Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Review of the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-17aug09-en.htm Congress wants permanent ICANN contract http://stephanevangelder.com/archives/259-Congress-wants-permanent-ICANN-contract.html Welcome to dot.Sydney http://www.theage.com.au/small-business/smallbiz-marketing/welcome-to-dotsydney-20090818-eoro.html ICANN proposes geographic domain names http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/icann-proposes-geographic-domain-names-20090819-epzm.html 13 Million .DE Domain Names Registered http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=8942 Study of Russia-Georgia Cyber Conflict Brings Warnings To U.S. Businesses, Citizens http://www.darkreading.com/security/cybercrime/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219400367 au: Domain hijacking causes a union stir http://www.smh.com.au/national/domain-hijacking-causes-a-union-stir-20090818-ep44.html Aussie Deceptive Advertising Condemned by Minister http://www.recentpoker.com/news/gambling-3687.html Vint Cerf pushes for NZ IPv6 transition : Is the transition behind schedule? 'You're damn tooting,' says internet pioneer http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/166603A2EEE14029CC25761700796E93 New Zealand IP address hunger accelerates http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/2831E077D72EA992CC2576160012F638 Torkington elected to InternetNZ council http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/4D89953A21B58452CC2576160081A746 ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Public Comment: Security & Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) Retreat ICANN's Security & Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) is proposing to hold a retreat 30 September ? 1 October 2009. The retreat would inform SSAC members, and help the committee prioritize its activities and prepare a work plan. SSAC would appreciate receiving input on the proposed retreat, including substantive items you think merit SSAC attention. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-18aug09-en.htm Transfer Process Begins for Deaccredited Registrars The Registrar Accreditation Agreements ("RAA") between ICANN and three registrars expired without renewal because the registrars failed to comply with the requirements of their RAA. The three registrars are as follows: South America Domains Ltd doing business as namefrog.com ("South America Domains"), Simply Named Inc ("Simply Named"), and Tahoe Domains Inc. ("Tahoe Domains"). http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-17aug09-en.htm Expressions of Interest Sought for Bulk Transfer of Registrations As the result of the recent de-accreditation of registrar Simply Named Inc. dba SimplyNamed.com (IANA ID 807), ICANN is seeking expressions of interest from ICANN-accredited registrars that might wish to assume sponsorship of the gTLD names that were previously managed this registrar. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-17aug09-en.htm Review of the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) ICANN is seeking to appoint an independent consultant to undertake the first External Review of the ccNSO. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-17aug09-en.htm Fellowship Program Brings Global Voices Together at ICANN Global input and ideas will be on the rise at the 36th International Public Meeting of ICANN thanks to ICANN's on-going Fellowship program. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-18aug09-en.htm Q&A: Icann chief operating officer Doug Brent The chief operating officer at ICANN outlines his view of generic TLDs, and the organisation's controversial relationship with the US government. http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/analysis/2247975/q-icann-coo-doug-brent Congress wants permanent ICANN contract In a letter dated August 4, the US Congress is asking for exactly the opposite to what ICANN and the rest of the world wants. Instead of allowing ICANN to strive towards complete independence and to become a truly global governing body, Congress would like to see it permanently placed under the US government's control. http://stephanevangelder.com/archives/259-Congress-wants-permanent-ICANN-contract.html Welcome to dot.Sydney A domain name that coincides with your brand name is crucial. It means that clients and prospects can remember and type it into their browser address bars more easily. The issue is how much tell-tale detail to supply. Would you want your domain name to end with 'dot.Sydney', ?dot.Melbourne? or whatever your nearest city might be? The tweak might soon be possible. http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/smallbiz-marketing/welcome-to-dotsydney-20090818-eoro.html http://www.watoday.com.au/small-business/smallbiz-marketing/welcome-to-dotsydney-20090818-eoro.html http://www.theage.com.au/small-business/smallbiz-marketing/welcome-to-dotsydney-20090818-eoro.html ICANN proposes geographic domain names A domain name that coincides with your brand name is crucial. It means that clients and prospects can remember and type it into their browser address bars more easily. http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/technology-news/icann-proposes-geographic-domain-names-20090819-epzm.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/icann-proposes-geographic-domain-names-20090819-epzm.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/icann-proposes-geographic-domain-names-20090819-epzm.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/icann-proposes-geographic-domain-names-20090819-epzm.html New gTLDs: Let the Gaming Begin (Part I - TLD Front Running) by Michael D. Palage A series of recent applications for national trademark rights in terms that correspond to likely strings for new TLDs, (e.g., ".BLOG") highlight just one way in which ICANN's new gTLD application process is likely to be "gamed." http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090819_new_gtlds_let_the_gaming_begin_part_1_tld_front_running/ Corporate Domain Registration Practices in Light of New gTLDs by Elisa Cooper, MarkMonitor For years, corporate domain name administrators have scoffed at every new second-level and third-level ccTLD liberalization, and rightly so. Until recently, most had continued the practice of registering significant numbers of variations, misspellings and typo-squats. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090819_corporate_domain_registration_practices_in_light_of_new_gtlds/ ICANN Decertifies Three Domain Registrars There was a time when ICANN looked the other way when domain name registrars played fast and loose with the rules and abused their customers, but things have changed lately. They have decertified several registrars lately for violation of the RAA (Registrar Accreditation Agreement). http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2351671,00.asp ICANN says new policy has killed 'domain tasting' [IDG] The entity in charge of the Internet's addressing system is declaring victory over an abusive trend in registering domain names. http://www.goodgearguide.com.au/article/314827/ ICANN claims death of "domain tasting" ICANN is claiming to have nearly eradicated the practice of "domain tasting" ? registering domain names for short periods of time to see if online ads placed on them have money making potential. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/enterprise/350842/icann-claims-death-of-domain-tasting ICANN claims victory against ?internet graffiti? A new report has shown a near total decline in ?domain tasting? ? registering domain names for short periods of time to see if online ads placed on them have money making potential. http://www.itpro.co.uk/614017/icann-claims-victory-against-internet-graffiti ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** UK businessman hits back in .ae web domain row A UK businessman has hit back at UAE web domain regulator, the .aeDA, after it said he tried to sell the domain name Irena.ae, following claims it wrongfully revoked the domain and transferred it to the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA). http://www.arabianbusiness.com/565110-uk-businessman-hits-back-in-ae-web-domain-row http://www.itp.net/news/565110-uk-businessman-hits-back-in-ae-web-domain-row ae: TRA issues warning over misuse of domain names The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has unearthed a move misusing the name of International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) and issued a warning against such violations. http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090818035233/ New regional TLD initiative: .BAYERN At the helm are two well-known and experienced new TLD entrepreneurs, Markus Sperger and Dirk Krischenowski. Dirk is one of the founders of the .BERLIN initiative. Markus runs one of Germany's larger registrars. http://stephanevangelder.com/archives/258-New-regional-TLD-initiative-.BAYERN.html ch/li: switchplus ? for additional services centred on domain names Who and what is switchplus? switchplus ltd is a limited company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SWITCH. Many of SWITCH?s customers have been expressing the wish to have further services provided by SWITCH in relation to domain names. This is nothing new, but the true extent of the wish only emerged in the results of a customer survey carried out in 2009. The switchplus ltd subsidiary has been set up to provide these additional services. It will act as an equal partner of SWITCH for the registration of domain names. http://switch.ch/about/news/2009/switchplus.html SWITCH sets up new unit for extra domain name services [sub req'd] The SWITCH Foundation, Swiss national registrar for .ch and .li domains, has set up a wholly-owned subsidiary called Switchplus to provide additional services based on domain names. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/ The Chinese Domain Name Bubble Bursts by John Yunker Nearly one year ago, I asked Will .CN become the next .COM? And perhaps I was right in more ways than one. Because now it appears that .CN is experiencing its very own .COM bust. Just a year ago Chinese domain registrations were booming, so quickly in fact that .CN had surpassed .DE to become the most-registered ccTLD. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090818_chinese_domain_name_bubble_bursts/ New Operator, New Policies for .CO ccTLD The Colombian Ministry of Communications has advised that INTERNET S.A.S. will be the new operator of the .CO registry. INTERNET S.A.S. is a Colombian company made up of a consortium of an important group of Colombian companies, Arcelandia S.A. and NeuStar. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/08/18/new-operator-new-policies-for-co-cctld/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/new-operator-new-policies-for-.co-cctld.html 13 Million .DE Domain Names Registered .DE, the country code Top Level domain (ccTLD) for Germany, passed the 13 million registration milestone on 18 August cementing its position for now as the ccTLD with the most registrations worldwide. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=8942 http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/08/19/13-million-de-domain-names-registered/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/13-million-.de-domain-names-registered.html Groups clash over .eco domain names A big-hitting green group hoping to own the rights to sell the .eco domain name has launched a war of words in the hopes of derailing a bid from its main rival. http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=16850 How to Make .Eco a Success You may have recently read about a tiff between two groups competing to launch .eco, a domain name for companies to showcase their environmental friendliness. In one corner you?ve got Dot Eco, LLC, with support from Al Gore. In the other corner is Big Room. There?s also another company that has applied for a trademark to .eco, which could make things messier. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/08/17/how-to-make-eco-a-success/ Cold War 2.0 breaks out over .eco Former US vice president Al Gore and former Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev are vying for the new domain extension .eco, which will join the likes of .com, .org, and .ie next year. The current going rate for the domain is over $100,000 (?71,000). http://www.techcentral.ie/article.aspx?id=13879 Registrations of Second level .GT Domains Available Before Year-End NIC.GT, managers of the ccTLD registry for Guatemala, is opening up the .GT domain name space to allow for registrations at the second level by the end of 2009 in addition to registration at the existing third level registration such as .COM.GT. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/08/18/registrations-of-second-level-gt-domains-available-before-end-2009/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/registrations-of-second-level-.gt-domains-available-before-year-end.html ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Georgia cyberattacks linked to Russian organized crime [IDG] The cyberattacks against Georgia a year ago were conducted in close connection with Russian criminal gangs, and the attackers likely were tipped off about Russia's intent to invade the country, according to a new technical analysis, much of which remains secret. http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/315133/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/170289/.html http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/315133/ http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136719/Georgia_cyberattacks_linked_to_Russian_organized_crime Russian hackers co-ordinated with military, claims US report Russian cyber attacks against Georgia a year ago were conducted in close connection with Russian criminal gangs, and used US identities and software tools, according to a technical report released about the attacks. http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2247947/russian-hackers-ordinated http://www.v3.co.uk/computing/news/2247947/russian-hackers-ordinated http://uk.news.yahoo.com/16/20090817/ttc-russian-hackers-co-ordinated-with-mi-6315470.html Study of Russia-Georgia Cyber Conflict Brings Warnings To U.S. Businesses, Citizens A year-long study of the cyberwar between Russia and Georgia is being published this week, along with some dire warnings to U.S. businesses and individuals. http://www.darkreading.com/security/cybercrime/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219400367 Feds to use wiki for cybersecurity collaboration The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and other agencies will use the wiki for real-time information sharing on threats, attacks, and responses and as a repository for technical and standards information. NCSC is headed by DHS deputy undersecretary of national protection and programs and former Microsoft exec Phil Reitinger, and one of its primary missions is to coordinate federal cybersecurity efforts. http://www.securityinfowatch.com/root+level/1312609 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** au: Domain hijacking causes a union stir The Transport Workers Union has lodged a complaint with the internet regulator after its identity - and the names of top officials - were hijacked online by a rival union. The state secretary, Wayne Forno, is demanding wayneforno.com.au be handed back, along with four other domain names, including tonysheldon.com.au, the name of the federal secretary. http://www.smh.com.au/national/domain-hijacking-causes-a-union-stir-20090818-ep44.html Aussie Deceptive Advertising Condemned by Minister In New South Wales, Australia, a furore has broken out over alleged deceptive advertising involving a well known Internet marketing agency, with Gaming and Racing minister Kevin Greene stepping in to ask legitimate online gambling websites to end any financial association with the offending site. http://www.recentpoker.com/news/gambling-3687.html ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Vint Cerf pushes for NZ IPv6 transition : Is the transition behind schedule? 'You're damn tooting,' says internet pioneer Internet pioneer Vint Cerf began his address at the IPv6 Hui today with a brief history of the internet, from the original Arpanet to todays multi-network, interoperable behemoth. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/166603A2EEE14029CC25761700796E93 New Zealand IP address hunger accelerates New OECD data indicates 75 percent of New Zealand's allocated IP addresses under the old IPv4 internet addressing scheme are already routed and in use. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/2831E077D72EA992CC2576160012F638 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Forget TLDs, Keep Dot Suffix and Move On I have been working on URL, Web address, ID's and Namespace since quite a long time and I have my reservations about the present set up being a complete network. generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs), country codes (cc), .co are all complicating the network, add to that the problem of address shortage plus other problem mentioned in comments and blogs at CircleID. It's time for out of the box thinking. http://www.circleid.com/posts/forget_tlds_keep_dot_suffix_and_move_on/ Torkington elected to InternetNZ council New Zealand internet pioneer Nat Torkington appears to have been elected to the InternetNZ council in a by-election. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/4D89953A21B58452CC2576160081A746 ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Dark Blue Sea Hires Advisor, Defeats Board Resolutions Dark Blue SeaDark Blue Sea has hired an advisor to explore the company?s strategic options, and has won a challenge to its board makeup. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/08/17/dark-blue-sea-hires-advisor-defeats-board-resolutions/ Ad.com Sale Falls Through, Lawsuit Filed Ad.com owner Marcos Guillen has filed a lawsuit against Directi and Skenzo for backing out of its auction purchase of Ad.com. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/08/18/ad-com-sale-falls-through-lawsuit-filed/ ********************** RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** Inferring friendship network structure by using mobile phone data by Nathan Eaglea & Alex Pentlandb and David Lazerc [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences] Abstract: Data collected from mobile phones have the potential to provide insight into the relational dynamics of individuals. This paper compares observational data from mobile phones with standard self-report survey data. We find that the information from these two data sources is overlapping but distinct. For example, self-reports of physical proximity deviate from mobile phone records depending on the recency and salience of the interactions. We also demonstrate that it is possible to accurately infer 95% of friendships based on the observational data alone, where friend dyads demonstrate distinctive temporal and spatial patterns in their physical proximity and calling patterns. These behavioral patterns, in turn, allow the prediction of individual-level outcomes such as job satisfaction. http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/08/14/0900282106.abstract The ?robust yet fragile? nature of the Internet by John C. Doyle, David L. Alderson, Lun Li, Steven Low, Matthew Roughan, Stanislav Shalunov, Reiko Tanaka, and Walter Willinger [2005 - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences] Abstract: The search for unifying properties of complex networks is popular, challenging, and important. For modeling approaches that focus on robustness and fragility as unifying concepts, the Internet is an especially attractive case study, mainly because its applications are ubiquitous and pervasive, and widely available expositions exist at every level of detail. Nevertheless, alternative approaches to modeling the Internet often make extremely different assumptions and derive opposite conclusions about fundamental properties of one and the same system. Fortunately, a detailed understanding of Internet technology combined with a unique ability to measure the network means that these differences can be understood thoroughly and resolved unambiguously. This article aims to make recent results of this process accessible beyond Internet specialists to the broader scientific community and to clarify several sources of basic methodological differences that are relevant beyond either the Internet or the two specific approaches focused on here (i.e., scale-free networks and highly optimized tolerance networks). http://www.pnas.org/content/102/41/14497.abstract ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Bing Keeps Rising ... For the second month in a row ? and the second month since its release ? the company?s new search engine, Bing, has increased its usage and market share in the United States. According to comScore, Bing accounted for 8.9 percent of search queries in the United States in July, up from 8.4 percent in June and 8 percent in May. The July gains appear to have come at the expense of both Google and Yahoo, which each saw their market share decline by .3 percent, to 64.7 percent and 19.3 percent. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/bing-keeps-rising/ Bing rings up search gains, dinging Google, Yahoo [AP] Microsoft Corp.'s souped-up Internet search engine gained a little more ground on industry leaders Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. in July, according to data released late Monday. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/bing-rings-up-search-gains-dinging-google-yahoo-20090818-eo9m.html comScore Study Highlights Challenges and Opportunities for Microsoft-Yahoo! Search Partnership [news release] comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released an analysis of the U.S. search market landscape, following the search partnership announced recently between Yahoo! and Microsoft. The analysis reveals that while the two companies? combined search share still lags Google by a wide margin, their combined search audience offers opportunity to become more competitive in the search marketplace. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2009/8/comScore_Study_Highlights_Challenges_and_Opportunities_for_Microsoft-Yahoo!_Search_Partnership Google, the Search That Satisfies Some pundits talk about Internet users having a ?Google habit? that keeps them hooked on Google and keeps Google the No. 1 Internet search engine. That habit is far from harmful, and consumers don?t feel a need to kick it for a simple reason: Google gives them what they want. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/google-the-search-that-satisfies/ Search for answers to Google's power leaves UK internet firm baffled A British husband and wife team have been waging a three-year battle to get their price comparison website recognised by Google in a saga that sheds new light on the power of the world's largest search engine http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/aug/17/google-search-baffles-internet-firm English Wikipedia hits three million articles It has taken more than eight years and the work of vast numbers of people around the world, but the English version of Wikipedia has finally amassed more than three million articles. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/aug/17/wikipedia-three-million au: Gambling website preys on addicts Problem gamblers who search the web for help from Gamblers Anonymous have instead been redirected to big betting agencies, exhorting them to ??place a bet now??. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/website-preys-on-hooked-punters-20090817-enot.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/2762521/ http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/technology-news/website-preys-on-hooked-punters-20090817-enot.html 38% of large US companies have full-time email monitoring staff, claims research Nearly four in ten companies have staff whose main job is to monitor the outgoing email of colleagues, according to US data security research. More than a third of the companies surveyed hired staff to perform only that monitoring function. http://out-law.com/page-10290 Rogue pharmacies still a problem for search engines With Bing, Microsoft is trying to reinvigorate its role in the search business. It has also inadvertently brought renewed attention to the problem of illicit pharmacies operating on the Internet. http://news.cnet.com/8301-27083_3-10303655-247.html China web addict 'beaten' at camp A teenage boy is in a serious condition after being repeatedly beaten at a boot camp to treat internet addicts in China, state media have reported. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8209422.stm Second teen beaten up at China Internet bootcamp A 14-year-old boy was beaten up and seriously injured at an Internet boot camp within days of a boy dying after a similar attack, state media said on Wednesday. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-41834820090819 Chinese Man Detained in Second Web Addict Beating [IDG] Chinese police have detained a man who beat teenagers sent to an Internet addiction camp he ran, state media said Wednesday. http://www.pcworld.com/article/170480/.html au: NSW Libs clamp down on online comment It will be possible to twitter your way out of the Liberal Party after rule changes that ban members from discussing internal party affairs on blogs or social networking sites. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25954961-5013404,00.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Cyber crooks riding social-networking wave: report [AFP] A new hacking incident report warns there has been a steep rise in attacks at social-networking hotspots including wildly popular microblogging service Twitter. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/cyber-crooks-riding-socialnetworking-wave-report-20090818-eofj.html Hackers using Twitter to control infected PCs [AP] Twitter's been having a rough couple of weeks. A researcher looking into the attacks that knocked Twitter offline last week discovered another, unrelated security problem. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/security/hackers-using-twitter-to-control-infected-pcs-20090817-en5r.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Rwanda: Beware of Child Pornography In The New Times newspaper of Thursday July 30, Betty Mukashema, a teacher of Kagarama Secondary School wrote an article expressing concern over our tradition and culture in relation to the one laptop per child. http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13988&article=18773 http://allafrica.com/stories/200908170034.html Kids wise up about the internet Parents worry about how children use the internet, but it seems kids are wiser than you might think: They are the so-called ?digital natives? who don't remember a time before the internet and move effortlessly between the online and offline worlds. http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/kids-wise-up-about-the-internet-20090818-eo9q.html http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/kids-wise-up-about-the-internet-20090818-eo9q.html http://www.watoday.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/kids-wise-up-about-the-internet-20090818-eo9q.html http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/kids-wise-up-about-the-internet-20090818-eo9q.html au: Under-fives' internet use booming: survey A new report on Australian internet use has found children are getting online earlier than ever before. The Sensis e-business report has been looking at how Australians use the internet for the past 14 years. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/20/2661374.htm au: Teens bet mobiles, virginity Teenagers are betting their mobile phones, running up debt on parents' credit cards and even wagering their virginity, a study of youth gambling has found. http://www.smh.com.au/national/teens-bet-mobiles-virginity-20090817-enox.html au: Cyber bullying - what parents need to know Parents cannot expect to shield their children from online bullying by restricting their internet access, a cyber safety expert has warned. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25946952-5006301,00.html au: People power forces porn filter Community anger and a petition signed by 4664 people have forced the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to take action to install internet filters to block pornography at public libraries. http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/aug/18/people-power-forces-porn-filter/ au: Forum to examine cyber bullying A former computer hacker turned internet safety expert says restricting the internet access of children and teenagers will not save them from so-called "cyber bullying". http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25954395-2682,00.html nz: Sweet surrender We all love chocolate, or most of us do. But no matter how much you love the stuff would you give a total stranger your name, contact number and computer password for a chocolate bar? Surely not. http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/sweet-surrender-2926555 Kiwis compromise security for treats Would you hand your computer passwords to a complete stranger for nothing more than a sweet treat? http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/kiwis-compromise-security-treats-2926847 Let's Network! The results from the NetGuide Telecom survey are in and some of the results show that people are using to the Internet to make contact and keep in touch with each other. http://www.netguide.co.nz/200908191120/let-s-network.php ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Want a Green Music Collection? Go Digital A new study has found that downloading music is substantially better from an emissions perspective than buying compact discs. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/want-to-green-your-music-collection-go-digital/ Why Downloading Music Isn't Always the Greenest Option Back in the 1984, singer Madonna declared (musically), "We are living in a material world." She was right on a couple of counts: During that decade, there was an increased desire to own as much stuff as possible. Moreover, that stuff tended to be of the physical variety. Your music and software inevitably came recorded on plastic or metal, boxed in cardboard. Literature, news, letters, and interoffice memos were almost exclusively printed in ink on paper and often delivered via some form of fuel-consuming vehicle. Having a face-to-face chat with a CEO, client, or grandparent living on the opposite end of the country entailed being physically transported via airplane, train, Greyhound, or whatever your budget afforded. http://infoworld.com/d/green-it/green-report-downloading-music-isnt-always-best-110 http://www.pcworld.com/article/170464/.html Microsoft's Ashley Highfield: 'We must face piracy head on' Ashley Highfield once said he intended to "bring about the end of broadcast media as we know it". So the TV executives soon to assemble in Edinburgh will want to know how close Microsoft UK's managing director of consumer and online is to his goal when he delivers the Futureview address at this year's festival. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/17/microsoft-ashley-highfield-interview Illegal filesharing crackdown launched by UK government The government is pledging to combat internet piracy in the UK with a series of drastic new measures, including ?50,000 fines for those found guilty of illegal filesharing. The move is being pushed through by Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, in a bid to deter the estimated seven million people who illegally share films, music and games online in the UK. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/aug/17/government-launches-illegal-filesharing-crackdown Lord Mandelson calls for internet piracy crackdown : Tougher penalties including fines for parents Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is calling for tougher penalties for illegal downloaders, including fining the parents of children caught illegally file swapping. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=121406& http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/081709-lord-mandelson-calls-for-internet.html New owner presents details on legal Pirate Bay [IDG] The prospective buyer of the file-sharing site The Pirate Bay is planning to implement a system that lets copyright owners remove content from the site in a quest to make it legal, Global Gaming Factory X said on Wednesday. http://www.pcworld.com/article/170438/.html au: A blast from the past: music lovers paying to play Music piracy is not as widespread as it is often depicted, sales of compact discs are proving resilient and traditional music stores are not facing extinction, a new survey suggests. http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mp3s/a-blast-from-the-past-music-lovers-paying-to-play-20090819-eql2.html au: iiNet uses Telecommunications Act to boost copyright case Perth-based internet service provider iiNet has put two new lines of legal defence before the Federal Court in its bid to stop a group of entertainment companies suing it for copyright infringement. http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25951841-15306,00.html S'pore mulls 'three-strikes' law against piracy Authorities here are studying a new approach to stem illegal downloads where recalcitrant pirates will have their Internet access cut if they fail to heed repeated warnings. http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/business/0,39044229,62057025,00.htm MySpace Buys iLike Music Sharing Service Confirming rumors circulating around the Web this week, MySpace said today that it would acquire iLike, a popular music application for social networks that lets users share playlists and make song recommendations. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/myspace-buys-ilike-music-sharing-service/ MySpace buys music site iLike News Corp?s MySpace moved to bolster its entertainment offerings by purchasing iLike, a music application company that has become one of arch-rival Facebook?s most popular services. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4a0e9f4e-8d15-11de-a540-00144feabdc0.html MySpace to acquire music service MySpace will acquire the popular music discovery service iLike that allows users listen to and share music across social networks. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8210708.stm MySpace turns to music sharing service iLike MySpace has signalled the latest attempt to turn around its struggling business by confirming the acquisition of online music discovery service iLike in a deal believed to be worth around $20m. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/19/myspace-ilike Facebook sees the Lite Things happen quickly on the internet, but even by the online world's lightning-fast standards, the past week has been something of a whirlwind for Facebook. First it spent an estimated $50m (?30m) buying Silicon Valley startup FriendFeed, and then it struck a deal with news website the Huffington Post to create a "social news" site. Along the way it also finished a new iPhone application, a stripped-down "Lite" version and a new real-time search tool. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/19/facebook-lite-friendfeed ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Mobile data show friend networks Friendships can be inferred with 95% accuracy from call records and the proximity of users, says a new report. Researchers fitted 94 mobiles in the US with logging software to gather data. The results also showed that those with friends near work were happier, while those who called friends while at work were less satisfied. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8205940.stm European Regulators Examine Reports of Exploding iPhones The European Commission said Tuesday that it was examining the safety of Apple iPhones and iPods, after news reports said that several of the devices had exploded. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/technology/companies/19iphone.html EU launches probe into 'exploding' iPhones and iPods European Union consumer safety watchdogs have launched an investigation into reports that Apple iPods and iPhones are "exploding" in the summer sunshine. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6049620/EU-launches-probe-into-exploding-iPhones-and-iPods.html Apple online App Store faces competition scrutiny Apple, the darling of the consumer electronics industry and self-styled underdog fighting the all-powerful Microsoft, is ? for the first time ? facing regulatory scrutiny for alleged monopolistic practices. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article6798341.ece EU invests a fresh ? 18 million in future ultra high-speed mobile internet [news release] As of 1 January 2010, the EU will invest ? 18 million into research that will underpin next generation 4G mobile networks. The European Commission just decided to start the process of funding research on Long Term Evolution (LTE) Advanced technology, that will offer mobile internet speeds up to a hundred times faster than current 3G networks. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1238 ********************** SPAM ********************** Spammers test filters with obscure formats Spammers are adopting obscure file formats to get attachments passed security filters, Symantec researchers have warned. http://news.techworld.com/security/121442/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/081909-spammers-test-filters-with-obscure.html Federal Court shows no love for fake date spammers The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been granted injunctions and declarations in the Federal Court against two companies and three individuals over fake dating profiles and high-priced SMS spamming. http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/315393/ Court rules against SMS dating scam Australia's media watchdog has won a test case against several parties who were running an elaborate text message spamming scheme. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/19/2660407.htm ACMA granted injunctions and declarations in landmark SMS spam case [news release] The Australian Communications and Media Authority has been successful in obtaining injunctions and declarations against a number of parties involved in the ACMA?s first SMS spam case before the Federal Court. The matter relates to the sending of unsolicited commercial SMS messages. http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311858 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Symantec identifies 'Dirtiest Web Sites of Summer' Symantec is out with its "Dirtiest Web Sites of Summer 2009," which it's calling "the worst of the worst" when it comes to malware threats. http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10313771-238.html Top 100 virus-infected websites exposed [AAP] The 100 websites most affected by viruses each have about 18,000 nasties to attack net users' computers, an internet security company says. http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5842063/top-100-virus-infected-websites-exposed/ http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/top-100-virusinfected-websites-exposed-20090820-erc8.html Symantec Identifies ?Dirtiest Web Sites of Summer 2009? : Norton Safe Web Uncovers the Top 100 Infected Web Sites [news release] For many of us, being online is simply a part of everyday life?whether shopping, banking, or connecting with family and friends. But with the seemingly endless reach of the Internet, how can you tell which sites are safe to visit and which may try to deceive you, steal your personal information or crash your computer? Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) has identified the ?Dirtiest Web Sites of Summer 2009,? the 100 sites with the most threats detected by site ratings service Norton Safe Web as of August 2009. These sites represent the ?worst of the worst? based on the number of threats detected by Norton Safe Web. http://www.symantec.com/about/news/release/article.jsp?prid=20090819_01 'Terrorist Facebook' ? the new weapon against al-Qa'ida Intelligence agencies are building up a Facebook-style databank of international terrorists in order to sift through it with complex computer programs aimed at identifying key figures and predicting terrorist attacks before they happen. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/terrorist-facebook-ndash-the-new-weapon-against-alqaida-1774041.html Recession 'adds to boom in cybercrime' The recession is adding to a boom in cybercrime as computer-literate criminals in poorer countries turn their hand to electronic scams, British researchers said. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6049426/Recession-adds-to-boom-in-cybercrime.html U.S. Indicts 3 in Theft of 130 Million Bank Cards The Department of Justice indicted three individuals on Monday in what it called the largest case of computer crime and identity theft ever prosecuted. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/technology/18card.html Arrest in Epic Cyber Crime : A 28-Year-Old Allegedly Stole 130 Million Card Numbers; 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' A 28-year-old American, believed by prosecutors to be one of the nation's cybercrime kingpins, was indicted Monday along with two Russian accomplices on charges that they carried out the largest computer hacking and identity-theft caper in U.S. history. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125053669921337753.html Double agent who 'stole 130 million card details' He is handsome, he is rich ? he reportedly splurged $75,000 (?45,000) on his own birthday one year ? and has the kind of charm that could dazzle the hardest of men, says a federal secret service agent. But it's not your daughters you need to be locking up: it's your credit cards. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/double-agent-who-stole-130-million-card-details-1774034.html US man 'stole 130m card numbers' US prosecutors have charged a man with stealing data relating to 130 million credit and debit cards. Officials say it is the biggest case of identity theft in American history. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8206305.stm Editorial: Intel?s Human Rights Intel has decided to appeal the $1.45 billion fine leveled against it by the European Union for engaging in anticompetitive behavior, and it is claiming that the proceedings have violated its human right to due process. Several European companies are also testing the tactic to fend off Europe?s aggressive antitrust regulator. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/opinion/17mon2.html 'Soup Nazi' hacked 130 million credit cards: prosecutors United States prosecutors have charged a Miami man with the nation's largest case of credit and debit card data theft. Authorities said Albert Gonzales, 28, had broken his own record for identity theft by hacking into more retail networks to steal data from 130 million accounts. http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/soup-nazi-hacked-130-million-credit-cards-prosecutors-20090818-envg.html The internet - Safe as houses? [The Press] Doctors and computer technicians have many things in common. Excusing the impertinence of lumping my profession in with something as esteemed as the medical profession, the fact is that troubleshooting computer problems is eerily similar to troubleshooting people problems. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/2762365/ au: Model forces Google to reveal 'skank' blogger's identity A former Vogue Australia cover girl has won a landmark court battle to reveal the identity of an anonymous blogger who called her a "skank" and an "old hag". http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/model-forces-google-to-reveal-skank-bloggers-identity-20090819-epz0.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/model-forces-google-to-reveal-skank-bloggers-identity-20090819-epz0.html au: Cybercrime inquiry, warnings unheeded [sub req'd] Banks, carriers and police have delivered a withering assessment of Australia's bid to combat cybercrime, warning federal politicians that efforts by dozens of government agencies to control the online scourge remain disjointed and ineffective. http://www.afr.com/home/viewer.aspx?EDP://20090820000031467265 ************************** PRIVACY ************************** us: Facebook 'will fight' privacy lawsuit [AP] Five Facebook users filed a civil lawsuit Monday alleging that the social networking site is violating California's privacy laws and misleading members about how their personal information is used. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10591536 Facebook privacy lawsuit 'a jumbled mess' While I can't comment on the entire suit, it's clear to me that parts of the just-filed privacy lawsuit against Facebook represent a lack of understanding of how social networks like Facebook work as well as how best to protect children and adults on the Internet. I'm especially baffled by the allegation that Facebook violated the rights of an 11-year-old child because he disclosed that he had swine flu. http://news.cnet.com/8301-19518_3-10312609-238.html NZ doesn't share US cookie angst New Zealand does not appear to share US concerns about using cookies on government websites, but does set a number of controls about when they are used ? and when they are not. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/05981EFC726893ACCC2576160071E34D ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** US tests censorship circumvention tool; Chinese shrug Citizens living in China, Vietnam, Iran, and other countries may soon have another option for bypassing Internet filters, courtesy of a US-based agency. The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) announced on Friday that it was working on a new system that would use e-mail to carry encrypted data to and from the recipient, including information that would otherwise be blocked. http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2009/08/us-tests-censorship-circumvention-tool-chinese-shrug.ars Google: We defended Cyxymu attack to protect free speech The saga of Cyxymu, the Georgian blogger who was at the heart of the recent spate of attacks on major websites, continues with a piece of intriguing spin from Google. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/aug/17/google-cyxymu-free-speech The Internet in the Middle East and North Africa Countries in the Middle East and North Africa continue to invest in IT infrastructure and media projects as part of their strategies to develop the local economies and create employment. Among the major examples are Jordan?s plans to establish a free IT zone in Amman, which will give sales and income tax breaks to the software companies and business development firms based in the zone. The zone is part of a strategy designed to increase the number of Internet users from 26 percent to 50 percent. It aims to increase employment in the sector and to boost the sector?s revenues from $2.2 billion in 2009 to $3 billion by end of 2011. http://opennet.net/research/regions/mena ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: Fake email could be cyber espionage Australia's diplomats have been warned about a fake email amid concerns it could be part of a cyber espionage attempt, possibly originating from China. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/fake-email-could-be-cyber-espionage-20090817-enp0.html http://www.theage.com.au/national/cyberspying-fears-over-fake-email-to-diplomats-20090817-enpl.html uk: Government details how Digital Britain Report will become reality The Government has announced the details of how it will implement the recommendations of the Digital Britain report. It said that though preparatory work on the recommendations will be complete by autumn, some work will not be finished until 2012. http://out-law.com/page-10300 NZ authors protest Google book plan [NZPA] New Zealand authors are crying foul over internet giant Google's efforts to scan and digitise books. Lynley Hood , author of books on baby killer Minnie Dean, novelist Sylvia Ashton-Warner and convicted paedophile Peter Ellis, claimed Google was breaching the 1886 Berne Convention on copyright and was stealing authors' intellectual property and their livelihood. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2768175/ Bahrain's War on Internet piracy Bahrain's telecom watchdog declared war on Internet piracy yesterday, vowing to ensure intellectual property rights were respected by all the country's users. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced it was preparing to work closely with the Culture and Information Ministry after several international companies expressed concern over their intellectual property being illegally shared by users in Bahrain. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=257964 ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Google?s I.P.O., Five Years Later Happy birthday, GOOG. Five years ago today, Google sold shares to the public for the first time in what was one of Silicon Valley?s most discussed, dissected and debated initial public offerings of stock. Its debut on the Nasdaq market on Aug. 19, 2004, came after numerous twists and turns, including a Playboy magazine interview with the company?s founders that drew the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission ? apparently they read it for the articles ? and a last-minute drop in the initial offer price. http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/googles-ipo-5-years-later/ ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** Submarine cable urged for cheaper web for Australians The chief executive of one of Asia's biggest internet providers has said Australian broadband users would be dramatically better off if the Government built an undersea cable to the United States. http://business.theage.com.au/business/submarine-urged-for-cheaper-web-20090818-ep60.html ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** Girl, 16, at risk of extreme cyber-bullying, court told A 16-year-old South Canberra schoolgirl who says she was sexually assaulted by three older teenagers in June is too scared to return to school after a campaign of harassment by friends of her alleged attackers, a court has heard. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/girl-16-at-risk-of-extreme-cyberbullying-court-told/1598607.aspx +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.comReceived on Wed Aug 19 2009 - 23:01:05 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Sat Sep 09 2017 - 22:00:10 UTC