The Home Depot, Inc. ( NYSE :HD) is blaming Microsoft Corporation ( NASDAQ : MSFT )’s systems for the security breach issue of its payment data system. Following the breach, the company has bought two dozen new Apple Inc. ( NASDAQ : AAPL )’s iPhones and MacBooks for its senior executives. It reflects that the home-improvement retailer have lost some of its confidence in the Microsoft-based systems.
The issue
In the recent security breach happened at The Home Depot, Inc. ( NYSE :HD) payment data systems 53 million email addresses and 56 million credit card accounts of customers were compromised. The home-improvement retailer considers that Microsoft Corporation ( NASDAQ : MSFT )’s Window’s vulnerability is the main cause of the security breach. It made the entire computer network vulnerable to attacks.
The security breach
Hackers gained the credentials from external vendors for getting access to The Home Depot, Inc. ( NYSE :HD)’s systems. Once hackers got access to the system, they easily disrupted the security levels existing between main computer network and third-party vendor system. They used the loopholes existing in Microsoft Corporation ( NASDAQ : MSFT )’s Windows operating system to break the security barriers. Microsoft issued a security patch to solve the breach issue. However, the step was taken too late to stop the breach. Till the time the patch was issued, the hackers got access to the Home Depot’s payment data system.
The change in systems
The Home Depot, Inc. ( NYSE :HD) has now provided its senior executives with Apple’s MacBooks and iPhones. It is not that Apple devices have not faced any security problems in past. They even had security issues but still Apple Inc. ( NASDAQ : AAPL )’s iPhone and MacBooks are comparatively secure platforms. They can deal with the malware and other threats in a much better way. Still, the use of Apple Inc. ( NASDAQ : AAPL )’s MacBooks and iPhones can solve the problem of security breaches for the Home Depot or not, time will tell. It is a high time for The Home Depot to seriously find the cause of the problem.
| % Shares Owned: | 63.31% |
| # of Holders: | 2,769 |
| Total Shares Held: | 3,712,849,755 |
| 3 Mo. Net Change: | -26,891,913 |
| # New Positions: | 62 |
| # Closed Positions: | 33 |
| # Increased Positions: | 543 |
| # Reduced Positions: | 650 |
| # Net Buyers: | -107 |
Apple Inc. (Apple), incorporated on January 3, 1977, designs, manufactures and markets [2] mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. The Company’s products and services include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, Apple TV, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the iOS and OS X operating systems, iCloud, and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings. In March 2013, the Company acquired a Silicon Valley startup, WiFiSlam, which makes mapping applications for smart phones. Effective July 19, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Locationary Inc. Effective July 20, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Hopstop.com Inc. Effective August 28, 2013, Apple Inc acquired AlgoTrim AB, a Malmo-based developer of prepackaged software. In November 2013, Apple Inc bought PrimeSense Ltd. Effective December 2, 2013, Apple Inc acquired Topsy Labs Inc. In February 2014, Apple Inc acquired Burstly Inc. Effective April 3, 2014, Apple Inc acquired Novauris Technologies Ltd. Effective August 1, 2014, Apple acquired Beats Electronics LLC (Beats).
The Company offers a range of mobile communication and media devices, personal computing products, and portable digital music players, as well as a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions and third-party hardware and software products. In addition, the Company offers its own software products, including iOS, the Company’s mobile operating system; OS X, the Company’s Mac operating system; and server and application software. The Company’s primary products include iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, iTunes, Mac App Store, iCloud, Operating System Software, Application Software and Other Application Software.
iPhone
iPhone combines a mobile phone, an iPod, and an Internet communications device in a single handheld product. Based on the Company’s Multi-Touch user interface, iPhone features desktop-class email, Web browsing, searching, and maps and is compatible with both Mac and Windows-based computers. iPhone automatically syncs content from users’ iTunes libraries, as well as contacts, bookmarks, and email accounts. iPhone allows customers to access the iTunes Store to download audio and video files, as well as a variety of other digital content and applications. In September 2012, the Company launched iPhone 5, its latest version of iPhone. In addition to the Company’s own iPhone accessories, third-party iPhone compatible accessories are available through the Company’s online and retail stores and from third parties.
iPad
iPad is a multi-purpose mobile device for browsing the Web, reading and sending email, viewing photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and more. iPad is based on the Company’s Multi-Touch technology and allows customers to connect with their applications and content in a more interactive way. iPad allows customers to access the iTunes Store to download audio and video files, as well as a variety of other digital content and applications. In March 2012, the Company launched the iPad, its third generation iPad, and in October 2012, the Company announced its fourth generation iPad and iPad mini. In addition to the Company’s own iPad accessories, third-party iPad compatible accessories are available through the Company’s online and retail stores and from third parties.
Mac
The Company offers a range of personal computing products, including desktop and portable computers, related devices and peripherals, and third-party hardware products. The Company’s Mac desktop and portable systems feature Intel microprocessors, the OS X operating system and the iLife suite of software for creation and management of digital photography, music, movies, DVDs and Websites. The Company’s desktop computers include iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini. The Company’s portable computers include MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.
iPod
The Company’s iPod line of portable digital music and media players includes iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffle and iPod classic. All iPods work with iTunes. In addition to the Company’s own iPod accessories, third-party iPod-compatible accessories are available through the Company’s online and retail stores and from third parties.
The iPod touch, based on iOS, is a flash-memory-based iPod with a widescreen Retina display, a Multi-Touch user interface, and built-in iSight camera. iPod touch allows customers to access the iTunes Store to download audio and video content, as well as a variety of digital applications. The iPod nano is a flash-memory-based iPod that features the Company’s Multi-Touch interface allowing customers to navigate their music collection by tapping or swiping the display and built-in Bluetooth for wireless listening. The iPod shuffle is a flash-memory- based iPod that features a clickable control pad to control music playback and VoiceOver technology enabling customers to hear song titles, artists and playlist names. The iPod classic is a hard-drive based portable digital music and video player.
iTunes
iTunes is an application that supports the purchase, download, organization and playback of digital audio and video files and is available for both Mac and Windows-based computers. iTunes features integration with iCloud, AirPlay wireless music playback, Genius Mixes, Home Sharing, and syncing functionality with iOS devices. iTunes is integrated with the iTunes Store, a service that allows customers to discover, purchase, rent, and download digital content and applications.
The iTunes Store includes the App Store and iBookstore.
Mac App Store
The Mac App Store allows customers to discover, download and install Mac applications. The Mac App Store offers applications in education, games, graphics and design, lifestyle, productivity, utilities and other categories. The Company’s OS X operating system software and its iLife, iWork and other application software titles are also available on the Mac App Store.
iCloud
iCloud is the Company’s cloud service, which stores music, photos, applications, contacts, calendars, and documents and wirelessly pushes them to multiple iOS devices, Mac and Windows-based computers. iCloud’s features include iTunes in the Cloud, Photo Stream, Documents in the Cloud, Contacts, Calendar, Mail, automatic downloads and purchase history for applications and iBooks, and iCloud Backup. Users can sign up for free access to iCloud using a device running qualifying versions of iOS or OS X.
Software Products and Operating System Software
The Company offers a range of software products for consumers and for SMB, education, enterprise and government customers, including the Company’s iOS and OS X operating system software; server software; professional application software; and consumer, education, and business oriented application software. iOS is the Company’s mobile operating system that serves as the foundation for iOS devices. iOS supports iCloud and includes features, such as Notification Center, a way to view and manage notifications in one place; iMessage, a messaging service that allows users to send text messages, photos and videos between iOS devices, and Maps, with turn-by-turn navigation. iOS supports Siri, a voice activated intelligent assistant, which is available on qualifying iOS devices. OS X, the Company’s Mac operating system, is built on an open-source UNIX-based foundation.
Application Software
iLife is the Company’s consumer-oriented digital lifestyle application suite included with all Mac computers. iLife features iPhoto, iMovie, iDigital Versatile Disc (DVD), GarageBand and iWeb. iPhoto is the Company’s consumer-oriented digital photo application and iMovie is the Company’s consumer-oriented digital video editing software application. iDVD is the Company’s consumer-oriented software application that enables customers to turn iMovie files, QuickTime files, and digital pictures into interactive DVDs. GarageBand is the Company’s consumer-oriented music creation application that allows customers to play, record and create music. iWeb allows customers to create online photo albums, blogs and podcasts, and to customize websites using editing tools.
iWork is the Company’s integrated productivity suite designed to help users create, present, and publish documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. iWork includes Pages for word processing and page layout, Keynote for presentations, and Numbers for spreadsheets. The Company also has a Multi-Touch version of each iWork application designed specifically for use on iOS devices.
Other Application Software
The Company also sells various other application software, including Final Cut Pro, Logic Studio, Logic Pro, and its FileMaker Pro database software. The Company manufactures the Apple LED [3] Cinema Display and Thunderbolt Display. The Company also sells a range of Apple-branded and third-party Mac-compatible and iOS-compatible peripheral products, including printers, storage devices, computer memory, digital video and still cameras, and various other computing products and supplies. Apple TV allows customers to watch movies and television shows on their high definition television. Content from iTunes, Netflix, YouTube, and Flickr, as well as music, photos, videos, and podcasts from a Mac or Windows-based computer can also be wirelessly streamed to a televisi on through Apple TV.
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