Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Public Comment Requested on Draft 2010-2013 Strategic Plan http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01dec09-en.htm ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest for Bulk Transfer of Names http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-30nov09-en.htm Three Registrars Lose ICANN Accreditation http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-30nov09-en.htm Rethinking public participation in ICANN http://stephanevangelder.com/archives/292-Rethinking-public-participation-in-ICANN.html The Untold Story of African ccTLDs http://appfrica.net/blog/2009/12/02/the-untold-story-of-african-cctlds/ McAfee, Inc. Reveals the Riskiest Web Domains to Surf and Search [news release] http://newsroom.mcafee.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=3600 .CM Named Most Dangerous TLD, .JP the Safest, by McAfee http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=9768 http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/12/03/cm-named-most-dangerous-tld-jp-the-safest-by-mcafee/ APNIC chief scientist: The industry is going to get a bit of a shock http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/328402/ nz: IPv6 taskforce to target different sectors http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/8027EC760E558A38CC25767E00722C71 ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Public Comment Requested on Draft 2010-2013 Strategic Plan As the next element of consultation on the Strategic Plan, ICANN invites comments from the community on a first draft of the plan based on material presented to the community at the Seoul meeting. In particular, we are seeking the views of the community on the following issues: http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01dec09-en.htm ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest for Bulk Transfer of Names As the result of the Notices of Termination issued on November 25, 2009 to registrars OOO Russia (IANA ID 1238) and Hosting365 Inc. (IANA ID 956), ICANN is seeking expressions of interest from ICANN-accredited registrars that might wish to assume sponsorship of the gTLD names that were previously managed by these registrars. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-30nov09-en.htm Three Registrars Lose ICANN Accreditation On Wednesday, 25 November 2009, ICANN terminated its accreditation agreement with three registrars - Hosting365 Inc., OOO ?Russian Registrar? and R.B. Data Net LTD for failure to comply with the requirements of the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA). http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-30nov09-en.htm Rethinking public participation in ICANN I believe ICANN has just lost of man of great talent. And I wager that few within the ICANN cognoscenti would disagree that when he left a few days ago, General Manager of Public Participation (GMPP) Kieren McCarthy tore a big hole in the organisation's ability to look beyond itself. http://stephanevangelder.com/archives/292-Rethinking-public-participation-in-ICANN.html http://domainesinfo.fr/english/334/.php Globalized domains to up phishing attacks The upcoming launch of internationalized domain names (IDNs) is unlikely to have a significant impact on spam levels but may deliver a spike in phishing, security experts warned. http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/security/0,39044215,62059758,00.htm DNW Radio: Antony Van Couvering Discusses gTLD ?Expressions of Interest? Our latest guest on Domain Name Wire Radio is Antony Van Couvering, founder of new gTLD consulting company Minds + Machines. I invited Antony onto the show to discuss ICANN?s Expressions of Interest for new top level domain names. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/11/30/dnw-radio-antony-van-couvering-discusses-gtld-expressions-of-interest/ ICA Asks ICANN To Enjoin the WIPO and CAC Expedited UDRP Proposals You?ve heard about the URS, but what about the URT ? Universal Rapid Transfer? WIPO and CAC have proposed to implement separate versions of URT by unilateral revision of their supplemental UDRP rules. In response, ICA has just asked ICANN to halt these fast track plans in their tracks pending full policy review by the GNSO and ICANN Board. http://www.internetcommerce.org/ICA_ICANN_WIPO_CAC_Expedited_UDRP_Proposals ICA Asks ICANN to Halt Expedited Domain Arbitration Plans Internet Commerce Association has sent a letter to ICANN, asking it to halt plans by two domain name arbitration providers to introduce different version of expedited UDRPs. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/12/02/ica-asks-icann-to-halt-expedited-domain-arbitration-plans/ ICANN Seeks Public Input on 2010-2013 Strategic Plan ICANN, the not-for-profit body responsible for the assignment of domain names and IP addresses, is inviting the Internet community to comment on its first draft of its Strategic Plan that was presented at its meeting in Seoul. http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/120209_ICANN_Seeks_Public_Input_on_2010_2013_Strategic_Plan The Untold Story of African ccTLDs In my Infostate of Africa graphic I tried to bring attention to one of the geekier problems facing Africa: the issue of country-code Top Level Domain (ccTLDs) and why only a fifth of African countries own and control them. http://appfrica.net/blog/2009/12/02/the-untold-story-of-african-cctlds/ Q&A with Tina Dam Tina Dam is a hero. She passionately lives and breathes IDNs. As Senior Director of IDNs at ICANN she has spearheaded the ccTLD Fast Track Process and has tirelessly spoken in favor of IDNs. Tina has persuasively advocated for IDN usage in order to open up the Internet to speakers of all languages. Also noteworthy is that she has reached out to domain investors at IDNForums in the past to directly answer questions about IDNs and she continues to make herself accessible to domain investors and to the general public, which is rare for someone of her stature. http://idnblog.com/2009/12/02/tina-dam-exclusive-idnblog-interview/comment-page-1/ ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Landrush registration for .eu IDNs Applicants for .eu domain names will be able to apply for second-level domains in non-Latin characters from next month http://managingip.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2347165 .FR Domains to be Available to French Living Abroad in 2010 .FR domain names will be available to French expatriates living outside of France in the first quarter of 2010 among a number of changes as part of the AFNIC 2010 Action Plan. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/12/01/fr-domains-to-be-available-to-french-living-abroad-in-2010/ AFNIC Reports .FR Domains Grow 25% in 2009 AFNIC, the registry for .FR (France) and .RE (Reunion Island), have published the 2009 edition of the French Domain Name Industry Report. Highlights of the report are the 1.5 millionth .FR domain name was registered in September of this year and that despite the global financial crisis, registrations grew 25 per cent year-on-year. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/12/01/afnic-reports-fr-domains-grow-25-in-2009/ http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=9758 Pinky Brand Discusses the Past, Present, and Future of .Mobi dotMobiFrom the moment it launched, the .mobi top level domain name has been divisive in the domainer community. As people paid tens of thousands ? even hundreds of thousands ? for .mobi domain names at auctions, onlookers thought these people were crazy while the buyers thought they were getting a bargain piece of property on the mobile web. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/12/02/pinky-brand-discusses-the-past-present-and-future-of-mobi/ nl: SIDN implements conclusions of 2008 Domain Name Debate On 13 November 2008, SIDN organised the 2008 Domain Name Debate. The event provided the Dutch internet community with the opportunity to express its views on a number of important policy issues, including the availability of personal data from the Whois and the need for registrars to verify registrants? identities. One outcome of the debate ? new rules for non-Dutch registrants on the use of a Dutch domicile address ? was implemented back in October. SIDN will act on the other conclusions of the debate in the next few months. http://www.sidn.nl/ace.php/c,728,6199,,,,SIDN_implements_conclusions_of_2008_Domain_Name_Debate.html SIDN Announces Changes to .NL Policy SIDN have announced the outcomes of the 2008 Domain Name Debate including the recently introduced new rules for non-Dutch registrants on the use of a Dutch domicile address that was implemented back in October. Changes include a reduction in the amount of Whois data made available, ability to reserve a .NL domain name and dropping the requirement for a registrar to verify a registrant?s identity. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/12/01/sidn-announces-changes-to-nl-registration-policy/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/sidn-announces-changes-to-.nl-policy.html nl: IPv6 Awards presented for the best Dutch implementations At today?s ECP-EPN Annual Congress, the IPv6 Awards were presented to seven businesses, other organisations and private individuals that have successfully implemented IPv6. State Secretary Frank Heemskerk (Ministry of Economic Affairs) personally congratulated the winners during the congress. The awards were introduced to focus attention on the need for migration from IPv4 to IPv6. http://www.sidn.nl/ace.php/c,728,6195,,,,IPv6_Awards_presented_for_the_best_Dutch_implementations.html Sex.?? in Russian: Conspiracy Tales The best name in the new .?? Russian IDN extension is debatably ????.?? (?sex.rf?). In checking the whois, I confirmed that CETIS is the owner of the name. Sluh.biz, a Russian news site reported (translated version below): http://idnblog.com/2009/11/29/sex-??-russian-conspiracy-tales/comment-page-1/ su/yu: Why do the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia still have Web domains? The Soviet Union and Yugoslavia only exist in two places today: history books and the Internet. Despite no longer being actual countries, the two former empires still maintain a sanctioned spot on the Web with their country code domains. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/12/soviet-union-yugoslavia-domains.html EFF: Destabilizing the UK's Digital Economy ... Another indication that the Digital Economy's drafters don't seem to understand the immediate future of the digital economy is the section on internet domain registries. The ostensible reason for this section is to stabilize the private organization that runs the ".uk" top level domain (TLD), by allowing the UK government to take over DNS registries, and change their charters. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/12/destabilizing-uks-digital-economy Digital Britain Uses Stone Age References The Digital Britain report and the legislation which is now before the UK parliament (Digital Economy Bill) makes for very scary reading. The implications of the legislation are far reaching - and not just within the UK. http://www.isquattedyour.eu/2009/12/03/digital-britain-uses-stone-age-references/ ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** McAfee, Inc. Reveals the Riskiest Web Domains to Surf and Search [news release] Africa?s Cameroon (.cm) has overthrown Hong Kong (.hk) as the Web?s riskiest domain, according to McAfee?s third annual Mapping the Mal Web report, released today. At the opposite end, Japan (.jp) is the safest country domain, landing in the top five safest domains for the second year in a row. The most heavily trafficked Web domain in the world, commercial (.com), jumped from the ninth to second most dangerous domain, while government (.gov) is the safest non-country domain. http://newsroom.mcafee.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=3600 .CM Named Most Dangerous TLD, .JP the Safest, by McAfee Cameroon's ccTLD (.CM) is the most dangerous TLD when it comes to malicious websites according to McAfee's third annual Mapping the Mal Web report released this week. .CM overtook .HK (Hong Kong) as the riskiest domain. The safest TLD was .JP (Japan), being among the five safest TLDs for five years running. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=9768 http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/12/03/cm-named-most-dangerous-tld-jp-the-safest-by-mcafee/ Cameroon revealed as web threat hotspot More than one third of websites in the West African country of Cameroon pose a security risk to surfers according to a new report by security expert McAfee. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8389482.stm McAfee names dodgiest domains More than five per cent of the sites on the web could cause security risks, with Cameroon's .cm domain the most dangerous, according to the third annual State of the Mal Web report from security giant McAfee, released today. http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2254304/mcafee-names-dodgiest-domains http://www.securecomputing.net.au/News/161949,mcafee-names-dodgiest-domains.aspx Domains hosted in Cameroon are web's riskiest Websites hosted in Cameroon in Africa are the internet's riskiest, says McAfee. The security firm's third annual Mapping the Mal Web report revealed that 36.7 percent of URLs ending in .cm are dangerous, knocking .hk websites off the top spot. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=3207956 Ireland has the safest web domain in Europe Ireland (.ie) has emerged as having the safest web domain address in Europe. Africa?s Cameroon (.cm) has overthrown Hong Kong (.hk) as the web?s riskiest domain, according to McAfee?s third annual Mapping the Mal Web report. http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/14562/comms/ireland-has-the-safest-web-domain-in-europe McAfee Most Dangerous Web Domain List Topped by Cameroon In its third annual report on the riskiest Web domains, McAfee says attackers are using Cameroon's domain name as part of typo-squatting schemes to infect users with malware. http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Security/McAfee-Most-Dangerous-Web-Domain-List-Topped-by-Cameroon-650135/ Domain registration fraud spam This week in Security Levity, I want to talk about domain registration fraud. We're seeing various patterns of come-on for this type of fraud. I'm going to describe two such spam samples today. http://blogs.computerworld.com/15173/domain_registration_fraud_spam ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** sa: Cyber Squatters Target Emaar Development Internet domain names relating to the King Abdullah Economic City project in Saudi Arabia are being sold on eBay for as much as Dh2.2 million. http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20091130032437/Cyber Squatters Target Emaar Development National Arbitration Forum Provides Shortcut to UDRP Arbitrators Being a domain name arbitrator under UDRP for National Arbitration Forum doesn?t pay particularly well. That is, if you are an arbitrator who takes your job seriously. http://domainnamewire.com/2009/11/30/national-arbitration-forum-provides-shortcut-to-udrp-arbitrators/ us: Glenn Beck Parody Site Sustained Keeping the Internet safe for satire, the World Intellectual Property Organization ruled that the domain name glennbeckrapedandmurderedayounggirlin1990.com was not a violation of the conservative political commentator's intellectual property. http://www.daniweb.com/news/story242640.html Cheap, cheaper, Czech: CAC to offer UDRP proceedings for ?500 It has always been ICANN's intention to accredit several UDRP dispute resolution service providers to ensure competition and avoid the extraction of monopoly rents by dispute resolution service providers. It seems the race to the bottom is now officially open. http://www.marques.org/Class46/article.asp?XID=BHA1568 ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** APNIC chief scientist: The industry is going to get a bit of a shock AARnet's first employee and the chief scientist at the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), Geoff Hudson has warned the internet industry not to be complacent when it comes to IPv6 implementation. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/328402/ nz: IPv6 taskforce to target different sectors An IPv6 Task Force established last month under the auspices of InternetNZ will establish separate bodies to debate, represent and act on the concerns of various industry groups regarding the adoption of the IPv6 internet addressing scheme, says Murray Milner, who is co-ordinating the effort. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/8027EC760E558A38CC25767E00722C71 ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** 2009 Domain Name Year in Review To say that it's been quite a year in the world of domain names would be an understatement. From compromised country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLD) registries, to the delay of new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs), some of the events of the past year have been surprising, while others could easily have been predicted. http://www.circleid.com/posts/2009_domain_name_year_in_review/ ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** DomainSponsor to Establish European Operations DomainSponsor unveiled plans to establish European operations and has appointed Joerg Schnermann as General Manager, DomainSponsor Europe. Joerg was previously Chief Operating Officer at KeywordDomains.com. Joe Higgins and Jessica Bessling join the team in Europe. An office is being set up in Frankfort, Germany. Euopean distribution was done on Thanksgiving. Let me know if you have any questions. The full release is below. http://www.domainpulse.com/2009/12/01/domainsponsor-to-establish-european-operations/ ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** In Japan, an Odd Perch for Google: Looking Up at the Leader In 2001, a fledgling Internet company named Google opened its first overseas office in Japan, eager to tap a huge technology market. But after eight years, Japan is one of a few major countries Google has yet to conquer. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/technology/internet/30google.html Best we forget: calls for online personal information use-by dates An academic says the rise of digital technology is undermining people's ability to forget, and is calling for personal digital information to be given a use-by date. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/30/2757618.htm Microsoft?s Bing Adds Some Zing If you?re at all like me, then you find Web search pretty frustrating when it comes to figuring out the local weather forecast. You pop a city?s name into a search engine and get a list of a few different weather sites. Oddly enough, they often have quite different forecasts for the days to come. The question remains: sweater or no sweater? http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/microsofts-bing-adds-zing/ Microsoft's Bing Tries to Leapfrog Google Maps [IDG] Microsoft is taking aim at one of Google's most popular services, Google Maps, with a richer version of its own online mapping service that was released in beta on Wednesday. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/183571/.html Huffington hits out at Murdoch speech Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington has accused Rupert Murdoch of confusing aggregation with misappropriation following his Federal Trade Commission speech claiming "There's no such thing as a free news story". http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/01/arianna-huffington-murdoch-ftc Murdoch accuses Google of news 'theft' Escalating the battle between traditional newspapers and online news providers, media mogul Rupert Murdoch lashed out at Google Inc. and other Web companies Tuesday, accusing them of looting news articles and contributing to the industry's decline. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-news-google2-2009dec02,0,6239739.story Google to limit free news access Newspaper publishers will now be able to set a limit on the number of free news articles people can read through Google, the company has announced. The concession follows claims from some media companies that the search engine is profiting from online news pages. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8389896.stm Google to allow publishers to limit free news access Google is to allow publishers of paid for content to limit the amount of free access internet users have to their websites from Google News. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/02/google-online-news-rupert-murdoch Google Restricts Free Reading on Pay News Sites Amid criticism from media companies that it unfairly profits from news content, Google is closing a loophole that allowed some motivated newshounds to read large numbers of articles on subscription-based sites without paying for them. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/google-restricts-free-reading-on-pay-news-sites/ Google caves in to Murdoch after 'parasite' attack Rupert Murdoch and his executives have repeatedly bad-mouthed Google as a "tech tapeworm" and a "parasite", guilty of "false gospel" and, according to the media mogul himself this week, "theft". That war of attrition is having an effect. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/new-media-bends-to-old-over-paidfor-access-1832758.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10613175 Google gives news publishers greater ability to limit free access Google has changed its search engine and Google News services to help newspaper publishers more closely control access to articles that require a subscription. It is now possible for newspapers to limit one person to reading five stories per day for free. http://out-law.com/page-10570 Google Alters News Indexing to Accommodate Pay Walls In a bid to appease publishers, Google has updated its search programs, allowing publishers who charge for their content to limit users to only five free page views per day. http://www.pcworld.com/article/183526/.html Google to limit access to paid-for web content Publishers of paid-for web content will now be able to restrict viewers' free internet access under concessions made by Google, the world's biggest search engine. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article6940501.ece Google allows newspapers to limit free visits [Press Association] Google has bowed to pressure from newspaper publishers and agreed to let them limit the number of free news pages users can read per day. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/google-allows-newspapers-to-limit-free-visits-1832438.html Google to let publishers limit free web access [AFP] Google says it will let publishers set a limit on the number of articles people can read for free through its search engine. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/02/2759402.htm Google allows publishers to limit free content [AP] Google Inc. is allowing publishers of paid content to limit the number of free news articles accessed by people using its Internet search engine, a concession to an increasingly disgruntled media industry. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120200677.html Google sweetens news deal Google has moved to appease newspaper companies that accuse the search engine of kleptomania and parasitic behaviour. http://www.theage.com.au/business/google-sweetens-news-deal-20091202-k6h0.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/3122236/ Google to let publishers limit free online news [AFP] Google on Tuesday said it will let publishers set a limit on the number of articles people can read for free through its search engine. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/6707302/Google-to-let-publishers-limit-free-online-news.html Microsoft and News Corp reports 'overplayed' [Reuters] Reports that News Corp and Microsoft were in talks for an exclusive deal that would exclude Google are overblown, a source close to the situation said yesterday. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/microsoft-and-news-corp-reports-overplayed-1832470.html Stephen Gately death is Google's most searched term of the year by Britons While the people of Glasgow and Belfast have been looking for more work, those in Cardiff fretted about contracting swine flu. And the whole country seemed to be interested in the likes of Lady Gaga, New Moon and Twitter. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6937622.ece Jackson bumps Spears from atop Yahoo '09 searches Michael Jackson's death thrust the singer to the top of yahoo.com Internet searches in 2009, putting an end to Britney Spears' four-year reign and helping bump the President Barack Obama from the top 10 list. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5B00PW20091201 http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-44367720091201 Google and Bing reveal year's top searches Michael Jackson, swine flu, Twitter and Facebook were among the most searched-for terms of the year, according to the latest statistics from search engines Google and Bing. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/6692871/Google-and-Bing-reveal-years-top-searches.html Regional UK newspaper publisher tests waters by charging for online content Britain?s most prolific newspaper publisher began charging yesterday for some of its online content, in a closely watched move that could be copied across the country. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article6938267.ece ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook gets new privacy settings ? and 350 million users The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has written an open letter preparing users for upcoming privacy changes ? and revealing that Facebook now has, wow, 350 million of them. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/dec/02/digital-media-facebook-privacy-settings-open-letter-mark-zuckerberg-350-users Facebook tops 350 million users, tightens privacy [AFP] Facebook is enhancing privacy controls and eliminating its regional framework for online communities as the Internet's most popular social networking service tops 350 million users. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/facebook-tops-350-million-users-tightens-privacy-20091203-k6nm.html http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/facebook-tops-350-million-users-tightens-privacy-20091203-k6nm.html Facebook kills regional networks in privacy revamp [IDG] Facebook will soon make major changes to the social-networking site's privacy settings as it tries to make it easier for users to know what personal information and photographs they're sharing. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141658/Facebook_kills_regional_networks_in_privacy_revamp http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/120209-facebook-kills-regional-networks-in.html http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/183509/.html http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/328398/ An Open Letter from Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg It has been a great year for making the world more open and connected. Thanks to your help, more than 350 million people around the world are using Facebook to share their lives online. http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=190423927130 How Facebook's New Privacy Changes Will Affect You In a late night post on Facebook's company blog, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a round of upcoming changes that will affect all users of the social network. Specifically, the changes focus on new privacy controls for information sharing. For those who have been following Facebook closely, the announcement doesn't deliver any new information, it only confirms some previously discussed plans. However, for Facebook's user base, now 350 million strong, the updates represent a major overhaul as to how privacy is handled on the site. http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2009/12/02/02readwriteweb-how-facebooks-new-privacy-changes-will-affe-72730.html Facebook Announces Privacy Changes Facebook announced late Tuesday changes to its privacy policies and also unveiled that the social networking site has attracted more than 350 million users. In response to concerns about privacy, Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg said in an open letter to users that the site would eliminate its regional networks, saying that "some of these regional networks now have millions of members and we've concluded that this is no longer the best way for you to control your privacy." He added that the site is simplifying its privacy controls by allowing users to limit what content people can see to only users' friends, friends of friends or everyone. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2009/12/facebook-announces-privacy-cha.php How Facebook's New Privacy Changes Will Affect You In a late night post on Facebook's company blog, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a round of upcoming changes that will affect all users of the social network. Specifically, the changes focus on new privacy controls for information sharing. For those who have been following Facebook closely, the announcement doesn't deliver any new information, it only confirms some previously discussed plans. However, for Facebook's user base, now 350 million strong, the updates represent a major overhaul as to how privacy is handled on the site. http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2009/12/02/02readwriteweb-how-facebooks-new-privacy-changes-will-affe-72730.html Facebook tightens privacy [AFP] Facebook is enhancing privacy controls and eliminating its regional framework for online communities as the internet's most popular social networking service tops 350 million users. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/facebook-tightens-privacy/story-e6frgakx-1225806444733 Why Privacy Concerns are Ruining Facebook Facebook was built as a powerful social connector, allowing users to befriend others with similar interests, locations, schools, and more. But as privacy concerns mount and users demand more protection, the social networking site's philosophy has started to go down the toilet. Now that Facebook is eliminating regional networks -- or groupings of people based on where they live -- it's becoming apparent that proclivities lean towards building fences rather than crossing them. http://www.pcworld.com/article/183530/why_privacy_concerns_are_ruining_facebook.html http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/120209-why-privacy-concerns-are-ruining.html Google, Facebook among top Kiwi privacy worries [NZPA] Concerns about the implications of evolving technology are reflected in a spike in the number of complaints to the Privacy Commission. In her annual report, commissioner Marie Shroff said the organisation received 6632 enquiries on personal information and privacy matters in the year ended June, up more than 1200 on 2007-2008, and the highest number of enquiries since 2002. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3123941/ 'Twitter' declared top word of 2009 As world leaders prepare for the climate-change summit in Copenhagen and stock markets around the world get the Dubai shakes, a Texas-based algorithm has declared "Twitter" the top word of 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/nov/30/twitter-declared-top-word-of-2009 Facebook users beware of cybercrime Facebook users have been warned they will be among targets of a huge increase in cyber crime next year. Internet scammers are increasingly hacking into personal profiles on social networking sites to defraud the account holder's friends, said one expert. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-users-beware-1831448.html us: EFF sues feds: tell us how you use Facebook for cyberstalking The EFF, with the help of a group at the UC Berkeley Law School, has issued a series of Freedom of Information Act requests to federal agencies, asking for their policy on the use of social media content during investigations. Having received no response, they're now taking six government agencies to court. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/eff-sues-feds-tell-us-how-you-use-facebook-for-cyberstalking.ars ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Child porn cases take toll on investigators leading US fed govt's war on child porn D.C. police detective Timothy Palchak spends his days trawling the Internet for people willing to send him child pornography. It isn't easy work, pretending to be a pedophile. in online chats, instant messages and telephone calls, Palchak must enter the psyche of men he describes as "the scum of the Earth." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/30/AR2009113004032.html FTC Website Educates Kids about Privacy and Fraud [news release] Today, the Federal Trade Commission opened new areas of a ?virtual mall? with content that will help kids learn to protect their privacy, spot frauds and scams, and avoid identity theft. The FTC Web site, www.ftc.gov/YouAreHere, introduces key consumer and business concepts and helps youngsters understand their role in the marketplace. The FTC is the nation?s consumer protection agency. http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/12/youarehere.shtm The Tyranny of Binaries: Child Protection, Sexuality and Safety Online. Is it just me or does the schedule for the Internet Governance Forum conference in Sharm El Sheikh seem to pop with the words youth, security, protection, empowerment, child? At least two sessions every day focus on these themes. http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?apc=f?e?1&x=96346 Will Canadian web child-porn bill do more harm than good? by Michael Geist Last week federal Justice Minister Robert Nicholson introduced new legislation that, if enacted, will establish mandatory disclosure requirements for Internet providers to report child pornography websites or subscribers they believe are using their service to violate child pornography laws. http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/732385 us: Kids arrested for Facebook 'Kick a Ginger Day' [AP] Three boys were booked on suspicion of bullying or kicking red-haired students at a middle school when a "Kick a Ginger Day" prank inspired by a "South Park" episode got out of hand, authorities said Monday. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10612705 ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Analyst tips 141,000 Kiwi IPTV subscribers by 2014 New broadband networks are being tipped to propel the deployment of internet television, or IPTV, services in New Zealand and Australia. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/newmedia/25FAF48858F9A327CC25767B0073D7B6 ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** India blocks millions of mobiles for security reasons Millions of Indian mobile phones with no valid unique identification code have been blocked for security reasons. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8387727.stm Squeezing Web Sites Onto Cellphones When a group of engineers at National Instruments Corp. modified a 1988 Oldsmobile so it could be controlled by an iPhone, the company was quick to share the project on its online forum for customers. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703939404574568242989515828.html Nokia predicts mobile phone sales rebound [AFP] Nokia, the world's biggest mobile phone maker, predicted that global sales of mobile phones would grow around 10 per cent in volume next year after falling some seven per cent this year. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/nokia-predicts-mobile-phone-sals-rebound/story-e6frgakx-1225806479279 Nokia sees cellphone market up 10 pct in 2010 Nokia, the world's largest cellphone maker, forecast handset market volumes would grow around 10 percent next year, more than analysts' 8.6 percent consensus. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5AT1X920091202 http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-44404220091202 Nokia Sues LCD, CRT Display Makers [AP] Nokia Corp., the world's biggest mobile phone maker, said Tuesday it has filed suits against several liquid crystal display makers for alleged price fixing. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/01/business/AP-EU-Finland-Nokia-Suits.html ********************** SPAM ********************** au/nz: Email super-spammer fined $16m by FTC A New Zealand man living in Queensland and believed to be behind the world's largest spam operation, has been ordered to pay more than $16 million for running the illegal enterprise. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/security/email-superspammer-fined-16m-20091201-k1sc.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/security/email-superspammer-fined-16m-20091201-k1sc.html 16 million reasons to hate spam A New Zealand man living in Queensland has been ordered to pay more than $16 million for running what is believed to be the world's largest spam operation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/01/2758140.htm US Court Levies $15 Million Fine Against Spammer by John Levine Earlier this year, the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs, the US Federal Trade Commission, and the Australian CMA broke up a large fake drug spam ring known as Herbal Kings, run by New Zealander Lance Atkinson. The NZ government fined him NZ$108,000 (about US$80,000) which, while a substantial fine, seemed pretty small compared to the amount of money he must have made. But today, at the FTC's request a US judge fined Atkinson US$15.5 million, and got his US accomplice Jody Smith to turn over $800,000, including over $500,000 in an Israeli bank http://www.circleid.com/posts/20091130_us_court_15_million_fine_against_spammer/ Prolific penis pill pushers fined almost $19m Federal authorities have imposed almost $19m in fines on an enterprise accused of spamming the world with billions of emails advertising male-enhancement pills and other pharmaceuticals. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/30/spam_fine/ Court Orders Spam Network to Pay $15.2 Million [IDG] A U.S. district court judge has ordered the largest "spam gang" in the world to pay nearly US$15.2 million for sending unsolicited e-mail messages marketing male-enhancement pills, prescription drugs and weight-loss supplements, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said Monday. http://www.pcworld.com/article/183389/.html http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141599/Court_orders_spam_network_to_pay_15.2M $21m fine for Kiwi spam mastermind A New Zealand man has been ordered to pay US$15.5 million ($21.3 million) for his part in an international spam network said to be one of the largest in internet history. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10612680 Kiwi lands multi-million dollar fine in US for spamming Lance Atkinson, the New Zealander who was convicted in the Christchurch High Court last year of offences under the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007 and fined $100,000, is facing far greater financial penalties after being ordered to pay $US15.5 million (NZ$21 million) by US authorities for his part in the spamming network busted by New Zealand and US authorities last year. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/0AE8D88F10C4D9C0CC25767E0070A9DF Kiwi spammer gets $21m fine [The Dominion Post] Kiwi spammer Lance Atkinson has been fined US$15.1 million (NZ$21m) by a United States judge for his part in a spamming operation. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/3111873/ Kiwi spam kingpin fined $21 million A New Zealander identified as the ring leader of an international spam network has been ordered to pay $US15.15 million by a US federal judge. http://www.3news.co.nz/Kiwi-spam-kingpin-fined-21-million-/tabid/412/articleID/132033/Default.aspx?ArticleID=132033 Court Orders Australia-based Leader of International Spam Network to Pay $15.15 Million [news release] At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal judge has ordered the mastermind of a vast international spam network to pay $15.15 million in a default judgment for his role in what was identified by the anti-spam organization Spamhaus as the largest ?spam gang? in the world. The spam gang deceptively marketed products such as male-enhancement pills, prescription drugs, and weight-loss pills. Ringleader Lance Atkinson, a New Zealand citizen and Australian resident, last December admitted his involvement in the spam network to New Zealand authorities and has already paid more than $80,000 (nearly $108,000 New Zealand dollars). Atkinson?s accomplice, U.S. resident Jody Smith, agreed to an order requiring him to turn over nearly all of his assets to the FTC, to settle FTC charges. http://ftc.gov/opa/2009/11/herbalkings.shtm ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Google Street View raises crime fears in South Africa In the apartheid era it would have looked distinctly sinister: strange vehicles on patrol in South Africa's townships with protruding cameras capturing billions of images. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/29/google-street-view-south-africa Runescape creator pursues 'phishing thieves' A British man has been arrested and cautioned for stealing accounts for online game Runescape. Jagex, creator of Runescape, said it was likely to be the first of several arrests as it tackled in-game fraud. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8386003.stm Illegal perfume sales cost eBay ?1.5m in fines A court in Paris has fined eBay more than ?1.5m for breaching an injunction that banned its users from buying or selling goods made by French luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/30/ebay-louisvuitton-perfume EBay fined by Paris court over sales of authentic perfumes A French court has told internet auction site eBay that it cannot allow sales of luxury goods without the brand owner's permission. EBay has been fined ?1.7 million for not stopping the sales of perfumes. http://out-law.com/page-10561 eBay fined $2.5 million in French perfume case eBay is criticizing a French court's ruling that orders the company to pay a $2.55 million fine to European conglomerate LVMH. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10406074-38.html French court fines eBay $2.5 million [IDG] A French court has fined eBay $2.5 million for failing to comply with an earlier ruling that required the online retailer to prevent the sale of certain brands of perfume to French consumers on its sites. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141595/French_court_fines_eBay_2.5_million http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/328117/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/183377/.html http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/328117/ Scammers get better tools for tapping social networks New tools capable of quickly finding, gathering and correlating information about individuals from social networking sites and other public sources are giving online scammers a powerful new weapon, say security researchers. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141601/Scammers_get_better_tools_for_tapping_social_networks ENISA launches new Position Paper on security risks in online banking through European eID cards [news release] The EU?s ?cyber security? Agency, ENISA (the European Network and Information Security Agency) today presents its new Position Paper. The paper is focusing on authentication risks with European eID Cards. It analyses 7 vulnerabilities, identifies 15 threats and gives security recommendations. http://www.enisa.europa.eu/media/press-releases/position-paper-security-risks-online-banking-and-eid-cards Johnson defends extradition of Pentagon hacker Home secretary Alan Johnson has defended his decision not to step into the case of Pentagon hacker Gary McKinnon, who faces extradition to the United States for breaking into US government computers eight years ago. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/01/johnson-mckinnon-hacker UK considers extending hacker's judicial review period Home Secretary Alan Johnson said on Tuesday he could not stop the extradition of a man wanted in the United States for hacking into NASA and Pentagon computers, but said he was considering granting extra time for a judicial review of the case. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKGEE5AP2H120091201 us: Survey shows cyberattacks are getting more disruptive Cyberattacks that seek to penetrate computer networks or disrupt online services are increasing significantly, according to a survey of public and private sector information security and technology professionals released on Tuesday. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091201_5149.php Botnet continues massive H1N1 malware campaign A massive spam campaign that poses as a message from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) asking people to register for H1N1 vaccinations remains a big problem today, a security researcher said. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141683/Botnet_continues_massive_H1N1_malware_campaign http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/scrt/5C030F930D3C57DCCC257680007F94C8 http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/328458/ ************************** PRIVACY ************************** nz: Privacy concerns on the up: Annual Report 2009 [news release] Concern about personal information and privacy issues has grown or remained high, especially in relation to the internet and business, Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff says in her Annual Report published today. http://www.privacy.org.nz/privacy-concerns-on-the-up-annual-report-2009-media-release/ Stephen Fry accuses Plaxo of telling too much about him Stephen Fry has had a very public falling out with social networking site Plaxo, accusing it of making his details available to anyone who cared to look, in a spat that exposes the privacy dangers of the web. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/29/stephen-fry-personal-information-plaxo ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** Web giants unite against Digital Britain copyright plan Some of the biggest names on the web have written to Peter Mandelson to express "grave concerns" about elements of the Digital Economy Bill. Facebook, Google, Yahoo and eBay object to a clause that they say could give government "unprecedented and sweeping powers" to amend copyright laws. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8390623.stm EFF: Destabilizing the UK's Digital Economy Much of the coverage of the UK's proposed Digital Economy bill has centered, and rightly so, on the damaging consequences to civil liberties for Britons caused by its Internet termination provisions. Less documented is quite how damaging these regulations are for the bill's own namesake: Britain's present and future digital economy. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/12/destabilizing-uks-digital-economy uk: In the thick of it: how the Digital Economy bill is trying to kill open Wi-Fi networks A lot of people have talked to me over the last week about Wi-Fi (open and closed, i.e. password-protected) and the Digital Economy bill. The more I try to find answers, the more ludicrous it becomes. For instance, last week it turned out that a pub owner was fined ?8,000 because someone downloaded copyright material over their open Wi-Fi system. Would that get worse or better if the Digital Economy bill passes in its present form? http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/30/open-wi-fi-digital-economy-bill-government European ISPs lash out at secret ACTA negotiations [IDG] Secretive international trade negotiations intended to clamp down on counterfeiting risk undermining the openness and innovation-friendly nature of the Internet, said EuroISPA, a trade group representing Europe's Internet service providers (ISPs), on Monday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141566/European_ISPs_lash_out_at_secret_ACTA_negotiations http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/328056/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/183333/.html http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/328056/ us: Internet gambling curbs postponed [AP] The Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve are giving U.S. financial institutions an additional six months to comply with rules designed to ban Internet gambling. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gamble28-2009nov28,0,662152.story ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** TUANZ disappointed by Budde's broadband blitz TUANZ is taking issue with Paul Budde's criticisms of New Zealand's approach to broadband, with senior executives of the industry group saying they are "perplexed and disappointed" at the analyst's comments, delivered at round-table sessions in Auckland and Wellington this week. http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/netw/115155345ABE537FCC257681000463B0 au: National broadband network turning into a hard sell to consumers The company set up to build the national broadband network doesn't believe most consumers will be willing to pay for the maximum high-speed broadband service promised by the Rudd government, reports The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/fast-internet-turning-into-a-hard-sell/story-e6frg6nf-1225805519568 ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** au: Child porn accused facing fresh charges A 49-year-old man who appeared in court today over allegedly possessing child pornography has been further charged with a fresh batch of porn charges. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/6540648/child-porn-accused-facing-fresh-charges/ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery __________________________________________________________________________________ See what's on at the movies in your area. Find out now: http://au.movies.yahoo.com/session-times/Received on Wed Dec 02 2009 - 23:03:12 UTC
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