[DNS] domain name news - 17 February

[DNS] domain name news - 17 February

From: David Goldstein <goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:39:37 -0800 (PST)
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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Technical Management Function for IN-ADDR.ARPA
http://blog.icann.org/2011/02/technical-management-function-for-in-addr-arpa/

ICANN: Definitely No Vote on New TLDs at March Meeting
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/02/16/icann-definitely-no-vote-on-new-tlds-at-march-meeting/


au: Groupon launches in Australia as Stardeals
http://www.zdnet.com.au/groupon-launches-in-australia-as-stardeals-339309214.htm

Cyber war threat exaggerated claims security expert
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12473809

Oz kicks US's butt on net security: Gartner
http://www.zdnet.com.au/oz-kicks-us-s-butt-on-net-security-gartner-339309264.htm

au: Crime institute says govt tenders too soft
http://www.zdnet.com.au/crime-institute-says-govt-tenders-too-soft-339309197.htm

VeriSign scores big win in .com pricing lawsuit
http://domainincite.com/verisign-scores-big-win-in-com-pricing-lawsuit/

us: Senators explore new website seizure options [IDG]
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9209864/Senators_explore_Web_site_seizure_options


au: Name change for online pioneer Groupon
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/name-change-for-online-pioneer-groupon/story-e6frg8zx-1226006582495



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DOMAIN NAMES
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 - ICANN
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Technical Management Function for IN-ADDR.ARPA
In December we spoke of the planned changes to the IPv4 Reverse DNS 
Infrastructure where the zone maintenance of the IN-ADDR.ARPA zone would 
transition to ICANN and be managed concurrently with the central assignment of 
address space to the RIRs.
http://blog.icann.org/2011/02/technical-management-function-for-in-addr-arpa/

ICANN: Definitely No Vote on New TLDs at March Meeting
In case your glass-half-full optimism wouldn?t let go of the idea that ICANN?s 
Board of Directors would approve the new gTLD applicant guidebook at its March 
meeting in San Francisco, I?ve got news for you.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/02/16/icann-definitely-no-vote-on-new-tlds-at-march-meeting/


Good is Better than Perfect in ICANN Accountability by Jonathan Zuck
In the next few months, ICANN will have a concrete opportunity to improve its 
accountability and transparency by enacting the recommendations of the 
Accountability and Transparency Review Team. Those recommendations may not be 
perfect, but if the history of the ICANN process is any indication, we can't 
afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the very good.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/good_is_better_than_perfect_in_icann_accountability/


ICANN terminates another registrar
Another tiny domain name registrar has been given its marching orders by ICANN.
http://domainincite.com/icann-terminates-another-registrar/

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 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
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au: Groupon launches in Australia as Stardeals
In the midst of an ongoing trademark stoush with Aussie coupon website Scoopon, 
Groupon has launched in Australia under the name Stardeals today. ... The 
Australian Domain Name Administrator (auDA) said in January that the matter was 
outside of its jurisdiction because Scoopon had registered both the "Groupon" 
business name in Australia as well as the local domain name.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/groupon-launches-in-australia-as-stardeals-339309214.htm

VeriSign?s upcoming battle for the Chinese .com
Could VeriSign be about to face off against China for control of the Chinese 
version of .com? That?s an intriguing possibility that was raised during the 
.nxt conference last week.
http://domainincite.com/verisigns-upcoming-battle-for-the-chinese-com/

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 - NEW TLDS
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The coming fight over .gay domain (Q&A)
Scott Seitz has the dubious distinction of proposing what might become the most 
controversial new top-level Internet domain: .gay.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20031727-281.html

Battle Brewing Over '.Gay' Domain
As the web gears up to introduce new domains, those proposing a ".gay" domain 
are getting ready to face opposition.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/15/gay-domain_n_823147.html

.GAY May Face Unexpected Opponent: Obama Admin
In an interview today, Scott Seitz, founder of SPI Marketing and chief executive 
of dotGAY, discussed why he's planning to ask ICANN to approve a disputed new 
top-level Internet domain: .gay.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2380311,00.asp

Decision pits county against city on '.vegas'
Clark County commissioners agreed Tuesday to endorse Vegas.com's bid to control 
the Internet domain suffix ".vegas" that someday could mean millions of dollars 
in revenue for the county.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/county-backs-vegas_com-for-web-domain-84529522.html

What to do with the new Top Level Domains
ICANN has announced that it expects the expansion of gTLDs to be ready in 2011. 
It is now up to trademark owners to decide whether to register and operate their 
own top-level domain or to saddle up to fight others from registering top-level 
domains that might infringe their marks.
http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?article_id=121040

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 - DNS SECURITY
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Cyber war threat exaggerated claims security expert
The threat of cyber warfare is greatly exaggerated, according to a leading 
security expert.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12473809

Pentagon Seeks $500 Million for Cyber Research, Cloud Computing
The U.S. Defense Department is planning to spend $500 million to research new 
cyber security technologies including cloud computing and encrypted data 
processing, Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn said today.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-15/pentagon-seeks-500-million-for-cyber-research-cloud-computing.html


The White House's 2012 budget devotes a greater percentage of IT funds to 
cybersecurity
While President Obama's fiscal 2012 budget requests relatively flat funding for 
information technology governmentwide, a greater portion of the funds are 
expected to go toward security.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110216_3295.php

White House Advisor: Use of Term Cyberwar 'Terrible'
White House cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt said that policymakers and 
others should stop ?conflating? cyberwar with cyber-espionage with cybercrime.?
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/02/15/white-house-advisor-use-of-term-cyberwar-terrible/


cz: Global cyber security starts close to home
Hackers of all allegiances are becoming more sophisticated, warns Tom?? Rosa, a 
noted cryptologist, and the threat they present to private companies, and in 
turn the public, is growing.
http://www.praguepost.com/news/7421-global-cyber-security-starts-close-to-home.html


Oz kicks US's butt on net security: Gartner
Australia and New Zealand are "well ahead" of the United States in the roll-out 
of several key internet security initiatives thanks to better cooperation 
between internet service providers (ISPs) and the government, according to John 
Pescatore, a Gartner VP specialising in information security.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/oz-kicks-us-s-butt-on-net-security-gartner-339309264.htm

au: Crime institute says govt tenders too soft
Security requirements of government tenders should be toughened to reduce 
incidents of cybercrime, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology. 
... Tougher measures should also be enforced to reduce abuse of the domain name 
system, according to Choo, including the creation of a stricter domain name 
registration regime, and ensuring domain names and IP addresses suspected of 
being used for cyber criminal activities are revoked.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/crime-institute-says-govt-tenders-too-soft-339309197.htm

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 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
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VeriSign scores big win in .com pricing lawsuit
VeriSign has successfully had an antitrust lawsuit, which claims the company has 
been raising .com domain name prices anti-competitively, dismissed by a 
California court.
http://domainincite.com/verisign-scores-big-win-in-com-pricing-lawsuit/

VeriSign Scores a Win in Antitrust Lawsuit
A California court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Coalition for ICANN 
Transparency (CFIT) against VeriSign for its .com and .net domain name 
contracts.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/02/14/verisign-scores-a-win-in-antitrust-lawsuit/

us: Senators explore new website seizure options [IDG]
U.S senators will introduce legislation this year targeting websites that 
traffic in digital piracy or counterfeited goods, said the primary sponsor of a 
controversial bill proposed in 2010 that would give government agencies more 
authority to shut down those sites.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9209864/Senators_explore_Web_site_seizure_options

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/377012/senators_explore_new_website_seizure_options/

http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/377012/senators_explore_new_website_seizure_options/

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/021611-senators-explore-new-website-seizure.html


How To Stop Domain Names Being Seized By The US Government
As the United States authorities continue with their domain name seizure policy, 
file-sharing, streaming and link site operators around the world are looking for 
ways to mitigate this aggressive action. To this end, an Internet engineer and 
website operator has put together a guide that might just help site owners avoid 
a whole heap of inconvenience in the future.
http://torrentfreak.com/how-to-stop-domain-names-being-seized-by-the-us-government-110205/


Scott Day?s DigiMedia Wins Reverse Domain Hijacking Charge
Legendary domain name investor Scott Day?s company DigiMedia.com has won a 
charge of reverse domain name hijacking against a Dubai company.
http://domainnamewire.com/2011/02/14/scott-days-digimedia-wins-reverse-domain-hijacking-charge/


Rumor sites fair game under UDRP
Could Apple shut down MacRumors.com using the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy?
http://domainincite.com/rumor-sites-fair-game-under-udrp/

au: Name change for online pioneer Groupon
US online group-buying pioneer Groupon has been forced to launch in Australia 
under the Stardeals.com.au banner after three months of mediation failed to 
resolve a dispute over ownership of the trademark and the Groupon.com.au domain 
name.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/name-change-for-online-pioneer-groupon/story-e6frg8zx-1226006582495


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 - IPv4/IPv6
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Drumming Up More Addresses on the Internet
Who could have guessed that 4.3 billion Internet connections wouldn?t be enough? 
Certainly not Vint Cerf. In 1976, Mr. Cerf and his colleagues in the R.& D. 
office of the Defense Department had to make a judgment call: how much network 
address space should they allocate to an experiment connecting computers in an 
advanced data network?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/technology/15internet.html

Comcast, Time Warner join IPv6 test program
Comcast and Time Warner Cable, two major Internet service providers, will 
participate in the World IPv6 Day testing June 8 to help test readiness for the 
next-generation Internet Protocol.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20031938-264.html

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REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS
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au: Online interactions involving suspected paedophiles who engage male children 
- Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 403
Abstract: Foreword | This paper summarises the results of a small-scale study 
into the online interactions of suspected paedophiles with undercover Australian 
police officers posing as male children. The study provides insight to an 
under-researched area of how persons with a sexual interest in male children 
interact with potential victims and whether these interactions differ from 
online engagements with female children.
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current series/tandi/401-420/tandi403.aspx

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INTERNET USE
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Asia's Digital Dilemma: While many Asian firms understand the importance of 
embracing the digital age, a deep-seated cultural wariness prevails
Faced with a massive fridge recall in Australia last year, South Korea's LG 
Electronics did something bold: It tweeted about it.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703960804576120230235458292.html

Opinion: Would the Bard Have Survived the Web?
Archaeologists finished a remarkable dig last summer in East London. Among their 
finds were seven earthenware knobs, physical evidence of a near perfect 
16th-century experiment into the link between commerce and culture.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/opinion/15turow.html

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SOCIAL NETWORKING
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Facebook Officials Keep Quiet on Its Role in Revolts
With Facebook playing a starring role in the revolts that toppled governments in 
Tunisia and Egypt, you might think the company?s top executives would use this 
historic moment to highlight its role as the platform for democratic change. 
Instead, they really do not want to talk about it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/business/media/15facebook.html

us: Poll: Social Media Shapes Dating Scene
Just in time for Valentine's Day, a new Zogby Interactive poll confirms what 
many love birds already know: social media is transforming the dating scene.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/02/poll-social-media-shapes-datin.php


Facebook Places eats Foursquare?s discount lunch
Facebook Places, launched just five months ago, already appears to be sucking 
marketing dollars away from needy location-based startups such as Foursquare and 
Gowalla , according to a new survey.
http://blogs.ft.com/fttechhub/2011/02/facebook-places-eats-foursquares-discount-lunch/


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NEW TECHNOLOGIES
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Print me a Stradivarius: How a new manufacturing technology will change the 
world
The industrial revolution of the late 18th century made possible the mass 
production of goods, thereby creating economies of scale which changed the 
economy?and society?in ways that nobody could have imagined at the time. Now a 
new manufacturing technology has emerged which does the opposite. 
Three-dimensional printing makes it as cheap to create single items as it is to 
produce thousands and thus undermines economies of scale. It may have as 
profound an impact on the world as the coming of the factory did.
http://www.economist.com/node/18114327

3D printing: The printed world - three-dimensional printing from digital designs 
will transform manufacturing and allow more people to start making things 

Filton, just outside Bristol, is where Britain?s fleet of Concorde supersonic 
airliners was built. In a building near a wind tunnel on the same sprawling 
site, something even more remarkable is being created. Little by little a 
machine is ?printing? a complex titanium landing-gear bracket, about the size of 
a shoe, which normally would have to be laboriously hewn from a solid block of 
metal. Brackets are only the beginning. The researchers at Filton have a much 
bigger ambition: to print the entire wing of an airliner.
http://www.economist.com/node/18114221

A Fight to Win the Future: Computers vs. Humans
At the dawn of the modern computer era, two Pentagon-financed laboratories 
bracketed Stanford University. At one laboratory, a small group of scientists 
and engineers worked to replace the human mind, while at the other, a similar 
group worked to augment it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/science/15essay.html

Ask Ars: What is the best way to use a Li-ion battery?
Question: How do I take care of a Lithium Ion battery to prolong its life? 
Should I charge it frequently or drain it fully before charging it?
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2011/02/ask-ars-what-is-the-best-way-to-use-an-li-ion-battery.ars


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CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION
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EU Reps Side With Internet Rights on Child Porn Blocking [IDG]
A European Parliament decision on Monday to remove child pornography images at 
the source rather than promote Web blocking has been hailed as a success by 
Internet rights activists.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/219690/.html

Delete child pornography web pages across the EU, says Civil Liberties Committee 
[news release]
Child pornography or child abuse material on the web must be removed at source 
in all EU countries, said the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday, in amendments 
to proposed new EU rules to prevent abuse, stiffen penalties, and protect 
victims. Where removal is impossible, e.g. because pages are hosted outside the 
EU, Member States may still "prevent access" to this material, in line with 
their national laws, MEPs added, so no Member State will be prevented from 
blocking sites.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+IM-PRESS+20110131IPR12841+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN


nz: C?m h?c sinh d?ng ?i?n tho?i di ??ng trong ph?ng thay ?? 
M?t s? tr??ng trung h?c ? New Zealand c?m h?c sinh s? d?ng ?i?n tho?i trong 
ph?ng thay ?? nh?m ng?n ch?n t?nh tr?ng h?c sinh ph?t t?n qua tin nh?n ?i?n 
tho?i nh?ng ?nh kh?a th?n t? ch?p hay ch?p h?c sinh kh?c. Nhi?u ph?ng thay ?? 
c?ng c?ng ? c?c ph?ng t?p th? d?c v? h? b?i c?ng c?m s? d?ng ?i?n tho?i di ??ng.
http://www.thanhnien.com.vn/news/Pages/201108/20110215142815.aspx
http://dantri.com.vn/c25/s25-457867/new-zealand-cam-hs-dung-de-trong-phong-thay-do.htm


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ONLINE TV & MUSIC
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au: Movie piracy costs economy $1.3 billion
Movie piracy has cost the Australian economy more than $1.3 billion in revenue 
in just 12 months, a new study has revealed.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/movie-piracy-costs-economy-13-billion/story-e6frg996-1226007456066


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MOBILE/WIRELESS
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Europe Seeks Ways to Lower Data Roaming Charges
The European telecommunications commissioner said on Monday that she probably 
would seek new regulations to end the high charges Europeans face when using 
data services on smartphones outside their home countries.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/technology/15roaming.html

EU to consider new plans to reduce roaming phone charges [IDG]
The European Commission will have to consider radical new measures to reduce the 
cost of mobile roaming charges after almost all respondents to its consultation 
said prices were unfair.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/376588/eu_consider_new_plans_reduce_roaming_phone_charges/


Europeans use mobile phones more when travelling abroad, but still worry about 
costs, EU survey reveals [news release]
Almost three quarters of Europeans are worried about the cost of using their 
mobile phone when travelling in the EU a survey released by the European 
Commission today shows. 72% of travellers still limit their roaming calls 
because of high charges even if a majority is aware that prices have fallen 
since 2006. Only 19% of people who use internet-related services on their mobile 
phones when abroad think the costs of data-roaming for (Internet surfing or 
checking e-mails) are fair. The results of this survey, plus the public 
consultation on the future of the Roaming Regulation (IP/10/1679), which closed 
on 11th February, will feed into the Commission's review of current EU roaming 
rules, due by June 2011. The performance target set by the Digital Agenda for 
Europe (see IP/10/581, MEMO/10/199 and MEMO/10/200) is that the differences 
between roaming and national tariffs should approach zero by 2015.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/148

European Phone Operators Warn Against Apple, Google Dominance in Content
European phone operators said Internet companies such as Google Inc. shouldn?t 
be allowed to dominate content services and that platforms must be kept open for 
all companies.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-15/european-phone-operators-warn-against-apple-google-dominance.html


Google chief Eric Schmidt hails the smartphone future
Mobile phones in the future will be able to monitor our health, alert us to 
nearby sales and "do things that we haven't even begun to think of", Google's 
chief executive and chairman Eric Schmidt told the Mobile World Congress in 
Barcelona on Tuesday evening.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/15/eric-schmidt-smartphone-future

Google Undercuts Apple With Cheaper Version of Content-Subscription Plan
Google Inc. unveiled a digital- content service that gives publishers a bigger 
cut of subscription sales than a competing program introduced yesterday by Apple 
Inc.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-16/google-to-offer-one-pass-system-for-newspaper-subscriptions.html


Google Announces Payment System for Digital Content
A day after Apple stirred up online publishers by announcing a digital 
subscription plan that some called too restrictive and financially burdensome, 
Google on Wednesday announced its own payment service for digital content that 
aims to be more publisher-friendly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/business/media/17google.html

Google unveils One Pass system for online content
Google has launched a new payment system that allows users to subscribe to 
online content for a 10% commission fee.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12489318

Apple Offers Subscriptions for Apps
Apple on Tuesday cleared the way for media companies to begin selling 
subscriptions to their magazine, newspaper, music and video content on the iPad 
and its other devices.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/apple-offers-subscriptions-for-all-ipad-publications/


Apple Opens a Door, Keeps Keys
Apple Inc. laid out a new subscription service and broad rules cementing its 
power as gatekeeper for most of the digital content sold through the iPhone and 
iPad, setting up a battle with media companies that may be thrown off the 
devices if they won't share revenue or cede control of customer data.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704409004576146062283349464.html

Governments urged to speed up introduction of fast fibre optic cable
Frustrated trying to access the internet from the smartphone you bought at 
Christmas? It's partly your own fault, says the International Telecommunication 
Union, the industry body that represents the mobile and fixed-line industries ? 
and it's likely to get worse unless governments and networks take urgent action.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/14/telecoms-chief-urges-fast-fibre-optics


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SPAM
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Image site hits back at spammers
Spammers are being thwarted by finding that their junk messages unexpectedly 
contain warnings urging recipients to delete the e-mail. The alerts are issued 
by ImageShack, in an effort to stop spammers using its services.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12450348

The World's Top Spamming Botnets: Signs of a mature 'market' with established 
botnets and no newcomers on new list compiled by SecureWorks
RSA Conference 2011 -- The world's biggest and most prolific spamming botnet is 
now Rustock, with a 250,000 head count of bots, and its size and staying power 
have much to do with its constantly evolving stealth tactics, according to new 
research.
http://www.darkreading.com/insider-threat/167801100/security/attacks-breaches/229218736/the-world-s-top-spamming-botnets.html


Mobile malware grows as spam takes a dive: Security experts
Security software providers, M86 and McAfee, have warned companies not to be 
complacent in the face of increased mobile malware, as two new reports reveal 
mobile malware is on the rise while spam emails are declining.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/376521/mobile_malware_grows_spam_takes_dive_security_experts/


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ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL
**************************
Cyber security alarm after Anonymous email leak
The cyber activist group Anonymous has posted tens of thousands of private 
e-mails from a respected security researcher, prompting many responsible for 
protecting the digital secrets of others to re-examine their own practices.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/c55652b8-3891-11e0-959c-00144feabdc0.html

The US bank and the secret plan to destroy WikiLeaks
The computer hackers' collective Anonymous has uncovered a proposal by a 
consortium of private contractors to attack and discredit WikiLeaks.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-us-bank-and-the-secret-plan-to-destroy-wikileaks-2215059.html


US lawsuit accuses Google of stealing trade secrets
Technology communications company VoIP Inc sued Google Inc. in New York Supreme 
Court on Monday, accusing the Internet giant of stealing its trade secrets 
related to online voice technology.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/14/oukin-uk-google-voip-idUKTRE71D7IS20110214

http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/02/14/idINIndia-54896520110214

us: WikiLeaks Allies Fight Order on Twitter Data
Lawyers for three Twitter users on Tuesday asked a judge to vacate an order 
requiring the social-networking Web site to turn over its account records to 
prosecutors who are investigating WikiLeaks for its role in disclosing secret 
government documents last year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/world/16wikileaks.html

Anonymous victim HBGary goes to ground
The computer security company hacked by members of activist group Anonymous has 
gone to ground as further revelations about its activites leak online.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12481803

au: Accused win battle to delete web history
NEWSPAPERS, including the Herald, have been ordered to remove old articles from 
their websites after a court ruled they might interfere with a fair trial.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/accused-win-battle-to-delete-web-history-20110216-1awmp.html

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/accused-win-battle-to-delete-web-history-20110216-1awmp.html


Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce survey 2011
The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce was formed in March 2005 and comprises 
20 government regulatory agencies and departments in Australia and New Zealand 
with responsibility for protecting consumers against frauds and scams. The aim 
of the Taskforce is to work together to reduce the incidence and impact of 
frauds and scams, and to create a yearly coordinated information campaign for 
consumers timed to coincide with global consumer fraud prevention activities.
http://www.aic.gov.au/en/crime_types/economic/fraud/acft/survey.aspx

Beware scammers pretending to be from ATO [AAP]
Sophisticated scammers are ringing or emailing people claiming to represent the 
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and offering refunds for anyone who will 
transfer cash to a charity.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/376700/beware_scammers_pretending_from_ato/


au: Crime institute says govt tenders too soft
Security requirements of government tenders should be toughened to reduce 
incidents of cybercrime, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology. 
... Tougher measures should also be enforced to reduce abuse of the domain name 
system, according to Choo, including the creation of a stricter domain name 
registration regime, and ensuring domain names and IP addresses suspected of 
being used for cyber criminal activities are revoked.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/crime-institute-says-govt-tenders-too-soft-339309197.htm

Kiwi online shoppers' details stolen
As many as 9000 New Zealanders may have had their credit card and personal 
details stolen after the Lush cosmetics website was hacked.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/4662025/Kiwi-online-shoppers-details-stolen

nz: Police called in after cyber rage incident
Police were called when an "aggro" seller on internet auction site Trade Me 
threatened a potential buyer.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10706569

Cyber war threat exaggerated claims security expert
The threat of cyber warfare is greatly exaggerated, according to a leading 
security expert.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12473809

Pentagon Seeks $500 Million for Cyber Research, Cloud Computing
The U.S. Defense Department is planning to spend $500 million to research new 
cyber security technologies including cloud computing and encrypted data 
processing, Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn said today.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-15/pentagon-seeks-500-million-for-cyber-research-cloud-computing.html


The White House's 2012 budget devotes a greater percentage of IT funds to 
cybersecurity
While President Obama's fiscal 2012 budget requests relatively flat funding for 
information technology governmentwide, a greater portion of the funds are 
expected to go toward security.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110216_3295.php

White House Advisor: Use of Term Cyberwar 'Terrible'
White House cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt said that policymakers and 
others should stop ?conflating? cyberwar with cyber-espionage with cybercrime.?
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/02/15/white-house-advisor-use-of-term-cyberwar-terrible/


cz: Global cyber security starts close to home
Hackers of all allegiances are becoming more sophisticated, warns Tom?? Rosa, a 
noted cryptologist, and the threat they present to private companies, and in 
turn the public, is growing.
http://www.praguepost.com/news/7421-global-cyber-security-starts-close-to-home.html


Oz kicks US's butt on net security: Gartner
Australia and New Zealand are "well ahead" of the United States in the roll-out 
of several key internet security initiatives thanks to better cooperation 
between internet service providers (ISPs) and the government, according to John 
Pescatore, a Gartner VP specialising in information security.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/oz-kicks-us-s-butt-on-net-security-gartner-339309264.htm

**************************
PRIVACY
**************************
us: Senate Judiciary names Franken head of new privacy, tech subcommittee
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) on Monday was named chairman of a new Judiciary 
subcommittee for Privacy, Technology and the Law. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Ok.) will 
serve as ranking member, according to a release by the Senate Judiciary 
Committee.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2011/02/senate_judiciary_names_franken.html


**********************
CENSORSHIP
**********************
Egypt Leaders Found 'Off' Switch for Internet
Epitaphs for the Mubarak government all note that the mobilizing power of the 
Internet was one of the Egyptian opposition?s most potent weapons. But quickly 
lost in the swirl of revolution was the government?s ferocious counterattack, a 
dark achievement that many had thought impossible in the age of global 
connectedness. In a span of minutes just after midnight on Jan. 28, a 
technologically advanced, densely wired country with more than 20 million people 
online was essentially severed from the global Internet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/technology/16internet.html

U.S. Policy to Address Internet Freedom
Days after Facebook and Twitter added fuel to a revolt in Egypt, the Obama 
administration plans to announce a new policy on Internet freedom, designed to 
help people get around barriers in cyberspace while making it harder for 
autocratic governments to use the same technology to repress dissent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/world/15clinton.html

Hillary Clinton's speech: Shades of hypocrisy on internet freedom
Last year, the US secretary of state criticised the 'firewall' approach. Yet 
after the WikiLeaks affair it is harder to moralise
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/15/hillary-clinton-internet-freedom

WikiLeaks row intensifies as US makes 'privacy' move against Twitter
The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, praised the role of social networks 
such as Twitter in promoting freedom ? at the same time as the US government was 
in court seeking to invade the privacy of Twitter users.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/feb/15/wikileaks-row-us-privacy-twitter

Clinton Seeks Web Freedoms
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will intensify pressure Tuesday on Middle 
East governments to ensure open access to the Internet, as social media sites 
continue to play a central role in organizing political movements across the 
Arab world and Iran.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703703804576145224030011798.html

Clinton Backs Facebook Freedom, Prods Regimes on Censorship After Egypt
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed the U.S. will step up support for 
global Internet freedom, as citizens using social networking sites run by 
Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. organize demonstrations spreading across the 
Mideast and North Africa.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-15/clinton-to-promote-technology-to-ensure-global-internet-freedom.html


Clinton to lay out U.S. Internet freedom plan
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will unveil a new U.S. push for global 
Internet freedoms on Tuesday, citing Internet-fired protests in Egypt and Iran 
as examples of how new technologies can spark political transformation.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/02/15/idINIndia-54900920110215

Clinton renews push for open Internet access [AFP]
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton renews her push Tuesday for the free and 
open use of the Internet, which protesters from Egypt to Iran have used to 
demand political freedoms.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/clinton-renews-push-for-open-internet-access-20110215-1aux6.html

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/clinton-renews-push-for-open-internet-access-20110215-1aux6.html


Schoolgirl blogger jailed in Syria
Teenage blogger accused of spying for a foreign country sentenced to five years 
in jail after a closed-door hearing.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121514319413714.html

Syria jails schoolgirl blogger for 5 years
A special Syrian security court sentenced a teenaged blogger on Monday to five 
years in jail on charges of revealing information to a foreign country, despite 
U.S. calls to release her, rights defenders said.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/02/14/idINIndia-54890120110214

Opinion: Unblocking Syria's social media
Some wonder if Syria's decision to allow access to facebook and blog sites is 
just a new way to track activists.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/02/2011212122746819907.html

**************************
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY
**************************
Obama wireless initiative silent on net neutrality
When President Obama announced his vision for a national wireless initiative 
last week, he emphasized how widespread high-speed wireless broadband would 
boost the economy and increase opportunities for individual Americans.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/02/14/obama.net.neutrality/index.html

us: Groups Urge Action On Bill To Combat Online Piracy
More than 130 companies, business groups and others signed a letter to members 
of Congress Tuesday urging lawmakers to move legislation that would give law 
enforcement more tools to crack down on websites that offer pirated content and 
counterfeit products.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2011/02/groups-urge-action-on-bill-to.php


Social media has far-reaching implications for U.S. diplomacy
After being mistreated by a policewoman and ignored by municipal officials, 
Mohamed Bouazizi, 26, doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire Dec. 
17, 2010, in the Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid. He died Jan. 4.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110216_5392.php

Cybercrime forces to be beefed up as part of security plan, say reports
The Government will spend ?63 million of a ?650m cyber security fund announced 
last year on law enforcement resources to tackle cybercrime, according to 
reports.
http://out-law.com/page-11781

S'pore sets data protection law for 2012
With review finally complete, authorities say legislation to provide "baseline 
standard for data protection in Singapore" will be scheduled for parliamentary 
debate early next year.
http://www.zdnetasia.com/s-pore-sets-data-protection-law-for-2012-62206733.htm

*********************************
MISCELLANEOUS
*********************************
Facebook's Web of Frenemies
Facebook Inc.'s growing ambitions are redrawing battle lines in Silicon Valley. 
As the seven-year-old company ramps up its hiring and adds new features to its 
social network, it is disrupting the businesses of established companies like 
Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc. and putting even more Internet firms on notice.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704593604576141350618351030.html

**********************
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
**********************
Avanti pins hopes on internet space age
A new space race has begun. In the next few months, two companies will roll out 
commercial services via intermediaries that will offer households and 
organisations across Europe access to the internet using new satellite 
technology.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/20086bf6-386f-11e0-959c-00144feabdc0.html

au: New wireless will help, not hurt NBN: Conroy
The Federal Government has rejected claims that new wireless internet technology 
will affect the financial viability of the National Broadband Network (NBN).
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/15/3139595.htm

Gillard denies wireless a danger for NBN
Julia Gillard has rejected claims that the explosive growth of wireless internet 
services could threaten Labor's $36 billion National Broadband Network.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/industry-sectors/gillard-denies-wireless-a-danger-for-nbn/story-e6frg9hx-1226006546535


Conroy disputes wireless power over NBN [AAP]
The Federal Government has dismissed suggestions wireless technology is a threat 
to the National Broadband Network (NBN) as Telstra plans to boost mobile 
internet speeds.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/conroy-disputes-wireless-power-over-nbn-339309245.htm

au: Wireless threat to National Broadband Network plan
The growing popularity of wireless internet could have a "significant" impact on 
the economics of the National Broadband Network, according to Labor's own 
corporate advisers.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/wireless-threat-to-national-broadband-network-plan/story-fn59niix-1226005989633


Wireless could affect NBN: report
The rising use of wireless technology could pose a risk to the national 
broadband network, a report commissioned by the Gillard government says.
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/wireless-could-affect-nbn-report-20110214-1atfk.html


Broadband plan unwired
The growing number of households ditching their landline in favour of wireless 
services could threaten the government's high-speed internet plan, a new report 
has found.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/broadband-plan-unwired-20110214-1atno.html

TUANZ, InternetNZ seek extension to Telco Bill submissions
A Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) with legislative changes needed to the UFB and 
RBI projects, as well as the changes that would apply if Telecom was to 
structurally separate was released yesterday.
http://www.techday.co.nz/telecommunicationsreview/news/tuanz-internetnz-seek-extension-to-telco-bill/19323/6/


Tuanz reels as fast-track Telecom separation bill hits
Telecommunications Users Association (Tuanz) chief executive Paul Brislen was 
still reeling from the sheer scope of proposed Telecom separation provisions, 
added to the Telecom Amendment Bill today, when contacted by NBR.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tuanz-reels-telecom-separation-bill-hits-ck-86160

nz: Kordia keeps up the fight over loss of rural broadband bid
State-owned transmission company Kordia still refuses to concede defeat in its 
bid for rural broadband contracts, a week after the Government rejected the 
proposal.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10706500

France Telecom-Orange and Deutsche Telekom collaborate on network access
Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom-Orange plan to explore ways to increase 
co-operation in ways that could lead to a European super-telco.
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2011/02/14/245424/France-Telecom-Orange-and-Deutsche-Telekom-collaborate-on-network.htm


Neelie Kroes Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the 
Digital Agenda Delivering solutions on roaming and radio spectrum 2011 Mobile 
World Congress Barcelona, 14 February 2011
Ladies and Gentlemen, It is always a pleasure to be here at the centre of the 
mobile world. I never fail to be impressed by the energy and ideas. But the best 
ideas and action come from real debate - so I want to start one today. I want to 
be honest with you about the challenges I see in front of the sector and I want 
to hear your response, whether it is here in person, on Twitter or in later 
dialogue.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/11/99

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(c) David Goldstein 2011



 
---------
David Goldstein
email: goldstein_david&#167;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



      
Received on Wed Feb 16 2011 - 18:39:37 UTC

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