizzas, robust lineup of pastas. 103 Columbia St., 604-688-8694. $/$$

Incendio West Same as above, but in modern digs. 2118 Burrard St., 604-736-2220. $/$$

La Terrazza Knock-out looks, intelligent and friendly staff, traditional Italian food. 1088 Cambie St., 604-899-4449. $$$

Lombardo’s Pizzeria and Restaurant Serving pizza lovers for years. 1641 Commercial Dr., 604-251-2240. $

Quattro on Fourth An Italian restaurant with flair. 2611 West Fourth Ave., 604-734-4444. $$/$$$

– CHINESE

Hon’s Wun-Tun House Slurp noodles and chomp on delicious potstickers. Huge menu. 1339 Robson St., 604-685-0871. $

Imperial Seafood Fine Cantonese food, (expensive) in the lovely Marine Building. 355 Burrard St., 604-688-8191. $$$

Kirin Seafood Exquisite Cantonese food. City Square, 555 West 12th Ave., 604-879-8038. $$$

Pink Pearl It’s been around forever and is still a going concern. 1132 East Hastings St., 604-253-4316. $

Sun Sui Wah Cantonese cuisine with light, finely tuned flavours. 3888 Main St., 604-872-8822. $$

Szechuan Chongqing An institution for those who love the incendiary fare. 2808 Commercial Dr., 604-254-7434. $$

Toko Strength in the noodle dishes — Japanese, Korean and Shanghainese as well as Chinese. 223 West Seventh Ave., 604-879-0701. $

Wild Rice Modern Chinese food in a sophisticated, hip setting. 117 West Pender St., 604-642-2882. $$

Wing Wah Shanghai Szechuan Great value food. 260 East Broadway, 604-879-9168. $

– JAPANESE

Ajisai Sushi Bar Small neighbourhood spot with sushi that sings. 2081West42nd Ave., 604-266-1428. $

Bistro Sakana Exciting Japanese food with French and Italian curve balls. 1123 Mainland St., 604-633-1280. $$

Black Tuna Tapas style Japanese dishes, sushi, lovingly cooked. 202 — 1184 Denman St., 604-408-7557. $$

Chopstick Cafe/Shiru-Bay Great atmosphere, intriguing izakaya food, budget prices. 1193 Hamilton St., 604-408-9315. $$

Dan Japanese Restaurant Fish, fresh from Japan daily. Very good sushi and other dishes. 2511 West Broadway, 604-730-0306. $/$$

En Japanese Restaurant Bucks the usual conformity of Japanese restaurants. Splendid food. 2686 Granville St., 604-730-0330. $$

Gyoza King Gyozas reign supreme. Open late. 1508 Robson St., 604-669-8278. $

Hapa Izakaya Young and stylish; great izakaya-style Japanese food. 1479 Robson St., 604-689-4272. $/$$

Japone Wonderfully inventive dishes on the ‘chef’s specials’ menu. 8269 Oak St., 604-263-6708. $$

Shijo Finely tuned flavours, some imaginative dishes. 1926 West Fourth Ave., 604-732-4676. $$

Sushi Wabi Sabi Exciting contemporary Japanese food. 4422 West 10th Ave., 604-222-8188. $$

Tojo’s Restaurant The topper in this category. Japanese food at its best. 202 — 777 West Broadway, 604-872-8050. $$$

Toshi Sushi Tiny place always packed for the fresh, tasty sushi. 181 East 16th Ave., 604-847-5173. $/$$

Umami A hybrid of Japanese and Mediterranean, the food is ambitious and creative. Good value wines. 572 Davie St., 604-696-9563. $$

Yuji’s Expect the unexpected. Food takes some creative turns. 2059 West Fourth Ave., 604-734-4990. $$

– FRENCH/BELGIAN

Bacchus Restaurant Some classics, some nouveau. Expect the best. Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby St., 604-689-7777. $$$

Cafe de Paris Traditional French bistro. Lots of character. 751 Denman St., 604-687-1418. $$

Cassis Bistro Low budget but mod interior. Delicious traditional French bistro fare. Good value. 420 West Pender St., 604-605-0420. $$

Chambar Modern Belgian food. Hot hipster scene. Chef has cooked in a three-star Michelin restaurant. 562 Beatty St., 604-879-7119. $$

Elixir French brasserie in Yaletown; bistro food, haute quality. 322 Davie St., 604-642-0557. $$/$$$

Le Crocodile Refined French with incredible wines to boot. 909 Burrard St., 604-669-4298. $$$

Le Gavroche French food in a charming old house. 1616 Alberni St., 604-685-3924. $$$

The Hermitage Beautifully controlled classic French cooking. Quiet atmosphere. 1025 Robson St., 604-689-3237. $$$

Lumiere Chef Rob Feenie redefines restaurants in Vancouver. Tasting menus. 2551 West Broadway, 604-739-8185. $$$

Pastis French bistro with a lightness of being. 2153 West Fourth Ave., 604-731-5020. $$/$$$

Salade de Fruits Very good value French country bistro. 1551 West Seventh, 604-714-5987. $$

The William Tell A Swiss-French restaurant. Service excels. Georgian Court Hotel, 773 Beatty St., 604-688-3504. $$$

– GREEK

Apollonia Well-prepared Greek food and very good pizzas. 1830 Fir St., 604-736-9559. $/$$

Bouzyos Greek Taverna Lively atmosphere, better than average Greek food. 1815 Commercial Dr., 604-254-2533. $$

Kalamata Greek Taverna A popular souvlaki stop dressed in the familiar white and blue. 478 West Broadway, 604-872-7050. $$

The Main Friendly, funky spot. Wonderful roast lamb. 4210 Main St., 604-709-8555. $$

Maria’s Taverna Friendly service. 2324 West Fourth Ave., 604-731-4722. $$

Simpatico Thirty-plus years old; traditional Greek restaurant with the addition of good pizzas. 2222 West Fourth Ave., 604733-6824. $/$$

Stepho’s Nightly lineups because of low prices. 1124 Davie St., 604-683-2555. $

– INDIAN

Akbar’s Own Mogul-style Indian cuisine. 1905 West Broadway, 604-736-8180. $$

Chutney Villa South Indian cuisine, with dosas, idli and vadas. 147 East Broadway, 604-872-2228. $/$$

Clove An alternative Indian restaurant, funky, cheap beyond belief. 2054 Commercial Dr., 604-255-5550. $

Clove Upscale sibling to Clove on Commercial. Modern Indian cuisine. 735 Denman St., 604-669-2421. $/$$

Maurya Fine Indian food in glam surroundings. 1643 West Broadway, 604-742-0622. $$$

Rangoli Vij’s casual and take-out next-door sidekick. Impressive. 1488 West 11th Ave., 604-736-5711. $

Sami’s Progressive Indo-American food. 986 West Broadway, 604-736-8345 $

Tamarind A hip spin-off from the traditional Rubina Tandoori restaurant with modern elements. 1626 West Broadway, 604-733-5335. $$

Vij’s Dishes are a symphony of wondrous flavours. 1480 West 11th Ave., 604-736-6664. $$

Yogi’s Hip, contemporary Indian food, perfect for The Drive. 1408 Commercial Dr., 604-251-9644. $

– SOUTHEAST ASIAN

Banana Leaf Homestyle Malaysian food. 820 West Broadway, 604-731-6333 and 1096 Denman St., 604-683-3333. $$

Chi Modern take on Malaysian and Thai cuisines. 1796 Nanaimo St., 604-215-0078. $$

Ginger and Garlic Malaysian food, deftly cooked. 2106 West 41st Ave., 604-266-3666. $$

Kedah House Halal Restaurant Malaysian food with a light, nimble touch. 5750 Fraser St., 604-325-9771. $

Monsoon An “East-West” brasserie with tropical Asian dishes, loads of atmosphere. 2526 Main St., 604-879-4001. $$

Montri Thai Restaurant Some of the best Thai food in the city. 3629 West Broadway, 604-738-9888. $$

Phnom Penh Largely Cambodian but includes Chinese and Vietnamese flavours. 244 East Georgia St., 682-5777. $

Pondok Authentic Indonesian dishes, freshly cooked. 2781 Commercial Dr., 604-872-8718. $$

Salathai Thai Dishes are freshly prepared and consistent. 3364 Cambie St., 604-875-6999. $$

Sawasdee Thai Gracious service keeps the regulars hooked. 4250 Main St., 604-876-4030. $$

Simply Thai On the A-list for Thai food. 1211 Hamilton St., 604-642-0123. $$

– SEAFOOD

Bluewater Cafe and Raw Bar Handsome spot. Impressive seafood, impressive wine list. 1095 Hamilton St., 604-688-8078. $$$

C Chef Robert Clark takes seafood to a new level. 1600 Howe St., 604-681-1164. $$$

Cannery Seafood Fine dining in rustic nautical decor on working waterfront. 2205 Commissioner St., 604-254-9606 $$$

Coast Restaurant Yaletown chic, shares kinship with Glowbal Grill and Satay. Seafood emphasis. 1157 Hamilton St., 604-685-5010. $$$

Fish Cafe Unpretentious, straight-ahead seafood at bargain prices. 2053 West 41st Ave., 604-267-3474. $

Fish House in Stanley Park Bold and imaginative seafood dishes by the creative Karen Barnaby. 8901 Stanley Park Dr., 604-681-7275. $$$

Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House Fresh shucked oysters, cedar plank salmon, grilled chops. High energy. 777 Thurlow St., 604-669-1940. $$$

Rodney’s Oyster House Specializes in very fresh shellfish and oysters. 1228 Hamilton St., 604-609-0080. $$

– AMERICAN

Memphis Blues Barbecue House Slow-cooked, southern style BBQ. Delish. 1465 West Broadway, 604-738-6806; 1342 Commercial Dr., 604-215-2599. $

– VEGETARIAN

Bo Kong Buddhist-based menu using very fresh ingredients. Mild flavours. 3068 Main St., 604-876-3088. $

Habibi’s Lebanese food. Not the same old, same old. 1128 West Broadway, 604-732-7487. $

The Naam Wide variety of vegetarian fare. Quiet patio in summer. 2724 West Fourth Ave., 604-738-7151. $

Om Vegetarian Flavourful, fresh Buddhist-based vegetarian food. 3466 Cambie St., 604-873-6878. $

Raw Raw veggie and fruit dishes (preserves enzymes) as well as cooked. Food is 80 to 90 per cent organic. 1849 West First Ave., 604-737-0420. $

– LATIN AMERICA

Banano’s No-frills Venezuelan/Colombian cafe. Delicious arepas. 1223 Pacific Boulevard, 604-408-4228. $

Baru Casually chic South American food for discerning diners. 2535 Alma St., 604-222-9171. $$

Havana Cuban food, tweaked for Commercial Drive. 1212 Commercial Dr., 604-253-9119. $

Las Margaritas Mexican food with a light touch; good seafood. 1999 West Fourth Ave., 604-734-7117. $$

Latin Quarter Mexican and Mediterranean tapas dishes as well as music in the evenings. 1305 Commercial Dr., 604-251-1144. $$

Lolita’s South of the Border Cantina Casual Mexican food with sparkle. Lots of buzz in the room. 1326 Davie St., 604-696-9996. $$

Mexico Sabroso A slice of Mexico. Very inexpensive, authentic Mexican cafe. 440 West Hastings St., 604-688-7426. $

Mouse and Bean Fresh, homey Mexican food, in a funky space. 207 West Hastings, 604-633-1781. $

Rinconcito Salvadorean Restaurant Fresh Salvadorean cuisine. Lovely pupusas. 2062 Commercial Dr., 604-879-2600. $

Tio Pepe’s Yucatan food, nicely prepared. 1134 Commercial Dr., 604-254-8999. $

– MEDITERRANEAN

Circolo Italian, French, and a little bit of New York. Awesome wine list. 1116 Mainland, 604-687-1116. $$$

Provence Mediterranean Grill The menu is a marriage of French and Italian. Lovely flavours. 4473 West 10th Ave., 604-222-1980 and 1177 Marinaside Cres., 604-681-4144. $$

– EASTERN EUROPEAN, CENTRAL ASIAN

Accent Eastern European, French, Russian accents on a continental theme. 1967 West Broadway, 604-734-6660. $$

The Budapest Big doses of Hungarian comfort. Smouldering goulash soup. 3250 Main St. 604-877-1949. $

Rasputin Large selection of vodkas, wonderful live music and dishes such as grilled Georgian cornish game hen. 457 West Broadway, 604-879-6675.$$

– NORTH SHORE

Beach House at Dundarave Pier Spectacular setting for brunch by Dundarave Beach. West Coast cuisine. 150 25th St., West Van, 604-922-1414. $$$

Beach Side Cafe Elegant room, summer patio, fine Italian cuisine. 1362 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-925-1945. $$$

Bravo Cucina Traditional Italian, cooked with care. 1209 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-985-3006. $$

Brown’s Restaurant and Bar Casually chic and bustling bistro with burgers, rice bowls, entrees. 1764 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-929-5401. $/$$

Dundarave Fish Market Charming spot; fabulous seafood from the adjoining fish market. 2419 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-922-1155. $

Gusto Di Quattro Cosy, warm. Italian food. 1 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-924-4444 . $$/$$$

La Regalade A truly, deeply French bistro. Wonderful atmosphere. 2232 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-921-2228. $$/$$$

Mythos Whitewashed walls, azure blue trim say “sun-drenched Greece.” 1811 Lonsdale Ave., North Van, 604-984-7411. $$

Nobu Tiny, with just enough room to make the lovely sushi. 3197 Edgemont Blvd.,North Van., 604-988-4553. $

Palki An Indian restaurant with a good grip on the spices. Fresh ingredients. 116 East 15th St., North Van, 604-986-7555. $$

Saltaire Gorgeous roof patio. Good value West Coast food. 2nd floor – 235 15th St., West Van, 604-913-8439. $$

Zen Japanese Restaurant Creative kitchen, quality ingredients. Good sake list. 2232 Marine Dr., West Van, 604-925-0667. $$/$$$

– BURNABY/NEW WEST

Anton’s Gargantuan portions of pasta. No reservations. 4260 Hastings St., Burnaby, 604-299-6636. $$

Boat House Conservative seafood menu. Restaurant overlooks Fraser River. 900 Quayside, New Westminster, 604-525-3474. $$

Bombay Bhel Lovely Indian food. Menu features Mumbai-style snacks. 4266 Hastings St., 604-299-2500. $/$$

The Hart House In Tudor mansion. Exacting West Coast fare. 6664 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby, 604-298-4278. $$$

Orange Room Casual tapas. International flavours. 620 Sixth Ave., New Westminster, 604-520-6464. $$

Pear Tree Small menu, sublime continental food. 4120 Hastings St., Burnaby, 604-299-2772. $$$

Vassili Souvlaki Greek Taverna Traditional Greek foods with no reticence when it comes to portions. 6558 Kingsway, Burnaby, 604-434-0626. $$

– COQUITLAM, POCO, PORT MOODY

Joey Tomato’s Mediterranean Grill Casual family retaurant. 550 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam, 604-939-3077

John B Pub Above-average pub food. 1000 Austin Ave., Coquitlam, 604-931-5115. $$

Kirin Seafood Restaurant Chinese food for the discriminating palate. 2nd floor, Henderson Place, 1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, 604-944-8833. $$/$$$

Pasta Polo Organic wheat pastas, pizzas. Family restaurant. 2754 Barnet Highway, Coquitlam, 604-464-7656. $/$$

– RICHMOND

Also Lounge and Restaurant A blend of Italian/French with Asian accents and high-end presentation. 4200 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-303-9906. $$

Big River Brewing Co. Pub, serving casual food. 14200 Entertainment Blvd., Richmond, 604-271-2739. $/$$

Bo Kong Restaurant Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. No alcohol. 8100 Ackroyd Rd., Richmond, 604-278-1992. $

The Flying Beaver Bar Funky bar overlooking the Fraser River. 4760 Inglis Dr., Richmond, 604-273-0278. $/$$

Globe at YVR Impressive food, sleek contemporary decor with view of U.S. arrivals terminal. Fairmont Hotel, Vancouver Airport, Richmond, 604-248-3281. $$$

Hon’s Wun-Tun House Noodles and delicious pot stickers, panfried or steamed. 4600 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-273-0871. $

Quilon Restaurant Southern Indian cuisine with notably delicious dosas. 6030 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 604-303-0011. $$

The Rainbow Vegetarian Restaurant Deliciously prepared vegan and vegetarian Buddhist Chinese food. 8095 Park Road, Richmond, 604-273-7311. $

Shiang Garden Part of a successful Taiwanese restaurant chain. Impressive seafood. 2200 — 4540 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-273-8858. $$

Sun Sui Wah Impressive way with seafood. 4940 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-273-8208. $$

Zen Fine Chinese Cuisine Multi-coursed tasting menus and personalized dinners. Excellent. 2015 — 8580 Alexandra Rd., Richmond, 604-233-0077. $$$

– SURREY, WHITE ROCK, DELTA, TSAWWASSEN

Big Ridge Brewing Co. A Mark James restaurant and brew-pub. Families welcome. 15133 Hwy. 10, Surrey, 604-574-2739. $$

Crescent Beach Bistro Rustic country spot. Straight ahead food. 12251 Beecher St., 604-531-1882. $$

Giraffe Charming place, eclectic West Coast menu. 15053 Marine Dr., White Rock, 604-538-6878. $$/$$$

Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club West Coast cuisine. Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club, 18150 — Eighth Ave., Surrey, 604-538-1212 $$/$$

La Belle Auberge In a heritage house in Ladner. Sublime French food. 4856 48th Ave., Ladner, 604-946-7717. $$$

Northview Golf and Country Club High-end dining, nestled amid acres of golf fairways. 6857 168th St., Surrey, 604-574-0324. $$$

Pearl on the Rock Modern Pacific Northwest cuisine with emphasis on seafood. Delicious fare. 14955 Marine Dr., White rock. 604-542-1064. $$$

Southside Grill West Coast cuisine, tasteful ambience. 1201 — 56th St., Tsawwassen, 604-948-2662. $$/$$$

Uli’s Restaurant Continental cuisine on busy restaurant strip. Water view. 15021 Marine Dr., White Rock, 604-538-9373. $$

Wolfie’s Pasta, seafood, and West Coast cuisine and does it well. 15065 Marine Dr., 604-538-1675, White Rock. $$

– FRASER VALLEY

Bacchus Bistro At Domain de Chaberton Estate Winery. Limited hours. Mediterranean food. 1064 — 216th St., Langley. 604-530-9694. $$

Bravo Bistro Swish little bistro, run by former Delilah’s restaurant veterans. 46224 Yale Rd., Chilliwack. 1-604-792-7721. $$

G.M. Restaurant Modest melodic with Indian food. 20726 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge, 604-463-7877. $

Paliotti’s Ristorante Italiano Cosy, old-fashioned Italian restaurant. Kids’ menu too. 12018 Edge St. (at Dewdney Trunk Rd.), Maple Ridge, 604-463-8926. $$

– SQUAMISH AND WHISTLER

Araxi Restaurant & Bar Handsome Tuscan looks, regional cuisine. Outstanding wine list. 4222 Village Square, Whistler, 604-932-4540. $$/$$$

Brew House Rustic with cedar and timbers. Casual food for the family and house brews. 4355 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, 604-905-2739. $$

Ciao Thyme Small and crowded but a budget-minded jewel. Great breakfasts. 4573 Chateau Boulevard, Whistler, 604-932-7051. $

Caramba! Mostly Italian but Spanish, Asian and regional flavours sneak in. 4314 Main St., Whistler, 604-938-1879. $/$$

Fifty Two 80 Bistro Every dish a ‘wow’. Gorgeous room. Four Seasons Hotel, 4591 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, 604-935-3400. $$$

Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Co. The brew pub serves casual fare. The Red Heather dining room offers a finer menu. 37801 Cleveland Ave., Squamish, 604-892-2603. $/$$$

Il Caminetto di Umberto Umberto Menghi’s high-end Whistler restaurant. Features include game. 4242 Village Stroll, Whistler, 604-932-4442. $$/$$$

The Roadhouse Diner at Klahanie Pasta, light meals, entrees with West Coast flavours. Shannon Falls, Highway 99, 604-892-5312. $$

La Rua Refined tastes of the Mediterranean with B.C. backups. Romantic. Le Chamois Hotel, 4557 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, 604-932-5011. $$/$$$

Quattro at Whistler Contemporary Italian cuisine. 4319 Main St., Whistler, 604-905-4844. $$/$$$

Rim Rock Cafe Chalet style restaurant consistently offers exquisite food. 2117 Whistler Rd., Whistler, 604-932-5565. $$$

Trattoria di Umberto Tucked away from the throngs but always packed. Lovely affordable Italian food. 4417 Sundial Place, 604-932-5858. $$/$$$

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

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Zombie computers ‘set to launch global e-mail virus attack’

Thursday, November 24th, 2005

Gillian Shaw
Sun

Armies of zombie computers are being mobilized to launch a global attack on computers in the latest virus outbreak that purports to send pornographic photo and video clips of Paris Hilton, or threatens users with FBI and CIA sanctions.

The virus, a variant of the earlier “Sober” computer virus, was initially assessed as a low risk to computer users, but security specialists upgraded the risk Wednesday as virus-loaded e-mails flooded computer in boxes around the globe in what some analysts are terming the worst outbreak of the year.

“This is tremendously widespread at the moment; it is spamming itself out on a wide scale,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant with the network security firm Sophos. “In terms of prevalence, this is by far the biggest e-mail virus we have seen in months.

“The reason it is so ferocious is because computers which were earlier infected by other versions of the virus have been automatically updated and told to spread the virus even further. It has an extraordinary launch pad.”

MessageLabs, a company that filters e-mails, reported it had intercepted more than 2.7 million copies of the worm, and Sophos said the new variant of the Sober virus was accounting for one in 74 of all e-mails sent around the globe. The virus has been given various names by security companies, including “Sober.Y,” “Sober!M681” and others.

The threats escalated as tens of thousands of hijacked computers, unbeknownst to their owners, were enlisted to send out millions of virus-infected e-mails.

F-Secure Security Labs escalated “Sober.Y” to its highest alert late on Tuesday.

“The numbers we’re now seeing with ‘Sober.Y’ are just huge,” lab staff reported in their weblog. “This is the largest e-mail worm outbreak of the year — so far!”

Alfred Huger, senior director of development for Symantec security response, said Wednesday he doesn’t expect to see the virus spreading more than it already has, but he added that the outbreak was severe.

“I would say this is probably the largest mass mailing worm that we’ve seen this year,” he said.

Huger estimated there are some tens of thousands of computers that are controlled in the bot network, a number that is constantly changing.

“This particular virus has been fairly sophisticated throughout its tenure,” he said of the numerous variants of the “Sober” virus. “It has been used for everything from sending right-wing German nationalist spam to sending regular spam, to downloading trojan [programs] to steal financial data.”

The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team issued an alert Tuesday about the “Sober” variant, including an FBI release warning computer users not to fall for a bogus e-mail that purports to come from the FBI and in one version advises the reader:

“Dear Sir/Madam, we have logged your IP-address on more than 30 illegal websites. Important: Please answer our questions! The list of questions are attached. Yours faithfully, Steven Allison Federal Bureau of Investigation – FBI- 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 3220 Washington, DC 20535, phone: (202) 324-3000.”

Other versions of the virus promise pornographic photos and video clips of Paris Hilton. Unsuspecting computers users open an attachment to the e-mail and then unzip the file to install the virus on their computers. Once installed, it runs undetected, propagating itself by mailing out to any e-mail addresses found on the computer’s hard drive.

The virus itself doesn’t cause systems to collapse, but rather transforms the machines into bots — the so-called robots that are then used as a giant sleeping network that can be turned on and off by the virus writers.

“This shows how well zombie bot networks can be used,” said Cluley. “First of all, it shows how quickly you can be infected by a bot and there is nothing to see.

“Your computer carries on as normal, but in the background it is sending out spam.”

The “Sober” virus and its variants are believed to be the work of a virus writer based in Germany.

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

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Housing boom forecast to continue through 2007

Thursday, November 24th, 2005

Demand will be brisk despite higher interest rates, CUC predicts

Derrick Penner
Sun

Southwestern British Columbia’s housing boom should echo on into 2006 and 2007, the Credit Union Central B.C. is predicting, although at somewhat lower volumes than 2004 and 2005.

Credit Union Central is predicting that although mortgage interest rates are expected to rise by more than a full percentage point over its forecast period, and housing sales and new-home starts will both rise, demand will still be brisk enough to push up selling prices.

Credit Union Central economist Dave Hodben said real estate markets will probably see single-digit increases in sales and starts, not the double-digit increases people have experienced over the past couple of years.

“[But markets] are going to remain at high levels and expand even more,” he said.

Credit Union Central predicts that unit sales across the region will increase an average of about six per cent over 2006 and 2007 to 66,850 transactions in 2006 and as many as 71,000 in 2008.

It forecasts that housing starts will rise an average of two per cent per year in 2006 and 2007, compared with an average 23 per cent per year between 2002 and 2004.

That will put starts at 21,900 for 2006 and 23,150 for 2007.

However, because housing demand is expected to keep on rising as well, Credit Union Central is predicting that house prices will rise at a compounded nine per cent through 2007.

Hodben said rising mortgage interest rates, spurred by expected increases in the Bank of Canada’s key overnight lending rate, will only be in the order of about one percentage point over 2006 with the possibility of rate decreases after that.

“That does slightly dampen housing demand at the margin,” Hodben said. “A few first-time buyers will not be able to get in, or buy as much housing as they want.”

However, Hodben said the expected employment and income growth will help prop up a strong domestic economy, which will “dominate the negative impact of rate increases on the housing market.”

He added that a big part of the demand for housing seems to be coming from buyers who are “not particularly interest-rate sensitive.”

Those are buyers who are using home equity to “move up” or cashing out home equity by “moving down.”

 

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

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Security concerns put brakes on Canadians’ cyber-buying

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005

Gillian Shaw
Sun

More than a third of Canadians will steer clear of cyber shopping this Christmas over fears about a lack of Internet security, according to a survey released by the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft.

Canadians are more anxious about Internet security than their American neighbours, and with some 55 per cent of Canadian businesses in a separate survey admitting their confidential data is at risk of attack, their anxiety may be well-founded.

In the United States, only 24 per cent of people avoid online shopping over security concerns, while 40 per cent of Canadians won’t shop online for that reason.

However, the survey results indicate some Canadians are shopping online despite their concerns, with 88 per cent saying that they feel some Internet retailers have not done enough to protect their online customers.

Consumers are reacting to the security threats, with 96 per cent saying they believe it is important to protect themselves online and 68 per cent of those Canadians who are online having at least three to five security software products on their computers. Anti-virus software is the most popular at 85 per cent, followed by: firewalls, used by 67 per cent of online Canadians; e-mail filtering at 64 per cent; and anti-spyware software at 60 per cent. Only 33 per cent of Canadians report they have web-content filtering or blocking software.

Some 81 per cent of Canadians aren’t confident of their ability to protect themselves from losing personal information to an online threat. Seventy-seven per cent worry about identify theft and 74 per cent say they are not confident they can protect themselves against unsolicited email or spam.

Sheila Luskin, western regional channel manager for AirMagnet, a California-based wireless security firm, who was in Vancouver for a security forum recently, said Canadians have good reason to worry. She said businesses here lag behind their U.S. counterparts in security.

Luskin said that while American businesses face stringent standards around the security of personal data, Canada isn’t as strict.

“Part of it is that compliance here in the U.S. is driving a lot of the need for our product,” she said of her company’s wireless- intrusion detection system.

While she was demonstrating the company’s products in Vancouver, Luskin said she was approached by a B.C. retailer that had discovered a hacker was outside a store wirelessly collecting credit card information on customers inside. She said companies that experience such breaches may be prompted to strengthen their security, but she said otherwise, it is not a high priority.

“There is not the same sense of urgency in Canada,” she said. “I think Canada is more lax with security and I think that is why people are concerned.”

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

 

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Security concerns put brakes on Canadians’ cyber-buying

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005

Gillian Shaw
Sun

More than a third of Canadians will steer clear of cyber shopping this Christmas over fears about a lack of Internet security, according to a survey released by the Canadian Alliance Against Software Theft.

Canadians are more anxious about Internet security than their American neighbours, and with some 55 per cent of Canadian businesses in a separate survey admitting their confidential data is at risk of attack, their anxiety may be well-founded.

In the United States, only 24 per cent of people avoid online shopping over security concerns, while 40 per cent of Canadians won’t shop online for that reason.

However, the survey results indicate some Canadians are shopping online despite their concerns, with 88 per cent saying that they feel some Internet retailers have not done enough to protect their online customers.

Consumers are reacting to the security threats, with 96 per cent saying they believe it is important to protect themselves online and 68 per cent of those Canadians who are online having at least three to five security software products on their computers. Anti-virus software is the most popular at 85 per cent, followed by: firewalls, used by 67 per cent of online Canadians; e-mail filtering at 64 per cent; and anti-spyware software at 60 per cent. Only 33 per cent of Canadians report they have web-content filtering or blocking software.

Some 81 per cent of Canadians aren’t confident of their ability to protect themselves from losing personal information to an online threat. Seventy-seven per cent worry about identify theft and 74 per cent say they are not confident they can protect themselves against unsolicited email or spam.

Sheila Luskin, western regional channel manager for AirMagnet, a California-based wireless security firm, who was in Vancouver for a security forum recently, said Canadians have good reason to worry. She said businesses here lag behind their U.S. counterparts in security.

Luskin said that while American businesses face stringent standards around the security of personal data, Canada isn’t as strict.

“Part of it is that compliance here in the U.S. is driving a lot of the need for our product,” she said of her company’s wireless- intrusion detection system.

While she was demonstrating the company’s products in Vancouver, Luskin said she was approached by a B.C. retailer that had discovered a hacker was outside a store wirelessly collecting credit card information on customers inside. She said companies that experience such breaches may be prompted to strengthen their security, but she said otherwise, it is not a high priority.

“There is not the same sense of urgency in Canada,” she said. “I think Canada is more lax with security and I think that is why people are concerned.”

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

 

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Consumers fear that credit info is at risk online

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005

National surveys show Canadian companies may be vulnerable to criminals

Sarah Staples
Sun

GLENN BAGLO/VANCOUVER SUN FILES Langley RCMP displayed some of the thousands of stolen documents belonging to Greater Vancouver residents — identity cards, drivers’ licences, credit cards — all seized during a raid on an identity-theft ring in August.

Two new national surveys have found disturbing admissions by Canadian companies of their vulnerability to hackers, and evidence that consumers fear personal information is at risk online.

A poll sponsored by a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corp. and released Tuesday found 77 per cent of Canadians were concerned about identity theft, yet 45 per cent don’t regularly check credit reports.

A second telephone survey by Fusepoint, a Mississauga, Ont.-based IT management firm, Symantec Corporation and Sun Microsystems of Canada, Inc., found that eight in 10 Canadians worry about personal information stored in web-accessible databases.

In that survey of 565 Canadian consumers and business leaders, also released Tuesday, 14 per cent of Canadians admitted they had had their identity stolen by various means.

Some 57 per cent of companies answering the Fusepoint telephone poll admitted they were “only somewhat confident at best” in their IT department’s ability to withstand hackers.

The businesses admitted that both confidential corporate data and private customer data is threatened — even though 96 per cent of companies polled had established protections ranging from anti-virus and anti-spyware software to network firewalls or encryption.

“People haven’t been asleep in the wheel; they’ve invested in different types of technology and data security,” said George Kerns, president and CEO Fusepoint Managed Services Inc.

“But they’re still not confident they’ve got it licked.”

From January to October this year, there have been 9,034 victims of identity theft in Canada, totalling $7.2 million in losses, according to PhoneBusters, an RCMP-associated agency.

According to Kerns, company executives are more concerned that their employees might mistakenly download viruses, spyware or adware than they are about hacker intrusions.

One of the major sources of vulnerability are a new brand of malicious e-mails that specifically target employees, said Clemens Martin, professor of business and technology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, a new, tech-oriented university.

People are becoming wise to the classic “phishing” scam, in which victims receive a spam e-mail featuring a link or attachment, or are enticed to a Web site and duped into revealing personal information.

But in a version called “spear phishing,” a perpetrator researches a company before sending fake e-mails to a few employees.

The e-mail, disguised as coming from an internal source, might ask employees to download a screensaver with the corporate logo, or request passwords and other sensitive information be sent to IT managers conducting “network upgrades.”

Downloads contain viruses or malware that afford hackers entry, where real damage can be done including stealing intellectual property, damaging the company’s reputation or cyber-extortion — demanding cash in exchange for protection against future attacks, said Martin, who leads the fledgling university’s hacker IT research lab.

Spear-phishing is lucrative and “astonishing easy,” he said, adding “Traditional phishing attacks cast a wide net to catch many fish; this [spear-phishing] only takes one [employee] to achieve the goal.”

Spear phishers are also targeting ordinary consumers, with e-mails that are addressed directly to them and pretend to come from relatives, friends or business acquaintances.

Canadians are increasingly willing to take a stand, said Kerns.

Thirty-seven per cent, or more than one in four, would consider a lawsuit against a company that left personal information open to attack.

His firm operates 24 hours a day and deflects up to 200,000 hacker attempts daily, he said.

The Capital One survey commissioned Ipsos Reid to poll 2,002 Canadians, yielding a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 per cent.

Fusepoint’s survey, carried out by Leger Marketing, is considered accurate within 4.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

STEALING YOUR GOOD NAME:

Identity theft is a major concern for most Canadians, as excerpts from an Ipsos Reid survey done for Capital One Bank and released Tuesday shows:

77% of Canadians are concerned about identity theft.

10% feel that information available to guard against ID theft is fully adequate.

45% of Canadians do not review or monitor their credit reports on a regular basis.

21% feel that they are not well- or not at all informed on the issue of identity theft.

51% say “No” when asked if they keep unused credit cards locked in a safe place.

14% say they have been victims of “phishing”, which means they provided personal information online to a source posing as a legitimate institution, like a bank.

9,034* victims reported identity theft from January to October of this year.

$7.2 million* was the value of losses from those reported thefts.

Source: Ipsos Reid/*PhoneBusters

ON GUARD:

Tips on how not to become a victim of identity theft or fraud:

– If you are shopping online, only order on secure web sites — to ensure your information is protected look for an unbroken key or padlock at the bottom of your web browser.

– Streamline your wallet. Take only credit cards, cheques and/or cash that you need. This helps control spending and minimizes loss if the worst happens and your wallet is stolen.

– Protect your credit cards. Sign your card, and write that a merchant must “check ID” on the back of the card.

– Hold on to your receipts. When the clerk asks if you’d like to keep the receipt or “put in the bag,” keep it with you and get gift receipts that can be used for returns or exchanges. Store receipts in a safe place and shred them after you are certain the charges match those on your monthly bank and credit card statements.

– Beware of one of the newer credit card fraud scams known as “skimming.” Keep a close eye on your card while your purchases are being processed so that it is not swiped through alternative devices.

– Don’t leave valuables in your car.

Source: Capital One Bank

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

 

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