[DNS] auDA domain name news - 29 April

From: David Goldstein <david> Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:06:30 +1000 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Sat Sep 09 2017 - 22:00:11 UTC

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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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How to Report a DDoS Attack by Dave Piscitello, on behalf of the ICANN Security Team
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/04/how-to-report-a-ddos-attack/>

ICA Opposes ICANN Proposal to Slash UDRP Response Time by Philip Corwin
<http://internetcommerce.org/UDRP_Lock>

GAC claims its first new gTLD scalps
<http://domainincite.com/12772-gac-claims-its-first-new-gtld-scalps>

What controls are needed for the next generation of domain names?
<http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/04/24/what-controls-are-needed-next>

Amazon v the Amazon: internet retailer in domain name battle
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/25/amazon-domain-name-battle-brazil>

Maliciously Registered Domains Decline As 4 in 5 Phishing Domains In .COM, .TK and .INFO
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/04/26/maliciously-registered-domains-decline/>

Cyber attacks hit Australian Bureau of Statistics
<http://www.afr.com/p/technology/cyber_attacks_hit_australian_bureau_3fEopkquBvQdF9vlQOiHZM>

Cat Ladies snatch Australian Christian Lobby's name
<http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/cat-ladies-snatch-australian-christian-lobbys-name/story-fnet09y4-1226631165790>

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GOVERNANCE
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WTF? WTPF! The continuing battle over Internet governance principles by Milton Mueller
Remember all the businesses, internet techies and NGOs who were screaming about an ?ITU takeover of the Internet? a year ago? Where are they now? Because this time, we actually need them.
<http://www.internetgovernance.org/2013/04/23/wtf-wtpf-the-continuing-battle-over-internet-governance-principles/>

Who Will Control the Internet? by Kenneth Neil Cukier
As historic documents go, the statement issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce on June 30 was low-key even by American standards of informality. No flowery language, no fountain-penned signatures, no Great Seal of the United States -- only 331 words on a single page. But the simplicity of the presentation belied the importance of the content, which was Washington's attempt to settle a crucial problem of twenty-first-century global governance: Who controls the Internet?
<http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/61192/kenneth-neil-cukier/who-will-control-the-internet>

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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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DNS Summit in New York by Fadi Chehad?
On April 23, I met with leaders of ccTLDs, Registries, and Registrars in New York City for a milestone event that converged our work initiated during each of the CEO Roundtables hosted since the beginning of this year. Throughout the roundtable series, I have learned a great deal and have been profoundly impressed by the participants? dedication to enhancing, strengthening and advancing the Domain Name System (DNS) sector.
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/04/dns-summit-in-new-york/>

ICANN to Open Istanbul Hub
ICANN President and Chief Executive Officer Fadi Chehad? today announced the organization will open its first hub office in Istanbul, Turkey.
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/press/releases/release-25apr13-en>

How to Report a DDoS Attack by Dave Piscitello, on behalf of the ICANN Security Team
Distributed Denial of Service attacks have increased in scale, intensity and frequency. The wide range of motives for these attacks ? political (hacktivism), criminal (coercion), or social (malice) ? makes every merchant or organization with an online presence a potential target.
<http://blog.icann.org/2013/04/how-to-report-a-ddos-attack/>

ICANN weighs in on how to respond to DDoS attacks
ICANN has released a basic primer on what organisations should do when experiencing a DDoS attack, highlighting that it isn't law enforcement's job to stop them.
<http://www.zdnet.com/icann-weighs-in-on-how-to-respond-to-ddos-attacks-7000014562/>

Fadi Chehad? One-On-One Interview | Istanbul | 25 April 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h0qQp9am9s

ICA Opposes ICANN Proposal to Slash UDRP Response Time by Philip Corwin
ICA just told ICANN that we strongly oppose an Initial Report that proposes to effectively reduce the time that a registrant has to respond to a UDRP by up to one-third.
<http://internetcommerce.org/UDRP_Lock>

ICANN Formally Announces Opening Of Istanbul Hub
ICANN has formally announced they will be opening a hub office in Turkey's largest city Istanbul their President and Chief Executive Officer Fadi Chehad? announced today.
<http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=20162>
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/04/25/icann-opening-istanbul-hub/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/en/icann-formally-announces-opening-of-istanbul-hub.html>

Istanbul to be center for internet management
ICANN will open an internet management center in Istanbul, ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade announced yesterday.
<http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbul-to-be-center-for-internet-management.aspx?pageID=238&nID=45657&NewsCatID=345>

Wrap-up: ICANN 46 in Beijing by Roland LaPlante
Earlier this April, the largest ICANN meeting ever -- more than 2,500 attendees -- kicked off in Beijing. Given the imminent addition of hundreds of "dot Brands" to the Internet, the topic of new gTLDs was at the top of the discussion list for all attendees. So far, well over 100 new gTLD applications have passed the Initial Evaluation stage, meaning they're on their way to becoming live domains.
<http://registrypro.pro/blogs/roland-laplante/wrap-icann-46-beijing>

Can Only UDRP Providers Become URS Dispute Resolution Providers?
According to Brad Bertoglio of Intersponsive Corporation, it looks like ICANN appears to be taking the position that it will not approve any application to provide URS services unless the actual applicant is directly a provider of other dispute resolution services, and potentially only UDRP providers.
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/04/28/can-only-udrp-providers-become-urs-dispute-resolution-providers/>

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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.AL Rules Liberalised To Allow Domain Registrations By Foreign Companies
The policies for registering, renewing, deactivating and changing Whois information for .AL domain names is changing as of 1 May and will be performed by registrars authorised by the Albanian Electronic and Postal Communication Authority (AKEP). The new regulation sets 1 May as the date when the accreditation process will begin.
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/04/28/al-rules-liberalised/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/en/al-rules-liberalised-to-allow-domain-registrations-by-foreign-companies.html>

Is ?.Com? International? The .Com Gtld: An Analysis of its Global Nature through the Prism of Jurisdiction by Francis Augusto Medeiros [International Journal of Law and Information Technology]
Abstract: There is a perception that .com domain names are international. However, what does it mean to be an international domain name? And how are conflicts concerning .com domain names tackled across the myriad of different jurisdictions? This article analyses the framework of the .com TLD and attempts to describe how and if decisions of different jurisdictions are enforced when the central object of litigation is a .com domain name.
<http://ssrn.com/abstract=2256011>

de: General Assembly - Change to the Supervisory Board
At the ordinary General Assembly held today in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the members of DENIC eG decided on the composition of the Cooperative's bodies through 2016.
<http://www.denic.de/en/denic-in-dialogue/press-releases/press/3675.html>

Denic claims 14.3 mln .de domains registered in Germany
There are 14.3 million domains in 402 German towns and districts, according to the regional domain statistics 2012 report from .de domain registry Denic.
<http://www.telecompaper.com/news/denic-claims-143-mln-de-domains-registered-in-germany--939792>

ee: Changes to the Board of the EIF
Minister of Economy and Communications Juhan Parts appointed Jaanus Tehver, who had previously served the board, as a Member of the Supervisory Board of the Estonian Internet Foundation.
<http://www.internet.ee/en/news/changes-to-the-board-of-the-eif/>

lu: Terms and conditions will be amended as of June 11th 2013 
Restriction regarding the registration of certain domain names which have been temporarily blocked will be abolished.
<http://www.dns.lu/en/about-dnslu/news/>

dotMobi analysis shows strong correlation between mobile web site speed and global reach
dotMobi, an expert in mobile web technology, recently performed research on the top 100 sites as ranked by Alexa to analyze the weight of pages they serve to their mobile users. 
<http://dotmobi.com/content/dotmobi-analysis-shows-strong-correlation-between-mobile-web-site-speed-and-global-reach>

Steve Crocker: "Since its introduction, the .?? TLD is still a leading IDN in the entire world"
On April 25, 2013, the Fourth Russian Internet Governance Forum has opened in Moscow, Russia. The forum was hosted by the Coordination Center for TLD RU/??, with the Technical Center of Internet as a general sponsor.
<http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=4531>

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 - NEW TLDS
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GAC claims its first new gTLD scalps
Two new gTLD portfolio applicants have withdrawn a total of nine applications following advice from ICANN?s Governmental Advisory Committee.
<http://domainincite.com/12772-gac-claims-its-first-new-gtld-scalps>

What controls are needed for the next generation of domain names?
Do we need greater controls on the companies that will be providing the next generation of Internet addresses? That's the question that DNS oversight organization ICANN would like to hear you answer in a public comment period open now until 4 June.
<http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/04/24/what-controls-are-needed-next>

Another 44 new gTLDs pass Initial Evaluation
ICANN has posted its latest weekly batch of Initial Evaluation results for new gTLD applications, with 44 new passes and no failures.
<http://domainincite.com/12814-another-44-new-gtlds-pass-initial-evaluation>

39 More New gTLD Pass IE: .AAA; .Chase; .NRA; .Live; .Swiss; .Vip; .Cpa
ICANN has passed another 39 new gTLD through Initial Evaluation today, including the National Rifle Association application for .NRA, The American Automobile Association application for .AAA, JPMorgan Chase application for .Chase, Microsoft?s application for .Live.
<http://www.thedomains.com/2013/04/26/39-more-new-gtld-pass-ie-aaa-chase-nra-live-swiss-vip/>

Photos: ICANN shares new gTLD timeline at private New York meeting
ICANN has a new version of its constantly evolving new gTLD program timetable that accounts for Governmental Advisory Committee advice and other recent developments.
<http://domainincite.com/12781-photos-icann-shares-new-gtld-timeline-at-private-new-york-meeting>

Helping the Internet to deliver economic value
I am a believer in the power of open markets to bring about positive change in the world, drive economic growth and create jobs. Based on an open principles, the Internet has become an indispensable part of the world trade landscape, but I wonder if we have begun to take its impact for granted, expecting it to continue to deliver new opportunity without reminding ourselves that it in fact needs to be protected by robust mechanisms that will safeguard its continuity and influence for the next generation?
<http://news.dot-nxt.com/2013/04/25/helping-internet-deliver-econo>

Amazon v the Amazon: internet retailer in domain name battle
When you see the word "Amazon", what's the first thing that springs to mind ? the world's biggest forest, the longest river or the largest internet retailer ? and which do you consider most important?
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/25/amazon-domain-name-battle-brazil>

Brazil and Peru fight Amazon.com over .amazon top-level domain
Online retailer Amazon is facing opposition from Brazil and Peru over its claim for the .amazon gTLD.
<http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/27/amazon-vs-amazon>

Looking for a better new gTLD search engine?
I?ve heard a few people complain this week about ICANN?s revamped new gTLD application page, so I thought it would be an ideal time to shamelessly plug DI?s New gTLD Application Tracker.
<http://domainincite.com/12793-looking-for-a-better-new-gtld-search-engine>

Ten Things to Know About New gTLDs Advice from Sedo's Legal Department
Since ICANN?s announcement of the expansion of gTLDs in 2008, there has been a lot of excitement over what this will mean for the future of the Internet. Until recently, there were only a few TLDs, like .com, .net, .org, etc.
<https://sedo.com/us/news/3266/Ten-Things-to-Know-About-New-gTLDs/>

gTLD News: New Internet Addresses & How to Get Involved - Basic knowledge about gTLDs, popularity and value
... If you?ve ever tried to register a domain, you?ve likely run into the problem that the name you really want is already registered.
<https://sedo.com/us/news/3263/gTLD-News-New-Internet-Addresses-&-How-to-Get-Involved/>

Closed Generic new gTLDs ? What Should ICANN do Next?
You can hardly swing a dead cat around NewTLDland without hitting some controversy -- particularly concerning closed generic new gTLDs. March's conversation concerning the possible consequences of allowing them, and what ICANN should do concerning their implementation, resulted in the GAC (Governmental Advisory Committee) issuing a broad recommendation a couple weeks ago, stating that "strings representing a generic term," that are also restricted, should "serve a public interest goal."
<http://www.name.com/blog/general/2013/04/closed-generic-new-gtlds-what-should-icann-do-next/>

Who is Alain Pellet, and What?s an Independent Objector? ICANN Formal Objection Review, Part I
One of the most exciting aspects of ICANN's new gTLD application process is the objections. Looking over the newly released list, you may notice a couple of things: One, there?s going to be a hot debate about who owns a word. Two, there will be a defining decision made regarding brands that encompass generic terms, such as .BLUE being objected by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. And three, there?s a guy named Prof. Alain Pellet objecting to a lot of new gTLDs.
<http://www.name.com/blog/ntlds/2013/04/who-is-alain-pellet-and-whats-an-independent-objector-icann-formal-objection-review-part-i/>

NCSG challenges ICANN decision to extend Trademark Clearinghouse rights
Formal Request for Reconsideration challenges trademark owners ability to add 50 derivatives of trademarks to clearinghouse.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/04/26/ncsg-challenges-icann-decision-to-extend-trademark-clearinghouse-rights/>

INTA 2013: Gearing Up for Dallas by Elisa Cooper
The International Trademark Association?s Annual Meeting is quickly approaching and we?re excited to join the Intellectual Property community to share insights. Since the last meeting, we?ve been witnessing a sea of change and we expect these changes to continue. ICANN?s launch of new gTLDs and the Trademark Clearinghouse mark a new set of challenges and possible opportunities for brands as they manage their domain portfolios and Internet presence in the expanded namespace. INTA 2013 is a great forum to learn how to navigate these changes and how they will affect your trademarks, brands and business.
<https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/inta-2013-gearing-up-for-dallas/>

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Maliciously Registered Domains Decline As 4 in 5 Phishing Domains In .COM, .TK and .INFO
A new phishing survey released by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) at its conference in Buenos Aires this week reveals that phishers are breaking into hosting providers with unprecedented success, using these facilities to launch mass phishing attacks.
<http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=20163>
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/04/26/maliciously-registered-domains-decline/>

APWG releases it's Domain Name Use and Trends 2H2012
Some Key Findings in this report: Phishers are breaking into hosting providers with unprecedented success, using these facilities to launch mass phishing attacks. The number of phishing attacks rose due to this technique, and attacks leveraging these resources represented 47% of all phishing attacks recorded worldwide in the second half of 2012; he average and median uptimes of phishing attacks remained lower than the historical average and phishers registered more subdomains than regular domain names, while the number of domain names registered by phishers has dropped significantly since early 2011
<http://www.antiphishing.org/apwg-news-center/>

Phishers Hack Hosting Providers To Launch Mass Attacks
Nearly half of all phishing attacks in the second half of last year came via hacked hosting providers, new data from the Anti-Phishing Working Group.
<http://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/phishers-hack-hosting-providers-to-launc/240153663>

APWG releases it's Domain Name Use and Trends 2H2012
Some Key Findings in this report: Phishers are breaking into hosting providers with unprecedented success, using these facilities to launch mass phishing attacks. The number of phishing attacks rose due to this technique, and attacks leveraging these resources represented 47% of all phishing attacks recorded worldwide in the second half of 2012; he average and median uptimes of phishing attacks remained lower than the historical average and phishers registered more subdomains than regular domain names, while the number of domain names registered by phishers has dropped significantly since early 2011
<http://www.antiphishing.org/apwg-news-center/>

Phishers Hack Hosting Providers To Launch Mass Attacks
Nearly half of all phishing attacks in the second half of last year came via hacked hosting providers, new data from the Anti-Phishing Working Group.
<http://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/phishers-hack-hosting-providers-to-launc/240153663>

White House backs off mandatory cybersecurity standards for companies
The White House has backed away from its push for mandatory cybersecurity standards in favor of an approach that would combine voluntary measures with incentives for companies to comply with them.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-shift-white-house-favors-incentives-for-optional-cybersecurity-measures-for-companies/2013/04/26/05193194-adad-11e2-98ef-d1072ed3cc27_story.html>

How Cybercriminals Attack The Cloud
What attacks are most likely against cloud computing environments? Here's a look -- and some advice
<http://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/how-cybercriminals-attack-the-cloud/240153610>

Possible Exploit Avenue Discovered for DarkLeech Web Server Attacks
A malicious script targeting a year-old vulnerability may be tied to the DarkLeech attack campaign caught infecting Websites earlier this month.
<http://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/possible-exploit-avenue-discovered-for-d/240153697>

Report: Obama Officials Authorized New 'Cybersecurity' Warrantless Surveillance Program, Fresh Immunity Given to ISPs
Yesterday, in a disturbing report published on CNET, new documents obtained by EPIC reveal that Obama administration officials have authorized a new government program involving the interception of communications on Internet service providers, including AT&T?one of the key players in the NSA warrantless wiretapping program.
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/04/report-obama-officials-authorized-new-cybersecurity-warrantless-surveillance>

Dutchman arrested over huge web attack
Spanish police have arrested a Dutchman suspected of being behind one of the biggest ever web attacks.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22314938>

Dutch Man Said to Be Held in Powerful Internet Attack
Dutch authorities say police officials in Spain have arrested a man believed to be connected to an online attack on a spam-fighting site that snarled the Internet last month.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/27/technology/dutch-man-said-to-be-arrested-in-powerful-internet-attack.html>

Dutch citizen arrested over Spamhaus cyberattacks
A Dutch citizen has been arrested in Spain in connection with what experts described as the biggest cyberattack in the history of the internet, one launched against the anti-spam watchdog group Spamhaus last month, prosecutors announced on Friday.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/apr/26/dutch-arrested-spamhaus-cyberattacks>

Dutchman Arrested in Spamhaus DDoS
A 35-year-old Dutchman thought to be responsible for launching what?s been called ?the largest publicly announced online attack in the history of the Internet? was arrested in Barcelona on Thursday by Spanish authorities.
<http://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/04/dutchman-arrested-in-spamhaus-ddos/>

Supposed "LulzSec leader" is just a wannabe hacker
On Wednesday, the Australian Federal Police arrested 24-year-old Matthew Flannery, who went by the name Aush0k online and is now being charged with computer sabotage and unauthorised access to restricted data.
<http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Supposed-LulzSec-leader-is-just-a-wannabe-hacker-1851146.html>

New Zealand cyber security fears rising
New Zealanders are becoming increasingly concerned about privacy and cyber-security, new research suggests.
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10879850>

Cyber attacks hit Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has been a target of a series of sustained online attacks potentially aimed at gaining access to market-sensitive information before its public release.
<http://www.afr.com/p/technology/cyber_attacks_hit_australian_bureau_3fEopkquBvQdF9vlQOiHZM>

Who to call when hit by a DDoS attack
Recent reports all point to the same fact: despite the different motives of the attackers, DDoS attack have become more frequent and more intense.
<http://net-security.org/secworld.php?id=14829>

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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Cat Ladies snatch Australian Christian Lobby's name
THE Australian Christian Lobby has been embarrassed by a Melbourne trio who has registered a satirical marriage equality page under the lobby's moniker. The writers, calling themselves the Australian Cat Ladies, pounced on the domain name AustralianChristianLobby.org when the ACL, which only uses acl.org.au, failed to buy the domain.
<http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/cat-ladies-snatch-australian-christian-lobbys-name/story-fnet09y4-1226631165790>

Cat Ladies snatch Australian Christian Lobby's domain name
THE Australian Christian Lobby says it has no plans to buy back its domain name despite a satire site launched under its moniker.
<http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/cat-ladies-snatch-australian-christian-lobbys-name/story-fncvk70o-1226631165790>
<http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/cat-ladies-snatch-australian-christian-lobbys-name/story-fncyva0b-1226631165790>
<http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/cat-ladies-snatch-australian-christian-lobbys-name/story-e6frg6n6-1226631165790>

?New, improved ACL? likes lasers on walls
The Australian Christian Lobby has opposed gay rights advocates on various issues but three Melbourne feminists have started their own ACL and bought out the rights to the very similar web address.
<http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/local-news/2013/04/29/new-improved-acl-likes-lasers-on-walls/103123>

Australian Cat Ladies Teach Christians A Lesson In Protecting Domains
It's a lesson in registering the key domain names relating to your business. Down under a trio of feminists from Melbourne calling themselves the Australian Cat Ladies have registered the domain name AustralianChristianLobby.org after realising the ACL, which has registered both acl.org.au and australianchristianlobby.org, had failed to register it.
<http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=20184>
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/04/29/cat-ladies-teach-christians-a-lesson/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/en/australian-cat-ladies-teach-christians-a-lesson-in-protecting-domains.html>

ACL goes from Christians to Cat Ladies
A plucky group of feminists have claimed the Australian Christian Lobby domain name after it expired last week, transforming it into a cat paradise.
<http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/home-it/59629-acl-goes-from-christians-to-cat-ladies>

Cat ladies take over the Australian Christian Lobby
An Australian Christian Lobby domain name has been snapped up and turned into a website for the Australian Cat Ladies.
<http://www.cnet.com.au/cat-ladies-take-over-the-australian-christian-lobby-339344097.htm>

This is What Happens When the Australian Christian Lobby Fails to Register the Most Obvious Domain Name
The Australian Christian Lobby, basically the equivalent of a Christian Right group in America, uses the domain acl.org.au to espouse their anti-gay, anti-choice rhetoric.
<http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/04/28/this-is-what-happens-when-the-australian-christian-lobby-fails-to-register-the-most-obvious-domain-name/>

Cat ladies turned brand-squatters poke fun at religious right
Redditers in Australia ? and others ? got a giggle out of one of the better bits of brand-squat-spoofing to arise on the Interwebs in recent times.
<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/29/australian_cat_ladies/>

Cat Ladies Swoop In On Australian Christian Lobby Domain Name
 In a classic case of yoink, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) was served a valuable lesson in IT management and corporate affairs this past Sunday after the domain name australianchristianlobby.org was registered by an unrelated organisation also going by the 'ACL' acronym.
<http://www.pedestrian.tv/news/arts-and-culture/cat-ladies-swoop-in-on-australian-christian-lobby-/63843c01-a4c2-47ee-b744-e9c46272de2b.htm>

How Many Domain Names Should You Protect?
Right-wing lobbyist group the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) undoubtedly isn?t thrilled that the domain name australianchristianlobby.org has been registered by Australian Cat Ladies, a group which shares the same initials but vocally supports marriage equality, a cause the Christian ACL has repeatedly argued against.
<http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/04/how-many-domain-names-should-you-protect/>

Cat Lovers Squatting In The Australian Christian Lobby?s Domain
Our least favourite public interest organisation, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), has just been served a delicious lesson in how not to secure your web presence. One of its domain names lapsed, and now it has been swooped upon by the Australian Cat Ladies.
<http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/04/cat-lovers-squatting-in-the-australian-christian-lobbys-domain/>

The Australian Christian Lobby: The Internet Strikes Back? With Cats
After the Australian Christian Lobby thoroughly lost the R18+ battle, they once again focused their collective energy, not on positive change that might aid worthwhile causes ? of course not.
<http://www.kotaku.com.au/2013/04/the-australian-christian-lobby-the-internet-strikes-back-with-cats/>

The Australian Christian Lobby is caught napping - by cats
A lapsed domain belonging to a conservative Christian group has had a rather cute and furry make over.
<http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/341417,the-australian-christian-lobby-is-caught-napping-by-cats.aspx>

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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The Pirate Bay Finds New Home in Iceland
After bouncing around several TLDs over the past couple of months, BitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay has finally found a home in Iceland. The Pirate Bay's search for a TLD ? initiated as the site's owners' fear Swedish authorities might seize its .SE domain name ? recently brought the site to the Greenland-based .GL domain. That didn't last long, however, and TPB was forced to find a new home, which it did ? in Iceland.
<http://mashable.com/2013/04/25/the-pirate-bay-iceland/>

The Pirate Bay, the foremost internet nomad, moves to Iceland
... The Pirate Bay is now accessible at the .is TLD, which is also one of those TLDs that double as words, coveted by comedians the world over.
<http://www.geek.com/apps/the-pirate-bay-the-foremost-internet-nomad-moves-to-iceland-1553280/>

Verisign Revenues Boom In Q1, 2013 With 2M New .COM/.NET Registrations
Verisign Revenues Boom In Q1, 2013 With 2M New .COM/.NET Registrations Verisign reported revenues of $236 million for the first quarter of 2013 as 1.99 million new .com and .net domain name registrations were added to the base, an increase of 15.5 percent in revenues and 5.5 percent in registrations when compared to the same quarter in 2012.
<http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=20164>
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/04/26/verisign-revenues-boom/>

Verisign Reports 15 Percent Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth in First Quarter 2013 
... VeriSign, Inc., and subsidiaries ("Verisign") reported revenue of $236 million for the first quarter of 2013, up 15 percent from the same quarter in 2012. ... Verisign Registry Services added 1.99 million net new names and ended the first quarter with 123.1 million active domain names in the zone for .com and .net, representing a 5.5 percent increase year over year.
<http://www.verisigninc.com/en_US/news-events/press-room/articles/index.xhtml?artLink=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLm13bmV3c3Jvb20uY29tL2FydGljbGUvcnNzP2lkPTE3MTI4NDU%3D>

Verisign earnings: adds 1.99 million domains in Q1
Verisign reported its first quarter earnings after the bell today. In the first quarter it added a combined 1.99 million domain names in .com and .net. That brings the total to 123.1 million active domain names in the zone for .com and .net ? a 5.5 percent increase year over year. This is an improvement over Q4 2012 when it added only 1.25 million names. But a better comparison my by Q1 of 2012, when it added 2.86 million names to the root.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/04/25/verisign-earnings-adds-1-99-million-domains-in-q1/>

Network Solutions files domain privacy patent application
Domain name registrar Network Solutions wants to patent various aspects of a domain privacy service, and has filed a patent application for ?Private Domain Name Registration? with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2013/04/25/network-solutions-files-domain-privacy-patent-application/>

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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The Domaining Spain 2013 Conference Got Underway Today in Valencia With New gTLDs Leading the Agenda
The 2013 Domaining Spain conference got underway today with a good crowd on hand for the start of the three day event at the Hotel Sorolla Palace in Valencia.
<http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2013/dailyposts/20130425.htm>

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INTERNET USE
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Google searches predict market moves
The volume of Google searches for finance-related terms may predict moves in markets, research suggests.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22293693>

Google Search Terms Can Predict Stock Market, Study Finds
The terms people search for on Google have been used to forecast how many Americans have the flu, travel plans and the price for which cars sell. Now a scientific study shows that Google search can be used to predict the stock market.
<http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/26/google-search-terms-can-predict-stock-market-study-finds/>

New York Times Moves Toward Netflix Model as Ads Tumble
New York Times Co. Chief Executive Officer Mark Thompson is taking a cue from subscription services like Netflix Inc. in a bid to transform the publisher into an Internet company that relies less on advertising.
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-25/new-york-times-co-s-sales-miss-estimates-as-ad-revenue-dives.html>

Bitcoin: the Berlin streets where you can shop with virtual money
The digital currency is rising in popularity among traders in the rebellious Kreuzberg area of Germany's capital
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/apr/26/bitcoins-gain-currency-in-berlin>

NZ doubles its demand for internet data
Demand for internet data doubled in the year ending June 2012 and competition between telecommunications companies heated up over the 12-month period, the Commerce Commission said today.
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10880464>

Mobile revenue on the rise, total NZ telco spend at $5.22b
Mobile retail revenues grew to $2.38 billion in the 2011/12 year, according to the Commerce Commission?s 2012 telecommunications annual monitoring report released today.
<http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/mobile-revenue-on-the-rise-total-nz-telco-spend-at-522b>

nz: Demand for mobile data doubles for second year in a row says telco report [news release]
The Commerce Commission today released its 2012 telecommunications annual monitoring report analysing the state of New Zealand?s telecommunications markets.
<http://www.comcom.govt.nz/media-releases/detail/2013/demand-for-mobile-data-doubles-for-second-year-in-a-row-says-telco-report>

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SOCIAL MEDIA
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Facebook deserted by millions of users in biggest markets
Facebook has lost millions of users per month in its biggest markets, independent data suggests, as alternative social networks attract the attention of those looking for fresh online playgrounds.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/apr/28/facebook-loses-users-biggest-markets>

Looking at Facebook?s Friend and Relationship Status Through Big Data
Wolfram Alpha, a computational search engine, released a detailed report Wednesday about people?s friendships and relationship habits on Facebook.
<http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/looking-at-facebooks-friend-and-relationship-status-through-big-data/>

Brazil judge orders Facebook memorial page removed
A Brazilian judge has ordered Facebook to delete the profile of a 24-year-old journalist who died in May last year.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22286569>

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CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
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ca: Nova Scotia introduces cyberbullying legislation
The Nova Scotia government has introduced a new Cyber-Safety Act it says takes direct aim at cyberbullying.
<http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotia-introduces-cyberbullying-legislation-1.1253827>

ca: Cyberbullying bill positive but could use tweaks: prof
The chair of Nova Scotia's task force on cyberbuylling says he's largely pleased with the province's newly-announced Cyber-Safety Act, which will allow victims and their families to get protection orders from a court if they are being harassed online.
<http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/04/26/ns-mackay-cyber-safety-act.html>

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ONLINE TV, MUSIC & PIRACY
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A decade of iTunes singles killed the music industry
Believe it or not, Apple's iTunes Music Store turns 10 this weekend. Although iTunes has in many ways been a godsend to fans of digital music, it has been a source of endless frustration for the music industry.
<http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/25/technology/itunes-music-decline/index.html>

iTunes is 10 years old today. Was it the best idea Apple ever had?
While the shares fall and the smartphone wars rage, Apple's music store keeps growing ? and tying users into its platform
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/apr/28/itunes-10-years-old-best-idea-apple-ever-had>

Netflix CEO says future of TV is in apps
After Netflix?s blockbuster earnings sent its stock soaring this week, the company?s chief executive made a bold prediction: TV as we know it is coming to an end.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/netflix-ceo-says-future-of-tv-is-in-apps/2013/04/26/f21f5cce-adc7-11e2-98ef-d1072ed3cc27_story.html>

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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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North Korea embraces 3G service
Almost two million North Koreans now use the country's only 3G network, reports a blog dedicated to technology news in North Korea.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22308353>

uk: Mobile networks see bright future for electronic wallet
Britain's big three mobile networks have united on a project to make debit cards of our smartphones. And they're even planning to outsmart Google
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/apr/28/mobile-phone-networks-electronic-wallet>

Microsoft gets upper hand in first Google patent trial
Microsoft Corp came out on top in the first of two patent trials versus Google Inc's Motorola Mobility unit on Thursday, as a federal judge in Seattle ruled largely in its favour.
<http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/04/26/uk-microsoft-google-trial-idUKBRE93P0BC20130426>

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SPAM
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Different Focus on Spam Needed by Martijn Grooten
It is surprisingly difficult to get accurate figures for the amount of spam that is sent globally, yet everyone agrees that the global volume of spam has come down a lot since its peak in late 2008. At the same time, despite some recent small decreases, the catch rates of spam filters remain generally high... A world in which email can be used without spam filters is a distant utopia. Yet, the decline of spam volumes and the continuing success (recent glitches aside) of filters have two important consequences.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20130425_different_focus_on_spam_needed/>

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ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
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Technology makes it easier for terrorists to act, senior official warns
Modern technology is allowing terrorists to act more easily without the risk of being caught, the Government?s most senior counter-terrorism official has warned.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/10016784/Technology-makes-it-easier-for-terrorists-to-act-senior-official-warns.html>

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SECURITY
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Maliciously Registered Domains Decline As 4 in 5 Phishing Domains In .COM, .TK and .INFO
A new phishing survey released by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) at its conference in Buenos Aires this week reveals that phishers are breaking into hosting providers with unprecedented success, using these facilities to launch mass phishing attacks.
<http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=20163>
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2013/04/26/maliciously-registered-domains-decline/>