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 *************************************************** Interview: Vint Cerf on what the Net needs now - Thoughts on policy, security from an Internet pioneer http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225200768 New gTLD Draft Applicant Guidebook, Version 4 Available for Public Comment http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-4-31may10-en.htm Updates to New gTLD Posting http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-01jun10-en.htm EU?s Kroes praises eu domain name http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/eu?s-kroes-praises-eu-domain-name nz: Consultation Paper on Registrant Search Functionality http://dnc.org.nz/story/consultation-paper-registrant-search-functionality nz: Proposed Registering, Managing & Cancelling Policy Amendments http://dnc.org.nz/story/proposed-registering-managing-cancelling-policy-amendments nz: Porn king Crow labels .xxx domain a timewaster http://www.3news.co.nz/Porn-king-Crow-labels-xxx-domain-a-timewaster/tabid/412/articleID/158114/Default.aspx?ArticleID=158114 Hilarious web addresses revealed in new book http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/7787167/Hilarious-web-addresses-revealed-in-new-book.html ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Interview: Vint Cerf on what the Net needs now - Thoughts on policy, security from an Internet pioneer We bumped into Vint Cerf in the hallways of the Santa Clara Convention Center while he was on his way to give a keynote address on smart grids at Connectivity Week. The co-developer of the Internet's TCP/IP protocol, now an Internet evangelist for Google, sat down with us for a few minutes to catch up on the wide variety of projects in which he is interested. They range from government policy and privacy to cryptography and flow routers. http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225200768 ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** New gTLD Draft Applicant Guidebook, Version 4 Available for Public Comment A fourth draft of the Applicant Guidebook that describes the process of applying for new generic top-level domains was released today along with explanatory memoranda and detailed analysis of comments received. The program continues to improve and moves toward completion thanks to the outstanding collaboration from the ICANN Community working groups whose expertise helped to address and bring toward closure several challenging issues. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-4-31may10-en.htm Proposed GNSO Working Group Guidelines Published; WG-WT Publishes its Report As part of GNSO Improvements, which has as its objective to improve the structure and operations of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), a Working Group (WG) Work Team (WT) was tasked with developing a Working Group Model. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-31may10-en.htm Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery Working Group Publishes its Initial Report The GNSO Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery (PEDNR) Policy Development Process (PDP) Working Group has published its Initial Report today. The PEDNR WG was tasked to address questions in relation to what extent should registrants be able to reclaim their domain names after they expire. At issue is whether the current policies of registrars on the renewal, transfer and deletion of expired domain names are adequate. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-31may10-en.htm New GNSO Policy Development Process Revealed As part of GNSO Improvements, the Policy Development Process (PDP) Work Team (WT) was tasked to developing recommendations for a new GNSO policy development process. ICANN?s policies have wide-ranging impact on how domain names are handled in the gTLD environment, so the method of developing the policies matters. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-31may10-en.htm Call for Applicants for a Position of Volunteer Review Team Member The Affirmation of Commitments calls for a periodic review of four key ICANN objectives, namely: http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01jun10-en.htm Updates to New gTLD Posting ICANN published yesterday for public comment the Draft Applicant Guidebook, version 4 and several accompanying documents. These documents are being updated today with the following: http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-01jun10-en.htm ICANN Status Report to the GNSO Council on AGP Limits Policy Implementation ICANN today is posting its third status report [PDF, 224 KB] to the GNSO on the implementation of its recommendations for the Add Grace Period (AGP) Limits Policy. The success of the Policy is evidenced by the 99.7% reduction in AGP deletes since the Policy went into effect in April 2009. This report presents ICANN?s experience implementing the Policy, provides statistical information on net new registrations, AGP deletes, the percent of names deleted during the AGP for each TLD, and the disposition of exemption requests for the period. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-02jun10-en.htm AoC Accountability and Transparency Review: Independent Expert ? Request for Proposals In the Affirmation of Commitments (AoC), ICANN commits to maintain and improve robust mechanisms for public input, accountability and transparency so as to ensure that the outcomes of its decision-making reflect the public interest and are accountable to all stakeholders. To this end, the AoC prescribes the setting-up of a Review Team as to evaluate ICANN?s Accountability and Transparency ? this led to the creation of the first ATRT in March 2010. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-02jun10-en.htm ICANN Releases Fourth Version of the New gTLD Draft Applicant Guidebook A fourth draft of ICANN's New gTLD Draft Applicant Guidebook has been released. In addition to the Applicant Guidebook, ICANN has also published summaries and analysis of the public comment period. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20100601_icann_releases_fourth_version_of_gtld_draft_applicant_guidebook/ The Internet Tribe & New gTLDs by Robert Rozicki Much has already been written about the prospects and challenges associated with the introduction of new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). This post were originally written for my personal blog but a good industry friend has persuaded me to post it (and more) on CircleID. During this series I will attempt to show how the introduction of new gTLDs is ultimately a "win win win" scenario. A win for innovation, a win for commerce and most importantly a win for internet users. So where to begin? We'll begin with the concept that we are all internet Tribe members. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20100602_the_internet_tribe_new_gtlds/ For ICANN, a New Path Toward an Old Goal by R. Shawn Gunnarson The DNS White Paper has stood the test of time remarkably well. More than a decade after it was published, its principles of stability, competition, and private-sector-led DNS management remain the gold standard for DNS governance. ICANN is struggling to achieve that standard, however, and a dramatic change in direction may need to be considered. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20100602_for_icann_a_new_path_toward_an_old_goal/ Will A Domainer Who Lost A Few UDRP?s Be Barred From Owning Or Being Involved With A New gTLD? One of the nuggets in the The 312 page ICANN gTLD Guidebook 4th edition, released over the weekend was a catch all disqualification clause: http://www.thedomains.com/2010/06/01/will-a-domainer-who-lost-a-few-udrps-be-barred-from-owning-or-being-involved-with-a-new-gtld/ No Country Names in New TLD Round The latest version of the draft applicant guidebook for new top level domain names prohibits country names (e.g. .mexico) from being registered. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/06/01/no-country-names-in-new-tld-round/ ICANN Should Create Filter Before Opening Comments on New TLDs On page 1-6 of the fourth draft applicant guidebook for new top level domain names, ICANN has moved its language regarding a comment periods. I hadn?t really paid attention to it before. Essentially, once applications for new top level domains (such as .sport or .nyc) are posted, anyone will be able to submit a comment that will be considered by the application evaluation team: http://domainnamewire.com/2010/06/01/icann-should-create-filter-before-opening-comments-on-new-tlds/ ICANN Opens Floodgates Over Holiday Weekend Maybe it was because this weekend was the end of the month. Or perhaps it was to meet deadlines for the upcoming ICANN conference. Regardless, ICANN chose a U.S. holiday weekend to release a number of very important documents. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/06/01/icann-opens-floodgates-over-holiday-weekend/ ICANN Releases Interim ICANN ahead of the international meeting in Brussels, Belgium this month, has released the draft of the community-wide Geographic Regions Review Working Group (WGGR). http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=32453 http://allafrica.com/stories/201006020616.html The ICANN Board by the ICANN Board A self-appraisal of the ICANN Board has just been posted on the organization?s website. In it, Board members rate 89 different measures of their own performance according to a seven-measure rating from ?strongly disagree? to ?strongly disagree?. Unfortunately, despite plenty of figures in the documents, there is zero analysis of what this all means, so I have gone through them and prepared one. http://kierenmccarthy.com/2010/06/02/the-icann-board-by-the-icann-board/ Consumers say it would be easier to find sites with domains like .YourBrandHere Retailers and consumer goods manufacturers may soon have the option of creating a domain name based on their brands, such as .Amazon or .Canon, or a category such as .sport. A survey suggests some U.S. consumers would find it easier to find such sites and might have more confidence in a brand that has its own web domain. http://www.internetretailer.com/2010/06/02/new-web-addresses ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** auDA Considers Proposals For New .au Domains The Australian Domain Name Administrator (auDA) is responsible for the development and implementation of policy relating to the use and allocation of .au domains. http://www.mondaq.com/australia/article.asp?articleid=101930 Abbottfacts.com.au exposes double standards at auDA It took just 3 hours for auDA to terminate stephenconroy.com.au yet 6 weeks since a complaint was lodged against abbottfacts.com.au, nothing has happened. http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/government-tech-policy/39541-abbottfactscomau-exposes-double-standards-at-auda Bahrain TRA invites ideas on .arab domain People, companies, organisations and government bodies have been invited by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to share ideas and suggestions on the proposed .arab (dot Arab) domain registry. http://www.tradearabia.com/news/newsdetails.asp?Sn=IT&artid=180797 Nic.at Introduces Whois Privacy Changes Nic.at, the registry for .AT domain names, has introduced changes to its Whois privacy rules. As of 7 January 2010, phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses are all hidden by default. http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/05/31/nicat-introduces-whois-privacy-changes/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/nic.at-introduces-whois-privacy-changes.html EU?s Kroes praises eu domain name EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes says an eu domain name is becoming an ever more obvious marketing choice for companies and inter-governmental organisations. http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/eu?s-kroes-praises-eu-domain-name nz: Consultation Paper on Registrant Search Functionality Following a previous public consultation regarding additional search functionality for .nz domain names, it has been agreed by the DNCL Board that limited searches by registrant name should be permitted. http://dnc.org.nz/story/consultation-paper-registrant-search-functionality nz: Proposed Registering, Managing & Cancelling Policy Amendments DNCL is seeking comments on proposed changes to the Registering, Managing and Cancelling Domain Names (RMC) policy. The proposed changes all relate to the requirements around name servers. http://dnc.org.nz/story/proposed-registering-managing-cancelling-policy-amendments nz: Porn king Crow labels .xxx domain a timewaster New Zealand porn king Steve Crow has labeled the new ?.xxx? domain ?a waste of time". http://www.3news.co.nz/Porn-king-Crow-labels-xxx-domain-a-timewaster/tabid/412/articleID/158114/Default.aspx?ArticleID=158114 ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Cyberattacks seen as top threat to zap U.S. power grid Cyber attacks, pandemics and electromagnetic disturbances are the three top "high impact" risks to the U.S. and Canadian power-generation grids, according to a report from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC). http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/060210-nerc-cyberattack-power-grid.html Defense Bill Includes Cybersecurity Legislation An amendment to the Defense authorization bill, which the House passed Friday, would push through committee efforts to update information security requirements for agencies and establish a separate cybersecurity office in the White House, Nextgov.com reported. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/06/defense-bill-includes-cybersec.php Cybersecurity overhaul stands a good shot at passage Congress' decision to include key cybersecurity provisions in the House and Senate Defense authorization bills increases their odds for passage, said one security expert, although amalgamating numerous pieces of cyber legislation could make establishing a final consensus a challenge. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100601_5363.php ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** Original Registrant of CamRoulette.com Sued The domain name world was shocked with CamRoulette.com sold for $151,000. The original registrant of the domain name was kicking himself for selling it for only $1,400. But now he has bigger problems: another person says he had an agreement to buy the domain name for $700. He?s suing for $150,300, the difference between what he offered to buy the domain for and what it sold for at auction. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/05/31/original-registrant-of-camroulette-com-sued/ Pirate comic sites shut down Six websites run by a Florida man violated copyright laws by allowing visitors to view Batman and other comic books for free without permission from the publishers or authors, government lawyers charge in a federal lawsuit. http://www.odt.co.nz/news/technology/108452/pirate-comic-sites-shut-down ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Nigeria Needs Internet Registry - Rudman Managing Director, Internet eXchange Point Nigeria Limited (IXNP), Mr. Muhammed Rudman, has advocated for the establishment of a National Internet Registry (NIR) to oversee the management of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in the country. http://www.champion.com.ng/index.php?news=32451 http://allafrica.com/stories/201006020617.html Net shakeup looms as IPv4 resources start running low Analysis: A new study has called into question the previous received wisdom that IPv4 addresses are running out, forcing the long-heralded move to IPv6. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/01/ipv4_exhaustion_analysis/ Zscaler Releases Q1 2010 ?State of the Web? Report [news release] Zscaler today released its Q1 2010 State of the Web report. The report details the enterprise threat landscape and the variety of Web-based issues plaguing Internet users. Among numerous findings, the report details several growing threat vectors, including attackers leveraging search engines and growing fake anti-virus threats. ... A graphical Hilbert Curve representation of the Web shows that despite reports stating we?re running out of IPv4 address space, much of the Internet actually remains untouched. http://zscaler.com/20100525_Press-Release-Q1-webreport.html ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** No German female president domain name registered President Horst Koehler's unexpected resignation this week could create a new headache for Germany, as it emerged on Wednesday that no internet domain has been secured for a potential female president. http://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/12807-female-president-domain-name-registered.html Germany caught without website address for female president [DPA] President Horst Koehler's unexpected resignation this week could create a new headache for Germany, as it emerged on Wednesday that no internet domain has been secured for a potential female president. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1560290.php/Germany-caught-without-website-address-for-female-president http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/326881,germany-caught-without-website-address-for-female-president.html Hilarious web addresses revealed in new book The compendium of ill thought out web addresses, largely from companies who naively slurred their innocent-sounding names into a single word without noticing the resulting double entendres, lists more than 150 "slurls", or slur URLs. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/7787167/Hilarious-web-addresses-revealed-in-new-book.html ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Some investors refuse to lose faith in domain names As mobile technology changes fast, so do chances to invest in it. The popularity of Facebook pages and smartphone apps may signal the death of dot mobi. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/30/1656390/some-investors-refuse-to-lose.html Dan Warner's Wild Ride: He's Been Up and Down and Over and Out But Know One Thing - He's Still in the Race (and He Plans to Win) In his classic song "That's Life" Frank Sinatra sang, "I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king. I've been up and down and over and out and I know one thing: each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race." The 49 words in that verse are Dan Warner's life in a nutshell, but we have the entire previously untold story here. http://dnjournal.com/cover/2010/may.htm Warning: This NPR Story About Domain Names Might Enrage You Don?t click through to this NPR Marketplace story if you?re agitated today. It will only flip you off the edge. In a story today titled ?Biz model for domain names to change?, things don?t start off well: http://domainnamewire.com/2010/06/01/warning-this-npr-story-about-domain-names-might-enrage-you/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Google's Chrome 'in retreat,' says Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) gained browser usage share last month in the U.S., while major rivals Firefox and Chrome both lost ground, Microsoft said today, citing data from Web analytics firm Net Applications. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177563/Google_s_Chrome_in_retreat_says_Microsoft http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/348576/google_chrome_retreat_says_microsoft/ Internet Explorer 8 Gains at Expense of Chrome and Firefox The results are out from the latest Net Applications survey of Web browser market share, and Google continues to capture market share and headlines with its Chrome Web browser. Drilling down into the stats, though, and looking behind the curtain reveals that real winner in the market share department is Internet Explorer 8. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/197736/.html Facebook founder predicts personalised sites are the future Personalised websites will be the future of the internet as people willingly share more of their information, Mark Zuckerberg predicted as he was grilled over Facebook?s approach to privacy. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article7143117.ece http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/technology/internet/article2539357.ece Facebook: friend or foe? Google is attacked as a parasite on news sites, yet the true threat could be the social network giant Facebook. Is Rupert Murdoch directing his ire at the wrong target? http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/31/facebook-friend-foe-traffic The dirty facts on internet porn Internet porn is a massive business, with an estimated 70% of men aged between 18-24 checking out porn online in the last month. Online MBA put together a fascinating array of statistics into this glorious illustrated graph: http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/06/02/the-dirty-facts-on-internet-porn/ ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Yahoo to turn subscribers' e-mail contact lists into social networking base Yahoo plans to announce Tuesday that it is jumping into social networking by using its massive population of e-mail subscribers as a base for sharing information on the Web. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/01/AR2010060100577.html Police investigate Habbo Hotel virtual furniture theft Thieves have struck again in the virtual world Habbo Hotel. Finnish police are investigating up to 400 cases of theft, with some members reporting the loss of up to ?1000 (?840) worth of virtual furniture and other items, according to Detective Sergeant Marko Levonen. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10207486.stm Facebook users warned of scam [AFP] INTERNET security firm Sophos has warned Facebook users to be on the alert for a scam which sends a spam message to all of their friends on the social network. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/facebook-users-warned-of-scam/story-e6freuyi-1225874553996 Norwegian consumer group calls for tighter Facebook regulation Facebook denies users their basic rights and should be brought into line by privacy regulators, according to Norway's consumer protection organisation the Consumer Council. It has filed a complaint with regulators about the company. http://out-law.com/page-11073 Social networking is big on mobile, comScore says U.S. residents have significantly increased their online social-networking activities via their mobile phones, making these sites and applications one of the hottest in the mobile space, according to comScore. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177615/Social_networking_is_big_on_mobile_comScore_says http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/197820/.html Social Networking Ranks as Fastest-Growing Mobile Content Category [news release] comScore ... released a report on the fastest-growing mobile application and browser content categories based on data from its MobiLens service. The report found that social networking led as the top-gaining category for both application and browser access, confirming the surging popularity of this service on mobile devices. The study also found that accessing Bank Accounts was one of the fastest-gaining categories via both app and browser, as the convenience of mobile banking continues to appeal to a growing number of consumers. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/6/Social_Networking_Ranks_as_Fastest-Growing_Mobile_Content_Category uk: Wigan pond death Facebook group hit by 'vile' comments Friends of a suspected murder victim have hit out at anonymous users who bombarded a Facebook tribute group with offensive comments and pictures. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/10210169.stm Facebook 'likejacking' attacks continue with flesh appeal Facebook users are falling for yet another clickjacking scam that fools them into "liking" a page. This one lure victims with the message "Paramore n-a-k-ed photo leaked," which claims to point to a Web site containing a naked photo of Hayley Williams, lead singer in the rock band Paramore. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177618/Facebook_likejacking_attacks_continue_with_flesh_appeal ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** Jakob Nielsen critiques the iPad's usability failings Usability guru Jakob Nielsen has just published a report on the iPad, and thinks Apple should allow more diversity on its platforms ? including the option for Adobe Flash http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jun/02/apple-ipad-usability-failings ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ 'Anti-grooming' software can detect paedophiles Scientists have developed "anti-grooming" software which can tell young people if they are chatting to an adult posing as a child on the internet. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/antigrooming-software-can-detect-paedophiles-1988874.html South African police trained in Toronto to fight child exploitation John Hancock still remembers the five images that changed his life. ?Calling it child pornography just sends the wrong message,? he said of the images shown to him and a group of Microsoft executives in 2003 by former Toronto child-exploitation officer Paul Gillespie. ?These were crime scene images. These were children being abused.? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/south-african-police-trained-in-toronto-to-fight-child-exploitation/article1587503/ au: iiNet: Conroy misrepresents our filtering stance iiNet has rejected public statements from Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, that it supports the Government?s proposed Internet filtering policy. http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/348361/iinet_conroy_misrepresents_our_filtering_stance/ iiNet: we ain't Conroy's filter lackey National broadband provider iiNet today rejected Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's claim over the weekend that it welcomed the Government's filtering project. http://www.zdnet.com.au/iinet-we-ain-t-conroy-s-filter-lackey-339303549.htm us: FTC To Host COPPA Workshop The FTC is set to host its first workshop Wednesday on whether to update the rule implementing a law aimed at protecting children's privacy online. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/06/ftc-to-host-coppa-workshop.php Public Roundtable to Review Impact of Technology Changes on FTC's Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule In light of rapidly changing technology such as the increased use of smartphones and other devices to access websites and online services, as well as new methods for collecting and using information online, the Federal Trade Commission will host a public roundtable, ?Protecting Kids? Privacy Online: Reviewing the COPPA Rule,? on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 to explore whether to update its Children?s Online Privacy Protection Rule. http://ftc.gov/opa/2010/06/coppa.shtm FTC Grapples With Updating COPPA Children's advocates, technology and legal experts, Web site operators and others struggled Wednesday to determine how best to adapt a 2000 rule implementing a law aimed at protecting children's privacy to the growing list of devices people are using to get online. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/06/ftc-grapples-with-updating-cop.php ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Lime Wire scrambles to avoid annihilation The company that operates the LimeWire file-sharing software continues to maneuver in an effort to save the company from a potential court-ordered closure but time is slipping away. http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20006235-261.html Average Internet User in Singapore Spent More than 10 Hours Viewing Online Video in April [news release] comScore ... released its April 2010 rankings of the top video properties in Singapore based on data from its comScore Video Metrix service. The report found that 87 percent of Singapore?s Internet population viewed video online in April, with an average viewer consuming 10.5 hours of video during the month. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/6/Average_Internet_User_in_Singapore_Spent_10_Hours_Viewing_Online_Video comScore Releases April 2010 U.S. Online Video Rankings comScore ... today released April 2010 data from the comScore Video Metrix service showing that 178 million U.S. Internet users watched online video during the month. Recently launched in December 2009, Vevo (which includes viewing from the Vevo channel on YouTube) attracted 43.6 million viewers in April, representing a quarter of the U.S. online video audience. http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/6/comScore_Releases_April_2010_U.S._Online_Video_Rankings ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Devices turn cellphones into credit card processors Card readers from such companies as Square and Intuit enable anyone to take plastic for payment, for a fee. For those who want the ability without the fees, PayPal Mobile has come up with an app. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-card-reader-20100531,0,2708688.story Report: Android favored for tablets, phones Google's Android operating system is where it's at for smartphones and tablets, according to a report released Tuesday and comments from the chief executive of graphics chip supplier Nvidia. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20006520-64.html ********************** SPAM ********************** Symantec warns of hike in World Cup spam Symantec has joined the chorus of voices warning users to brace for a surge in spam centred around the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2263999/symantec-warns-world-cup-spam http://uk.news.yahoo.com/16/20100602/ttc-symantec-warns-of-hike-in-world-cup-6315470.html World Cup spam volumes soar Spam centred on the Fifa 2010 World Cup has soared by around 27% according to IT security specialist, Symantec. To date, the company has identified numerous scams, phishing and malicious attachment spam related to the world?s largest sporting event. http://www.2010netthreat.com/netthreats/post/2010/06/01/World-Cup-spam-volumes-soar.aspx ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Cyberattacks seen as top threat to zap U.S. power grid Cyber attacks, pandemics and electromagnetic disturbances are the three top "high impact" risks to the U.S. and Canadian power-generation grids, according to a report from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC). http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/060210-nerc-cyberattack-power-grid.html Defense Bill Includes Cybersecurity Legislation An amendment to the Defense authorization bill, which the House passed Friday, would push through committee efforts to update information security requirements for agencies and establish a separate cybersecurity office in the White House, Nextgov.com reported. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/06/defense-bill-includes-cybersec.php Cybersecurity overhaul stands a good shot at passage Congress' decision to include key cybersecurity provisions in the House and Senate Defense authorization bills increases their odds for passage, said one security expert, although amalgamating numerous pieces of cyber legislation could make establishing a final consensus a challenge. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100601_5363.php Online lonely-hearts scam is costing Britons millions of pounds Single Britons looking for love on online dating sites and in lonely hearts columns are being duped out of hundreds of millions of pounds every year by fraudsters from West Africa. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7141462.ece Guardian says dating site rivals violated database rights The Guardian newspaper has sued two online dating sites in the High Court claiming that the companies have violated its database rights by using profiles taken from its own dating service. http://out-law.com/page-11077 Google's security excuse for dumping Windows is bogus, say analysts If a report is accurate and Google is urging its workers to dump Windows because of security concerns, the company's rationale is bogus and disingenuous, analysts said today. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177565/Google_s_security_excuse_for_dumping_Windows_is_bogus_say_analysts Botnets Target Websites With 'Posers' Botnets increasingly are creating phony online accounts on legitimate websites and online communities in order to steal information from enterprises. http://www.darkreading.com/insiderthreat/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=225300009 FTC cracks down on spyware seller The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement with Florida spyware vendor CyberSpy Software, two years after suing the company for selling "100 percent undetectable" keylogging software. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/060310-ftc-cracks-down-on-spyware.html http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177620/FTC_cracks_down_on_spyware_seller http://www.pcworld.com/article/197853/.html Spyware Seller Settles FTC Charges; Order Bars Marketing of Keylogger Software for Illegal Uses The Federal Trade Commission has put the brakes on the business practices of an operation that was selling spyware and showing customers how to remotely install it on other people?s computers without their knowledge or consent. http://ftc.gov/opa/2010/06/cyberspy.shtm ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Opinion: Surfing the Surfer Judging by a flurry of recent privacy disasters to hit Silicon Valley, the brave new world of Web 2.0 has a new patron saint. Marshall McLuhan and Ayn Rand are out; Franz Kafka is in. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/opinion/02iht-edmorozov.html Facebook, you've been sent a message... Angry users quit over privacy fears Mark Pesce likens Facebook to the Hotel California of the old Eagles song. To paraphrase: You can check out any time you like, but can you ever leave? http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/facebook-youve-been-sent-a-message-angry-users-quit-over-privacy-fears/story-e6frg996-1225873244905 New-media giants feeling the heat as personal-data violations cause outrage Two titans of the new-media generation, Google and Facebook, are under fire. Just as old media (the established media brands) find the beginnings of a new and possibly lucrative distribution business model in devices such as the iPad, citizens are rightly wondering just what they have bought into with Google and Facebook. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/new-media-giants-feeling-the-heat-as-personal-data-violations-cause-outrage/story-e6frg9bf-1225873247130 Zuckerberg on the Hot Seat Mark Zuckerberg frets and sweats as he is grilled on Facebook's approach to privacy. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/zuckerberg-on-the-hot-seat/ Facebook 'Like' button draws privacy scrutiny When Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg recently announced a "Like" button that publishers could place on their Web pages, he predicted it would make the Web smarter and "more social". http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20006532-38.html http://www.zdnetasia.com/facebook-like-button-draws-privacy-scrutiny-62200425.htm Editorial: Internet privacy: identity.com The Facebook story is about how people present themselves to different audiences, and what societies should do about companies that dominate their markets http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/31/facebook-privacy-policy-editorial Web Start-Ups Offer Bargains for Users? Data As concern increases in Washington about the amount of private data online, and as big sites like Facebook draw criticism that they collect consumers? information in a stealthy manner, many Web start-ups are pursuing a more reciprocal approach ? saying, in essence: give us your data and get something in return. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/31/business/media/31privacy.html Canada's privacy czar launches Google investigation Canada's privacy commissioner said Tuesday she was probing Google's inadvertent collection of data from unsecured wireless networks as its cars photographed streetscapes for its mapping service. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/canadas-privacy-czar-launches-google-investigation-20100602-ww10.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/canadas-privacy-czar-launches-google-investigation-20100602-ww10.html Google faces privacy investigation in Canada [IDG] The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has started an investigation into Google's collection of data from unsecured wireless networks, the office said in a statement on Tuesday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177583/Google_faces_privacy_investigation_in_Canada ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Pakistan lifts Facebook ban but 'blasphemous' pages stay hidden Pakistan lifted a two-week-old ban on Facebook today but said it would continue to block individual pages containing "blasphemous" content. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/31/pakistan-lifts-facebook-ban Pakistani Court Orders Access to Facebook Restored A Pakistani court on Monday ordered the government to restore access to Facebook, nearly two weeks after it blocked the social networking Web site amid anger over a Facebook page that solicited images of the Prophet Muhammad. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/asia/01pstan.html Pakistan lifts Facebook ban, restrictions remain A Pakistani court on Monday lifted a ban on social networking website Facebook which had carried a competition to draw the Prophet Mohammad, but access to any "blasphemous" material will remain blocked, officials said. http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-48930920100531 Pakistan restores Facebook, restrictions remain [AFP] Pakistan restored access to Facebook on Monday, nearly two weeks after closing the popular networking site in a storm of controversy about blasphemy, but still restricted hundreds of online links. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/pakistan-restores-facebook-restrictions-remain-20100531-wrl0.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/pakistan-restores-facebook-restrictions-remain-20100531-wrl0.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Britain's Digital Economy Act: ISPs told to start collecting filesharers' data next year The UK's largest internet service providers will start collecting the details of customers who unlawfully download films, music and TV programmes early next year, in order to send them warning letters under a code of practice proposed today by the media regulator Ofcom. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/may/28/digital-economy-act-isps-data Digital Economy Act: Ofcom consults on blacklisting infringers Small ISPs, mobile operators and Wi-Fi providers like hotels and coffee shops will be exempt from a notification and blacklisting process under the Digital Economy Act, at least initially, according to a draft Code published by Ofcom. http://out-law.com/page-11071 Digital Economy Act: ISPs criticise Ofcom code for ?distorting the broadband market? BT and TalkTalk are concerned that Ofcom?s draft code to curb illegal filesharing will ?distort the broadband market?. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/7793445/Digital-Economy-Act-ISPs-criticise-Ofcom-code-for-distorting-the-broadband-market.html ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* CSIRO to reap 'lazy billion' from world's biggest tech companies Australia's peak science body stands to reap more than $1 billion from its lucrative Wi-Fi patent after already netting about $250 million from the world's biggest technology companies, an intellectual property lawyer says. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/enterprise/csiro-to-reap-lazy-billion-from-worlds-biggest-tech-companies-20100601-wsu2.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/patent-win-could-reap-csiro-lazy-1bn-20100601-wvb5.html No Secrets: Julian Assange?s mission for total transparency. The house on Grettisgata Street, in Reykjavik, is a century old, small and white, situated just a few streets from the North Atlantic. The shifting northerly winds can suddenly bring ice and snow to the city, even in springtime, and when they do a certain kind of silence sets in. This was the case on the morning of March 30th, when a tall Australian man named Julian Paul Assange, with gray eyes and a mop of silver-white hair, arrived to rent the place. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/06/07/100607fa_fact_khatchadourian http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/06/assange-newyorker/ ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** au: NBN could force govt's hand on LTE In the last rush for spectrum when carriers were ramping up to 3G, they shelled out billions to secure their stake in the mobile future. All the government had to do was sit back and let the auction funding roll in. But the government's going to have to do a lot more if it expects them to pony up this time around. http://www.zdnet.com.au/nbn-could-force-govt-s-hand-on-lte-339303526.htm Chinese telecom tech gets Indian nod In a big relief to mobile phone operators, the government has agreed to allow import of Chinese telecom equipment certified by international security audit firms till an indigenous certification agency is in place. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Chinese-telecom-tech-gets-nod/articleshow/6004846.cms ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** jp: 14 men, aged 16-45, busted over national child pornography ring Fourteen men between the ages of 16 and 45 have been arrested for breaking child pornography laws and committing public displays of obscenity, police said Monday. http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/14-men-aged-16-45-busted-over-national-child-pornography-ring +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2010 --------- 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 FlanneryReceived on Wed Jun 02 2010 - 23:45:26 UTC
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