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The domain name news is supported by auDA

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US Calls On Brazil Internet Meeting To Stick To Principles
<http://www.ip-watch.org/2014/02/25/us-calls-on-brazil-internet-meeting-to-stick-to-principles/>

ICANN Board Approves ?Thick? Whois Requirement for .COM and .NET
<https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/icann-board-approves-thick-whois-requirement-for-com-and-net/>

au: The auDA reviews its WHOIS policy
<http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8b86630d-3c57-457a-b061-30260eb6bc8e>

ICANN?s Uniform Rapid Suspension: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
<https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/icanns-uniform-rapid-suspension-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/>

New Internet Domain Extensions: Don't Get Blinded by the Sunrise or Run Over by the Landrush by Kathy Nielsen
<http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2014/24521/new-internet-domain-extensions-dont-get-blinded-by-the-sunrise-or-run-over-by-the-landrush>

How Are New TLDs Being Adopted?
<http://www.pingzine.com/how-are-new-tlds-being-adopted-31548/>

European ccTLD Registries Address Security Issues With ISO27001: CENTR News
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2014/03/02/european-cctld-security-iso27001-centr/>

Meet the seven people who hold the keys to worldwide internet security
<http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/28/seven-people-keys-worldwide-internet-security-web>


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GOVERNANCE
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US Calls On Brazil Internet Meeting To Stick To Principles
The United States, home to the organisation that oversees technical aspects of the internet domain name system, has advice for an upcoming meeting in Brazil aimed at revisiting the global internet governance: consider principles developed in past meetings, and don?t retread old sore spots. In other words, don?t disrupt the status quo.
<http://www.ip-watch.org/2014/02/25/us-calls-on-brazil-internet-meeting-to-stick-to-principles/>

Internet Governance in an Age of Cyber Insecurity
The Internet, since its debut in 1989, has revolutionized commerce, communication, military action, and governance. Much of the modern world is simply inconceivable without it. This revolution, however, has not come without a price. The annual cost of cyber crime has now climbed to more than $1 trillion, while coordinated cyberattacks have crippled Estonia, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan and compromised critical infrastructure in countries around the world. While no fewer than six UN bodies and multiple regional and national forums have sought to build a consensus on the future of Internet governance, there has been little progress thus far. The United States has largely abstained from these discussions, instead focusing on developing its own offensive and defensive cybersecurity capabilities while entrusting the ongoing stability of the system to the expertise of the private sector.
<http://www.cfr.org/internet-policy/internet-governance-age-cyber-insecurity/p22832>

CENTR supports Technical Community requests to keep WSIS review open
The letter is addressed to the recently appointed co-facilitators of the UN General Assembly?s consultations on the review of the implementation of the outcomes of WSIS (the World Summit on the Information Society) and suggests that all steps of the review process include all relevant stakeholders.
<https://centr.org/news/wsis/02-26-2014/3299/centr-supports-technical-community-requests-keep-wsis-review-open>

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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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Update on 2013 RAA and Data Retention Waiver Process by Cyrus Namazi
My recent post on the ICANN Blog highlighted the 2013 RAA and some of its noteworthy improvements designed to protect registrants and the Internet-using public. An additional update included in the 2013 RAA is the Data Retention Specification.
<http://blog.icann.org/2014/02/update-on-2013-raa-and-data-retention-waiver-process/>

WEBINAR: ICANN Strategy Panels ? Draft Reports
Vint Cerf, Nii Quaynor, Beth Noveck and Paul Mockapetris invite you to join them on Tuesday, 11 March at 15:00-16:30 UTC for an overview of the draft recommendations and report they respectively released earlier this month for public comment:
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-28feb14-en.htm>

New Contracting Statistics Released
Below are the key Contracting statistics, as of 28 February 2014:
<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-28feb14-en>

Andrew Merriam, Secretary | New TLD Applicant Group (NTAG), to Akram Atallah
Name Collisions, Auctions, CPE, Specification 13, and GAC Advice
<http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/merriam-to-atallah-28feb14-en>

ICANN Board Approves ?Thick? Whois Requirement for .COM and .NET
The ICANN Board has approved the community recommendation that ?the provision of Thick Whois services should become a requirement for all gTLD registries, both existing and future.? MarkMonitor has long supported the migration from ?thin? to ?thick? Whois, which will improve both quality and ease of access to Whois data, thereby further facilitating intellectual property enforcement online.
<https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/icann-board-approves-thick-whois-requirement-for-com-and-net/>

ICANN to Registrars: We?re working on legal issues with 2013 RAA
ICANN Vice President of Domain Name Services Cyrus Namazi has sent a letter to domain name registrars regarding their concerns over legal implications of the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA).
<http://domainnamewire.com/2014/02/28/icann-to-registrars-were-working-on-legal-issues-with-2013-raa/>

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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European ccTLD News - February 2014
CENTR has published its latest ccTLD newsletter for February 2014 - this edition includes: Article: "ISO27001: on the ccTLD shopping list", Preparing for IGF2014 Istanbul, DNSSEC in Europe, Q&A with .uk Brand Manager Becky Bradburn & ccTLD news highlights and statistics
<https://centr.org/news/european-cctld-news-february-2014>

au: The auDA reviews its WHOIS policy
The .au Domain Administration (auDA) is currently reviewing its WHOIS policy in relation to making additional .au domain registrant details publically available. As part of its review, auDA has released an Issues Paper1 for public comment. The closing date for submissions is 31 January 2014.
<http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=8b86630d-3c57-457a-b061-30260eb6bc8e>

The.nlyst: DDoS, local anycast and Domain Name Surveillance Service
The success of the internet also has a down side. Its very importance for society and the economy means that the net is increasingly a medium or a target for people intent on crime or mischief. In 2013, we saw more examples of abuse than ever. Various prominent Dutch institutions were the victims of DDoS attacks. SIDN has been working to protect itself against such threats, with countermeasures that include the rollout of a local anycast network.
<https://www.sidn.nl/en/news/news/article/translate-to-english-thenlyst-ddos-lokale-anycast-en-domeinbewakingsservice/>

.NZ: Discontinuation of Third Level Registrations
The DNCL (Domain Name Commission Ltd.) announced changes for .NZ domain registrations at the third level. With the launch of .NZ second level domain names, it will no longer be possible to register domains at the third level. Therefore DNCL proposes April 30, 2014 as application deadline for these registrations.
<http://brandshelter.com/english/News/Current News.html>

.NZ: Einstellung von Third Level Registrierungen geplant
Die DNCL (Domain Name Commission Ltd.) hat ?nderungen f?r .NZ Third Level Domains angek?ndigt. Mit der Einf?hrung von .NZ Second Level Domainnamen, wird es nicht mehr m?glich sein, Domains auf der dritten Ebene zu registrieren. DNCL schl?gt daher den 30. April 2014 als den Schlusstermin f?r diese Registrierungen vor.
<http://brandshelter.com/deutsch/News/Neueste Nachrichten.html>

rs: ?Cyrillic and the Internet, in Serbia and around the world? panel debate
On the second anniversary of the .??? internet domain, on 27th January 2014, the Register of National Internet Domain Names of Serbia (RNIDS), organised a panel debate called ?Cyrillic and the Internet, in Serbia and around the world? at the Belgrade Centre for the Promotion of Science.
<http://rnids.rs/en/what-s-new/?cyrillic-and-the-internet,-in-serbia-and-around-the-world?-panel-debate/id/4456>

Coordination Center Council approves new regulatory documents
The Council of the Coordination Center for TLD RU/?? met on February 27, 2014, to consider and approve a package of regulatory documents, which included a revised Accreditation Agreement, Accreditation Provision and Requirements for Accredited Organizations.
<http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=5500>

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 - NEW TLDS
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New gTLD registries given way to free up millions of blocked names
Up to 9.8 million new gTLD domain names are to get a get-out-of-jail card, with the publication yesterday of ICANN?s plan to mitigate the risk of damaging name collisions.
<http://domainincite.com/15925-new-gtld-registries-given-way-to-free-up-millions-of-blocked-names>

ICANN?s Uniform Rapid Suspension: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
With so many new gTLDs moving into their respective general availability periods, and incidents of cybersquatting beginning to appear, many companies are now looking towards the URS (Uniform Rapid Suspension) as a possible solution for quickly remediating abuse. As a reminder, domains that are the subject of a successful URS ruling are suspended for the remainder of the registration term, or can be renewed for an additional year at the current registrar.
<https://www.markmonitor.com/mmblog/icanns-uniform-rapid-suspension-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/>

New Internet Domain Extensions: Don't Get Blinded by the Sunrise or Run Over by the Landrush by Kathy Nielsen
2014 is going to be a landmark year for the Internet as the oldest and most basic form of user online navigation gets a major overhaul. The domain names that marketers and end users have relied on since the Internet's inception?extensions like .com, .net, and .org?will no longer be the only game in town. New gTLDs, including extensions such as .app, .sports, .club, .healthcare and many more, have already started to launch.
<http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2014/24521/new-internet-domain-extensions-dont-get-blinded-by-the-sunrise-or-run-over-by-the-landrush>

World Wide Web at 25: the next 25 years
Next month marks 25 years since Tim Berners-Lee set out his vision of the World Wide Web -- a system of interlinked documents that can be accessed via the Internet using a web browser. But the Web is currently going through a profound change, and the next 25 years are likely to be very different from the last.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/10666001/World-Wide-Web-at-25-the-next-25-years.html>

eco Association: Small and Medium-Sized Companies Must Prevent Trademark Violations with the New Domains
Sunrise ? this is the name of the phase during which trademark owners can secure domain endings before they are made available to the general public, and that phase is now! A new era is beginning in the Internet: Since the end of 2013, on average two new gTLDs like .web, .nike, .sport or .berlin have been coming onto the market each week.
<http://international.eco.de/2014/press-releases/eco-association-small-and-medium-sized-companies-must-prevent-trademark-violations-with-the-new-domains.html>

Why ICANN is pushing for domain names in era of mobile apps [AP]
In the early days, you typed in a domain name address to reach a website. Then came the ability to reach websites directly through a search engine. The mobile era brought us phone apps for accessing services without either. 
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/internet/Why-ICANN-is-pushing-for-domain-names-in-era-of-mobile-apps/articleshow/31179589.cms>
<http://www.todayszaman.com/news-340752-futbol-among-new-domains-as-urls-get-specific.html>
<http://globalnews.ca/news/1178625/new-push-for-expansion-in-domain-name-suffixes-despite-rise-in-apps-search/>

Beyond the Dot, Above and Beyond
?Spectacular execution of a wonderful event.? That was the assessment of one participant at the Beyond the Dot 2014 conference Wednesday at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The conference focused on the effect of new TLDs on average Internet users and drew a capacity crowd of over 150, several well-received speakers, and multiple media stories.
<http://gtldstrategy.com/2014/02/20/beyond-the-dot-2014-went-beyond-awesome/>

The .paris pioneers
The names of the 100.paris pioneers have been revealed. Over a 6-month period they will be the only ones to boast the .paris suffix and will be taking part in all the events related to the launch of .paris.
<http://www.paris.fr/english/english/the-paris-pioneers/rub_8118_actu_141091_port_19237>

Disappointing .sexy launch shows the importance of the channel
Uniregistry?s first new gTLDs to launch, .sexy and .tattoo, have showed a poor first-day performance after the company failed to secure Go Daddy as a registrar partner.
<http://domainincite.com/15933-disappointing-sexy-launch-shows-the-importance-of-the-channel>

How Are New TLDs Being Adopted?
With new gTLDs changing the familiar landscape of the domain namespace, users are increasingly taking advantage of new Web addresses. Every week, new domain extensions such as .photography, .clothing, .today, and many more are becoming available for immediate registration. Each new gTLD provides a potential opportunity for firms in the tech and business industries to redefine their online presence.
<http://www.pingzine.com/how-are-new-tlds-being-adopted-31548/>

Fifth Applicant Auction Concluded, 28 Contention Sets Resolved by Sheel Mohnot
After the successful conclusion of our fifth auction last week, the Applicant Auction has now resolved contention for a total of 28 strings. More than 20 gTLD applicants have participated in our auctions, ranging from many smaller companies with only one gTLD application in contention to large, publicly traded portfolio applicants like TLDH and Demand Media.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20140227_fifth_applicant_auction_concluded_28_contention_sets_resolved/>

CentralNic to launch 25 web address endings
CentralNic is set to launch 25 web address endings as it readies itself for a momentous change in the internet landscape.
<http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/66251/centralnic-to-launch-25-web-address-endings-66251.html>

Voices: Fast-growing Hispanic market tough to tap
American firms trying to tap into the fast-growing Hispanic market, particularly those in the news business, are receiving a very clear message: Good luck.
<http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/27/voices-gomez-hispanic-media/5845059/>

ICANN/Paris City Hall Contract signature & first 100 .paris domains announced
In February 21 in the Parisian offices of the NUMA incubator for start-ups and innovation, the registry contract for the .paris GeoTLD was signed by and between ICANN and Paris City Hall. Mathieu Weill, CEO of Afnic, which has backed the application of the .paris GeoTLD since its inception, presented the role of the association and explained the implications of the project for the Afnic / Core group.
<http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/7647/show/icann-paris-city-hall-contract-signature-first-100-paris-domains-announced-1.html>

Signature of the ICANN /.BZH Contract
The registry agreement between ICANN and the .bzh association, backed the new .bzh GeoTLD, was signed on Friday February 28, 2014 ? marking a new milestone towards the upcoming launch of the new domain names with the Brittany brand.
<http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/7658/show/signature-of-the-icann-bzh-contract-1.html>

The Development Potential for the Upcoming 5 French GeoTLDs
The Afnic Industry Report on Domain Names focuses this month on the market represented by the geographic areas covered by the .paris, .alsace, .aquitaine, .corsica and .bzh GeoTLDs. To back the study, Afnic uses the data for the .fr TLD on the catchment areas involved, making a distinction between individual and corporate domain-name holders.
<http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/7633/show/the-development-potential-for-the-upcoming-5-french-geotlds.html>

New Internet TLD ?.One? Goes to Highest Bidder in Historic Auction
RightOfTheDot?, LLC, one of the most well-known domain industry auction Internet consulting and advisement firms, announced today that they and their partner Escrow.com have facilitated the contention set auction of the new gTLD Web address ?.One,? which is expected to be one of the most sought-after new TLD properties on the Internet.
<http://rightofthedot.com/2014/02/new-internet-top-level-domain-?-one?-goes-to-highest-bidder-in-historic-auction/>

For Your Viewing Pleasure: The Practicalities of a New Domain Launch
If you weren't able to attend Afilias CMO Roland LaPlante's recent webinar on "The Practicalities of a New Domain Launch," you can watch it here.
<http://registrypro.pro/blogs/vhedderel/your-viewing-pleasure-practicalities-new-domain-launch>

The .???? domain has been delegated
On the night of February 26 to 27, a new entry in Cyrillic ? . ???? (Russian for "children") ? appeared in the root server registries of global domain addresses. Thus, .???? has become the first among top-level Russian domains to be delegated. These domains are created as part of the New gTLD program. This is an important step towards creating a children's web space.
<http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=5498>

.Guru Tops 40,000 Registrations; Not Bad For A TLD Donuts Did Not Have In Its Top 50%
The new gTLD .Guru just topped 40,000 registrations making it the most successful new gTLD to launch.
<http://www.thedomains.com/2014/03/02/guru-tops-40000-registrations-not-bad-for-a-tld-donuts-did-not-have-in-its-top-50/>

4 more Donuts domain names entered GA yesterday. Here are the numbers.
Yesterday four new Donuts domain names came off of ?Early Access Pricing? and became available for standard registration prices.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2014/02/27/4-more-donuts-domain-names/>

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Energy firm cyber-defence is 'too weak', insurers say
Power companies are being refused insurance cover for cyber-attacks because their defences are perceived as weak, the BBC has learned.
<http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26358042>

Security researchers urge tech companies to explain their cryptographic choices
Fourteen prominent security and cryptography experts have signed an open letter to technology companies urging them to take steps to regain users' trust following reports over the past year that vendors collaborated with government agencies to undermine consumer security and facilitate mass surveillance.
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2014/022714-security-researchers-urge-tech-companies-279246.html>

Wi-Fi 'virus' could be used to attack wireless access points
Researchers used a specially-crafted virus called ?Chameleon? to attack access points, which could then spread the malware along wirelessly.
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/2102044/wi-fi-virus-could-be-used-to-attack-wireless-access-points.html>

Brazilian hackers make plans for the World Cup
Brazilian hackers are said to be preparing for a string of cyberattacks to FIFA and sponsor websites during the World Cup.
<http://www.zdnet.com/brazilian-hackers-make-plans-for-the-world-cup-7000026861/>

China?s President Will Lead a New Effort on Cybersecurity
President Xi Jinping is presiding over a new working group on cybersecurity and information security, China announced on Thursday, a sign that the Communist Party views the issue as one of the country?s most pressing strategic concerns.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/world/asia/china-announces-new-cybersecurity-push.html>

China ramps up cybersecurity efforts, strives to become 'Internet power' [IDG]
China is bolstering its efforts on cybersecurity with a new high-level committee that aims to turn the nation into an "Internet power," the country's official state media said Thursday.
<http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9246660/China_ramps_up_cybersecurity_efforts_strives_to_become_Internet_power_>

The M3AAWG 30th General Meeting: eco Strengthens Ties with Researchers and Developers of Security Solutions
The M3AAWG 30th General Meeting took place on February 17-21 in San Francisco, with 40 sessions covering mobile security, malware identification and mitigation, Web security, public policy and other issues. The Messaging, Malware and Mobile Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG) is where the industry comes together to work against bots, malware, spam, viruses, denial-of-service attacks and other online exploitation.
<http://international.eco.de/2014/news/the-m3aawg-30th-general-meeting-eco-strengthens-ties-with-researchers-and-developers-of-security-solutions.html>

More Denial of Service Attacks by Steve Atkins
There are quite a lot of NTP-amplified denial of service attacks going around at the moment targeting tech and ecommerce companies, including some in the email space. What does NTP-amplifed mean? NTP is "Network Time Protocol" - it allows computers to set their clocks based on an accurate source, and keep them accurate. It's very widely used - OS X and Windows desktops typically use it by default, and most servers should have it running.
<http://www.circleid.com/posts/20140228_more_denial_of_service_attacks/>

The IETF needed a wake-up call on security, says chairman [IDG]
Security and how to protect users from pervasive monitoring will dominate the proceedings when members of Internet Engineering Task Force meet in London starting Sunday.
<http://www.computerworld.co.nz/article/539486/ietf_needed_wake-up_call_security_says_chairman/>
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2014/022814-the-ietf-needed-a-wake-up-279307.html>

European ccTLD Registries Address Security Issues With ISO27001: CENTR News
Security is an ongoing issue for the domain name system and TLD registries are at the forefront of dealing with it.
<http://www.domainpulse.com/2014/03/02/european-cctld-security-iso27001-centr/>
<http://www.domainnews.com/security-iso27001-centr-news.html>

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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us: 2 sheriff candidates find Web domains containing their names were touting a rival
Los Angeles County sheriff candidates Jim Hellmold and Jim McDonnell say several domain names with their names were already taken. The domain names led users to a site supporting Paul Tanaka.
<http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-sheriffs-race-20140227,0,4470081.story>

Barcelona Blues
Barcelona ? synonymous with the work of Antoni Gaudi, tapas, football (or soccer as we Americans call it), and the occasional UDRP case, such as the recent complaint filed by Spanish company Social Point, S.L. with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) against ?3745854 Domain Manager / Moniker Online Services, LLC? over the domain name (you guessed it) socialpoint.com. This case caught my eye because the failure to recover the domain name must surely have been a blow to the Complainant, a developer of social games that can be played via Facebook or downloaded as iOS and Android apps.
<http://domainnamestrategy.com/2014/02/24/barcelona-blues/>

us: Judge says cybersquatter owes Trump $32G over domain names
Criticizing The Donald can cost you. A Canarsie cybersquatter who registered domain names related to Donald Trump and used them to skewer the real estate magnate must pay him $32,000 in damages, a Brooklyn judge ruled.
<http://nypost.com/2014/02/28/judge-says-cybersquatter-owes-trump-32g-over-domain-names/>

us: Donald Trump wins $32,000 in damages from ?cyber-squatter? who held hostage domain names containing real estate mogul?s name
A Brooklyn judge has reduced billionaire Donald Trump's demand for $400,000 in damages from a cyber-pest to a paltry $32,000.
<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/trump-wins-32-000-damages-cyber-squatter-article-1.1706524>

Arabic UDRP provider turns on the lights
The Arab Center for Dispute Resolution (ACDR) is up and running, becoming the fifth provider of Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) services.
<http://www.worldipreview.com/news/arabic-udrp-provider-turns-the-lights-on-6291>

Richard Branson turns to new tools to combat cybersquatting
Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson has turned to two new tools to combat cybersquatting in new TLDs: The new Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) policy and Donuts? ?Domain Protected Marks List?.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2014/02/27/richard-branson-turns-to-new-tools-to-combat-cybersquatting/>

au: 15 Year Old AGL.com Saved In UDRP; But 1 Panelist Wanted To Give It To The TM Holder
AGL Energy Limited of Melbourne, Australia just lost its attempt to grab the 15 year old domain name AGL.com.
<http://www.thedomains.com/2014/03/02/15-year-old-agl-com-saved-in-udrp-but-1-panelist-wanted-to-give-it-to-the-tm-holder/>

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 - MISCELLANEOUS
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Meet the seven people who hold the keys to worldwide internet security
It sounds like the stuff of science fiction: seven keys, held by individuals from all over the world, that together control security at the core of the web. The reality is rather closer to The Office than The Matrix
<http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/28/seven-people-keys-worldwide-internet-security-web>

The Keepers of the Keys to the Internet
Meet the seven people who hold the keys to worldwide internet security It sounds like the stuff of science fiction: seven keys, held by individuals from all over the world, that together control security at the core of the web.
<http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/28/1281195/-The-Keepers-of-the-Keys-to-the-Internet>

The power of Domain Locking
Earlier this year, an attempt was made to take control of Facebook?s main domain name, Facebook.com. Whilst hackers appear to have gained access to the world?s biggest Social Media company?s DNS settings, the company had wisely implemented a Registry Lock which ensured that no changes could be made to the domain name settings.
<http://www.netnames.com/blog/2014/02/the-power-of-domain-locking/>

Now That Application Hurdles Overcome, gTLD Applicants Outline Visions At Domain Pulse
Many new gTLD applicants have jumped through many hurdles in their applications. And once the gTLD has been delegated, there is still much work to do.
<http://brandshelter.com/english/News/Current News.html>

Web.com acquires SnapNames
Web.com has acquired expired domain name service and domain marketplace SnapNames from KeyDrive.
<http://domainnamewire.com/2014/03/01/web-com-acquires-snapnames/>

The First Domain Conference Requiring No Travel & Little Cost - Webfair Virtual - Is Gearing Up for June 2014 Launch
For the past decade domain conferences have played an indispensable role in building profitable individual and corporate relationships. The only drawback, particularly for those on limited budgets, has been the substantial travel and registration costs involved in going to the big events.
<http://www.dnjournal.com/archive/lowdown/2014/dailyposts/20140228.htm>

Best-selling Author and Social Media Expert Gary Vaynerchuk to Keynote DomainFEST Conference
DomainSponsor?, the online monetization business of Oversee.net? and organizer of the critically acclaimed DOMAINFest? series of conferences, announced that New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author and social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk will be the opening keynoter at this year?s DOMAINFest Hollywood, which will be held from March 31 to April 2, 2014 at the luxurious Loews Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California.
<http://oversee.net/news/517>

The Internet Society Rough Guide to IETF 89 - London Calling
It's that time, again ? in just over a week, more than a thousand Internet engineers will arrive in London to spend a week discussing the latest issues in Internet protocol engineering at IETF 89 (2-7 March). This meeting, as all IETF meetings, is important ? and not just because they've happened 88 times before and we're kind of in the habit of holding them! We believe that engineering the Internet, in a collaborative sharing of expertise, is the best way to ensure it has a positive future. The important questions for the Internet's future are not just about who controls it ("governance"), but also about solving knotty technical issues ? and that's what IETFers are setting out to do.
<http://www.internetsociety.org/blog/tech-matters/2014/02/internet-society-rough-guide-ietf-89-london-calling>

RIPE NCC Executive Board Call for Nominations
The RIPE NCC General Meeting (GM) will be held on Wednesday, 14 May from 16:00-20:00 (UTC +2) at the Sofitel Warsaw Victoria Hotel in Poland, adjacent to the RIPE 68 Meeting, which runs from 12-16 May.
<http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/announcements/ripe-ncc-executive-board-call-for-nominations>

Monopoly? Melbourne IT buys rival Netregistry
Melbourne IT announced today that it had entered into an agreement to acquire its biggest rival, Netregistry for $50.4 million, in a move that will ensure the fortunes of the company?s founder Larry Bloch but also potentially create a giant with close to monopoly powers over the Australian domain name space.
<http://delimiter.com.au/2014/02/27/monopoly-melbourne-buys-rival-netregistry/>

The dark side of search
Being at or near the top of Google?s search rankings can make a huge difference to a business?s online sales and profile, but to get there and stay there requires constant effort and investment.
<http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/unlimited/9713633/The-dark-side-of-search>

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 - WEBHOSTING
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Microsoft neck and neck with Amazon in Windows hosting
Microsoft has edged ahead of Amazon to become the largest hosting company as measured by the number of web-facing Windows computers.
<http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2014/02/26/microsoft-neck-and-neck-with-amazon-in-windows-hosting.html>

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 - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET
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The Amazing Ascent of Whisky.com: How Michael Castello Turned a Free Domain Into a $3.1 Million Sale
Castello Cities Internet Network (CCIN) CEO and President Michael Castello was one of the first true domain name visionaries. 20 years ago when only a handful of people even knew what a domain was, Michael knew what they could be. In fact, he was so sure they would irrevocably change the world he started building what became one of the best portfolios in the domain industry. 
<http://www.dnjournal.com/cover/2014/february.htm>

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INTERNET USE
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Internet now used by 87% of American adults, says poll
Almost 90 percent of American adults surveyed use the Internet, and almost all say that the Internet has been a good thing for them personally.
<http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57619634-93/internet-now-used-by-87-of-american-adults-says-poll/>

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CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
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Nude Webcams and Diet Drugs: the Facebook Ads Teens Aren't Supposed to See
"Who do you like?" asked recent ads on Facebook, featuring young women in alluring poses.
<http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304703804579381552745011772>

au: ?Cyber-safety?: what are we actually talking about?
The rise of social media tools and accessories has allowed us to be ?always on? and ?always connected?. The impact of this technological change is primarily social, and so far our communities have not come to terms with what these changes mean. The increased degree of contact poses a number of serious challenges for established social norms of civility.
<http://theconversation.com/cyber-safety-what-are-we-actually-talking-about-23505>
<http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2014/2/28/technology/what-do-we-really-mean-cyber-safety>

au: Can a cyber-bullying commissioner protect our kids?
A federal government discussion paper has proposed the creation of a children's e-safety commissioner to help protect children from cyber-bullying on social media. However not everyone agrees on the proposal, which opponents say is a slippery slope to government censorship.
<http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/5286036>

au: Charlotte's tangled web
Charlotte Dawson's legacy should be a kinder world where people are not judged by the life they appear to lead, her friends and colleagues say.
<http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/30020122/charlottes-tangled-web>

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PRIVACY & SURVEILLANCE
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UK spies 'intercepted webcam images of Yahoo users'
British spy agency GCHQ intercepted webcam images from millions of Yahoo users around the world, according to a report in the Guardian.
<http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-26367781>

GCHQ's interception and storage of Yahoo webcam images condemned
Politicians and human rights groups have reacted angrily to revelations that Britain's spy agency intercepted and stored webcam images of millions of people not suspected of any wrongdoing with the aid of its US counterpart.
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/27/gchq-interception-storage-webcam-images-condemned>

GCHQ Revealed: Inside Her Majesty's Listening Service
The Snowden files have brought the shocking espionage activities of the UK's Government Communications Headquarters into the open. Former employees describe an agency with shifting goals, a strong honor code -- and an inferiority complex.
<http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/gmhq-former-employees-discuss-the-uk-spy-agency-a-955780.html>

British Spies Said to Intercept Yahoo Webcam Images
A British intelligence agency collected video webcam images ? many of them sexually explicit ? from millions of Yahoo users, regardless of whether they were suspected of illegal activity, according to accounts of documents leaked by Edward J. Snowden.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/technology/british-spies-said-to-have-intercepted-yahoo-webcam-images.html>

us: Senators to investigate NSA role in GCHQ 'Optic Nerve' webcam spying
Three US senators are planning to investigate any role the National Security Agency played in its British partner?s mass collection of Yahoo webcam images.
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/28/nsa-gchq-webcam-spy-program-senate-investigation>

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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
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TPP: No Big Deal by Paul Krugman
Everyone knows that the Obama administration?s domestic economic agenda is stalled in the face of scorched-earth opposition from Republicans. And that?s a bad thing: The U.S. economy would be in much better shape if Obama administration proposals like the American Jobs Act had become law. It?s less well known that the administration?s international economic agenda is also stalled, for very different reasons. In particular, the centerpiece of that agenda ? the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, or T.P.P. ? doesn?t seem to be making much progress, thanks to a combination of negotiating difficulties abroad and bipartisan skepticism at home.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/opinion/krugman-no-big-deal.html>

U.S. Trade Rep on the Charm Offensive?Slight Tweaks to Secret TPP Process is Far From Enough
The U.S. Trade Rep announced last week that it will create a new ?Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee,? in an attempt to allow public interest groups to provide more input into U.S. proposals in trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). That aim is important, and underserved by many USTR policies, but this proposal is an inadequate remedy to fix the gross imbalance of influence from corporate interests.
<https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/02/us-trade-rep-charm-offensive-slight-tweaks-secret-tpp-process-far-enough>

?The Internet Industry has a Strategic Significance in Europe?: Interview with Oliver S?me, eco Director of Policy and Law, and President of EuroISPA
Oliver S?me has been the Vice Chairman of the Board at eco since 2000 and is responsible for the Policy and Law Department. In December 2013 he was elected as President of EuroISPA, the European umbrella organization of the national Provider associations. Since January, he is leader of the largest Provider association in the world. In this interview, he explains which Net-political topics are at the top of the agenda in 2014.
<http://international.eco.de/2014/news/the-internet-industry-has-a-strategic-significance-in-europe.html>

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MISCELLANEOUS
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The dark side of search
Being at or near the top of Google?s search rankings can make a huge difference to a business?s online sales and profile, but to get there and stay there requires constant effort and investment.
<http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/unlimited/9713633/The-dark-side-of-search>
----------------------------
David Goldstein

 email: david at goldsteinreport.com

 web:   http://goldsteinreport.com / http://davidgoldstein.tel/
 phone: +61 418 228 605 ? mobile / +61 2 9663 3430 - office/home

"Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery