[DNS] domain name news - 2 April

From: David Goldstein <david> Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 15:08:24 +1000 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Sat Sep 09 2017 - 22:00:11 UTC

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.

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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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ICANN Nominating Committee Extends Deadline for Statements of Interest to 16 April 2012
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-30mar12-en.htm

Scrutiny intensifies over ICANN domain name plan
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120329_8583.php

ICANN?s secret ?penthouse-level? domain program [April Fool]
http://domainincite.com/icanns-secret-penthouse-level-domain-program/

After Threats, No Signs of Attack by Hackers
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/technology/no-signs-of-attack-on-internet.html

ACMA warns users their internet may die
http://www.zdnet.com.au/acma-warns-users-their-internet-may-die-339334973.htm

Internet users warned of big blackout in July
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/internet-users-warned-of-big-blackout-in-july-20120329-1w172.html

DNSChanger malware victims may face internet switch off: ACMA
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/420175/dnschanger_malware_victims_may_face_internet_switch_off_acma/

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GOVERNANCE
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TNW interviews Internet policy visionary Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford is most often described as an ?Internet policy visionary?, and you?d be hard-pressed to argue that title. Her CV includes the title of professor for Harvard?s Kennedy School, a visiting professor at Harvard Law, former professor at the University of Michigan Law School and a board member for ICANN among many other positions. But her true passion lies in trying to fix how we see the Internet.
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/03/31/tnw-interviews-internet-policy-visionary-susan-crawford/

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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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Update on New gTLD Batching
ICANN has developed a system for the batching of applications for new gTLDs if required. According to the Applicant Guidebook if the number of applications significantly exceeds 500, applications will be processed in batches.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-30mar12-en.htm

ICANN Nominating Committee Extends Deadline for Statements of Interest to 16 April 2012
In order to provide additional time for candidates to apply, ICANN's 2012 Nominating Committee has extended the deadline for Statements of Interest until 16 April 2012 at 23:59 UTC.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-30mar12-en.htm

New gTLD Registration Closed Today
The window has closed for anyone planning to apply for a new gTLD to register and submit a TLD application request. As of 25 March there were 839 registered users in the TLD Application System. This number will be updated.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-29mar12-en.htm

Scrutiny intensifies over ICANN domain name plan
The group that manages the Internet's domain name system may have awakened a sleeping giant with its controversial program to allow for the launch of an unlimited number of gTLDs.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20120329_8583.php

ICANN creates two-tier Internet with dot-com contract [subscription]
Domain name system overseer ICANN will create a two-tier Internet later this year with thousands of new Internet extensions required to follow different contractual obligations than the existing 21 gTLDs.
http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/29/new-dot-com-contract

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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DNS.be achieves excellent score
Each year, DNS.be gauges the satisfaction level of its registrars. And once again this year, .be achieved an excellent score of 8.4/10. DNS.be continues to provide a top-quality service and remains in tune with its registrars.
http://dns.be/en//dnsbe_achieves_excellent_score2

Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) Available to .FR Owners on May 3
On May 3, 2012, owners of .FR and other French ccTLDs will be able to apply for their domain name registrations in Spanish, German, and French translations. This is an excellent opportunity for European domain name holders to reach local customers in their native written language.
http://www.fr.com/Internationalized-Domain-Names-Available/

HKIRC offers free QR code service to all .hk/.?? registrants to help them explore potential online mobile market
Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited (HKIRC) launched an QR (Quick Response) code generating service for free to all .hk/.?? domain registrants today, in response to the rapidly developing smartphone market.
https://www2.hkirc.hk/company_info/pressrelease.jsp?item=451

Approved Regulations on domain registration in .??? domain
Approved Order of introduction of ?.???? domain name and Regulations of the priority domain name registration in .??? domain.
http://www.nic.kz/docs/poryadok_vnedreniya_kaz_en.pdf
http://www.nic.kz/docs/pologenie_o_prioritetnoi_registr_acii_domennyh_imen_en.pdf

rs: The third annual Internet conference - DIDS 2012
The third annual international conference on the development of the Internet within the .RS and .??? domain spaces of Serbia - DIDS 2012 was held on 22 March at hotel "Moskva" in Belgrade. This year's Serbian Internet Domains Day, organised by the Register of National Internet Domain Names of Serbia (RNIDS), gathered 25 presenters from Serbia and abroad as well as about 230 visitors.
http://rnids.rs/en/what-s-new/the-third-annual-internet-conference--dids-2012/id/3701

uk: Change to the registrant terms and conditions for domain name registrations
In preparation for the launch of multi-year registration periods the registrant terms and conditions for domain name registration will be changing.
http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=9193

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 - NEW TLDS
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Governments Support ZACR as Registry Operator
African government ministers attending the recent Innovation Africa Digital (IAD) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have pledged their support for the ZA Central Registry's (ZACR) bid to become the dotAfrica registry operator.
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/379/73141.html
http://allafrica.com/stories/201203300934.html

EBU to apply for Top Level Domain names .radio and .eurovision
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) today revealed plans to submit a robust application to acquire the .radio TLD for the global broadcast radio community.
http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/news/2012/tcm_6-74738.php

EBU Sets Sights in .RADIO, .EUROVISION
The European Broadcasting Union has set its sights on the .RADIO and .EUROVISION TLDs. While there will not be any competition for .EUROVISION given its trademarked status, its bid for .RADIO will run into completion with an existing proposal.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17342
http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7991
http://www.domainnews.com/en/ebu-sets-sights-in-radio-eurovision.html

.radio is now a contested gTLD
The proposed .radio TLD is now officially contested, after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed that it plans to apply for the gTLD.
http://domainincite.com/radio-is-now-a-contested-gtld/

Eurovision domain name contest
What is the burning European media issue of the moment ? online privacy, how the Premier League intends to sell its TV rights or perhaps scrutiny of the takeover of EMI? Wrong. The issue of the day is the battle for control of the official domain name for all things Eurovision. Eurovision song contest organiser the European Broadcast Union held a top-level board meeting this week in order to rubberstamp a bid to secure the .eurovision domain for, er ... Europeans.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2012/mar/29/eurovision-domain-name-contest

How to get a $180,000 new gTLD refund
ICANN will give new gTLD applicants a $180,000 refund on their application fee if they withdraw before May 2, it has emerged.
http://domainincite.com/how-to-get-a-180000-new-gtld-refund/

ICANN approves ?digital archery? gTLD batching
It?s official. ICANN?s board of directors has approved the widely derided ?time target variance? procedure for batching new gTLD applications.
http://domainincite.com/icann-approves-digital-archery-gtld-batching/

African governments get behind Africa's domain name
Government ministers attending the recent Innovation Africa Digital (IAD) Summit in Ethiopia, this week pledged their support for the ZA Central Registry's (ZACR) bid to become the dotAfrica Registry Operator. The ZACR is a non-profit company based in South Africa, and is the administrator of the popular CO.ZA domain name space.
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/410/23/73100.html

Dot-word TLD registration closes tonight, maybe for many years
Today is the last chance for organisations that want to own their own top-level internet domain names to register their interest with ICANN.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03/29/icann_gtld_march_deadline/

10 questions and answers on .vlaanderen and .brussels
Here you will find more information on gTLDs .vlaanderen and .brussels for which DNS.be is applying with ICANN:
http://dns.be/en/info_on_gtlds

ICANN?s secret ?penthouse-level? domain program [April Fool]
Filthy with cash from incoming new gTLD applications, ICANN is secretly working on a new ?penthouse-level domains? project, DomainIncite has learned.
http://domainincite.com/icanns-secret-penthouse-level-domain-program/

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 - DNS SECURITY
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After Threats, No Signs of Attack by Hackers
A threat to attack a crucial part of the Internet on Saturday by members of the mercurial, leaderless hacker collective called Anonymous appears to have had no discernible impact so far.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/technology/no-signs-of-attack-on-internet.html

Warned of an Attack on the Internet, and Getting Ready
On a quiet Sunday in mid-February, something curious attracted the attention of the behind-the-scenes engineers who scour the Internet for signs of trouble. There, among the ubiquitous boasts posted by the hacking collective Anonymous, was a call to attack some of the network?s most crucial parts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/technology/with-advance-warning-bracing-for-attack-on-internet-by-anonymous.html

And If The Internet Went Black? [Die Welt]
Hacker network Anonymous has vowed to take down the world wide web on March 31 to protest a U.S. anti-piracy bill. Though chances are low they could pull it off, it's worth considering how far-reaching the effect an Internet blackout would be. It's more than just your e-mail.
http://worldcrunch.com/and-if-internet-went-black/4841

Anonymous Probably Won?t Shut Down the Internet This Weekend
Twitter handles associated with Anonymous are suggesting that ?Operation Blackout,? a rumored attempt to shut down the Internet scheduled for March 31, was never an officially sanctioned plan.
http://mashable.com/2012/03/30/anonymous-operation-blackout/

Case Based in China Puts a Face on Persistent Hacking
A breach of computers belonging to companies in Japan and India and to Tibetan activists has been linked to a former graduate student at a Chinese university ? putting a face on the persistent espionage by Chinese hackers against foreign companies and groups.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/technology/hacking-in-asia-is-linked-to-chinese-ex-graduate-student.html

China's cyber stealth on new frontline
In March 2011, the US computer security company RSA announced that hackers had gained access to security tokens it produces that let millions of government and private-sector employees, including those of defence contractors such as Lockheed Martin, connect remotely to their office computers. Just five months later, the antivirus software company McAfee issued a report claiming that a group of hackers had broken into the networks of 71 governments, companies, and international organisations. These attacks and the many others like them have robbed companies and governments of priceless intellectual property and crucial military secrets. And although officials have been reluctant to name the culprit, most experts agree that the majority of the attacks originated in China.
http://www.afr.com/p/lifestyle/review/china_cyber_stealth_on_new_frontline_z6YvFR0mo3uC87zJvCEq6H

Kelihos Is Dead: Long Live Kelihos by Gunter Ollmann
The King is dead. Long live the King! Or, given this week's events, should the phrase now be "Kelihos is dead. Long live Kelihos"? It is with a little amusement and a lot of cynicism that I've been watching the kerfuffle relating to the latest attempt to take down the Kelihos botnet. You may remember that a similar event ("Kelihos is dead") occurred late last year after Microsoft and Kaspersky took it on themselves to shut down the botnet known as Kelihos (or sometimes as Waledac 2.0 or Hlux).
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120329_kelihos_is_dead_long_live_kelihos/

FCC Advisory Committee Adopts Recommendations To Minimize Three Major Cyber Threats, Including An Anti-Bot Code Of Conduct, IP Route Hijacking Industry Framework And Secure DNS Best Practices [news release]
Today, an industry advisory group for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Communications, Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC), unanimously adopted recommendations for voluntary action by Internet service providers (ISPs) to combat three major cyber security threats, including botnets, attacks on the DNS, and Internet route hijacking. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski applauded the public commitments of many of the nation?s largest ISPs to implement these best practices.
http://www.fcc.gov/document/csric-adopts-recs-minimize-three-major-cyber-threats

ACMA warns users their internet may die
The Australian Communications and Media Authority, CERT Australia and the Australian Government's Stay Smart Online initiative have teamed up to allow users to check if they are affected by the DNSChanger malware in an attempt to avoid around 10,000 Australians waking up on 9 July and thinking their internet connections have been broken.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/acma-warns-users-their-internet-may-die-339334973.htm

Internet users warned of big blackout in July
TEN thousand Australian internet users are among 4 million worldwide who face a total internet blackout from July 9, thanks to a malicious piece of software that infected their computers without their knowledge.
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/internet-users-warned-of-big-blackout-in-july-20120329-1w172.html

DNSChanger malware victims may face internet switch off: ACMA
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has urged Australian internet users who may be DNSChanger victims to remove the malware form their computers before 9 July or face no internet service when domain name system (DNS) servers maintained by the FBI are switched off.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/420175/dnschanger_malware_victims_may_face_internet_switch_off_acma/
http://www.techworld.com.au/article/420175/dnschanger_malware_victims_may_face_internet_switch_off_acma/
http://www.cio.com.au/article/420175/dnschanger_malware_victims_may_face_internet_switch_off_acma/

U.S. Outgunned in Hacker War by Terry Zink
The Wall Street Journal has an interview with the outgoing head of the FBI's cyber crime investigation Shawn Henry. In it, he has a blunt assessment of the US's capabilities when it comes to combatting online crime, especially data theft and hacking... The more I read around the Internet, the more clear it's becoming at how cyber security is becoming a central focus. This has pretty big implications for the cloud.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120330_us_outgunned_in_hacker_war/

nl: Privacy & Identity Lab to improve on-line security
On 3 April, Radboud University Nijmegen, TNO, Tilburg University and SIDN (the company behind .nl) are launching the Privacy & Identity Lab (PI.lab).
https://www.sidn.nl/en/news/news/article/privacy-identity-lab-gaat-online-veiligheid-verbeteren-1/

FICORA participates in an international cyber defence excercise
The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority participated, along with several other Finnish authorities representing the public administration, in the international CDX-12 Cyber Defence Exercise, conducted in Helsinki between 26 and 28 March, 2012. The exercise formed part of a larger international MNE7 exercise.
http://www.ficora.fi/en/index/viestintavirasto/uutiset/2012/P_15.html

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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Domain Name Theft versus Cybersquatting
Welcome to Domain Name Law Radio. Domain names are valuable assets. Domain disputes, domain theft, cybersquatting, and domain monetization are important issues. Our domain lawyers have answers to your domain name questions. This is Domain Name Attorney Brian Hall with Traverse Legal, PLC, a law firm representing domain owners and those who have had their domains taken from them throughout the United States and the world.
http://tcattorney.typepad.com/domainnamedispute/2012/03/domain-name-theft-versus-cybersquatting.html

uk: Warning over 'scam' that charges users to receive texts
Smartphone users are being warned about a new type of premium rate text scam. Industry watchdog PhonepayPlus says people are being tricked into signing up, often by typing in their mobile number online, for services they don't want. ... Often consumers are tricked after falling victim to so called typo-squatting. PhonepayPlus says that's when people mistype common web addresses by as little as one letter.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17489393

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 - IPv4/IPv6
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With World IPv6 Launch, IPv6 on by default will be the new normal
Some "technologies of the future" stubbornly remain in the future and resist becoming technologies of the present. Case in point: fusion energy. For a long time, IPv6 seemed to fall into that category. But now, could it finally be for real? Anyone who missed the memo: current IP addresses are 32 bits long and are running out. IPv6 fixes this with addresses that are 128 bits long. But this only works when you actually run IPv6. Last year, some big players did exactly that for one day as a test. This year, the idea is to leave it on.
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/03/dont-publish-yet-with-world-ipv6-launch-ipv6-on-by-default-is-the-new-normal.ars

IPv6 networking: Bad news for small biz
IPv6 is traditionally a networking topic. Yet IPv6 is as much a business consideration as it is a technical one. As world IPv6 day rolls around again, we're going to see an ever-increasing amount of technical IPv6 coverage. Before we do, I think a business interjection is warranted.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03/31/ipv6_sucks_for_smes/

IPv6 DNS Blacklists Reconsidered by John Levine
I opined about a year ago that DNS blacklists wouldn't work for mail that runs over IPv6 rather than IPv4. The reason is that IPv6 has such a huge range of addresses that spammers can easily send every message from a unique IP address, which means that recipient systems will fire off a unique set of DNSBL queries for every message... Now I'm much less sure this will be a problem.
http://jl.ly/Email/v6blre.html

ae: TRA Hosts IPV6 Training Course
In order to build the capacities of the UAE ICT sector to meet the standards and requirements of the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPV6) in the UAE, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has organized an IPV6 training course in its new building in Al Mamzar area, Dubai, from March 25th to the 29th 2012.
http://tra.gov.ae/news_TRA_Hosts_IPV6_Training_Course-389-1.php

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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WhoWas Service Now in ARIN Online
ARIN is pleased to announce the integration of its WhoWas service in ARIN Online. ARIN?s WhoWas service provides historical registration reports for a given IP address or ASN.
https://www.arin.net/announcements/2012/20120326.html

NRO Welcomes Public Comments on the ASO Review Report
In accordance with ICANN Bylaws, the Number Resource Organization (NRO) undertakes independent periodic reviews of the Address Supporting Organization (ASO).
http://www.nro.net/news/review-comments-2012

RIPE NCC Membership Reaches 8,000
On 23 March 2012, the RIPE NCC was joined by its 8,000th member, marking a milestone in the history of the Amsterdam based, not-for-profit organisation.
http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/about-ripe-ncc-and-ripe/ripe-ncc-membership-reaches-8-000

Premier Internet Standards Body Convenes International Community of Internet Engineers And Technologists
More than 1,400 of the leading Internet engineers and technologists from around the world are gathering this week at the 83rd meeting of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) held in Paris, France. Standards developed by the IETF provide the foundation for Internet services used around the world, such as domain names, email, the Web, and instant messaging.
http://www.internetsociety.org/IETFdefinestandardsforglobalnetwork

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 - WEBHOSTING
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Microsoft May Have Big Changes Planned for Shared Web Hosting with Azure Antares
At the Microsoft Hosting Summit in Washington on Wednesday, Microsoft suggested that it is developing a hosting framework for web apps to work across Windows Azure and on-premise cloud deployments.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/microsoft-may-have-big-changes-planned-for-shared-web-hosting-with-azure-antares

Google Cloud Storage Service Now Rumored to Arrive in Early April
Rumors have once again surfaced that Google will soon launch its cloud storage service Google Drive.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/google-cloud-storage-service-now-rumored-to-arrive-in-early-april

UK Web Host Manx Telecom Launches Cloud Hosting Service with Free Bandwidth
Isle of Man-based web hosting company Manx Telecom announced this week it has launched Intelligent Cloud, its new VMWare-backed cloud hosting platform with free bandwidth.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/uk-web-host-manx-telecom-launches-cloud-hosting-service-with-free-bandwidth

Number of SMBs Using Cloud Services Will Double in Five Years, Predicts Microsoft
Microsoft announced this week it has released new research that predicts there will be a significant increase in paid cloud services over the next five years among small and midsize businesses.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/number-of-smbs-using-cloud-services-will-double-in-five-years-predicts-microsoft

Study: Singapore ranks high on site reliability across Asia
Web performance benchmark test of major sites across region sees Singapore scoring mixed results for loading speeds, but country tops list in availability. Thailand's public sector clocks fastest response time, while Indonesian telco site had slowest at 36 seconds.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/study-singapore-ranks-high-on-site-reliability-across-asia-62304357.htm

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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Six-Figure Sale at Sedo and Clamor for Country Codes Kept Cash Registers Ringing This Week
Sedo.com claimed the top spot on our all extension Top 20 Domain Sales Chart this week with a nice six-figure sale brokered by one their most consistent producers, Dave Evanson. They chalked up a cool $125,000 for Channel.com. Sedo went on to pile up eight of the 20 chart entries and played a big role in an outstanding week for the ccTLDs.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2012/20120328.htm

Netflix Snaps Up DVD.com Domain
Following its failure to separate its DVD and streaming businesses with its loud and unpopular Qwikster rebranding effort, Netflix has taken subtler tactics to segregate its two types of customers: buying up the domain DVD.com.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/03/netflix-snaps-dvdcom-domain-its-dvd-holdouts/50573/

Confirmed: Netflix buys DVD.com
The nameservers and registrant information for DVD.com just changed. The domain now forwards to DVD.netflix.com, signalling that Netflix may have purchased the domain.
http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/30/netflix-dvddotcom/

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INTERNET USE
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UK internet use increases 50 percent in five years
People in the UK are becoming increasingly comfortable with the internet and are spending 50 percent more time online than they were five years ago, a media literacy survey by Ofcom has shown.
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/communication-breakdown-10000030/uk-internet-use-increases-50-percent-in-five-years-10025784/

UK adults less concerned over internet despite privacy risks [news release]
Levels of concern about the internet have fallen substantially in the UK over the past six years, however some users are still willing to take risks over their internet security and privacy settings, new research by Ofcom reveals.
http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2012/03/29/uk-adults-less-concerned-over-internet-despite-privacy-risks/

au: Mobile broadband subscriptions top wired
Despite the number of mobile internet subscriptions overtaking the number of fixed internet subscriptions in Australia, the mobile subscriptions don't come anywhere near to matching the download volume of fixed subscriptions, according to the latest stats from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
http://www.zdnet.com.au/mobile-broadband-subscriptions-top-wired-339334985.htm

au: Almost half of all internet connections are mobile wireless [news release]
Mobile wireless broadband connections (excluding mobile handsets) accounted for 47% of all internet connections as at 31 December 2011, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
http://abs.gov.au/ausstats\abs at .nsf/mediareleasesbyCatalogue/F2D32B785378BC9CCA25758D002B6804

April Fools' Day: Five great Internet hoaxes
The savvy Internet reader knows that you can't believe everything you read online, but on April Fools' Day we suggest that you not believe anything you read online.
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-april-fools-day-internet-hoaxes-20120330,0,1170217.story

Google in the gun as cyber hate victims fight back
Consumer complaint websites set up to name and shame companies that provide inadequate services and products have become a hotbed for hate attacks that are ruining people's businesses and livelihoods.
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/google-in-the-gun-as-cyber-hate-victims-fight-back-20120401-1w6nf.html
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/google-in-the-gun-as-cyber-hate-victims-fight-back-20120401-1w6nf.html

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CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
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Jon Stewart accuses Spike Lee of 'cyber-bullying'
As the Trayvon Martin saga continues to unfold, Jon Stewart scolded filmmaker Spike Lee for inadvertantly releasing the hounds on an innocent Florida couple via Twitter. In case you missed the story, Lee retweeted what was purported to be the home address of Martin's killer, George Zimmerman, but which was actually the address of Elaine and David McClain, an unrelated pair of retirees. 
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/03/late-night-jon-stewart-accuses-spike-lee-of-cyberbullying.html

au: Conroy plans filter 'surprise' announcement
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said today that he has been meeting with the internet industry on implementing the voluntary internet filter and is expecting a positive outcome.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/conroy-plans-filter-surprise-announcement-339334877.htm

nz: Facebook 'friend' ploy costly for woman
Facebook scammers have reached another rung on the rip-off ladder, now hijacking the network's live chat system to cheat users out of cash.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/6673668/Facebook-friend-ploy-costly-for-woman
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/6674792/Facebook-friend-ploy-costly-for-woman

nz: Facebook shams using 'friend' trick for women [ANI]
Facebook cons have found a new way to trick people through internet, as they are now hijacking the network's live chat system to cheat users out of cash.
http://www.newkerala.com/news/newsplus/worldnews-981.html
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/04/01/207-Facebook-shams-using-friend-trick-for-women.html

pl: "Take care of the Face" the Faceman teaches security in social networking sites
The Faceman is a hero of the social campaign carried out under the catchphrase ?Take care of the Face?, addressed mostly to young users of social networking sites. Its purpose is to draw attention to the problem of privacy in the network.
http://www.nask.pl/newsID/id/773

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ONLINE TV & MUSIC
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French anti-P2P law cuts back pirating, but music sales still decline
France's three-strikes anti-piracy law is one of the strictest in the world. It employs private companies to scan file-sharing networks for copyright infringement and sends warnings to pirates if they're caught red-handed. The law, enforced by a French authority called Hadopi, was instated 17 months ago to the applause of music copyright holders and their representatives. Although an early study originally showed piracy had actually increased after the anti-P2P law passed, Hadopi released a report this March saying French ISP users had significantly decreased their illegal file sharing. Despite that announcement, the French music industry still saw a decline in revenue.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/04/french-anti-p2p-law-cut-back-pirating-but-music-sales-didnt-increase.ars

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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Nokia and Apple squabbles delay Sim card ruling
A decision regarding the next format for mobile Sim cards has been delayed after negotiations over patents ground to a halt, French media has reported.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17560258
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17560258

Vote on nano-SIM standard postponed after row [IDG]
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has decided to postpone a vote on a specification for nano-SIMs, after a row erupted between Apple and the backers of a competing proposal, Nokia, Research In Motion (RIM) and Motorola Mobility.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225696/Vote_on_nano_SIM_standard_postponed_after_row

uk: Mobile broadband demand set to soar
Ofcom is looking into ways to free more radio spectrum to satisfy the UK's vast appetite for mobile broadband. Demand for high mobile data rates could grow 800-fold between 2012 and 2030, the communications regulator suggests.
Http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17560578

Ofcom eyes fresh spectrum to meet mobile data crunch
Parts of the digital TV band may be up for grabs for mobile broadband services, Ofcom has said, as it begins a new consultation process just as the previous digital switch-over is finishing. 
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/regulation/2012/03/30/ofcom-eyes-fresh-spectrum-to-meet-mobile-data-crunch-40154930/

BlackBerry maker RIM abandons battle with iPhone and Android [AP]
The BlackBerry maker, Research in Motion, is to pull back from trying to compete with Apple's iPhone and the Android mobile platform and instead return to its original focus on business users.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/30/blackberry-rim-abandons-iphone-battle

Google's Android has generated just $550m since 2008, figures suggest
Android generated less than $550m in revenues for Google between 2008 and the end of 2011, if figures provided by the search giant as part of a settlement offer with Oracle ahead of an expected patent and copyright infringement trial are an accurate guide.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/29/google-earns-more-iphone-android

au: CSIRO wins legal battle over wi-fi patent
The Federal Government has described a multi-million-dollar legal settlement over CSIRO's wi-fi technology as a major boost for the organisation.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-01/csiro-receives-payment-for-wifi-technology/3925814

CSIRO wins $220m settlement for Wi-Fi [AAP]
The CSIRO has been awarded $220 million after settling litigation against companies in the US to license its wireless local area network (WLAN) technology.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/csiro-wins-220m-settlement-for-wi-fi/story-e6frgakx-1226316391895
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/420285/csiro_wins_220m_settlement_wi-fi/

nz: Telcos join forces for mobile payment push
Paymark, Vodafone New Zealand, 2degrees and Telecom have joined forces to allow New Zealanders to buy goods over the counter, collect loyalty points and pay for public transport with their mobile phones.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10796151

New Zealand Mobile Phones to Become ?Virtual Wallets? in Venture
New Zealand mobile phone companies plan to form a joint venture to create an application that will allow people to use their devices as a ?virtual wallet? in supermarkets and on trains.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-01/new-zealand-mobile-phones-to-become-virtual-wallets-in-venture.html

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ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
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Australian informant brings down US gambling sites
An Australian internet gambling tycoon who became an FBI informant has helped bring down America's illegal online gambling sites.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-30/australian-at-centre-of-online-gambling-case/3922562

ISPs Must Turn Over Customer Names in Porn File-Sharing Suit
Internet service providers have to disclose the names of their subscribers who are accused of using a file-sharing site to copy a pornographic movie, a federal judge has ruled in a copyright infringement suit.
http://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202547277019

Detica: 80 percent of internet crime is 'co-ordinated'
The majority of digital crime is co-ordinated and not the action of lone criminals, according to a study commissioned by Detica.
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/security-threats/2012/03/29/detica-80-percent-of-internet-crime-is-co-ordinated-40154918/

Megaupload User Asks Court to Return His Video Files [news release]
A small business owner who used Megaupload's cloud-based storage system as part of his daily operations has asked a federal court to establish a process that would allow him and other lawful Megaupload users to get their files back. The procedure would help rectify the collateral damage caused by the government's seizure of Megaupload.com as part of a copyright infringement investigation.
https://www.eff.org/press/releases/megaupload-user-asks-court-return-his-video-files

us: Police Are Using Phone Tracking as a Routine Tool
Law enforcement tracking of cellphones, once the province mainly of federal agents, has become a powerful and widely used surveillance tool for local police officials, with hundreds of departments, large and small, often using it aggressively with little or no court oversight, documents show.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/us/police-tracking-of-cellphones-raises-privacy-fears.html

us: Huffington Post bloggers lose legal fight for AOL millions
Bloggers hoping to put themselves on a more robust financial footing and close the gap between them and fully paid journalists are vowing to fight on after a New York court dismissed their multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the Huffington Post calling for compensation for exploitation of its army of unpaid commentators.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/01/huffington-post-bloggers-aol-millions

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SECURITY
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After Threats, No Signs of Attack by Hackers
A threat to attack a crucial part of the Internet on Saturday by members of the mercurial, leaderless hacker collective called Anonymous appears to have had no discernible impact so far.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/technology/no-signs-of-attack-on-internet.html