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 *************************************************** ICANN Web Address Controversy Deepens After U.S. Warning http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/23/uk-internet-icann-ethics-idUKBRE82M0TC20120323 Why Bodog?s fate suggests .ca domains are a safer harbour than .com http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/why-bodogs-fate-suggests-ca-domains-are-a-safer-harbour-than-com/article2377851/ uk: Nominet rules prevent findings of abusive domain name registrations being re-heard in court, High Court rules http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march/nominet-rules-prevent-findings-of-abusive-domain-name-registrations-being-re-heard-in-court-high-court-rules/ Today is your first new gTLD deadline http://domainincite.com/today-is-your-first-new-gtld-deadline/ Company claims ownership of 482 new gTLDs http://domainincite.com/company-claims-ownership-of-482-new-gtlds/ WHD 2012 ? Eco Study Tracks Domain Name Registar Business in European Markets http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/whd-2012-eco-study-tracks-domain-name-registar-business-in-european-markets ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Meet LACTLD: Coordinating Internet Development in Latin America and the Caribbean Last week at my first ICANN meeting as regional Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, I was proud that all my ICANN colleagues converged on Costa Rica and were able to see for themselves why I love the Latin American and Caribbean region. Besides the friendly people, great food, wonderful climate and natural beauty, there is also a thriving, dedicated Internet community. http://blog.icann.org/2012/03/meet-lactld-coordinating-internet-development-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/ Ten Million DNS Resolvers on the Internet Resolvers are servers on the Internet which use the DNS protocol to retrieve information from authoritative servers and return answers to end-user applications. http://blog.icann.org/2012/03/ten-million-dns-resolvers-on-the-internet/ ICANN Web Address Controversy Deepens After U.S. Warning A controversial attempt to expand Internet addresses far beyond the likes of .com, .org or .net has provoked a rare threat from the U.S. government to withdraw a key licence from the body that runs the Internet's core functions. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/23/uk-internet-icann-ethics-idUKBRE82M0TC20120323 http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/23/internet-icann-ethics-idINDEE82M0I920120323 ICANN and the Red Cross: An Exceptional Exception by Jovan Kurbalija ICANN's policy on the special protection of the Red Cross and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) names has triggered a very lively discussion including contributions by Konstantinos Komatis, Milton Muller, Wolfgang Kleinw?chter, and myself (with Avri Doria's reply). There is an agreement that the exceptions are dangerous for ICANN's gTLD policy process which is in a formative and delicate phase. http://www.circleid.com/posts/icann_and_the_red_cross_an_exceptional_exception/ Internet Governance and the Public Interest ICANN held its first international meeting of 2012 last week in San Jose, Costa Rica, and kicked off the week on a high note with an inspired speech by Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla. If you missed it, we strongly recommend that you read or listen to it here. PIR shares many of the public interest values and policy positions that President Chinchilla expressed, including the assertion that: http://pir.org/blog/2012/icann43 ICA Tells ICANN that URS Needs Careful Implementation, Not Conversion to a Cut-Rate UDRP ? And Don?t Even Think About Imposing URS on .Com via Contract Negotiations Last month, in response to continuing concerns and some outright confusion about whether brand owners would be compelled to pony up $185k application fees for defensive gTLD registrations, ICANN opened up a comment period for the purpose of clarifying the matter. http://internetcommerce.org/Defensive_Registrations_Second_Level ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** Why Bodog?s fate suggests .ca domains are a safer harbour than .com If you?re a Canadian with a .com, .org or .net domain for your web site you may want to move to a .ca domain as soon as you can. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/tech-news/why-bodogs-fate-suggests-ca-domains-are-a-safer-harbour-than-com/article2377851/ AFNC launches its campaign of calls for support AFNIC announces its candidacy for the 11 top-level extensions corresponding to all the French territories and launches its campaign of calls for support. http://www.afnic.fr/en/about-afnic/news/general-news/5791/show/afnc-launches-its-campaign-of-calls-for-support.html Avoiding The Traps: Domain Names In Turkey Though traditional trademark disputes continue to cause problems, the increasing importance of the internet has brought domain name disputes to new prominence. Assigning gTLDs such as .com, .edu and .gen on a 'first come, first served' basis has caused domain name disputes between many registrants. The assignment of ccTLDs such as .com.tr, edu.tr, info.tr and web.tr on a document-required basis in Turkey still does not prevent disputes. So, domain name oppositions and cancellation actions have become a hot topic in the trademark world. http://www.mondaq.com/x/169816/ Study of online contracts to be unveiled at Nominet's Annual UK Internet Policy Forum Research commissioned by Nominet reveals that signing up to even the most basic of online services could mean reading over 20,000 words of contractual agreements. http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/?contentId=9171 uk: Nominet rules prevent findings of abusive domain name registrations being re-heard in court, High Court rules Those registering '.uk' domain names are not entitled to a fresh hearing in court to assess whether they have abusively registered those domains if the issue has already been determined through an industry dispute resolution service, the High Court has ruled. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march/nominet-rules-prevent-findings-of-abusive-domain-name-registrations-being-re-heard-in-court-high-court-rules/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03/22/nominet_rules_mean_abusive_domain_name_registrations_finding_cannot_be_reheard_says_high_court/ ********************** - NEW TLDS ********************** Today is your first new gTLD deadline If you?re planning to apply to ICANN for more than one new gTLD and you do not already have a TLD Application System account, today might be your last day to get one. http://domainincite.com/today-is-your-first-new-gtld-deadline/ Company claims ownership of 482 new gTLDs A small New York company has warned new gTLD applicants that it owns 482 TLD strings and that ICANN has ?no authority? to award them to anybody else. http://domainincite.com/company-claims-ownership-of-482-new-gtlds/ Name.space Claims Trademark Protection Over 482 gTLDs An American company has filed for trademark protection for a number of its existing portfolio of 482 of what it claims to be gTLDs. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=17274 http://www.domainpulse.com/?p=7953 http://www.domainnews.com/en/namespace-claims-trademark-protection-over-118-gtlds.html Campaign for Scots own web address gets a boost SCOTS could be granted internet independence after it emerged that the UK government is set to back moves to let the nation have its own ?dotscot? web address to rival the ?dotUK? sites. http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/scotland/campaign-for-scots-own-web-address-gets-a-boost-1-2196331 Why New Yorkers Should Be Wary About .NYC Websites Residents of the Big Apple learned this week that their city could be the first to have its own domain name?a fancy new ?.nyc? instead of boring old ?.com?. http://paidcontent.org/article/419-why-new-yorkers-should-be-wary-about-new-.nyc-websites/ NYC To Apply For .nyc Domain New York City next month will apply for the .nyc domain, now that ICANN has approved the use of a number of new TLDs. http://informationweek.com/news/government/state-local/232700077 As new domains like .nyc get announced, watch out for bogus web sites like this one Yesterday Information Week reported that Neustar will be running the .nyc domain name when it launches. As definitive news about new TLDs starts hitting the web, people should be careful about misleading web sites promoting the domains. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/23/as-new-domains-like-nyc-get-announced-watch-out-for-bogus-web-sites-like-this-one/ M+M joins .music fight Minds + Machines parent Top Level Domain Holdings has become the third company to publicly confirm an application for the .music TLD. http://domainincite.com/mm-joins-music-fight/ DNS.be operator .vlaanderen Today the Flemish government assigned the concession of the gTLD .vlaanderen to DNS.be http://dns.be/en//dnsbe_operator_vlaanderen Why nobody likes new gTLD batching [subscription] ICANN?s decision to create batches of gTLD applications by using a target time variance system has left policy-makers both shocked and concerned. http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/03/23/why-no-one-likes-batching ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Russian registrar NAUNET knowingly harbours Cybercriminals In November 2011, new terms and conditions (T&C's) for registering .ru domains were put out by the Coordination Center for the Top Level Domain RU (cctld.ru). The following paragraphs of the new T&C are important to Spamhaus' mission to fight against spam and cybercrime: http://www.spamhaus.org/news/article/680/ NASA Teething Troubles Teach a DNSSEC Lesson by Ram Mohan On January 18, 2012, Comcast customers found they could not access the NASA.gov website. Some users assumed that Comcast was deliberately blocking the website or that NASA, like Wikipedia and Reddit, was participating in the "blackout" protests against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) going on that day. As it turned out, the truth was much less exciting, but it offers important lessons about DNSSEC. http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120322_nasa_teething_troubles_teach_a_dnssec_lesson/ Government Agencies Slow to Adopt DNSSEC on .gov Domains Even though the deadline passed more than two years ago, several federal agencies still have not secured their domains to protect users from domain name hijacking and cache poisoning attacks. http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/security/295781-government-agencies-slow-to-adopt-dnssec-on-gov-domains 'Anonymous' Legacy: Hacktivists Stole More Data Than Organized Crime In 2011 Breaches Worldwide Turns out the minority of attackers last year -- namely Anonymous -- wreaked the most damage when it came to data breaches worldwide, accounting for more than half of all compromised records, according to the newly published 2012 Verizon Data Breach Intelligence Report (DBIR). http://www.darkreading.com/database-security/167901020/security/attacks-breaches/232700065/anonymous-legacy-hacktivists-stole-more-data-than-organized-crime-in-2011-breaches-worldwide.html Data theft: Hacktivists 'steal more than criminals' Hacktivists stole more data from large corporations than cybercriminals in 2011, according to a study of significant security incidents. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17428618 Activists 'commit more data breaches than cybercriminals' Activists such as "Anonymous" who hack into government and corporate computer networks and then release files to embarrass those organisations were responsible for more than half of all known data thefts last year, according to a new survey. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/22/hacking-anonymous Most 2011 cyberattacks were avoidable, Verizon says Despite rising concern that cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, hackers used relatively simple methods 97% of data breaches in 2011, according to a report compiled by Verizon. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225444/Most_2011_cyberattacks_were_avoidable_Verizon_says Hacktivism was the leading cause for compromised data in 2011, says Verizon [IDG] More than half of data stolen from companies in 2011 was a result of hacktivist actions, even though the majority of data breaches were still caused by financially motivated cybercriminals, Verizon said in its 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report released on Thursday. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/419330/hacktivism_leading_cause_compromised_data_2011_says_verizon/ 2011 Was the Year of the 'Hacktivist,' According to the 'Verizon 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report' [news release] The "Verizon 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report" reveals the dramatic rise of "hacktivism" -- cyberhacking to advance political and social objectives. http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2012/2011-was-the-year-of-the.html ISPs commit to new cybersecurity measures [IDG] A group of U.S. Internet service providers, including the four largest, have committed to taking new steps to combat three major cybersecurity threats, based on recommendations from a U.S. Federal Communications Commission advisory committee. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/252358/us_isps_commit_to_new_cybersecurity_measures.html http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225446/ISPs_commit_to_new_cybersecurity_measures http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/419377/us_isps_commit_new_cybersecurity_measures/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/032212-us-isps-commit-to-new-257560.html Internet Providers Agree to Fight 'Zombie' Computer Networks Every month, about four million computers turn into zombies, according to researchers. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/internet-providers-botnets_n_1372837.html ACLU: New Domestic Intelligence Rules Undermine Privacy, Security New Justice Department rules allowing the government to retain domestic intelligence for up to five years not only infringe privacy, they could end up endangering national security, civil liberties advocates warned on Friday. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/03/aclu-new-domestic-intelligence.php Foreign spies 'penetrate' US military networks Foreign spies should be assumed to have penetrated the computer networks of the US military, American politicians have been told. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17486847 ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** au: Clark Equipment Company v. AllJap Machinery Pty Ltd - Case No. DAU2011-0042 1. The Parties: The Complainant is Clark Equipment Company of West Fargo, North Dakota, United States of America, represented by Watermark Intellectual Property Lawyers, Australia. The Respondents named in the Complaint were Yanni Song, The Trustee for A and F Patane Family Trust, Phillip Patane and AllJap Machinery Pty Ltd, all of Darra, Queensland, Australia, represented by Arnotts Lawyers, Australia. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar: The disputed domain name <usedbobcats.com.au> (the ?Domain Name?) is registered with Melbourne IT Ltd. ... 7. Decision: For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the Domain Name, <usedbobcats.com.au> be transferred to the Complainant. http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2011-0042 ch: Pan San Nord-West AG v. Donea Cristina - Case No. DCH2012-0002 1. The Parties: The Claimant is Pan San Nord-West AG of W?renlingen, Switzerland, represented by B?r & Karrer, Switzerland. The Respondent is Donea Cristina of Bistra, Romania. 2. Domain Name: The dispute concerns the following domain name: <pansan.ch>. ... 7. Expert Decision: For the above reasons, in accordance with Paragraphs 24 of the Rules of Procedure, the Expert orders that the disputed domain name <pansan.ch> be transferred to the Claimant. http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DCH2012-0002 ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** The Journey of IPv6 Implementation 9 Months Later by Gideon Rop ICANN 43 in Costa Rica was in the heart of IPv6 implementation with everybody touching on how much it was needed as part of the internet ecosystem to fully utilize the ICANN expansion of the new gTLD namespace from 21 to the maximum number that will manage to get delegated at the beginning of 2013. http://www.circleid.com/posts/the_journey_of_ipv6_implementation_9_months_later/ ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** WHD 2012 ? Eco Study Tracks Domain Name Registar Business in European Markets Thomas Rickert of German internet industry organization eco started the Wednesday program at World Hosting Days with a session presenting the findings of a company study on the domain registrar business in Germany, Austra, Switzerland and the Netherlands sponsored by Verisign, the operator of the .com and .net domains. http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/whd-2012-eco-study-tracks-domain-name-registar-business-in-european-markets Summons of the RIPE NCC Against the State of the Netherlands Below is a brief summary of the summons the RIPE NCC filed against the state of the Netherlands. This summary was created to provide members and other interested parties with an overview of the summons. http://www.ripe.net/internet-coordination/news/about-ripe-ncc-and-ripe/summons-of-the-ripe-ncc-against-the-state-of-the-netherlands Kentucky Domain Name Seizure in News Again The Kentucky domain name seizure case has reared its head once again. The saga began in August 2008 and has had more twists and turns than a rivulet streaming down a mountain slope. The main protagonist remains the same, Judge Thomas Wingate. http://www.casinoadvisor.com/kentucky-domain-name-seizure-in-news-again-news-item.html Domain privacy isn?t free, Thursday edition I keep preaching about how providing whois privacy services isn?t free for domain registrars, and here?s another example. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/22/domain-privacy-lawsuit/ ********************** - WEBHOSTING ********************** Google Boosts Security of Hosted Developer Services [IDG] Google has beefed up the security of its cloud hosted services for developers by making several of them able to authenticate interactions with applications using certificate-based Service Accounts. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/252364/google_boosts_security_of_hosted_developer_services.html Web Host Tata Completes First Round-the-World Fiber Optic Cable Network Communications and web hosting company Tata Communications announced on Thursday it has completed the world?s first round-the-world fibre optic cable network with the official launch of its Tata Global Network ? Eurasia cable. http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/web-host-tata-completes-first-round-the-world-fiber-optic-cable-network Tata Comms realizes 'round the world' cable vision Tata Communications has completed its vision to build a "ring-around-the-world" fiber optic cable network with the launch of its Total Global Network (TGN)-Gulf cable line on Thursday, connecting Middle Eastern markets to India. With this line, the Indian telecoms company's TGN-Eurasia system links Asia to Europe via Egypt, and provides increased bandwidth capacity and resilience to the three continents and beyond. http://www.zdnetasia.com/tata-comms-realizes-round-the-world-cable-vision-62304257.htm ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Domain sales are going up. Way up. Afternic and Sedo release weekly sales reports that are reported by a number of domain blogs. DNJournal aggregates reports from these sources and others. http://domainnamewire.com/2012/03/22/domain-sales-are-going-up-way-up/ Blockbuster .Net Sale One of Two 6-Figure Deals That Top This Week's Domain Sales Chart A blockbuster .net sale - the year's biggest non .com gTLD sale reported to date - claimed the top spot on this week's all extension Top 20 Domain Sales Chart. Frank Schilling's DomainNameSales.com did the honors with CDN.net at an astounding $185,000 - more than triple the amount paid for the previous 2012 leader in this category (DIY.org at $60,000). http://dnjournal.com/archive/domainsales/2012/20120321.htm ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Vint Cerf: Google may not always be top search dog Google is seen by many as the de facto standard for Internet search. But the company may not always be king of the castle, says famed Internet pioneer Vint Cerf. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57403364-93/vint-cerf-google-may-not-always-be-top-search-dog/ Even Googlers Are Losing Faith in Google One of Google's own, Chief Internet Evangalist (and Internet inventor) Vint Cerf, has joined the growing chorus of voices warning of the possible end to Google's dominance. "There's nothing to stop someone from developing better technology than we have and to invent something even more powerful and efficient and effective," Cerf said speaking at the National Media Museum. "Which, of course, scares us," he continued. Sure, that's not exactly as definitive as Mat Honan's take over at Gizmodo, where he declared the end of the once-dominant search giant in his "Case Against Google," but Honan doesn't work at Google. http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/03/even-googlers-are-losing-faith-google/50247/ ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Facebook, lawmakers warn employers not to demand passwords Facebook and lawmakers have warned employers against requesting Facebook passwords while screening job applicants, a controversial practice that underscores the blurring distinction between personal and professional lives the era of social media. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/23/oukin-uk-facebook-idUKBRE82M1BA20120323 http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/24/facebook-idINDEE82M0PE20120324 Facebook Condemns Practice Of Employers Demanding Employee Passwords In response to the controversy surrounding the practice of employers requesting Facebook log-in information from both current and prospective employees, the social network has made itself perfectly clear: Facebook will protect your privacy -- even if it means going to court. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/23/facebook-employer-employee-passwords_n_1375020.html Facebook tells employers not to ask job seekers for log-in info [IDG] Facebook on Friday warned employers about trying to gain inappropriate access to Facebook accounts to check out private information about potential employees, citing possible legal liability. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225504/Facebook_tells_employers_not_to_ask_job_seekers_for_log_in_info In Japan, Facebook Wins the Most Users It?s the part of the job that stock analyst Hiroshi Naya dislikes the most: phoning investor relations managers on a Saturday or Sunday when he?s working on a report and facing a deadline. In Japan, placing a work call to someone?s cell phone on the weekend ?feels like entering someone?s house with your shoes on,? says Naya, chief analyst at Ichiyoshi Research Institute in Tokyo. So last year, Naya started asking his questions via messages on Facebook. While a telephone call seems intrusive, he says, a Facebook message ?feels more relaxed.? http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-03-22/in-japan-facebook-wins-the-most-users In 6 years, Twitter becomes major social, political player A lot can change in six years. Just ask the folks at Twitter. The microblogging site celebrates its sixth birthday, if you will, this week. The first tweet was sent March 21, 2006. A lot has changed since then. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225443/In_6_years_Twitter_becomes_major_social_political_player http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/032212-in-6-years-twitter-becomes-257563.html ********************************* CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY ********************************* au: ACMA calls for improved senior citizen cyber safety education Improving cyber safety education of senior citizens through more targeted programs would greatly improve their confidence and get more elderly Australians online, according to an Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) submission to a Senate committee investigating cyber safety for senior Australians. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/419449/acma_calls_improved_senior_citizen_cyber_safety_education/ nz: Consumer Watchdog: Business pays for crooks' sins A small business owner who says she did "everything right" has been ordered to refund a $23,000 payment that came from a stolen credit card. ... Kelly's experience is all too familiar to NetSafe executive director Martin Cocker. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10794505 nz: New computer scam employs old ruse A Hamilton computer expert is warning computer users about a scammer who is cold-calling homes offering to work on personal computers. ... Martin Cocker, executive director of web watchdog NetSafe, said if Mr Chaplow had continued with the call he probably would have been charged for software which was free to download from the internet. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/6635622/New-computer-scam-employs-old-ruse nz: Trusting Kiwis make great scammer targets OPINION: Working in eCommerce you think you've seen everything after a while. In the past few years this has included everything from frozen amputated legs put up for sale, to haunted washing machines, and Kaikoura pebbles that look like the Virgin Mary. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion/6635344/Trusting-Kiwis-make-great-scammer-targets ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** RIM's BlackBerry Dethroned by Apple on Its Home Turf Research in Motion can no longer say ?There?s no place like home.? The BlackBerry maker is losing adoring fans in its own territory, Canada, to Apple?s iPhone. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/blackberry-canada-iphone/ ********************** ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL ********************** 'Anonymous' Legacy: Hacktivists Stole More Data Than Organized Crime In 2011 Breaches Worldwide Turns out the minority of attackers last year -- namely Anonymous -- wreaked the most damage when it came to data breaches worldwide, accounting for more than half of all compromised records, according to the newly published 2012 Verizon Data Breach Intelligence Report (DBIR). http://www.darkreading.com/database-security/167901020/security/attacks-breaches/232700065/anonymous-legacy-hacktivists-stole-more-data-than-organized-crime-in-2011-breaches-worldwide.html Data theft: Hacktivists 'steal more than criminals' Hacktivists stole more data from large corporations than cybercriminals in 2011, according to a study of significant security incidents. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17428618 Activists 'commit more data breaches than cybercriminals' Activists such as "Anonymous" who hack into government and corporate computer networks and then release files to embarrass those organisations were responsible for more than half of all known data thefts last year, according to a new survey. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/22/hacking-anonymous Most 2011 cyberattacks were avoidable, Verizon says Despite rising concern that cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, hackers used relatively simple methods 97% of data breaches in 2011, according to a report compiled by Verizon. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225444/Most_2011_cyberattacks_were_avoidable_Verizon_says Hacktivism was the leading cause for compromised data in 2011, says Verizon [IDG] More than half of data stolen from companies in 2011 was a result of hacktivist actions, even though the majority of data breaches were still caused by financially motivated cybercriminals, Verizon said in its 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report released on Thursday. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/419330/hacktivism_leading_cause_compromised_data_2011_says_verizon/ 2011 Was the Year of the 'Hacktivist,' According to the 'Verizon 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report' [news release] The "Verizon 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report" reveals the dramatic rise of "hacktivism" -- cyberhacking to advance political and social objectives. http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2012/2011-was-the-year-of-the.html France criminalizes citizens who visit terrorist and hate Web sites A 32-hour standoff between a French SWAT team and 23-year-old Mohamed Merah -- who was wanted for killing three French paratroopers, three Jewish schoolchildren, and a rabbi -- ended today with a dramatic firefight and the death of Merah who claimed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, according to the Associated Press. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57402958-93/france-criminalizes-citizens-who-visit-terrorist-and-hate-web-sites/ French President Sarkozy Sees Opportunity for Censorship, Seizes It In the wake of a horrific rampage, in which Mohamed Merah (now dead after a 32-hour standoff with police) reportedly murdered three French soldiers, three young Jewish schoolchildren, and a rabbi, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France has begun calling for criminal penalties for citizens who visit web sites that advocate for terror or hate. "From now on, any person who habitually consults Web sites that advocate terrorism or that call for hatred and violence will be criminally punished," Sarkozy was reported as saying. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/03/french-president-sarkozy-sees-opportunity-censorship-seizes-it Threat from use of Internet surveillance to combat terrorism Reporters Without Borders is worried by President Nicolas Sarkozy?s proposal yesterday that ?any person who habitually consults websites that advocate terrorism or call for hatred and violence? should be criminally punished. http://en.rsf.org/france-threat-from-use-of-internet-23-03-2012,42180.html Jail those who browse terror websites, says Nicolas Sarkozy [AP] France's president has proposed a sweeping new law that would see repeat visitors to extremist websites put behind bars -- one of several tough measures floated in the wake of a murderous shooting spree. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/jail-those-who-browse-terror-websites-says-nicolas-sarkozy/story-e6frg6so-1226307981925 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/toulouse-shooting-accomplices-al-qaeda_n_1372294.html au: Police to cruise streets for unsecured Wi-Fi The Queensland Police fraud squad will be the first in Australia to go on "wardriving" missions to help residents protect their wireless internet networks. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/security/police-to-cruise-streets-for-unsecured-wifi-20120322-1vmof.html Investors cash in on web-based scams Some people are putting money into online scams even though they know they are fraudulent, suggests research. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17428613 Most webmasters don't know how their websites got hacked, report says Most owners of compromised websites don't know how their sites got hacked into and only 6 percent detect the malicious activity on their own, according to a report released by StopBadware and Commtouch on Thursday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225442/Most_web_masters_don_t_know_how_their_sites_got_hacked_report_says http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/419367/most_webmasters_don_t_know_how_their_websites_got_hacked_report_says/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/032212-most-webmasters-dont-know-how-257553.html A security patch for your brain: The quickest way to improve online security is to upgrade your mental software Two decades ago only spies and systems administrators had to worry about passwords. But today you have to enter one even to do humdrum things like turning on your computer, downloading an album or buying a book online. No wonder many people use a single, simple password for everything. http://www.economist.com/node/21551060 ********************** SECURITY ********************** ISPs commit to new cybersecurity measures [IDG] A group of U.S. Internet service providers, including the four largest, have committed to taking new steps to combat three major cybersecurity threats, based on recommendations from a U.S. Federal Communications Commission advisory committee. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/252358/us_isps_commit_to_new_cybersecurity_measures.html http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225446/ISPs_commit_to_new_cybersecurity_measures http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/419377/us_isps_commit_new_cybersecurity_measures/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/032212-us-isps-commit-to-new-257560.html Internet Providers Agree to Fight 'Zombie' Computer Networks Every month, about four million computers turn into zombies, according to researchers. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/internet-providers-botnets_n_1372837.html ACLU: New Domestic Intelligence Rules Undermine Privacy, Security New Justice Department rules allowing the government to retain domestic intelligence for up to five years not only infringe privacy, they could end up endangering national security, civil liberties advocates warned on Friday. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/03/aclu-new-domestic-intelligence.php Foreign spies 'penetrate' US military networks Foreign spies should be assumed to have penetrated the computer networks of the US military, American politicians have been told. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17486847 Plans to introduce first overarching data protection regime in Singapore will help attract business, expert says Proposed reforms to the data protection framework in Singapore will encourage more businesses to run data processing and storage operations out of the country, an expert has said. http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/march/plans-to-introduce-first-overarching-data-protection-regime-in-singapore-will-help-attract-business-expert-says/ ********************** PRIVACY ********************** us: Google users sue over changes to privacy policy California and New York residents have filed two separate lawsuits this week against Google alleging that changes to the company's privacy policy violate users' privacy rights. The suits seek class-action status. http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-57402965-245/google-users-sue-over-changes-to-privacy-policy/ us: Lawmakers Ask Apple App Makers About Privacy Two members of Congress are pushing ahead with an investigation into privacy issues in Apple?s App Store. After contacting Apple earlier this month with questions about app privacy, the lawmakers have now sent letters to 34 app developers requesting information about their data-collection techniques. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/representatives-ask-apple-app-makers-about-privacy/ ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** China's microbloggers turn to Teletubbies to discuss politics Teletubbies, instant noodles and tomatoes might not sound like the stuff of high political intrigue, but this motley grouping has allowed microbloggers in China to evade censorship and speculate on trouble at the top of government. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/22/china-microbloggers-teletubbies ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** au: Online but off the radar Bloggers and other online writers may not be covered by media reforms proposed by former Federal Court judge Ray Finkelstein, one of Australia?s top?constitutional lawyers says. http://www.afr.com/p/national/legal_affairs/online_but_off_the_radar_Ap2zhkQ9rycAGwd5tioZDN European Commission locks horns with Germany over data retention law [IDG] European Union regulators have warned Germany that it must implement the controversial Data Retention Directive within one month or face legal action and possible fines. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/252428/european_commission_locks_horns_with_germany_over_data_retention_law.html http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9225503/European_Commission_locks_horns_with_Germany_over_data_retention_law ********************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************** Facebook Is Said to Buy 750 IBM Patents to Boost Defenses Facebook Inc. acquired 750 patents from International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), adding intellectual property that may help it counter allegations of patent infringement, a person with knowledge of the transaction said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-22/facebook-is-said-to-buy-750-ibm-patents-to-boost-defenses.html Facebook Gobbles Up Patents From I.B.M. The patent chest held by an old technology giant, I.B.M., is proving to be a good war chest for the new technology giant, Facebook. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/facebook-gobbles-up-patents-from-i-b-m/ Facebook purchases IBM patent following Yahoo dispute Facebook has confirmed it has bought some of IBM's intellectual property rights. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17486146 Carpathia seeks help with Megaupload data The company looking after the data of closed file-sharing site Megaupload has appealed for help managing the giant pile of information. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17486841 ISP: Storing 25 petabytes of Megaupload data costs us $9,000 a day Until January, Megaupload was a major customer of Carpathia Hosting. Now Megaupload is facing a federal indictment, and its servers have become a major burden for Carpathia. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2012/03/isp-storing-25-petabytes-of-megaupload-data-costs-us-9000-a-day.ars Singapore company launches mobile payment platform Mobile payment platform Swiff, which allows merchants to accept credit card payments on their mobile devices, comes out of beta. Company has plans to expand globally, say company executives. http://www.zdnetasia.com/singapore-company-launches-mobile-payment-platform-62304268.htm ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** us: Property rights for spectrum makes more sense all the time Has the Federal Communications Commission finally learned its lesson on spectrum management? http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57402199-94/property-rights-for-spectrum-makes-more-sense-all-the-time/ Wireless Group Proposes Aggressive Timeline for Spectrum Auctions The wireless industry is proposing an aggressive timetable for putting into effect a bill that would free up more spectrum for phones, tablet computers and other wireless technologies. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/03/wireless-industry-proposes-agg.php Europe Changes Tone on Telecommunications Initiatives By creating the world?s dominant mobile phone technology standard in the 1980s, Europe and the companies that worked on the effort, like Ericsson and Nokia, played a major role in the birth of the global wireless industry. But three decades later, industrywide initiatives are no longer in vogue in Europe. Quite the contrary. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/technology/26iht-rawdata26.html Web Host Tata Completes First Round-the-World Fiber Optic Cable Network Communications and web hosting company Tata Communications announced on Thursday it has completed the world?s first round-the-world fibre optic cable network with the official launch of its Tata Global Network ? Eurasia cable. http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/web-host-tata-completes-first-round-the-world-fiber-optic-cable-network Tata Comms realizes 'round the world' cable vision Tata Communications has completed its vision to build a "ring-around-the-world" fiber optic cable network with the launch of its Total Global Network (TGN)-Gulf cable line on Thursday, connecting Middle Eastern markets to India. With this line, the Indian telecoms company's TGN-Eurasia system links Asia to Europe via Egypt, and provides increased bandwidth capacity and resilience to the three continents and beyond. http://www.zdnetasia.com/tata-comms-realizes-round-the-world-cable-vision-62304257.htm China?s Huawei banned from NBN The federal government has banned Chinese technology giant Huawei from participating in multibillion- dollar tenders to supply equipment to the national broadband network because of concerns over cyber attacks originating in China. http://www.afr.com/p/technology/china_giant_banned_from_nbn_9U9zi1oc3FXBF3BZdRD9mJ ASIO forced NBN to dump Huawei The federal government-owned NBN?Co internally endorsed controversial Chinese equipment maker Huawei Technologies as a major supplier to the $36 billion national broadband network, but was blocked by the Gillard government on the advice of intelligence agency ASIO. http://www.afr.com/p/national/asio_forced_nbn_to_dump_huawei_FaglE6qWrqd5utgLpR0IdO Huawei Told Not to Apply for Australian Broadband Project [IDG] Huawei called Australia's ban on the company from supplying equipment for its national broadband project due to security concerns a "setback." http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/252527/huawei_told_not_to_apply_for_australian_broadband_project.html Australian government bans Huawei from NBN Huawei, the leading Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer has been told by the Australian Government that its bids for supply to the NBN are not welcome. http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/networking/53634-australian-government-bans-huawei-from-nbn Telecom links in all Indian villages by 2014: BSNL State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has undertaken an ambitious Rs 20,000 crore project to establish telecom links in all villages across India and to take e-governance to rural and far-flung areas in the next two years, a BSNL official said here Sunday. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Telecom-links-in-all-Indian-villages-by-2014-BSNL/articleshow/12404701.cms BSNL to set up connectivity through Bangladesh Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has planned telecom connectivity through Bangladesh for the northeastern region of the country, due to tough terrain and geographical isolation, a top BSNL executive said today. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bsnl-to-setconnectivity-through-bangladesh-/469019/ ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** au: Police crack major child exploitation ring Federal and state police believe they have broken the Australian branch of a major child exploitation network. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-23/police-crack-major-child-exploitation-ring/3907498 au: Fathers among suspects arrested over child porn ring [AAP] Fourteen men, including fathers, have been arrested across eastern Australia following the discovery of hundreds of thousands of pornographic images and videos of children. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/fathers-among-suspects-arrested-over-child-porn-ring/story-e6frg6nf-1226308147305 au: Arrests as police smash child porn ring Police have smashed a child pornography ring on Australia's eastern seaboard, raiding 19 properties in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT, and arresting 13 people in a fortnight-long operation. http://www.theage.com.au/national/arrests-as-police-smash-child-porn-ring-20120322-1vmze.html http://www.smh.com.au/national/police-arrest-13-people-to-smash-child-porn-ring-20120322-1vmw7.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2012 ------ David Goldstein email: david at goldsteinreport.com web: http://goldsteinreport.com/ http://davidgoldstein.tel/ 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 FlanneryReceived on Mon Mar 26 2012 - 02:33:54 UTC
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