|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Teenager Sentenced to 18 Months for MSBlast Worm
A federal judge sentenced a teenager to a year and a half of prison Friday for releasing a variant of the Blaster worm that was used to attack more than 48,000 computers. Jeffrey Lee Parson, 19, appeared in U.S. District Court in Seattle, where he was also ordered to perform community service, pay restitution and be placed under supervision for three years following the sentence.
European Union Threatens Microsoft with 5% Daily Fine
The European Commission held out the possibility that Microsoft may be fined up to 5 percent of its average daily turnover unless it complies soon with a European Union antitrust decision. Last month, Microsoft lost a months-long court bid to suspend sanctions for breaking the law and said it would offer a stripped-down version of Windows and share some protocols with rival makers of servers by early February.
Proposed German Law Sets $65,000 Fine for Spamming
People sending junk email, or spam, in Germany will face fines of as much as 50,000 euros ($65,190) according to a draft law agreed by Germany's ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Greens. The law will prevent spammers from disguising their name or the nature of the email.
CAN-SPAM Act "Far Broader" Than Many Think, FTC Attorney Says
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said it has made progress on refining the admittedly vague CAN-SPAM Act, which Congress passed last year in an attempt to spare citizens from the surge of unsolicited commercial e-mail. "It's far broader than what people think of as spam," admitted Lisa Rosenthal, an attorney with the FTC. "It covers all commercial messages."
Congressional Committee Eyes Tax on Internet Connections
An influential congressional committee has dropped a political bombshell by suggesting that a tax originally created to pay for the Spanish American War could be extended to all Internet and data connections this year. The committee, deeply involved in writing U.S. tax laws, unexpectedly said in a report that the 3 percent telecommunications tax could be revised to cover "all data communications services to end users," including broadband; dial-up; fiber; cable modems; cellular; and DSL, or digital subscriber line, links.
State Governments Move Ahead on Internet Sales Tax System
State governments working on a national Internet sales tax system are moving ahead with plans to create the data infrastructure that they and retailers will need to manage the collection of taxes on most e-commerce transactions. Working together under the auspices of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, 40 states and the District of Columbia have issued two requests for bids from technology companies to design the software and Web-based networks to track millions of online purchases and process the appropriate sales tax payments.
Company Claims Flaw in Windows Security Pack
A Russian security company claims it found a way to beat a security measure in Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack 2, a major update aimed at securing customers' PCs. The SP2 measure, known as Data Execution Protection, is intended to prevent would-be attackers from inserting rogue code into a PC's memory and tricking Windows into running the program.
Volkswagen Sues to Stop Unauthorized Online Ad
Volkswagen AG has filed criminal charges over a spoof advertisement for its Polo small car that has been circulating on the Internet, Europe's biggest carmaker said. The so-called viral ad -- unauthorized by Volkswagen or its advertising agencies -- shows a suicide bomber detonating his explosives in a Polo parked outside a busy cafe, only to have the car absorb the blast.
Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Faking Internet Harassment
A woman accused of using the Internet to make it appear that she was being harassed has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of identity theft. Police officials said Bess Carney, 27, created an e-mail address with a former co-worker's name to send harassing e-mails to herself.
Norwegian Court Upholds Ruling in Online Music Case
Norway's supreme court ruled that a student whose Napster.no homepage was linked to free Internet music files must compensate the music industry. The country's highest court upheld a lower court ruling that ordered the student to pay $15,900 in compensation.
New Variant of "Bagle" Virus Spreading, Companies Report
Antivirus companies are reporting the spread of a new variant of the mass-mailing PC virus known as "Bagle." The latest version of the malicious software, which some experts refer to as an e-mail worm, is rearing its head worldwide.
Encryption Expert Sees "Serious Flaw" in Microsoft Programs
Cryptography expert Phil Zimmermann has said he believes the flaw discovered in Microsoft's Word and Excel encryption is serious and warrants immediate attention. "I think this is a serious flaw -- it is highly exploitable. It is not a theoretical attack," said Zimmermann, referring to a flaw in Microsoft's use of RC4 document encryption unearthed recently by a researcher in Singapore.
39 People Arrested for Obtaining Child Porn Clips Online
Thirty-nine people have been arrested in New Jersey charged with possession of video clips obtained over the Internet of the molestation and rape of a 5-year-old girl in the state of Georgia, state police said. The arrests, made from Jan. 17 to Jan. 27, were made using new technology to detect child pornography on the Internet.
RIAA Files 717 New Lawsuits Against Alleged File Sharers
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed 717 new lawsuits against peer to peer (P-to-P) users allegedly trading music for free, the trade group announced. The lawsuits include 68 alleged song-swappers using 23 university networks to distribute music files, more than three times the number of university users sued when the RIAA announced 754 such lawsuits in mid-December.
Judge Allows New York to Refile Internet Cigarette Case
New York City can file a revised racketeering lawsuit accusing Internet cigarette sellers of evading the city's steep taxes through computer sales to Big Apple smokers, a judge ruled. The decision is important because it marks the first time a federal judge has indicated that a racketeering action, which can seek treble damages, may proceed against Internet cigarette sellers, said Eric Proshansky, the city's chief lawyer on the case.
eBay Seller Charged with Not Delivering Watches, Sport Tickets
A man is accused of selling almost $100,000 worth of Rolex watches and professional sports tickets on the Web site eBay, but never delivering the goods. Gilbert Vartanian was arrested in the Sacramento, Calif., suburb of Fremont on 12 counts of mail fraud.
Businessman Pursues Suits Against Lycos, CNN to Stop Postings
Michael J. Zwebner, chief executive of Universal Communication Systems, has shown no tolerance for cybersmearing. In response to slurs on a stock-talk message board, he has filed five suits, including a class action trademark case and a class action defamation case against Lycos, and a defamation claim against CNN.
Small Businesses Big Targets of Spam, Survey Says
Smaller businesses, and companies that publish their employees' e-mail addresses on the Web, are far more likely to be swamped with spam, according to a new study. Antispam services provider Postini said in its annual E-mail Security Report that small businesses and companies in certain industries are experiencing more frequent spam attacks than other businesses.
House Commerce Committee Gives "Priority" to Spyware Bill
The powerful House Commerce Committee made anti-spyware legislation a top priority, with members hoping to vote it out of committee in the next two to three weeks. The committee devoted its first hearing of the new session to exploring anti-spyware bill HR29, or the Spy Act.
Paper Fraud Far Outranks Internet Fraud, Study Shows
Identity theft is less likely to happen online than through traditional means, like losing or having your wallet stolen, according to a survey. And when the identity of the thief is known, it's more likely to be one of your relatives.
Movie Studios File More Suits Against File Sharers
Hollywood studios filed a second round of lawsuits against online movie-swappers, stepping up legal pressure on the file-trading community. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) also made available a new free software tool so parents can scan their computers for file-swapping programs and for movie or music files which may be copyrighted.
Former Microsoft Worker Pleads Guilty to Software Charges
A former Microsoft Corp. employee pleaded guilty to selling the world's largest software maker's products for more than $7 million for personal profit, federal prosecutors said. Finn Contini, 36, admitted to ordering software through Microsoft's internal systems under the pretense it was for internal use and using the money to buy real estate, cars and jewelry, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
New Jersey Bans Luring Person Online for Crime
New Jersey has made it a crime to lure a person from cyberspace to a real place with a criminal purpose in mind. Although A-2864, signed Jan. 18 by Acting Gov. Richard Codey, applies to all means used to lure, the Internet is its focal point.
Microsoft Anitrust Plaintiffs Want Longhorn Information
Plaintiffs in antitrust suits filed against Microsoft by various states and the U.S. Department of Justice have begun asking about Longhorn. Parties to the suits filed a joint status report, in advance of two status conferences scheduled for February 1.
Lawyer Asks Apple to Dismiss Lawsuit Over Website
The attorney representing Nick Ciarelli, owner and publisher of Mac enthusiast site ThinkSecret.com, is going on the offensive against a lawsuit filed by Apple lawyers. Terry Gross, a partner in the San Francisco-based Gross & Belsky LLP, plans to file a motion in February to dismiss the case with the court on the grounds of First Amendment rights, as well as seek sanctions against Apple for legal costs already incurred.
RIAA, MPAA Ask Supreme Court to Create New Legal Test
Firing the first shots in a legal battle likely to be felt across the technology industry, Hollywood studios and record labels asked the Supreme Court to give them new ammunition in their fight against file swapping. In their briefs, the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of Americacalled for a new legal test that could hold companies responsible for their customers' copyright infringement, even if they have no direct control over that activity.
PayPal Warns Some Customers of Phishing Scam
Online financial service PayPal has warned a small number of customers that they should be extra-vigilant against online scams, after their e-mail addresses were leaked on the Internet. The subsidiary of Web auctioneer eBay said this week that BenchmarkPortal had not properly secured an online form for customers to opt out of a recent survey that PayPal had hired the company to perform.
Two Men Sued by EarthLink Agree to Stop Spamming, Pay
EarthLink Inc. declared victory in a court battle with two men it accused of running a spam e-mail distribution ring from its network. The Internet service provider said that Damon DeCrescenzo and David Burstyn agreed to a court order requiring them to stop sending spam and to pay an undisclosed cash settlement to EarthLink.
Microsoft to Require Customers to Verify Windows
Microsoft said it would expand its Windows Genuine Advantage program to 25 languages as part of an expanded anti-piracy engineering, education and enforcement initiative. Under the expanded program, users will have to show they have legitimate Windows licenses before receiving non-critical updates.
Rambus Sues Two Companies for Violating Chip Patents
Rambus announced that it had filed suit against Hynix Semiconductor, Taiwan's Nanya Technology and Infineon Technologies, as well as the latter two companies' joint venture, Inotera Memories, for allegedly violating its intellectual property in producing DDR2 DRAM, which started to get incorporated into PCs last year. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that the GDDR2 and GDDR3 memory found on graphics cards violates its patents.
Dentist, Oral Surgeon Sue Ex-Patient Over Website
In a case testing First Amendment rights in the Internet age, a dentist and an oral surgeon have filed suit in a Florida trial court to stop a disgruntled former patient from criticizing their care on a scathing Web site. At issue is a site created by Elaine Prentice who blasts the care she received from Dr. Leonard Tolley and Dr. Richard Kaplan.
Professor Who Posted Student's Essay Sued for Libel
When Donald Mayer placed a student's essay on Oakland University's Web site as an example for others taking his graduate-level business class, he probably never thought he'd end up in court as a result. But thanks to Google's all-encompassing reach, Mayer and the university were named as defendants in a libel lawsuit that the Michigan Appeals Court decided earlier this month.
House Committee to Debate Spyware Bill
Backers of a proposed federal law to regulate spyware, who failed to win approval last year, are trying again. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has scheduled a hearing on its version of a spyware bill that's supported by Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas.
U.S. Government Supports RIAA in P2P Supreme Court Case
The Bush administration's top lawyer and the Christian Coalition threw their weight behind the entertainment industry in a closely watched Supreme Court fight over file swapping. "While P2P technology unquestionably can be employed for a variety of legitimate purposes without giving rise to rampant copyright infringement, the record... suggests that (the file-swapping software companies) have built their particular P2P networks around the 'draw' of massive copyright infringement," the Solicitor General's brief read.
Music Industry Working with Legal Services for Growth
Music executives walked into this year's Midem conference beneath a giant banner promoting Napster, once the beleaguered industry's nemesis but now one of the services helping it turn a corner. Consumers are flocking to online music services in record numbers, and digital music made up about 1 percent of total industry revenues in 2004, and industry estimates expect it to double in 2005 and reach 25 percent within five years.
Microsoft to Comply with European Antitrust Ruling
Microsoft Corp. said it will comply with a European antitrust ruling and within weeks begin offering a version of its Windows XP operating system without a built-in media player. The decision by Microsoft, which was not a surprise, is consistent with the firm's strategy these days on antitrust matters: Get them resolved quickly, so the software giant can focus on its business, rather than on legal wrangling.
Online Fraudsters Turn Targets to Regional Banks
As the nation's largest financial institutions deploy increasingly sophisticated measures to prevent Internet scams, online fraudsters are targeting smaller, regional U.S. banks whose customers may be less attuned to the threat. Experts say the shift is the latest trend in a technological arms race between Internet con artists dubbed "phishers" and the e-commerce and banking companies they target.
Open-Source Developers Creating Anti-Phishing E-mail Tool
Developers are creating an antiphishing tool for open-source e-mail application Thunderbird. Mozilla contributor Henrik Gemal wrote in a blog that a phishing detector has been added to Thunderbird.
EU Again Delays Vote on Software Patent Legislation
Hotly-debated plans to allow the patenting of computer-based inventions in the European Union hit a fresh snag, EU officials said, after concerns by the Polish government. EU ministers did not adopt the draft law at a regular meeting in Brussels despite an earlier plan to deal with it, said a spokesman from Luxembourg, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.
Microsoft Urges Zambia to Pursue Software Pirates
As Microsoft intensifies its crackdown on illegal use of software, the company is urging Zambia to speed up the enactment of the government's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy so that software pirates can be prosecuted. The country's draft ICT policy, in its current formulation, gives guidelines on how to set up an Internet cafe and what constitutes software piracy.
Powell to Leave Legacy of Deregulation at FCC
The unrepentant, hands-off views on broadband of outgoing FCC Chairman Michael Powell have set in motion a high-stakes battle over the future of the U.S. telecommunications industry that will continue long after his departure. Powell, appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission by President Bush in January 2001, leaves behind a booming, substantially deregulated marketplace that has embraced high-speed Internet connections, wireless and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in ways that were nearly unimaginable in the 1990s.
Bush Administration Faces Turning Point on Technology
George W. Bush probably won't be remembered as "the high-tech president." Yet the Bush administration could end up being known for some technology advances that occurred on its watch.
British Police Investigate Hacking of Tsunami Site
An attempt to hack into the website of the Disasters and Emergency Committee that was set up after the Asian tsunami, is being investigated. Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Computer Crime Unit have begun an inquiry after BT blocked the attempt on New Year's Eve.
Music Industry Executive Calls Lawsuits "Last Resort"
The global music industry is fighting a determined war on piracy, suing thousands of persistent violators from teachers to managing directors, its trade association said. "None of this makes us feel wonderful," John Kennedy, chairman and chief executive of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, said.
Supreme Court to Hear File-Sharing Case on March 29
The U.S. Supreme Court has set a date for oral arguments in a closely watched case that could decide whether file-sharing networks are legal to operate or not. The case will be heard on March 29, the justices said.
French Court Rules Against Google on Keyword Ads
A French court has ruled that Google must refrain from using the trademarks of European resort chain Le Meridian Hotels and Resorts to trigger keyword ads. On Dec. 16, a Nanterre court in France ruled that Google infringed on the trademarks of Le Meridien by allowing the hotel chain's rivals to bid on keywords of its name and appear prominently in related search results.
E-mail Virus Disguises Itself as CNN Newsletter
A PC virus has started to spread through e-mail, luring potential victims by disguising itself as a headline newsletter from CNN, an antivirus company said. E-mails laden with the virus, dubbed "Crowt.A" by Sophos, do not have a typical subject line and other characteristics, Sophos said.
Hynix Infringed Four Rambus Patents, Court Rules
Shares of Rambus Inc. climbed 13.4 percent in trading after the company received a positive ruling in its patent-infringement lawsuit against South Korea memory chip maker Hynix Semiconductor Inc. In a press release, Rambus, which makes technology that speeds up memory chips, said a federal judge in California issued a summary judgment which ruled Hynix infringed on four of Rambus' patents.
H-P to Pay $141 Million to Settle Patent Suit with Intergraph
Hewlett-Packard Co., a maker of personal computers, servers, printers and software, said it will pay $141 million to settle ongoing patent litigation with Intergraph Corp., resolving all legal claims between the companies. Both companies will immediately dismiss, withdraw or terminate with prejudice all pending lawsuits, and neither company will have any further financial obligations stemming from any disputes to date.
U.S. Asks Supreme Court to Overturn Cable Internet Decision
Prices for high-speed cable Internet in the United States could rise and innovation could be stymied if an appeals court decision is not overturned, U.S. government lawyers told the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court is expected to hear in March whether the Federal Communications Commission correctly classified cable broadband as an "information service" and therefore shielded it from most regulations that apply to traditional telephone services.
South Korean Stars Threaten Legal Action After Posting
South Korea's top entertainment stars threatened legal action after a file containing rumors on their sexual and drug habits was posted on the Internet. The 113-page report contains personal and business data on some 100 TV stars, including rumors about their private lives.
Five Companies Seek Control of ".net" Domain
Five companies officially announced their intent to compete for the .net domain registry, including current registry operator VeriSign. VeriSign faces stiff competition for the first time in its efforts to retain its spot as operator of the registry -- a position that controls more than 5 million .net domain names and 3 trillion annual page views.
Spanish Police Arrest Man Accused of Writing Virus
Spanish police have arrested a man suspected of stealing online bank passwords and of writing a virus that is capable of spying on people through their Webcams. The 37-year-old computer programmer from Madrid, who has only been identified by the initials J.A.S., allegedly wrote the virus and distributed it over a file-sharing network.
Georgia Governor Proposes Felony Spam Law
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, flanked at a press conference by EarthLink CEO Garry Betty, outlined his "Slam Spam E-mail Act" that would make sending more than 10,000 misleading messages in a 24-hour period a felony. Lesser violators could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Phishing Scams Getting Trickier, Security Experts Say
Internet "phishing" scams are becoming more difficult to detect as criminals develop new ways to trick consumers into revealing passwords, bank account numbers and other sensitive information, security experts say. Scam artists posed as banks and other legitimate businesses in thousands of phishing attacks last year, sending out millions of "spam" e-mails with subject lines like "account update needed" that pointed to fraudulent Web sites.
Legal Internet Music Store Sales Soar in 2004
Online music stores broke into the mainstream in 2004, with more than 200 million tracks sold in the United States and Europe, a tenfold increase from the previous year, according to data. Among well-known brands like iTunes and Napster, the number of online music stores quadrupled to more than 230 in 2004, according to the report from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) trade group.
Bertelsmann Settles Napster Suit for $50,000
More than four years after Bertelsmann, the German media conglomerate, shook up the music industry by providing financial help to the Napster file-sharing service, the company has settled one record label's attempt to hold it liable for aiding online piracy. Bertelsmann has agreed to pay about $50,000 to settle accusations from Bridgeport Music, a small company in Southfield, Mich., that it had contributed to copyright infringement by lending millions of dollars to Napster in 2000 and 2001.
Congress Likely to Debate Internet Copyright Bills
Online copyright protection, including bills focused on peer-to-peer (P-to-P) file-trading, will likely be on the U.S. Congress' agenda as lawmakers gear up for their 2005 session this month. Telecommunications reform may command a significant amount of attention from tech-focused lawmakers this year, but congressional observers also expect a push for new legislation that would focus on discouraging file trading using P-to-P software.
Student Targeted by Apple Finds Lawyer for Defense
The publisher of Think Secret said that he has found a lawyer to defend the Mac rumor site against a recent lawsuit by Apple Computer. Harvard undergraduate student Nicholas Ciarelli, who goes by the pseudonym Nick dePlume, said in an article on the site that he is being represented free of charge by Terry Gross, a lawyer who once represented the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an agency that is backing two other Macintosh sites that are in Apple's legal crosshairs.
Judge Orders IBM to Disclose Versions of Unix
A judge overseeing the legal fight between the SCO Group and IBM over Linux and Unix ordered Big Blue to show all versions of its two Unix products, AIX and Dynix. Although U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooke Wells denied SCO's request for access to IBM's actual code repositories, Wells said that SCO would be allowed "unfettered access" to those repositories if IBM fails to produce the Unix versions and changes by March 18.
Two Plead Guilty in First Criminal File-Sharing Convictions
The Justice Department said that two men had pleaded guilty to violating copyrights on peer-to-peer networks, marking the first federal criminal convictions for file sharing. The men -- William R. Trowbridge, 50, of Johnson City, N.Y., and Michael Chicoine, 47, of San Antonio -- were part of a loosely organized file-sharing community called the Underground Network.
California Bill Creates Jail Time for File-Sharing
A bill introduced in California's Legislature has raised the possibility of jail time for developers of file-swapping software who don't stop trades of copyrighted movies and songs online. The proposal, introduced by Los Angeles Sen. Kevin Murray, takes direct aim at companies that distribute software such as Kazaa, eDonkey or Morpheus.
FBI Abandons Controversial "Carnivore" Technology
The FBI has effectively abandoned its custom-built internet surveillance technology, once known as Carnivore, designed to read e-mails and other online communications among suspected criminals, terrorists and spies, according to bureau oversight reports submitted to Congress. Instead, the FBI said it has switched to unspecified commercial software to eavesdrop on computer traffic during such investigations and has increasingly asked internet providers to conduct wiretaps on targeted customers on the government's behalf, reimbursing companies for their costs.
Verizon Customers Complain About Spam Tactics
For many Internet users, the idea that their service provider was particularly aggressive in cracking down on e-mail spam would be welcome news. But some of Verizon's 3 million high-speed Internet customers say the company is bungling the job and hurting their livelihoods.
Company Sues Over Patents at Issue in BlackBerry Case
A little-known company has renewed its claims to patents at the center of NTP's high-stakes case against BlackBerry maker Research In Motion. In a complaint filed late last year in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division, Computer Leasco charged that NTP and some of its former employees devised a fraudulent scheme to gain possession of the patents.
Ciena Sues Nortel Over Patents on Network Equipment
Ciena Corp. sued rival Nortel Networks Corp. for allegedly copying six patented technologies Ciena uses in designing its network equipment. The civil action filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas came a day after the expiration of a two-year deal between the companies not to sue each other.
Software Company Files Antitrust Lawsuit
Green Hills Software filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging that rival Wind River adopted a plan to monopolize the developer tool market for its VxWorks, a Wind River embedded operating system used to run computing devices such as radar systems or nerve gas detectors. Wind River stopped providing operating system software necessary for Green Hills to create its programming tools, according to the suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Ex-Cybersecurity Chief Joins Board of Security Firm
Three months after resigning from the nation's highest cyber security post, Amit Yoran rejoined the private sector as a board member of Cyota, a New York-based security firm for financial institutions. Yoran served as the first director of the Department of Homeland Security's National Cyber Security Division (NCSD), a position he abruptly quit in October, reportedly frustrated over a lack of focus on computer security issues within the Bush administration.
Internet Service Provider's Domain Name Hijacked
A New York Internet service provider said it was working to recover its domain name and e-mail services after suffering an apparent hijacking. A Panix.com representative said ownership of the domain had been moved to a company in Australia, the domain name server (DNS) records had been moved to the United Kingdom, and that the company's mail had been redirected to a company in Canada.
N.Y. Mayor Wants Online Cigarette Buyers to Pay Taxes
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that smokers who bought cigarettes over the Internet had better be prepared to cough up taxes they tried to avoid by going online. "The law says you got to pay your taxes. The handful of people who don't are just stealing from the rest of us," Bloomberg said in a weekly radio address.
Teen Seeks Free Legal Help in Fight Against Apple
The 19-year-old publisher of a website facing a lawsuit over an article about a top-secret $500 Apple computer said he can't afford to defend himself. Apple Computer is suing Harvard University student Nicholas Ciarelli's website, Think Secret, alleging it illegally published company trade secrets.
Virus-Spreading E-mail Invokes Tsunami Aid
A mass e-mail posing as a plea for aid to help the victims of last month's Asian tsunami disaster is actually a vehicle for spreading a computer virus, Web security firm Sophos said. The worm appears with the subject line: "Tsunami donation! Please help!" and invites recipients to open an attachment called "tsunami.exe" -- which, if opened, will forward the virus to other Internet users.
Hong Kong Arrests Man in File-Sharing Investigation
Hong Kong authorities have arrested a 38-year-old man who is accused of sharing copyrighted files over the Internet. According to Associated Press reports, Hong Kong's Customs and Excise Department arrested the unnamed man after an investigation into the file-sharing program BitTorrent.
Texas Sues Two Men Allegedly Behind Top 5 Spam Operation
Texas sued one of the world's largest "spam" e-mail operations, seeking millions of dollars from two men it says are responsible for sending illegal messages on the Internet, the state's attorney general said. Greg Abbott said Texas filed the civil lawsuit in federal court in Austin against Ryan Samuel Pitylak, a University of Texas student, and Mark Stephen Trotter of California.
Company Settles Online Porn Fraud Charges
A New Jersey company that allegedly scammed thousands of Internet users, fraudulently billing them for online pornography they didn't request, has agreed to make restitution and change the way it conducts business, authorities said. Alyon Technologies Inc. of Secaucus has entered into a consent agreement with New Jersey and 22 other states in which it agreed to refund anyone who paid bills but submitted complaints about them before June 2003.
Google Settles Lawsuit with SEC Over Stock Options
The Securities and Exchange Commission said that it had filed and settled a lawsuit against Google and its top lawyer for failing to register $80 million in stock options it gave to employees in the years before it went public. The settlement contains no financial penalty, but requires Google and its general counsel, David Drummond, to agree not to repeat the practice, which the SEC considers a violation of securities law.
Teenager Behind Website Sued by Apple for Leaks
A 19-year-old Harvard University freshman is part of a legion of Internet news gatherers whose influence is expanding as concern grows in some quarters about their accountability and journalistic standards. With the easy anonymity offered by online posting of tips and digital photographs, Web sites run by product buffs have caused headaches, and generated valuable buzz, for companies in many industries -- including automobile and cell phone manufacturers -- by leaking product information.
Verizon Misled Customers About Bluetooth Phone, Suit Says
Verizon Wireless misled customers about the capabilities of an expensive new cellphone and disabled many of the handset's key features in order to charge higher fees for its own services, a lawsuit alleges. The suit, filed Dec. 30 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims the nation's second-largest mobile phone provider promoted the v710 handset made by Motorola Inc. as its only model equipped with so-called Bluetooth technology.
Former Head of HR at AOL Pleads Guilty to Theft
The former head of human resources at America Online pleaded guilty to a wire-fraud charge in connection with the theft of $100,000 from the Internet firm. Gregory S. Horton pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Alexandria to participating in a scheme to steal money by hiring an outside consultant that shared its fees with him, according to papers filed in court.
IRS to Require Electronic Filing for Some Companies
Officials at large companies and tax-exempt organizations must electronically file their Internal Revenue Service forms starting in 2006, tax agency officials announced. The new regulations will first apply to corporations worth more than $50 million and tax-exempt organizations with assets of at least $100 million.
SightSound Files Patent Suit Against Napster
Napster is once again the target of an intellectual-property lawsuit, this time on the receiving end of a patent infringement claim from a small company called SightSound Technologies. SightSound, which holds several patents related to selling and downloading music and video online, asked a court to block Napster from selling music online while the trial unfolds.
Altnet Seeks Patent Payments from P2P Companies
A software company and its parent are claiming they hold patent rights to widely used Internet song-swapping technology, and they are demanding that several file-sharing networks obtain licenses in order to continue operating. Attorneys for Altnet Inc. and its parent company, Sherman Oaks, Calif.-based Brilliant Digital Entertainment Inc., sent letters to several U.S.-based file-swapping firms -- including Lime Wire LLC, BearShare operator Free Peers Inc. and Mashboxx -- claiming that the companies were using patented technology in their products.
T-Mobile Says Hacker Accessed Data on 400 Customers
Mobile-phone carrier T-Mobile has acknowledged that an online attacker gained access to its network, but denied reports that the criminal had the run of its network and broadly threatened its customers' privacy. The mobile-phone provider said that it discovered the breach in late 2003 and immediately took steps to lock out the intruder.
FBI May Scrap New Software to Fight Terrorist Attacks
A new FBI computer program designed to help agents share information to ward off terrorist attacks may have to be scrapped, the agency has concluded, forcing a further delay in a four-year, half-billion-dollar overhaul of its antiquated computer system. The bureau is so convinced that the software, known as Virtual Case File, will not work as planned that it has taken steps to begin soliciting proposals from outside contractors for new software, officials said.
Defense Department Makes Changes to Respond to Online Threats
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is making changes to streamline its response to online threats across the various branches of the military, and deal with a steady stream of new online woes, from hacking attempts to child pornography and threats posed by powerful portable storage devices such as iPods, according to senior DOD officials. The DOD blocked and traced 60,000 intrusion attempts on its unclassified networks in 2004, and wrestles with spam, illicit pornography and other common Internet threats.
Spam Traffic Stabilizes at 67%, Brightmail Reports
The volume of e-mail made up of spam has stabilized, according to figures from Symantec's Brightmail unit. December's figures, culled from traffic traveling through its servers, showed that 67 percent of e-mail is now spam, identical to the previous month.
FTC Shuts Down Six Companies Behind Sex-Related Spam
The Federal Trade Commission has shut down six companies it accused of sending X-rated e-mails in disguise and fraudulently charging recipients who joined sexually explict Web sites in its first legal case involving pornographic Internet spam. A federal judge on Jan. 5 granted the agency's request for a restraining order against the companies and their executives for allegedly violating federal laws governing commercial electronic mail -- commonly known as spam.
IBM Awarded 3,248 U.S. Patents in 2004, Topping List
In 2004, for the 12th consecutive year, IBM won more patents than any other private sector company, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced. The tech giant tallied 3,248 patents last year, well ahead of the runner-up in the top 10 list.
Microsoft Releases Two Critical Patches for Windows
Microsoft released two critical patches for its Windows operating system, but a patch for the underlying security problems with Internet Explorer 6 is not yet ready for prime time. As part of its monthly update release, the company issued three patches -- one rated important and two critical.
Man Behind Largest Identity Theft Gets 14 Years
A computer technician who prosecutors say touched off the largest identity theft in U.S. history was sentenced to 14 years in prison by a judge who said the damage he caused was "almost unimaginable." Philip A. Cummings, 35, of Cartersville, Ga., a former help-desk worker for a Long Island software company, apologized before U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels imposed the sentence in Manhattan.
South Korean Court Acquits Operators of File-Sharing Site
A South Korean appeals court acquitted the operators of a Korean-language Web site that allows users to share songs free of charge. Yang Jung-hwan, 31, and his bother, Il-hwan, 35, created Soribada, South Korea's most popular music-swapping Web site, in 2000.
Homeland Security Tech Infrastructure Official Resigns
The Homeland Security Department official in charge of protecting the nation's physical and computer infrastructure is stepping down at the end of the month in the latest in a string of departures at the department's struggling cyber-security division. The announcement by Robert P. Liscouski, the department's assistant secretary for infrastructure protection, comes as technology executives and experts increasingly say that the Bush administration is giving short shrift to computer security.
Sex Offender Can be Barred from Internet, Judge Rules
A sex offender who used the Internet to lure young victims and traffic in child pornography may be barred from using a computer or any other device with online capabilities, even in the performance of his job, a New York federal judge has held. The ruling comes in the latest in a series of cases where judges have struggled with the legal, pragmatic and appropriate Internet restraints that may be imposed as a condition of probation or parole.
Belarus Extradites Two Men to U.S. for Child Porn
Two men from Belarus have been extradited to the United States to face charges in a child pornography case spanning the globe, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau said. Yahor Zalatarou, 26, and Alexei Buchnev, 27, both of Minsk, provided Internet billing services to 50 child pornography Web sites and ran similar Web sites on their own, Customs said.
Vietnam Suspends Popular News Site Without License
Vietnam has suspended a popular news Web site for failing to obtain a government operating license, state-controlled media reported. The Ministry of Culture and Information also fined local software company, Vinacomm -- which runs the tintucvietnam.com Web site -- $1,274, the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper said.
Hackers Get Data on 30,000 University Students
George Mason University confirmed that the personal information of more than 30,000 students, faculty and staff had been nabbed by online intruders. The attackers broke into a server that held details used on campus identity cards, the university said.
IBM Lets Open-Source Developers Use 500 Patents
IBM has decided to let open-source developers use 500 software patents without fear of an infringement lawsuit, a new step in its encouragement of the collaborative programming philosophy. The move follows that of Linux seller Red Hat, a comparatively small company that objects to software patents but allows unfettered use of its own smaller portfolio in open-source software.
Ex-AOL Officials Indicted for Lying About Financial Data
A grand jury indicted two former America Online Inc. officials and four former executives of a business partner on conspiracy and fraud charges in connection with an alleged scheme between the two Internet companies to prop up each other's financial results just as the dot-com market was beginning to collapse. The 31-count indictment accuses the executives of inflating revenue and lying to investors about the true nature of the companies' financial results.
Student Sells Tsunami Domain Name, Donates Money
A Canadian student dubbed the "wave rat" for offering the domain name "tsunamirelief.com" for $50,000 on the online auction site eBay has sold it and donated the money to relief efforts, the gaming company that bought it said. Josh Kaplan, 20, branded a "wave rat" by the New York Post, which suggested he was trying to profit from the disaster, sold the domain name to the Montreal-based Internet gambling company for $10,000.
Mass. Republicans Buy Democrat's Possible Domain Names
Massachusetts Republicans have launched a pre-emptive strike against Democratic Attorney General Tom Reilly by snapping up online Internet addresses that would have been obvious picks for him if he decides to run for governor in 2006. Reilly has not yet said whether he will challenge Republican Gov. Mitt Romney in 2006.
Verizon Customers Upset About Spam Filters
Verizon Communications customers expecting e-mail from across the pond may be in for a long wait. The internet service provider has been blocking e-mail originating from Great Britain and other parts of Europe for weeks, and customers are upset about having their communications disrupted without notice.
Unpatched Browser Flaws Called "Extremely Critical"
Three unpatched flaws in Internet Explorer now pose a higher danger, a security company warned, after code to exploit one of the issues was published to the Internet. Secunia said that it had raised its rating of the vulnerabilities in Microsoft's browser to "extremely critical," its highest rating.
Four Sydney High School Students Charges in Online Scam
Four Sydney high school students have been charged in connection with a Russian-based Internet scam that stole people's banking passwords and siphoned their cash into accounts in eastern Europe, police said. The four students were promised a cut of the profits for letting their bank accounts be used for laundering money stolen from Internet bankers via a computer virus that dropped a program for secretly recording passwords, police said.
U.S. Plans to Appeal WTO Ruling on Internet Gambling
The United States said that it planned to appeal a ruling by the World Trade Organization that the country is violating its international trade obligations by prohibiting residents from gambling over the Internet. The notice of appeal, filed in Geneva by the United States trade representative, asserts that the country's position on Internet gambling is consistent with its longstanding trade agreements.
Hitachi Sues Chinese Company for Infringing Drive Patents
Drive maker Hitachi Global Storage Technologies said it had sued hard-drive company GS Magicstor of China, its Chinese parent company GS Magic and Riospring of Milpitas, Calif., for infringement of multiple Hitachi patents relating to hard-disk drives. Hitachi described Riospring as Magicstor's research affiliate.
New File-Sharing System Aims to Avoid Legal Shutdowns
Legal attacks on websites that help people swap pirated films have forced the development of a system that could be harder to shut down. One site behind the success of the BitTorrent file-swapping system is producing its own software that avoids the pitfalls of the earlier program.
U.S. Considers Increasing Visas for Indian Professionals
The U.S. government is considering a substantial increase in the number of H-1B visas available to Indian professionals, Robert Blake, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Delhi reportedly told a meeting hosted by the Delhi-based Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India. The new thinking by the U.S. about hiking the number of H-1B visas to Indian professionals is based on its recognition of their contributions in the fields of accounting, software, engineering, science, architecture and law, ASSOCHAM said in a press release.
Microsoft Launches Beta of AntiSpyware Software
Microsoft introduced a beta version of its Windows AntiSpyware application. The product is designed to help protect users of Windows products from spyware -- software that's secretly installed on people's computers for a variety of purposes, such as bombarding them with pop-up ads and tracking their Internet usage.
Appeals Court Rules for PalmOne in NCR Patent Case
Handheld maker PalmOne said that a federal appeals court upheld a ruling that its products do not infringe on two NCR patents. In March 2001, NCR sued Palm and Handspring, alleging the companies infringed patents for a type of "portable personal terminal."
California Shuts Unlicensed Internet Escrow Companies
California regulators ordered five more unlicensed Internet escrow companies to stop selling in the state, bringing the number of shutdown orders to 38 since May. The companies offer to hold funds in a trust account until a promised action or delivery of goods or services has been completed.
At CES, FCC Chairman Predicts "Free-Speech Direction"
The rapid convergence of digital technologies has made it increasingly difficult for Washington bureaucrats to maintain today's regulatory standards governing many popular applications such as television, radio and the Internet. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell told a Las Vegas audience he hopes migration away from widespread government intervention continues because it benefits American consumers.
New Variant of Virus Attacks Some Cell Phones
A new variant of the Skulls Trojan horse that affects Symbian-based cell phones has been discovered. But rather than turning individual application icons into skulls, as the first version of the malicious software did, Skulls.D tells people their cell phones have been infected by displaying a full-screen flashing skull, the security software maker said.
Online Scam Artists Take Advantage of Tsunami
Scam artists are posing as tsunami victims on the Internet in a bid to divert some of the millions of dollars flowing to relief efforts, security experts warned. Crudely written appeals for help have begun to appear in e-mail inboxes, asking for donations through a Web site or an offshore bank account, the analysts said.
Tech Companies Want ISPs to Crack Down on File Sharing
Several of the world's largest high-tech corporations plan to urge Congress to force Internet service providers to crack down more aggressively on their users who swap copyrighted software, music or video files online. The move is a significant escalation in the campaign by the software and entertainment industries to squelch widespread file sharing by millions of users through services such as Kazaa, Grokster and Morpheus.
Pop-Up Ads Don't Violate Spam Law, Court Rules
Unsolicited pop-up ads that vex millions of Web surfers do not violate a state advertising law, a Utah appeals court has ruled. The court rejected arguments that Celebrity Cruises' Web advertisements ran afoul of a state law regulating unsolicited "electronic messages," ruling that the measure was intended to target junk e-mail but not pop-up ads.
Rep. Bono Reintroduces Anti-Spyware Legislation
Spyware legislation that would allow fines of up to $3 million for makers of software that steals personal information from a user's computer or highjacks its browser will get a second look after the U.S. Congress failed to pass the legislation in 2004. Representative Mary Bono reintroduced an antispyware bill that passed the House of Representatives in 2004, but failed pass in the Senate.
iTunes Customer Files Antitrust Suit Against Apple
An unhappy iTunes online music store customer is suing Apple Computer, alleging the company broke antitrust laws by allowing iTunes to work only with its own music player, the iPod, freezing out competitors, court filings showed. Apple, which opened its online music store in April 2003 after introducing the iPod in October 2001, uses technology to ensure each digital song bought from its store only plays on the iPod.
Search Warrant Not Needed for Employee's PC, Court Says
Police do not need a search warrant to examine an employee's computer for incriminating files, a Washington state appeals court has ruled. All that is necessary is the permission of the business that owns the computer, the appeals court said in a 3-0 decision.
Canada Considering End to Online Drugs Sales to U.S.
Canadian health officials are drafting a proposal to prevent Internet pharmacies from selling mail-order prescription drugs to U.S. consumers, a spokesman said Wednesday, a move that would essentially kill a $700 million industry that has become increasingly popular with patients south of the border. The three-pronged measure being considered by Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh would prevent Canadian doctors from countersigning prescriptions for U.S. patients without examining them in person, spokesman Ken Polk said by telephone from India.
Trial Begins for Fan Accused of Sending Angry E-mails
The lawyer for a disgruntled sports fan accused of sending thousands of angry e-mail messages that appeared to be from Philadelphia sportswriters acknowledged that his client is "maybe psychologically fanatical" about the Philadelphia Phillies. But Mark T. Wilson, the lawyer for Allan E. Carlson, 41, of Glendale, Calif., said he doubted the prosecutor could prove that his client caused more than $5,000 in damage, the threshold for a federal crime.
More Small-Time Thieves Using eBay to Sell Goods
With eBay's global customer base of more than 100 million and software that allows strangers to exchange goods and money without ever meeting, it has maximized profit for its retailers. It has done the same for thieves.
Minnesota Seeks to Overturn Internet Phone Ruling
Minnesota utility regulators will try to overturn a recent federal decision barring states from imposing many of their telecommunications regulations on Internet phone providers, a sign states haven't backed down from their fight to lord over this new, cheaper breed of phone service. Burl Haar, executive secretary of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, said the commission is acting chiefly out of concern over whether Vonage and others Net phone providers can offer emergency 911 calling, which only a few elite operators are capable of providing.
Marketer Fighting FTC Agrees to Stop Spyware for Now
A U.S. Internet marketer has agreed to stop inundating computers with unwanted "spyware" that can disable users' computers while he fights a lawsuit from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Sanford Wallace and his two companies, Seismic Entertainment Productions and SmartBot.Net, have agreed to stop distributing programs that secretly crawl onto Web surfers' computers, though they will be able to display pop-up ads, according to an agreement filed on Dec. 20.
Court Rules Against RIAA in Disclosing Identities
A second U.S. appeals court ruled that the recording industry can't force Internet providers to identify music downloaders under a disputed copyright law. The decision doesn't significantly affect the industry's continuing campaign to sue Internet users.
Judge Rules Against Microsoft in Piracy Case
Microsoft has encountered a significant setback in its lawsuit claiming that a Utah company distributed pirated versions of Windows software. A federal appeals court tossed out an earlier ruling in Microsoft's favor, saying that more hearings were necessary before MBC Enterprises, a family-owned company in Salt Lake City, could be found liable for copyright infringement.
Few Consumers Participate in Microsoft Settlement
With only a few days remaining before a deadline, about 80 of California's largest 100 companies have filed to receive part of a $1.1 billion antitrust settlement with Microsoft, a lawyer involved in the settlement said. But it appears that only a small percentage of customers eligible to receive part of the settlement have filed to claim their share, said the lawyer, Richard L. Grossman of Townsend, Townsend & Crew, the lead lawyer representing California consumers in the settlement fight.
As New Congress Convenes, Old Technology Issues Remain
The 109th Congress convenes facing the same technology policy questions the 108th Congress was uninterested, unable or unwilling to render judgments on. Leftovers from the last session include the regulation of IP-based network services, stock option expensing and providing more spectrum for commercial wireless broadband providers.
eBay Message Service Aims to Defeat Phishing
eBay has moved to squelch spoofed e-mail bearing its name by introducing a private mail service. In recent weeks, the online auctioneer introduced My Messages, a free, personalized in-box for eBay customers that contains communications only sent from eBay.
Man Arrested for Fake E-mails to Tsunami Families
British police said they had arrested a man after a hoaxer posing as a government official e-mailed relatives of people missing since the Asian tsunami, saying their loved ones had been confirmed dead. The hoaxer, claiming to be from the "Foreign Office Bureau" in Thailand, targeted people who had placed appeals for information about relatives and friends on the Web site of TV station Sky News.
Man Criticized for Trying to Sell "Tsunami" Domain Name
A Canadian student was called a "wave rat" for offering the domain name "tsunamirelief.com" for $50,000 on the online auction site eBay, but his mother said he was only trying to raise money for relief efforts. The 20-year-old art student, Josh Kaplan, was the subject of a tabloid front-page headline when the New York Post dubbed him a "wave rat" and suggested he was trying to profit from disaster.
Internet Travel Sites Sued Over Hotel Room Taxes
Internet travel sites are cheating cities on taxes by pocketing the difference between the hotel room tax they pay and the amount collected from consumers, the city of Los Angeles, Calif., said in a recent lawsuit. The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that companies including Priceline.com, InterActiveCorp's Expedia, Cendant's Orbitz and Sabre Holdings' Travelocity have underpaid so-called transient occupancy taxes.
Despite New Law, Spam Levels Rose in 2004
The nation's first law aimed at curtailing junk e-mail earned a mixed report card after a year on the books as few spammers faced legal action and recent surveys showed that spam makes up an even larger proportion of online messages. Still, through all the courtroom activity and the media attention it generated, spam levels rose in 2004, by almost all accounts.
Internet Movie Pirates Compete for Bragging Rights
For online bootleggers, who authorities say represent the top of a distribution pyramid for pirated movies, software and music, it's all about the bragging rights for being first to copy a hot title or releasing the best-quality replica. Unlike popular file-swapping networks where millions of files -- mostly for music -- are shared relatively easily, it takes more than a casual effort to even begin to find the right place to download a movie.
Judge Dismisses Microsoft's Suit Against Web Host
A three-and-a-half-year dispute between Microsoft and a Texas Web-hosting operation has ended, with one becoming a partner to the other in the process. Dallas-Fort Worth-based C I Host announced that a federal judge dismissed a long-running suit filed against it by Microsoft.
"Very Little Compliance" Reported in CAN-SPAM Act
Nearly a year after its passage, the federal Can-Spam law has done little to curb spam, according to a year-end report. MX Logic, an antispam company, said its surveys for the year showed widespread and flagrant disregard for the U.S. law that went into effect Jan. 1.
Spam Dropped 75% in 2004, According to AOL
You've got less spam, according to America Online, the world's largest online service. The online unit of Time Warner Inc. said junk e-mail declined by more than 75 percent this year, based on its internal member reports.
Sexual-Language Used in Spam Drops, AOL Reports
If Internet spammers are right about who we are and what we want to buy, then we must be a cable-stealing, day-trading, bargain-hunting, stiff-jointed, drug-popping people. Who like to watch women having sex. It may be difficult to consider this an improvement over last year, but it certainly is a change: In 2003, we were debt-ridden "Oprah" fans, actuarial nightmares more preoccupied with sex than money.
Dutch Group Levies Fines Against Spammers
The Dutch telecom and postal watchdog OPTA has levied fines as high as 42,500 euros ($57,540) against several individuals and small companies for sending out spam messages. OPTA said in a statement the fines were for spam -- a term widely used for unsolicited commercial e-mails, often hawking products to combat sexual dysfunction or promote weight loss -- sent to both mobile phones and to e-mail addresses.
Minnesota Can't Regulate VoIP, Appeals Court Rules
A Minnesota agency may not regulate calls through cyberspace as it does calls through traditional phone lines, a federal appeals court ruled. The Dec. 22 order by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis upholds a lower-court ruling and is a win for fledgling companies like Vonage Holdings of Edison, N.J., which provides Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP.
Canadian Offical Opposes Internet Drug Sales
A tough new stance by Canada's health minister on Internet drug sales has increased the odds that Americans will soon be stopped from buying Canada's lower-cost medicines, say pharmacists on both sides of the importation fight. In recent weeks, Canadian health minister Ujjal Dosanjh has spoken out against the cross-border drug trade, saying he might prevent Canadian doctors from co-signing prescriptions for American patients they have not examined.
Peer-to-Peer Site Seeks Help Fighting MPAA's Lawsuit
LokiTorrent, a Web site that tracks and indexes BitTorrent files, says it's setting up a legal defense fund to fight a lawsuit filed by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). The site's operators have collected $13,955 of the $30,000 needed to start defending themselves from the MPAA's lawsuit, according to a recent posting on the Web site.
Deadline Near for Payouts from Microsoft Settlement
With only a week left to file claims, California consumers and businesses are on the verge of losing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in antitrust-settlement money from Microsoft. As the January 8 deadline approaches, only an estimated 700,000 out of 14 million eligible customers have applied for claims from the $1.1 billion Microsoft agreed to pay out.
California's Anti-Spyware Law Takes Effect
The makers of computer programs that secretly spy on what people do with their home PCs could face hefty fines in California. From 1 January, a new law is being introduced to protect computer users from software known as spyware.
McDonald's Chinese-Language Site Hit Twice by Hackers
The Chinese-language Web site of fast food giant McDonald's Corp. was broken into twice at Christmas by a hacker protesting against its listing of Taiwan as a separate country, the Beijing Youth Daily said. The world's largest restaurant chain is expanding fast in China and currently has 600 stores in what has become its eighth-largest market.
Trojan Horse Attacks Windows XP, Symantec Warns
Online miscreants have released a Trojan horse that can infect computers running Microsoft's Windows XP, installing programs to remotely control a victim's system. The program -- dubbed "Phel," an anagram of "Help" -- infects visitors to a maliciously-created Web site through Internet Explorer's Help controls, Symantec warned in an advisory this week.
Internet Explorer Plug-In Aims to Help Fight Phishing
Netcraft has released an Internet Explorer plug-in that could help people avoid becoming victims of online fraud. The Internet security company heralded the plug-in toolbar, which displays information about the Web sites a surfer is visiting, as a strong weapon against phishing attacks.
Microsoft Hires Brussels Attorneys to "Spin" EU Decision
While Microsoft mulls appealing a recent court decision that forces it to comply with antitrust penalties, attorneys are talking up -- and down -- the implications of the unbundling decision for the world's largest software company. According to a source familiar with the situation, Microsoft has retained a group of attorneys in Brussels whose only job is to "spin" the decision into more positive light for Microsoft. "That's fair enough," the source said.
Microsoft Awarded Two Software-Related Patents
The United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) has granted Microsoft a pair of software patents, one that deals with software compilation and another that addresses software editing. U.S. Patent number 6,836,883 is titled "Method and system for compiling multiple languages" and was first applied for by Microsoft researchers on June 21, 2000.
Apple Seeks Patent to Protect Dropped Devices
Apple Computer is eyeing a technology that could make the iPod more likely to survive a fall. The company has applied for a patent on technology that would allow a portable media player to detect when it is falling and then stop reading or writing to the hard drive.
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2000-2006 Dolesco LLC. All rights reserved.
|
