[DNS] domain name news - 10 August

[DNS] domain name news - 10 August

From: David Goldstein <goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au>
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 2009 10:09:10 -0700 (PDT)
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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au: Domain Directors v auDA
http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-07082009/

eco: Rivals bid to snatch green domain
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8189586.stm

Why .Eco Is a Bad Idea
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/recycling-design-technology/eco-domain-name-460809

nz: Vint Cerf to headline IPv6 Hui
http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/vint-cerf-to-headline-ipv6-hui

Comcast redirects bad URLs to pages with advertising [IDG]
http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/comcast-redirects-bad-urls-pages-advertising-547

Russians launched Twitter attack to hit Georgian blogger Cyxymu
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6742464.ece

DDoS Attacks On Twitter, Facebook Result Of Massive Attack On One Person
http://www.darkreading.com/security/client/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219100459

Symantec: Phishing activity up in July
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10304859-83.html

IPv6 opens doors for B2B collaboration
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/5D736F14B012AA09CC25760A00098888

Vint Cerf to evangelise IPv6 in New Zealand
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/26799/127/


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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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GNSO Fast Flux Hosting Working Group Publishes Final Report
The Fast Flux Hosting Working Group has just submitted its final report to the GNSO Council. In May 2008, the GNSO Council launched a Policy Development Process (PDP) that tasked a Working Group to answer a number of questions related to fast flux hosting. Fast flux hosting is a technique that utilizes short Time To Live settings and frequent updates of DNS records to increase a domain?s resiliency. It has legitimate uses, but is widely known as a tactic cybercriminals use to enhance their phishing and pharming gains. The questions the Working Group addressed included:
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-07aug09-en.htm

Four ICANN Board members dissent in vote on NCSG charter by Milton Mueller
On July 30 a majority of the ICANN Board took a fateful step away from open public participation in domain name policy making. In a decision that seriously impairs ICANN?s claim to be a multi-stakeholder, bottom up institution, the Board voted 10-4 to impose upon civil society groups a charter that they did not support and which is designed to weaken and fragment their participation.
http://blog.internetgovernance.org/blog/_archives/2009/8/6/4280447.html

Identity and privacy at risk on new internet
Boil it all down and last week's Black Hat conference in Las Vegas discussed just two things - identity and privacy in cyberspace. Both are at risk as the internet enters a period of massive expansion. ... Many things will need only temporary addresses. This will create a headache for the people who have to ensure that they are taken out of circulation at the right time and that, despite the huge number of available URLs, that they can be reused and still keep their uniqueness. The organisation that has to do this and so protect the owners' right to their unique addresses is Icann.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/08/07/237232/identity-and-privacy-at-risk-on-new-internet.htm

Transatlantic internet row poses threat to technology giants' deals
A transatlantic row over who controls the internet is threatening the smooth passage of multi-billion-dollar technology deals through antitrust regulators. ... However, the Oracle/Sun takeover, together with another current big deal, the 10-year search engine partnership by Microsoft and Yahoo, appear to have become victims of fresh tensions that are emerging between Europe and the US about the future direction of the internet ? in particular, claims by the EC that America is being too protectionist and should loosen its grip on ownership of protocol addresses and domain names such as .com, .net, .org and .ed. Currently they are handled by the Californian-based ICANN, with the US Government having oversight of the body.
http://business.scotsman.com/ebusiness/Transatlantic-internet-row--poses.5536657.jp
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business/Transatlantic-internet-row--poses.5536657.jp

ICANN, the US, and the Panda in the Room
Younger readers probably don't remember the painful birth of ICANN, the body that oversees the global domain name system, in 1998. But the passage from a system run by engineers to an organisation that seems to be rather more interested in money than Mbits was contentious at the time, and remains problematic ten years later. One particularly tricky aspect is the relationship between ICANN and the US government.
http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=2425&blogid=14

US Lawmakers Are Against an Independent ICANN
The US government isn't going to let ICANN go without a fight. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a non-profit company set up to handle top-level domain names. Founded in 1998, it's an independent organization but still has strong ties with various US government bodies through a Joint Project Agreement (JPA). The JPA, though, is set to expire on September 30 at which point the corporation could become completely autonomous but some House leaders are now asking Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to create a permanent link between the government and ICAN.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/US-Lawmakers-Are-Against-an-Independent-ICANN-118592.shtml

ICANN tries and fails to find evidence of domain name front running
An ICANN study of more than 600 domain name registrations has found no evidence of front-running, the deceptive name registration process that has long been suspected but not proved by the domain name community.
http://out-law.com/page-10241

ICANN and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh organization co-organize domain names meeting in Abu Dhabi
The Internet address system will soon be open to greater customization and localization through two new initiatives unveiled during a meeting held on August 4, 2009 in Abu Dhabi, UAE for ICANN.
http://www.ameinfo.com/206002.html
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090809095431

ICANN getting ready to offer community-based domains
For more than 15 years millions of people have been typing .com, .net, and .info (among others) into the address bar of their web browers without really knowing why.
http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Internet/10338271.html

Domain Registrar Fights ICANN Over De-Accreditation
Domain name registrar Lead Networks Domains Pvt. Ltd. has filed for arbitration to challenge ICANN?s decision to not renew its accreditation.
http://domainnamewire.com/2009/08/07/domain-registrar-fights-icann-over-de-accreditation/

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au: Domain Directors v auDA
Legal proceedings between auDA and accredited registrar Domain Directors Pty Ltd have been finalised, with Domain Directors paying $27,500 in net amount of costs to auDA.
http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-07082009/

ca: Call for Member Nominations: 2009 CIRA Board of Directors Election - CIRA invites Members to Nominate Candidates
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is seeking nominations from its Membership for individuals interested in becoming a potential Candidate in the 2009 CIRA Board of Directors Election.
http://www.cira.ca/nr-elections-2009-member-nominations/

cn: Internet to welcome the surge of "..??"
After more than a year of careful preparation, testing and trial operation, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) recently finished upgrading the domain name resolution system, including the central host node.
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90881/6722049.html

cz: The first thousand of DNSSEC-signed domains
Statistical data compiled by CZ.NIC, the administrator of the top level domain .CZ, show that the DNSSEC security technology has been protecting more than 1,000 .CZ domains since yesterday.
http://www.nic.cz/page/664/the-first-thousand-of-dnssec-signed-domains/

eco: Rivals bid to snatch green domain
Rival environmental groups are lining up supporters to try to take control of a new net domain aimed at green groups. At least two consortiums are known to be preparing bids to control .eco.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8189586.stm

New .eco domains set for green battleground
Sometime next year we'll be adding the new .eco suffix to the long list of top-level internet domains we all need to be aware of, but ownership of the admin rights looks like turning into a green battle royal.
http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/new-eco-domains-set-for-green-battleground-624129

Why .Eco Is a Bad Idea
While Al Gore, the Sierra Club and Dot Eco square off against Big Room, WWF and Green Cross, the most important question is why we want to "ghettoize" green.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/recycling-design-technology/eco-domain-name-460809

Rivals bid to snatch green domain
Rival environmental groups are lining up supporters to try to take control of a new net domain aimed at green groups.
http://www.heralddeparis.com/rivals-bid-to-snatch-green-domain/48812
http://www.heralddeparis.com/rival-groups-bid-to-snatch-new-eco-net-domain/48811

Why dot-eco domain names may be hard for businesses to claim
I totally missed out a few weeks ago when Facebook offered vanity URLs. It was too late at night for me to care and my 40-something brain keeps forgetting to do it when I?m online. But the Facebook URL-grab may have nothing on the frenzy that is likely to transpire when the dot-eco domain application process moves forward.
http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/business-brains/why-dot-eco-domain-names-may-be-hard-for-businesses-to-claim/1428/

An Internet suffix for horses
The Dot Horse Project is advocating a .HORSE TLD to "provide a safe, reliable internet community for all things equine."
http://stephanevangelder.com/archives/257-An-Internet-suffix-for-horses.html

nz: Vint Cerf to headline IPv6 Hui
The New Zealand IPv6 Steering Group announces that ?Father of the Internet? and global IPv6 proponent Dr Vint Cerf is visiting New Zealand this month to headline the IPv6 Hui.
http://www.internetnz.net.nz/media/media-releases-2009/vint-cerf-to-headline-ipv6-hui

Dot-org zone offers lessons learned in implementing DNSSEC
Federal agencies are working with the Internet community to develop a process for securing the Internet?s Domain Name System by implementing the DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in the authoritative root zone. The zone for the .org top level domain was signed with DNSSEC in June, and its operators have offered their insights to government planners.
http://gcn.com/articles/2009/08/06/dnssec-lessons-from-.org-050609.aspx

EnCirca Announces Summer Savings for .Pro Domain Names
New registrations and in-coming transfers receive deep discounts until August 31st Boston, MA, August 5, 2009 ? Domain name registrar EnCirca (www.encirca.com), announces huge summer savings for .pro domain names - with discounts on all new domain name registrations and in-coming transfers. For eligible professionals such as accountants and lawyers, .pro domain names are just $12.99
http://www.encirca.com/html/press/pro_domain_2009_summer_special.pdf

uk: Nominet member forum
On Monday 7 September we will be launching the Nominet Member Forum. The forum will be replacing our nom-steer mailing list.
http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=6670

uk: Nominet nameserver data
On Sunday 8 November 2009 we will take our registration systems offline to update the nameserver model used within the registry database.
http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=6671

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us: Cybersecurity Official Resigns
A top operational official in charge of protecting civilian government computer networks has resigned, dealing another blow to the federal effort to enhance cybersecurity. ... In March, another Homeland Security cybersecurity official, Rod Beckstrom, resigned, citing a lack of support inside the agency and what he described as a power grab by the National Security Agency.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/07/AR2009080702805.html

Comcast redirects bad URLs to pages with advertising [IDG]
Comcast subscribers will now be directed to a page with advertising if they try to reach a Web site that doesn't exist, a practice that doesn't sit well with some users.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/comcast-redirects-bad-urls-pages-advertising-547
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/080609-comcast-redirects-bad-urls-to.html
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/169723/.html

Professor Main Target of Assault on Twitter
The cyberattacks Thursday and Friday on Twitter and other popular Web services disrupted the lives of hundreds of millions of Internet users, but the principal target appeared to be one man: a 34-year-old economics professor from the republic of Georgia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/technology/internet/08twitter.html

Kremlin was behind mass cyber assault, says Georgian critic
The Georgian blogger who fell victim to yesterday's enormous cyber assault that hit LiveJournal, Facebook and Twitter, affecting hundreds of millions of web users around the world, has blamed the Kremlin for the attack.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/07/georgian-blogger-cyxymu-accuses-russia

Russians launched Twitter attack to hit Georgian blogger Cyxymu
Hackers from Russia may have attacked Google, Twitter and Facebook in an attempt to silence a pro-Georgian blogger, it has emerged.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6742464.ece

Russia blamed for cyber terror blitz
Russian hackers have been accused of being behind an enormous cyber attack which temporarily shut down two of the world's most popular social networking sites in order to silence a Georgian blogger who is critical of Moscow's policies in the Caucasus.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-blamed-for-cyber-terror-blitz-1769187.html

Attack on Twitter Came in Two Waves
The meltdown that left 45 million Twitter users unable to access the service on Thursday came in two waves and was directed at a single blogger who has voiced his support for the Republic of Georgia in that country's continuing conflict with Russia.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/attack-on-twitter-came-in-two-waves/

Twitter Tries to Regroup After Web Attack; Facebook, Google Also Affected
Twitter was disrupted for several hours on Thursday as it tried to defend itself against a Web attack, possibly originating in Russia or Georgia, that overwhelmed the microblogging site.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/technology/internet/07twitter.html

DDoS Attacks On Twitter, Facebook Result Of Massive Attack On One Person
It turns out yesterday's major distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that shut down Twitter for hours and disrupted Facebook and LiveJournal came out of a targeted attack waged against one individual with accounts on all of the sites.
http://www.darkreading.com/security/client/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219100459

Twitter crippled by denial-of-service attack
Twitter was inaccessible for several hours on Thursday morning, followed by a period of slowness and sporadic time-outs (and more outright downtime). The company is blaming an "ongoing" denial-of-service attack but has not said anything further. Facebook has also confirmed that it was targeted by a DoS attack that rendered some of its features slow or non-functional.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10304633-36.html

'Malicious attack' by hackers targets Facebook and Twitter
Hackers have targeted two of the hottest internet sites on the web, closing down Twitter for a couple of hours and disrupting access for Facebook users.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6741630.ece

Symantec: Phishing activity up in July
Phishing attacks rose 52 percent in July while spam as a percentage of all e-mail stayed about the same compared with the previous month, according to the latest reports from Symantec that tracked spam and phishing activity for the month.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10304859-83.html

DDOS attackers continue hitting Twitter, Facebook, Google [IDG]
The distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks that knocked out Twitter for hours and affected other sites like Facebook, Google's Blogger and LiveJournal on Thursday continued all day Friday and may persist throughout the weekend.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/080809-ddos-attackers-continue-hitting-twitter.html
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/169893/.html

Yesterday's DoS Attacks Included Google, Possible Cyberwarfare Suspected
As news broke yesterday about the Denial of Service (DoS) attacks affecting Twitter, revelations began to unfold about how widespread the attacks really were. Facebook slowed down and produced error pages. LiveJournal experienced downtime as well. ... All of this comes the same week that the acting White House Cybersecurity Czar stepped down. Melissa Hathaway resigned just months after replacing the last Cybersecurity Chief, Rod Beckstrom, left the post. Beckstrom left because cybersecurity is mostly handled by the NSA, a division of the Department of Defense. Beckstrom felt that cybersecurity should be handled by a civilian agency.
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/090807-142510

us: New Gov't Cyber Guidelines Lacking, Group Says
A new set of cybersecurity guidelines, released by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), falls short of the protection needed for government systems, a cybersecurity analysis and advocacy group said.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/169846/.html

Identity and privacy at risk on new internet
Boil it all down and last week's Black Hat conference in Las Vegas discussed just two things - identity and privacy in cyberspace. Both are at risk as the internet enters a period of massive expansion.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/08/07/237232/identity-and-privacy-at-risk-on-new-internet.htm

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IPv6 opens doors for B2B collaboration
The new IPv6 internet protocol addressing scheme will be critical for expanding digital collaboration among organisations, says Murray Milner, principal of Milner Consulting.
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/5D736F14B012AA09CC25760A00098888
http://www.cio.de/news/cio_worldnews/894428/
http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/08/06/ipv6-opens-doors-b2b-collaboration
http://www.infoworld.com/t/business/ipv6-opens-doors-b2b-collaboration-705

Vint Cerf to evangelise IPv6 in New Zealand
Vint Cerf now 'chief Internet evangelist' at Google but better known as the 'Father of the Internet' will be a keynote speaker at an IPv6 conference being staged in Auckland and Wellington this month to progress New Zealand's IPv6 migration plans.
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/26799/127/

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Afilias joins Chinese Domain Name Consortium Highlighting the Importance of the Chinese Domain Market and IDN technology [news release]
Afilias, a global provider of Internet infrastructure services, today announced that it has joined the Chinese Domain Name Consortium (CDNC). Afilias will work with the CDNC to coordinate and collaborate with other registries to reach Chinese language Internet users with Internationalized Domain Name technology. Afilias is a registry services provider to nearly 15 million domain names, across 15 top-level domains (TLDs).
http://www.afilias.info/afilias+joins+CDNC

ARIN Research Opportunity
The American Registry for Internet Numbers? Board of Trustees recently ratified changes to ARIN?s Transfer Policy, Number Resource Policy Manual, Section 8 - Transfers. Section 8.3 specifically allows organizations to release Internet Number resources to another organization subject to guidelines as stated in the policy.
https://www.arin.net/announcements/2009/20090807.html

VeriSign Reports 9% Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth in Second Quarter 2009
VeriSign, Inc. reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009. On a GAAP basis, VeriSign reported revenue of $257 million from continuing operations for the second quarter of 2009. On a GAAP basis, VeriSign reported net income attributable to VeriSign, Inc. and subsidiaries of $35 million and earnings per share attributable to VeriSign, Inc. and subsidiaries of $0.18 on a fully-diluted basis.
https://press.verisign.com/easyir/customrel.do?easyirid=AFC0FF0DB5C560D3&version=live&prid=525551&releasejsp=custom_97

Microsoft backtracks on free Office Live domains
In a reversal, Microsoft says it will now charge all small businesses an annual domain registration fee, even those companies it had promised free Web site registrations for life.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10305510-56.html

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German Country Code Domain Tops This Week's Top 20 Sales Chart With ccTLDs Taking 6 Spots on the All Extension Leader Board
ccTLDs turned in another strong showing this week, taking the top spot on our latest all extension leader board and six of the 20 positions overall. Texel.de (German country code) claimed the pole position after changing hands for ?39,500 ($56,090) at Sedo.com. Sedo went on to sweep the top three spots and pile up a dozen chart entries to lead all venues.
http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2009/20090805.htm

Microsoft Nabs Office.com Domain
Microsoft has purchased the domain name Office.com in a move that may mark another step forward in its plans to launch cloud-based components for the upcoming Office 2010 along with free Web editions of its Office software.
http://www.internetnews.com/software/article.php/3833771

FreshDrop: Powerful Domain Name Research
FreshDrop.net originally launched in 2007 as a unique tool for browsing GoDaddy?s popular TDNAM domain marketplace. Over the years, founder Tan Tran and his team have worked on many enhancements and new features that have transformed FreshDrop.net into an all-around powerful domain research tool designed by domainers for domainers.
http://www.dotsauce.com/2009/08/04/freshdrop-domain-research/

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RESEARCH PAPERS
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Global Internet Privacy Rights - A Pragmatic Approach by Tim Wafa [University of San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Bulletin]
Abstract: The preceding decade was a time of considerable progress in standardization of Internet protocols and systems. The standardization that took place played a pivotal role in allowing companies to quickly and seamlessly share data across global networks, whilst avoiding the costly overhead and inefficiency of heterogeneous data-translation. Although technical standardization helped tackle some inefficiencies plaguing global online commerce, an even more pressing impediment stands in the way of companies and individuals seeking to efficiently provide web-based information services -- the lack of global privacy standards. ... This paper reveals how today's global privacy framework is affecting business efficiency and describes the international policy battle that is raging between nations, public-interest groups and corporate titans who are all vying to steer global privacy laws in a direction favorable to their own agenda.
http://ssrn.com/abstract=1444191

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INTERNET USE
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uk: The net's closing in: Ofcom report reveals boom-bust cycle of new media
From uncles wearing skinny jeans to mothers investing in ra-ra skirts, the older generation has long known that the surest way to kill a youth trend is to adopt it as its own. The cyberworld, it seems, is no exception.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/06/ofcom-report-internet-twitter

The family together in front of the TV is dead: Facebook, Twitter and Spotify rule
Ever since the first BBC radio broadcast crackled into the nation's living rooms, in 1922, the electronic media have been hailed as a force for unity, drawing families together.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article6740741.ece

uk: Consumers prefer communications over celebrations in recession: People taking control and getting good deals in downturn
Around half of UK consumers would sooner cut back on eating out, home improvements and holidays than give up communications services, according to new research from Ofcom. Ofcom?s sixth Communications Market Report into the ?52 billion TV, radio, broadband, telecoms and mobile industries reveals that these services remain important to consumers despite the recession.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2009/8/nr_20090806

Wikipedia's on the wane: study
Wikipedia has jumped the shark, according to a new Californian study, which found the number of new articles added a month was on a steep decline and new contributors were being pushed out by the rusted-on Wikipedia elite.
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/wikipedias-on-the-wane-study-20090807-ec98.html
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/wikipedias-on-the-wane-study-20090807-ec98.html

Rupert Murdoch's move to charge for content opens doors for competitors
Vivian Schiller, now CEO of National Public Radio in the US, said in an interview with Newsweek last week that talk of charging for news online is "mass delusion". She should know. Schiller was head of nytimes.com when it charged and then stopped charging for its content.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/06/rupert-murdoch-charging-for-content

Rupert Murdoch to charge to view news websites by 2010
The era of the free read will shortly be over - if Rupert Murdoch has anything to do with it. Internet users will soon have to pay for accessing any of his newspapers' content, from the latest snaps of Angelina Jolie to reportage from the Afghan front line or analysis of MPs' expenses.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/06/rupert-murdoch-internet-pay

Sunday Times the testbed in Rupert Murdoch's online revolution
Rupert Murdoch will use the Sunday Times as a testbed for a radical new strategy designed to transform the finances of his British newspaper business by charging for online content.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/06/rupert-murdoch-sunday-times-strategy

Pay-to-view news websites: tried and tested
The grand old lady of American newspapers, the New York Times, is considering a fresh attempt to charge for its website after scrapping two earlier "fee walls" on the grounds that they made poor business sense.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/06/charge-content-news-online

Expert views on Rupert Murdoch's online pay-to-view strategy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/06/charging-content-sunday-times-website

Fairfax, News to charge for online
The loyalty of readers accustomed to getting their news online free is about to be tested, as Australia's largest newspaper groups prepare to charge for access to their websites.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/fairfax-news-to-charge-for-online-20090808-edm3.html

Charge or die, online news services told
A media analyst says news companies must start charging for online services or they will suffer a similar fate to newspapers. Media giant Rupert Murdoch yesterday announced his company News Corp suffered a 30 per cent decline on last year's performance.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/07/2648972.htm

No fee, no FT: newspaper joins rush to charge for the internet
The Financial Times may follow Rupert Murdoch's move to charge for content on news websites
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/no-fee-no-ft-newspaper-joins-rush-to-charge-for-the-internet-1768509.html

Inquiry launched into death of teenager at Chinese internet addiction camp
China is investigating the death of a teenager who was allegedly beaten in a camp designed to treat internet addiction, state media said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/06/china-internet-addiction-death

'Web addict' death investigated
Chinese officials are investigating the case of a teenager who was allegedly beaten to death at a camp designed to treat internet addiction.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8185412.stm

Online Scammers Prey on America's Jobless
When Claude Vera responded to the customer-service job opening he saw on the online-classified site Geebo.com back in February, it seemed like one of a hundred small acts that might get him back to work. Most of his e-mail messages to prospective employers were going unanswered, so he was relieved when Penguin Express Inc. replied the next day with a work-from-home job.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/technology/personaltech/06basics.html

No More Perks: Cafes Pull the Plug on Laptop Users
A sign at Naidre's, a small neighborhood coffee shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., begins warmly: "Dear customers, we are absolutely thrilled that you like us so much that you want to spend the day..."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124950421033208823.html

So did Apple and AT&T gang up to gag Google Voice?
In 2005, two chaps in California, Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet, noticed that people increasingly had several telephone numbers (home, work, mobile). They thought, what if you only had one number and could redirect calls to any of your phones and change the redirects in an instant? No longer would people have to track you down by dialling multiple numbers; wherever you were, your unique number would find you. All voicemail messages would be funnelled to a single voicemail box on the web - and you could have free text messaging as well.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/09/naughton-grandcentral-google-voice

As Classrooms Go Digital, Textbooks Are History
At Empire High School in Vail, Ariz., students use computers provided by the school to get their lessons, do their homework and hear podcasts of their teachers? science lectures.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/education/09textbook.html

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SOCIAL NETWORKING
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Betting on the Real-Time Web
No one knows how the microblogging site and similar online social networks will make money, but investors see a new Web revolution
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_33/b4143046834887.htm

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CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION
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us: A bold gambit to reduce demand for child porn
Federal prosecutors are embracing an aggressive approach to fight the spread of child pornography on the Internet, urging judges across the country to order full restitution to identified child victims in cases where the defendant possessed the images but played no role in their creation.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0808/p22s01-usju.html

nz: SMEs have a new defender for their online security ? The Whatsit?
NetSafe is rolling out a free online resource for SMEs and community groups today, as a result of research suggesting the majority have ?inadequate? cybersafety, security processes, and policies.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/smes-have-a-new-defender-their-online-security-the-whatsit-107153

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ONLINE TV & MUSIC
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Sony, Warner, Universal and EMI to launch CMX album download format
The world?s big four record companies are to go head-to-head with Apple with the launch of a new form of album download that will include a digitised version of a record sleeve.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6788045.ece

Cutting internet connections not solution to illegal downloads for NZ: ISP
Internet law changes alone will not stop New Zealanders from illegally downloading copyrighted content, a TelstraClear survey shows.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10589268
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2730042/

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ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL
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British online ticket scams are shut down
Police have shut down more than 100 websites which were conning people desperate to get tickets to top sporting and entertainment events.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8189905.stm

Professor Main Target of Assault on Twitter
The cyberattacks Thursday and Friday on Twitter and other popular Web services disrupted the lives of hundreds of millions of Internet users, but the principal target appeared to be one man: a 34-year-old economics professor from the republic of Georgia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/technology/internet/08twitter.html

Kremlin was behind mass cyber assault, says Georgian critic
The Georgian blogger who fell victim to yesterday's enormous cyber assault that hit LiveJournal, Facebook and Twitter, affecting hundreds of millions of web users around the world, has blamed the Kremlin for the attack.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/07/georgian-blogger-cyxymu-accuses-russia

Russians launched Twitter attack to hit Georgian blogger Cyxymu
Hackers from Russia may have attacked Google, Twitter and Facebook in an attempt to silence a pro-Georgian blogger, it has emerged.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6742464.ece

Russia blamed for cyber terror blitz
Russian hackers have been accused of being behind an enormous cyber attack which temporarily shut down two of the world's most popular social networking sites in order to silence a Georgian blogger who is critical of Moscow's policies in the Caucasus.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-blamed-for-cyber-terror-blitz-1769187.html

Attack on Twitter Came in Two Waves
The meltdown that left 45 million Twitter users unable to access the service on Thursday came in two waves and was directed at a single blogger who has voiced his support for the Republic of Georgia in that country's continuing conflict with Russia.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/attack-on-twitter-came-in-two-waves/

Twitter Tries to Regroup After Web Attack; Facebook, Google Also Affected
Twitter was disrupted for several hours on Thursday as it tried to defend itself against a Web attack, possibly originating in Russia or Georgia, that overwhelmed the microblogging site.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/technology/internet/07twitter.html

Facebook, Twitter disrupted by hackers
Social networking sites Twitter and Facebook were available again to users in New Zealand and the rest of the world last night after an attack by hackers earlier in the day.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10589457

DDoS Attacks On Twitter, Facebook Result Of Massive Attack On One Person
It turns out yesterday's major distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that shut down Twitter for hours and disrupted Facebook and LiveJournal came out of a targeted attack waged against one individual with accounts on all of the sites.
http://www.darkreading.com/security/client/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219100459

Google the latest victim of malicious online attacks
A concerted attempt to crash a string of major websites appears to be underway, with malicious online attacks affecting services including Facebook, Twitter and Google.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/06/facebook-twitter-google-attack

Twitter Still Struggling to Restore Service After Attack
Twitter, the popular microblogging service, was crippled Thursday morning by a denial-of-service attack.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/twitter-overwhelmed-by-web-attack/

Twitter crippled by denial-of-service attack
Twitter was inaccessible for several hours on Thursday morning, followed by a period of slowness and sporadic time-outs (and more outright downtime). The company is blaming an "ongoing" denial-of-service attack but has not said anything further. Facebook has also confirmed that it was targeted by a DoS attack that rendered some of its features slow or non-functional.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10304633-36.html

'Malicious attack' by hackers targets Facebook and Twitter
Hackers have targeted two of the hottest internet sites on the web, closing down Twitter for a couple of hours and disrupting access for Facebook users.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6741630.ece

Symantec: Phishing activity up in July
Phishing attacks rose 52 percent in July while spam as a percentage of all e-mail stayed about the same compared with the previous month, according to the latest reports from Symantec that tracked spam and phishing activity for the month.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10304859-83.html

**************************
PRIVACY
**************************
CDT Releases Updated Report on Privacy Controls for Web Browsers
The Center for Democracy & Technology today released an update to the browser report it issued in October of 2008. The report includes updated information about privacy tools available in five Web Browsers ? Firefox 3.5, Internet Explorer 8, Google Chrome, Safari 4, and Opera 10. The report compares browser offerings in three key areas: privacy mode, cookie controls and object controls. Each of those, when used correctly, can greatly reduce the amount of personal information users transmit online.
http://cdt.org/press/20090805press.php

EFF: Technology can help in absence of privacy laws
If you're a developer and you're worried about digital privacy issues, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has a job for you. On Wednesday, EFF Civil Liberties Director Jennifer Granick put out a call for new technology.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136316/EFF_Technology_can_help_in_absence_of_privacy_laws

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CENSORSHIP
**********************
Malaysia backs off Internet filter plan
Malaysia?s government appeared yesterday to back off plans to censor the Internet after an outcry from opposition groups and complaints from the industry that it would hit investment.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=307827&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25

Rais confirms ?green dam?, says to shut out ?blue sites?
Datuk Seri Rais Yatim today confirmed the Najib administration is looking at putting an Internet filter to stop access to undesirable websites particularly pornography, but will leave bloggers to existing laws.
http://themalaysianinsider.com.my/index.php/malaysia/34506-rais-confirms-green-dam-says-to-shut-blue-sites

my: Web filter to curb porn
Malaysia denied on Friday that a proposed Internet filter would be used to police blogs and websites, saying it would be used only to block pornography.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/SE+Asia/Story/STIStory_413789.html

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GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
us: Sen. Menendez Unveils Online Poker Bill
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., introduced legislation Thursday that would allow federally-regulated online poker and other games of skill. The bill is designed to raise revenue while protecting families through a crackdown on predatory Internet gaming sites that target minors and fleece their customers. A 2006 law banned most forms of Internet gambling in the United States and some members have been trying to get the statute repealed or significantly modified.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2009/08/sen-menendez-unveils-online-po.php

**********************
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
**********************
Wiring Rural America: Which Technology Is Best?
Government agencies are investigating broadband technologies and the true cost of bringing high-speed Internet to the rural U.S.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2009/tc2009083_226117.htm

U.S. government will not get secret company Internet data
Telecommunications providers will not have to give the government sensitive revenue and Internet speed data for a program to map broadband use in U.S. homes and bring high-speed Internet service to more people.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5765VT20090807

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ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR CHILD PORN
**********************************
us: Man blames cat for downloading porn [AP]
Florida investigators say a man accused of downloading child pornography is blaming his cat.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/2733980/

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(c) David Goldstein 2009


 ---------


David Goldstein


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web:   http://davidgoldstein.tel/
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Received on Sun Aug 09 2009 - 10:09:10 UTC

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