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 *************************************************** The new gTLDs are coming. Is being on the right side of the dot for you? http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=a293f96f-7c53-4020-9569-bcc8c93b78ab Is the New gTLD Program Approval Even a Chance for This Year? by Tony Kirsch http://www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=590 ICANN Identity Crisis Blunts Moves Against Rogue Pharma http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=1072&doc_id=198604 National security strategy says UK under threat of cyber attack http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/18/national-security-strategy-cyber-attacks uk: Theresa May warns of growing threat of cyber warfare http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/18/theresa-may-threat-cyber-warfare Meet the Stuxnet, so much subtler than a tactical nuclear device http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/17/stuxnet-worm-john-naughton Anonymous 2009 pm.gov.au attack highlighted secuity risks: ASIO http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/365115/anonymous_2009_pm_gov_au_attack_highlighted_secuity_risks_asio/ au: WIPO shuts down 1saleaday.com.au http://www.crn.com.au/News/235927,wipo-shuts-down-1saleadaycomau.aspx/ Remaining IPv4 Address Space Drops Below 5% [news release] http://nro.net/media/remaining-ipv4-address-below-5.html Why the need for IPv6? Blame Vint Cerf. http://fcw.com/Articles/2010/10/18/Cybereye-box-Vint-Cerf-blame-for-IPv6.aspx Bankrupt Sex.com draws $13 million offer [AFP] http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/sexcom-in-1321m-bid-20101021-16vap.html ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Is the UN Assailing Internet Governance? by Gregory Francis The coven of UN bodies with a hand in internet governance keeps getting bigger: not only is the General Assembly intending soon to decide the fate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), but if the decision coming out of New York does not give them enough of a role, the UN has a back-up plan. In May of 2011, no less than four specialized UN agencies, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNDP and (perhaps most legitimately) the ITU, are planning a Conference what will allow them to insert themselves still further into the matter. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20101019_is_the_un_assailing_internet_governance/ ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** The new gTLDs are coming. Is being on the right side of the dot for you? There has been a significant development that you may want to consider regarding your presence on the Internet. The governing body of the Internet, at the moment, ICANN, has announced an expansion program for gTLDs, generic or general top-level domain names. This means that, in simple terms, a company will be able to act as its own registrar with its brand on the right side of the dot. The proposed changes will add generic gTLDs, such as .bank or .insurance as well as permit some brand gTLDs, for example, .newbalance or .dvf. http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=a293f96f-7c53-4020-9569-bcc8c93b78ab Is the New gTLD Program Approval Even a Chance for This Year? by Tony Kirsch As I noted in my recent comments, the recent resolutions from the Special Meeting of the ICANN Board held in Norway in late September left a few important new gTLD issues up in the air and created a little uncertainty in the marketplace. http://www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=590 ICANN Identity Crisis Blunts Moves Against Rogue Pharma The last week of September, the White House held a meeting with Internet domain registrars to talk about the problem of illegal online drug sales. There?s loads of money at stake on all sides of the equation: The UN said in 2005 that 90 percent of drug sales online are without prescriptions. But what interests us here is the reaction of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers -- ICANN , an organization with, to put it mildly, an identity crisis -- to the rogue pharmacy problem. http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=1072&doc_id=198604 Generic TLDs could harm traditional domains The traditional domain name market could suffer from reduced registrations after the introduction of new generic top level domains (TLDs) next year, the head of .eu registry EURid has warned. http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2271692/dot-eu-chief-warns-gtlds-hit Next new TLD guidebook due early November The next version of ICANN?s Applicant Guidebook for wannabe new top-level domain registries could be published as early as the first week of November, and it could be proposed as the ?final? draft. http://domainincite.com/next-new-tld-guidebook-due-early-november/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** auDA Caves In And Releases Secret Ballot Numbers Over the past few days I?ve been receiving a lot of phone calls and email messages from auDA members who are angry and frustrated with what happened at the 2010 AGM. http://www.domainerincome.com/news/auda-caves-in-and-releases-secret-ballot-numbers/ emarat: Phase 2 of Arabic TLD launch for trademarks The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the UAE has dedicated the currently-commenced phase two of the launch of Arabic top level domain dotEmarat to trademarks, while phase one was dedicated to governmental entities. http://www.tradearabia.com/news/IT_187646.html ICANN asks .jobs registry to explain itself ICANN has asked .jobs registry manager Employ Media to clarify its plan to lift restrictions on who can register names in its top-level domain. http://domainincite.com/icann-asks-jobs-registry-to-explain-itself/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** The CIA: Stop Digital Proliferation! Destroy your computer now by Milton Mueller A new essay in Harvard National Security Journal by Dr. Dan Geer, the Chief Information Security Officer of the CIA's venture firm In-Q-Tel, reveals how militarizing the internet puts the brakes on business opportunities or innovations that might come from the internet. Any change makes things less ?secure," you see? http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/10/20/4660721.html uk: Threat of cyber attack is the new priority as cuts hit major projects The Government unveiled its long-awaited National Security Strategy yesterday introducing, for the first time, a league table of "threats" to the UK ranging from terrorism and cyber warfare to illegal immigrants and pandemic flu. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/threat-of-cyber-attack-is-the-new-priority-as-cuts-hit-major-projects-2110273.html National security strategy says UK under threat of cyber attack The government today unveiled its national security strategy, which emphasised the new threats facing Britain from cyberspace, non-state groups and hostile forces unlikely to be deterred by conventional weaponry. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/18/national-security-strategy-cyber-attacks Terrorism and cyber attacks top security threats Cyber attacks, terrorism, inter-state conflict and natural disasters are the top threats to national security, officials said on Monday, before a major military review expected to usher deep defence spending cuts. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE69H01Z20101018 uk: Theresa May warns of growing threat of cyber warfare Theresa May, the home secretary, warned today that cyber warfare is a "growing threat" to Britain, alongside international terrorism. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/18/theresa-may-threat-cyber-warfare Meet the Stuxnet, so much subtler than a tactical nuclear device In the normal course of events, a Siemens Simatic Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) would not be of interest to anyone other than a hardcore industrial process engineer. It's a small, dedicated computer used to control the operations of specialised machinery in a wide range of manufacturing industries. Since June, however, the Siemens controllers have become a topic of intense interest to people like journalists and policymakers who, in normal circumstances, have difficulty controlling a microwave oven. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/17/stuxnet-worm-john-naughton Comcast Begins DNS Security Rollout Comcast has begun migrating its customers to a new Internet security mechanism that will help protect them from being inadvertently routed to phony Web pages for pharming attacks, identity theft and other scams. http://www.cio.com/article/626868/Comcast_Begins_DNS_Security_Rollout?taxonomyId=3234 DNSSEC to kill the ISP wildcard? Comcast is to switch off its Domain Helper service, which captures DNS error traffic and presents surfers with sponsored search results instead, as part of its DNSSEC implementation. http://domainincite.com/dnssec-to-kill-the-isp-wildcard/ Law firm launches new TLD service The law firm Crowell & Moring has launched a practice dedicated to helping companies apply for ? and sue other applicants for ? new top-level domains. http://domainincite.com/law-firm-launches-new-tld-service/ Anonymous 2009 pm.gov.au attack highlighted secuity risks: ASIO Anonymous? distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks on the website of the Australian Prime Minister late last year highlighted potential risks to Australia?s national security, according to the nation?s top spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/365115/anonymous_2009_pm_gov_au_attack_highlighted_secuity_risks_asio/ ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** us: Politicians' Domain Names Prey to Cybersquatters The midterm elections, now just two weeks away, have been marked by an explosive growth in the use of Web 2.0 tools such as online social networking and blogging in an effort to garner support and electrify voters. http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynews/PubArticleFriendlyLTN.jsp?id=1202473609771 http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynews/PubArticleLTN.jsp?id=1202473609771 au: WIPO shuts down 1saleaday.com.au The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has stepped in to effectively force the shutdown of an Australian e-tailer, following a trademark dispute with a U.S. company of the same name. http://www.crn.com.au/News/235927,wipo-shuts-down-1saleadaycomau.aspx/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Remaining IPv4 Address Space Drops Below 5% [news release] The Number Resource Organization (NRO) announced today that less than five percent of the world?s IPv4 addresses remain unallocated. APNIC, the Regional Internet Registry for the Asia Pacific region, has been assigned two blocks of IPv4 addresses by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). This latest allocation means that the IPv4 free pool dipped below 10% in January, just nine months ago. Since then, over 200 million IPv4 addresses have been allocated from IANA to the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs). http://nro.net/media/remaining-ipv4-address-below-5.html IPv4 Address Exhaustion Continues on Critical Path to Depletion The depletion of IPv4 addresses continues on its critical path with there now being only five per cent of the addresses remaining to be allocated, with the pool still set to be exhausted in mid-2011, despite an increasing take-up of IPv6 addresses. While the story is not new that the IPv4 address pool is becoming critically low, the slow take-up of IPv6 is of major concern given the approaching date for IPv4 exhaustion. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=12618 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/10/20/ipv4-address-exhaustion-continues-on-critical-path-to-depletion/ Final IPv4 addresses to be issued within months, NRO warns [IDG] The global body in charge of allocating Internet addresses expects to hand out the final blocks of IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) addresses to regional registrars early next year, it said Monday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9191518/Final_IPv4_addresses_to_be_issued_within_months_NRO_warns http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/364644/final_ipv4_addresses_issued_within_months_nro_warns/ IPv4 depletion ?imminent? The pool of IPv4 address space available to regional internet registries will likely expire in ?early 2011?, according to the Number Resource Organization. http://domainincite.com/ipv4-depletion-imminent/ Gap between IPv4 depletion, IPv6 adoption widens With the Internet's largest-ever upgrade looming, network operators are using up address space based on the current standard -- known as IPv4 -- much faster than they are adopting IPv6, the next-generation standard. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/364683/gap_between_ipv4_depletion_ipv6_adoption_widens/ IPv4 Net addresses now 95 percent used up The final stages of the squeeze are arriving: of the 4.3 billion Internet addresses possible with today's Net mainstream technology, 95 percent are gone. http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20019836-264.html http://www.zdnet.com.au/ipv4-addresses-95-per-cent-gone-339306674.htm IPv4 addresses 95 percent gone Less than five percent of the world's IPv4 addresses remains free, according to the representative of the five regional internet registries. http://www.zdnetasia.com/ipv4-addresses-95-percent-gone-62203800.htm Why the need for IPv6? Blame Vint Cerf. The world is running out of IPv4 addresses, forcing the adoption of a new generation of Internet protocols, IPv6, to keep the Internet running. Whose bright idea was that? ?It?s my fault,? confessed Vint Cerf, godfather of the Internet. http://fcw.com/Articles/2010/10/18/Cybereye-box-Vint-Cerf-blame-for-IPv6.aspx US Government takes the lead on IPv6 adoption The recent Office of Management and Budget mandate for agencies to enable IPv6 on public-facing Web servers and internal networks is a welcome and much needed step toward future-proofing the Internet. http://fcw.com/articles/2010/10/18/cybereye-gov-leads-on-ipv6.aspx Well of remaining IPv4 address blocks a step closer to running dry Yesterday, APNIC received two more /8s from IANA, reducing the IANA global pool to just 12 /8s?5.4 percent of the usable IPv4 address space. APNIC is one of the five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) that distribute IP addresses around the world, and IANA is part of ICANN, the body that governs the Internet. (Insofar as the Internet allows itself to be governed.) http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2010/10/well-of-remaining-ipv4-address-blocks-quickly-running-dry.ars ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** No profits from prophets - Bible.com investor sues A shareholder of Bible.com Inc sued the company?s board members, accusing the ordained ministers of failing to profit from the "goldmine" potential of the namesake Internet property, according to a lawsuit. http://www.timeslive.co.za/scitech/article719410.ece/No-profits-from-prophets---Bible.com-investor-sues ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Bankrupt Sex.com draws $13 million offer [AFP] AN offshore holding company wants to have its way with sex.com for $US13 million. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/sexcom-in-1321m-bid-20101021-16vap.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/sexcom-in-1321m-bid-20101021-16vap.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/connect/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501833&objectid=10682099 Sex.com Domain Name to Sell for $13 Million Over the past few weeks I?ve been checking the Escom bankruptcy court docket twice daily for an update to the Sex.com case. Earlier today the court posted a proposed order for the sale of Sex.com for $13 million. The buyer is Clover Holdings Limited. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/10/20/breaking-sex-com-domain-name-to-sell-for-13-million/ Sex.com sells for $13m The storied domain name sex.com is set to be sold for $13m, The Register has learned. Bankrupt Escom LLC sex.com's current owner, has sealed a deal to hand over the domain to a company called Clover Holdings Ltd, according to documents filed this week in a California court. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/20/domain_name_sale/ Cliff Stearns (R-FL) Addresses TRAFFIC Conference Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) addressed the TRAFFIC domain conference this afternoon. About 75 people were in attendance during Stearns? fireside chat with show organizer Howard Neu. Stearns was joined by retired Congressman Mike Ferguson. Stearns is a member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, and Ferguson was on this subcommittee while he served. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/10/18/cliff-stearns-r-fl-addresses-traffic-conference/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Internet users to exceed 2 billion by the end of 2010 One third of the world's population will be online by the end of the year, according to United Nations statistics. The number of people online has doubled to two billion in the last five years, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) said. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11576486 Internet users to exceed 2 billion this year - U.N. agency The number of Internet users will surpass two billion this year, approaching a third of the world population, but developing countries need to step up access to the vital tool for economic growth, a United Nations agency said on Tuesday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE69I25N20101019 http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-52292920101019 ITU estimates two billion people online by end 2010 [news release] ITU?s latest statistics published today in The World in 2010: ICT facts and figures reveal that the number of Internet users worldwide doubled in the past five years and will surpass the two billion mark in 2010. The number of people having access to the Internet at home has increased from 1.4 billion in 2009 to almost 1.6 billion in 2010. The new data were released on the eve of World Statistics Day, which will be celebrated worldwide on 20 October 2010. http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2010/39.aspx We thought the internet was killing print. But it isn't There is no clear correlation between a rise in internet traffic and a fall in newspaper circulation. Some papers are growing in both formats, others are succeeding in neither, according to new research http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/oct/17/newspaper-abcs-websites-internet-news Violent images 'boost teenage aggression' Repeated viewing of violent scenes in films, television or video games could make teenagers behave more aggressively, US research suggests. The National Institutes of Health study of 22 boys aged 14 to 17 found that showing dozens of violent clips appeared to blunt brain responses. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11570090 ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook sues over free gift card, 'dislike' button scams [IDG] Facebook has filed lawsuits aimed at cracking down on a variety of scams that have been running wild on the social-networking site in recent months. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9192160/Facebook_sues_over_free_gift_card_dislike_button_scams http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/365087/facebook_sues_over_free_gift_card_dislike_button_scams/ Facebook files three antispam lawsuits Facebook announced today that it has filed suit against two individuals and a company that it says are responsible for propagating deceptive spam offers across the massive social network, including some that encouraged members to spam their friends in turn. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-20020217-36.html Small firms split on social media Around half of small businesses are using social media, but many do not find it useful, according to research by a small firms trade body. http://out-law.com/page-11463 ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Most Parents Monitor Kids' Social Networking Regularly "Oh Crap. My Parents Joined Facebook." So reads the introduction of an online support group, myparentsjoinedfacebook.com, for the kids of parents who have connected with them online. With rants ranging from a mother who "liked" hundreds of photos on her daughter's page, to another who used Facebook to "out" her son for logging onto Facebook too much, parents may learn a thing or two about how to engage with your teens on social networking sites. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371052,00.asp au: AFP: net filter trials were legal Trials of the government's internet content filter were legal according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), which has thrown out claims by network engineer Mark Newton that the tests breached the Telecommunications Act. http://www.zdnet.com.au/afp-net-filter-trials-were-legal-339306670.htm au: Conroy's department not working on filter The Communications Minister's Department has dropped direct action on the Federal Government's mandatory internet filter project, following Stephen Conroy's announcement that the filter would be delayed for a year. http://www.zdnet.com.au/conroy-s-department-not-working-on-filter-339306711.htm au: Labor's ISP filter plan faces more delays LABOR'S controversial ISP filter plan faces further delays as a meeting central to the policy is postponed yet again. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/government/labors-isp-filter-plan-faces-more-delays/story-fn4htb9o-1225941055763 The great Aussie firewall is back - and this time it's personal Internet censorship in Australia is once more on a roll, with more online content than ever coming up for a ban. It seems the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, deciding that the great firewall was neither a political nor a technical issue, but a moral one. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/18/gillard_media/ The INTERPOL "Worst of"-list [news release] At the 2009 INTERPOL General Assembly, member countries voted unanimously to adopt a Resolution (AG-2009-RES-05) to limit the online distribution of child sexual abuse images. The Resolution encourages member countries to promote the use of all the technical tools available, including access blocking of websites containing child sexual abuse images. http://www.interpol.int/Public/THBInternetAccessBlocking/WorstOfList.asp uk: Child online safety chief Jim Gamble to leave next month One of the UK's most influential child online safety advocates, Jim Gamble, is to leave his role as chief executive next month, the Guardian has learnt - four months earlier than expected. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/pda/2010/oct/19/jim-gamble-ceop ug: Children want govt to enact anti-pornography law CHILDREN have called on the Government to enact laws to restrict access to the Internet to protect the under-age from pornographic material. http://allafrica.com/stories/201010201065.html http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/735665 Schoolyard Bullies Branch Out Over the Internet The age-old, schoolyard threat of bullying has caught up to modern technology and recent history has shown that users with children may be missing clues to the threat posed by cyberbullying. http://www.pcworld.com/article/208282/schoolyard_bullies_branch_out_over_the_internet.html uk: 72 Percent of Parents Monitor Their Kid's Facebook Page Nearly three quarters (72 percent) of parents monitor their child's social networking account, says TRUSTe. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=3244758 http://www.pcworld.com/article/208262/.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Internet Is a Weapon in Cable TV Fight In disputes between television programmers and distributors, the new battleground is the Internet. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/business/media/20hulu.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Obsession with iPhones becomes 'security threat' The global obsession with the iPhone has become a threat to security, with an entire criminal industry springing up around the much-coveted smart phone, the chief executive of the Australian Crime Commission has warned. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/obsession-with-iphones-becomes-security-threat-20101019-16sjl.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/smart-phone-pity-criminals-are-proving-even-smarter-20101019-16sld.html UN report: Growth in mobile contracts slowing [AP] The U.N. telecommunications agency says the number of new mobile phone contracts is slowing as cell phone usage reaches saturation point. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/un-report-growth-in-mobile-contracts-slowing-20101020-16spb.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/un-report-growth-in-mobile-contracts-slowing-20101020-16spb.html 6.1 trillion text messages to be sent in 2010 Use of mobile phones and the Internet continues to skyrocket despite a huge difference in broadband pricing worldwide, a new study from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has found. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20020101-17.html Somali militants ban mobile money transfers A Somali rebel group has banned the transfer and receipt of cash by mobile phone, a move the government said would stifle the economy and hurt entrepreneurs in a country where few hold bank accounts. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE69H3HJ20101018 ********************** SPAM ********************** ACMA: International collaboration on spam critical The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is encouraging more countries to start anti-spam groups. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/364875/acma_international_collaboration_spam_critical/ http://www.techworld.com.au/article/364875/acma_international_collaboration_spam_critical ********************** DIGITAL DIVIDE ********************** au: Faraway kids in remote control For the children of Yirrkala school, life in their remote community means less access than city kids to education technology. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/faraway-kids-in-remote-control/story-e6frg6nf-1225940399262 ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Incidence Of Cybertheft Surpasses Incidence Of Physical Theft For The First Time, Study Says Incidence of theft of information and electronic data at global companies has overtaken physical theft for the first time, according to a study released yesterday. http://www.darkreading.com/security/attacks/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=227900305 The CIA: Stop Digital Proliferation! Destroy your computer now by Milton Mueller A new essay in Harvard National Security Journal by Dr. Dan Geer, the Chief Information Security Officer of the CIA's venture firm In-Q-Tel, reveals how militarizing the internet puts the brakes on business opportunities or innovations that might come from the internet. Any change makes things less ?secure," you see? http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2010/10/20/4660721.html uk: Threat of cyber attack is the new priority as cuts hit major projects The Government unveiled its long-awaited National Security Strategy yesterday introducing, for the first time, a league table of "threats" to the UK ranging from terrorism and cyber warfare to illegal immigrants and pandemic flu. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/threat-of-cyber-attack-is-the-new-priority-as-cuts-hit-major-projects-2110273.html National security strategy says UK under threat of cyber attack The government today unveiled its national security strategy, which emphasised the new threats facing Britain from cyberspace, non-state groups and hostile forces unlikely to be deterred by conventional weaponry. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/18/national-security-strategy-cyber-attacks Terrorism and cyber attacks top security threats Cyber attacks, terrorism, inter-state conflict and natural disasters are the top threats to national security, officials said on Monday, before a major military review expected to usher deep defence spending cuts. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE69H01Z20101018 uk: Theresa May warns of growing threat of cyber warfare Theresa May, the home secretary, warned today that cyber warfare is a "growing threat" to Britain, alongside international terrorism. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/18/theresa-may-threat-cyber-warfare Meet the Stuxnet, so much subtler than a tactical nuclear device In the normal course of events, a Siemens Simatic Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) would not be of interest to anyone other than a hardcore industrial process engineer. It's a small, dedicated computer used to control the operations of specialised machinery in a wide range of manufacturing industries. Since June, however, the Siemens controllers have become a topic of intense interest to people like journalists and policymakers who, in normal circumstances, have difficulty controlling a microwave oven. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/17/stuxnet-worm-john-naughton FTC reaches settlement with online marketers claiming false ties to Google A group of online marketers accused of claiming false ties to Google have been forced to cease operations as part of a settlement agreement reached with the FTC, the agency announced on Monday. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/10/ftc-reaches-settlement-agreeme.php us: Court to Google: Give woman ID of online commenter [AP] A business consultant who wants to know who's been anonymously disparaging and fixating on her online has gotten a court to force Google to tell her. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39767076/ns/technology_and_science-security/ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/20/earlyshow/leisure/gamesgadgetsgizmos/main6974938.shtml http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_16391002 nz: Phishing scam nets drivers' licences [NZPA] The New Zealand Transport Agency is offering to waive the fee for a replacement driver's licence for victims of an online phishing scam. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/4259424/Phishing-scam-nets-drivers-licences ************************** PRIVACY ************************** Personal data could become commodity Companies that want to make use of the personal information people put online should pay for it, the US Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has said. It made the statement as it released a list of five technology trends to watch for the year ahead. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11571513 Google in breach of privacy law Google's accidental collection of personal data as part of its Street View project has been branded a "serious violation" of privacy laws. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11577588 Google Street View broke Canada's privacy law with Wi-Fi capture Google violated the privacy of thousands of Canadians when it inadvertently collected personal information about them with its Street View mapping cars, the country's privacy commissioner has ruled. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/19/google-street-view-privacy-canada Canada Finds Google Violated Privacy Laws Canada's privacy commissioner said Tuesday that an nvestigation has found that Google violated Canadian privacy laws when the Internet firm collected personal information from unsecured Wi-Fi networks in that country. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/10/canada-finds-google-violated-p.php Google contravened Canadian privacy law, investigation finds [news release] Google Street View cars inappropriately collected personal information such as e-mails, usernames, passwords, phone numbers and addresses; Commissioner recommends stronger controls and improved privacy training. http://www.priv.gc.ca/media/nr-c/2010/nr-c_101019_e.cfm Spain Moves to Fine Google Over Street View [IDG] The Spanish Data Protection Agency is preparing to fine Google over infractions against local data protection laws when it collected Wi-Fi data as part of its Street View service, it said in a statement on Monday. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/208173/.html US Asks More Questions for Facebook Two House members asked Facebook Inc. for more details about the way applications on the social network handle user information, following revelations of new privacy concerns. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304410504575560640816473962.html US Congress pokes Facebook In response to reports that third-party applications on Facebook have been collecting and distributing user information, Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Joe Barton, R-Texas, want to know how many people were affected, when Facebook found out, and what the company plans to do about it. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101019_9769.php Facebook's Latest Privacy Fears Are No Big Deal As privacy blunders go, Facebook's accidental leaking of User IDs to advertisers and data firms is pretty insignificant. http://www.pcworld.com/article/208176/.html The cookie that never crumbles Browser cookies have a chequered history. They were developed out of necessity in 1994, to allow a browser to peruse pages at a web server while maintaining a continuous session. Since web protocols are stateless, there is no inherent connection from one page viewed by a browser to the next, making each view an isolated occurrence. Cookies provide the glue, and allow programs on a server to track the same user on a single browser over time. This is commonly used for logging into an account. You type in a user name and password and the server validates your identity. It then passes back a snippet of text that contains a unique token. Each request by a browser for a subsequent page is accompanied by any cookies set for that domain. http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2010/10/browsers_track_eternally US Congress Pokes Facebook In response to reports that third-party applications on Facebook have been collecting and distributing user information, Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Joe Barton, R-Texas, want to know how many people were affected, when Facebook found out, and what the company plans to do about it. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/10/congress-pokes-facebook.php Facebook apps are stealing your personal info [AP] The latest Facebook privacy fiasco shows that the world's largest online social hub is having a hard time putting this thorny issue behind it even as it continues to attract users and become indispensible to many of them. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/facebook-apps-are-stealing-your-personal-info-20101019-16ras.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/security/facebook-apps-are-stealing-your-personal-info-20101019-16ras.html Apps are tracking us - study Popular mobile phone applications are sharing sensitive information about users, including their location, with advertising companies, a study has found. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/study-says-apps-are-tracking-users-20101018-16qxa.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/study-says-apps-are-tracking-users-20101018-16qxa.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/gadgets/4250953/Apps-are-tracking-us-study ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Iran 'blocks ex-president Khatami's website' Iranian authorities have blocked access within Iran to the official website of reformist former president turned key opposition figure Mohammad Khatami, an opposition website said on Tuesday. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8074623/Iran-blocks-ex-president-Khatamis-website.html ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Plan to store Britons' phone and internet data revived The government is to revive a plan to store every email, webpage visit and phone call made in the UK, a move that goes against a pledge made by the Liberal Democrats ahead of the election. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/20/internet-phone-data-plan-revived U.S. Pushes to Ease Technical Obstacles to Wiretapping Law enforcement and counterterrorism officials, citing lapses in compliance with surveillance orders, are pushing to overhaul a federal law that requires phone and broadband carriers to ensure that their networks can be wiretapped, federal officials say. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/us/19wiretap.html Aussie porn laws confuse travellers Confused travellers unsure about what sort of porn they're allowed to bring into Australia have prompted a re-working of passenger cards. http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/australia/4247397/Aussie-porn-laws-confuse-travellers Cloud floats through cybercrime legislation: Crime Commission The head of the Australian Crime Commission has warned current law enforcement isn?t properly equipped to respond to attacks on cloud computing services, which is poised to be the next frontier for organised crime gangs to expand their syndicates. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/364787/cloud_floats_through_cybercrime_legislation_crime_commission/ Uganda Passes Cyber Laws Uganda's Parliament has passed into law the electronic transactions and electronic signature bills that will improve the regulations for security of electronic transactions and devices. http://www.busiweek.com/10/page.php?aid=1461 http://allafrica.com/stories/201010181358.html ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Microsoft bets to win in the cloud and rival Google Microsoft has ramped up its battle with Google in wooing business customers with its next generation cloud-based product. While the software giant dominates the office space with a 94% market share it has been facing increased competition from Google. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11571613 Microsoft Moves Office to the Cloud It has been a busy year inside Microsoft: the company is getting ready to introduce an entirely new mobile platform and a new type of Xbox gaming interface that uses the human body instead of a traditional controller. Now it is offering a new kind of Microsoft Office suite, called Office 365, which is based in the cloud. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/microsoft-moves-office-to-the-cloud/ Microsoft Announces Office 365; New cloud service brings together Office, SharePoint, Exchange and Lync for organizations of all sizes [news release] Microsoft Corp. today announced Microsoft Office 365, the company?s next generation in cloud productivity that brings together Microsoft Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online in an always-up-to-date cloud service. Office 365 makes it easier for millions more organizations to get and use Microsoft?s award-winning business productivity solutions via the cloud. With Office 365, people can work together more easily from anywhere on virtually any device, while collaborating with others inside and outside their organization in a simple and highly secure way. As part of today?s news, Microsoft is also opening a limited beta program for Office 365 in 13 countries and regions. http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/oct10/10-19Office365.mspx ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** au: Minister threatens to use law to force people on NBN if states revolt Communications Minister Senator Stephen Conroy says he will wield federal law as a weapon to force people on to the national broadband network (NBN) if the states and territories don't make connections mandatory. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/minister-threatens-to-use-law-to-force-people--on-nbn-if-states-revolt-20101021-16uge.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/minister-threatens-to-use-law-to-force-people--on-nbn-if-states-revolt-20101021-16uge.html au: Broadband: getting faster but still too slow Broadband speeds have jumped 20 per cent during the past eight months according to a report based on thousands of consumer experiences, but experts warn that Australia still falls well short of its peers internationally. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/broadband-getting-faster-but-still-too-slow-20101019-16rqt.html nz: Internet users can face two-year waits Enduring long waits to get internet access is a phenomenon not limited to Central Auckland, according to other would-be web users. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10681757 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (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 Thu Oct 21 2010 - 00:45:10 UTC
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