CYTA has discovered that CYTANET customers have been receiving fraudulent e-mail messages.

In a recent message, which is signed by CYTANET Web media, recipients are asked to reveal their e-mail username and password, as part of a so called maintenance procedure for protection from phishing massages and upgrade of their CYTANET account.

The messages are yet another case of the well-known “phishing” scam, which attempts to obtain details of Internet users’ identity, their credit cards numbers, passwords, account details, as well as other personal information by using fraudulent means. Phishing e-mails usually reach recipients as spam in their e-mail inbox or through pop-up windows when users visit certain websites.

This type of fraud has become a global problem which is under constant examination by specialist international organizations as well as Interpol.

CYTA wishes to state that it has nothing whatsoever to do with the sender of these messages and urges its customers to ignore them and, above all, never to reveal their personal information.

It is also stressed and clarified that under no circumstances does CYTANET ask for such information to be sent via e-mail and advises its customers to contact the CYTANET Call Centre on 8000 8080 whenever they have doubts or reservations about any incoming e-mails. Additionally, CYTANET gives updated information to its customers.

All such messages, whether received by e-mail or mobile phone should be ignored.

Cyta Corporate Communications & Public Relations http://www.cyta.com.cy

The 4th plenary meeting of the research project SmoothIT (Simple Economic Management Approaches of Overlay Traffic in Heterogeneous Internet Topologies) took place in Limassol as hosted by PrimeTel. The SmoothIT project that is funded by the EU 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development and more specifically from the Information and Communication Technologies sector (ICT), mobilizes economic theories for the study and application of mechanisms and aims to optimise the traffic impact of overlay applications on ISP and telecommunication operator networks. The project duration is three years and is expected to end by the 31st December 2010.

During the meeting, representatives from all 9 partners of the consortium, as well as members of the Advisory Board, gathered to discuss the work progress, to exchange opinions and to decide collectively on future steps. The honorary guest of the conference was SmoothIT’s project coordinator Dr Burkhard Stiller of the University of Zurich, who spoke extensively and explained to PrimeTime magazine how SmoothIT aims to structure the overlay networks with the most efficient way so as to benefit both Internet user communities and Internet Service Providers.

It is expected that the above target will be possible with the use of economic motives and mechanisms. The objective, upon the successful completion of both the research and trials at PrimeTel’s network, is to lead the team in a pre-commercial prototype that will make, in the long run, the Internet 50-80% more efficient for the suppliers but also the Internet users of services. Dr Stiller stated that the main focus of the project is to provide solutions that will allow network neutrality and a set of traffic management rules for the distribution of data in the Internet that might be also adopted by other providers. SmoothIT had 9 partner organizations from Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Poland, Spain and Cyprus.

PrimeTel hosted a dinner to honour the guests among whom were respectable collaborators and friends of PrimeTel, such as Mr. Sotiris Sotiriou, General Director of the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency (CIPA) and Professor George Ellinas from KIOS research centre. On behalf of PrimeTel, Mr. Philippos Vatiliotis, member of the board of directors, welcomed the respectable guests.

For further information regarding PrimeTel and its broadband services, please visit www.primehome.com.