December 11, 2001 Agents crack down on major international software piracy Federal agents seized computers in 27 U.S. cities Tuesday morning to gain evidence against hackers in an international software piracy ring. Police in five countries also served warrants against people accused of stealing software, U.S. Customs Service officials said. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/039109.htm http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5100571,00.html http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8145809.html http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/172885.html http://www.msnbc.com/news/671058.asp http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,49026,00.html http://money.cnn.com/2001/12/11/technology/software_piracy/ - - - - - - - - Indian police nab fake HP products Hewlett-Packard has announced that the Indian police had raided several locations in Delhi and Mumbai to clamp down on the sale of counterfeit HP LaserJet and Inkjet cartridges. The Delhi and Mumbai police, accompanied by HP's investigators and trained product identification experts, found counterfeit HP LaserJet and Inkjet cartridges in several locations amongst those raided. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/newsbursts/0,7407,2831755,00.html - - - - - - - - Despite court order, U.S. Interior site down The U.S. Department of Interior's Web site remained largely inoperable Tuesday morning, despite a judge's ruling over the weekend that only portions that manage a fund for American Indians need to be kept offline. http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/12/11/interior.reut/index.html http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/cw1.htm - - - - - - - - Antivirus firms: FBI loophole is out of line Antivirus software vendors said Monday they don't want to create a loophole in their security products to let the FBI or other government agencies use a virus to eavesdrop on the computer communications of suspected criminals. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5100528,00.html http://www.techtv.com/news/hackingandsecurity/story/0,24195,3364389,00.html - - - - - - - - Federal government beefs up security As companies continue to grapple with security and disaster recovery concerns brought about by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the federal government is considering a broad set of security standards that it will push its agencies and private industry to follow. Last week, the Business Software Alliance, at its Global Tech Summit in Washington, issued a "Cyber Security Blueprint" to guide collaborative government and industry initiatives. The proposals include greater investment in enhanced security tools, federal research and development investment in security technology, and increased criminal penalties against computer crimes. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2831428,00.html Big Brother means big business http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2831298,00.html - - - - - - - - Consumers Concerned About Internet Security - Poll In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Americans are concerned about the security of both government and commercial electronic networks, according to a poll released today. More than 70 percent of Americans are at least "somewhat concerned" about Internet and computer security in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/172880.html - - - - - - - - Online Rights Group Plans Web Site Privacy 'Sweep' The Progress & Freedom Foundation today said that it plans to make a "sweep" of e-commerce Web site privacy policies to determine the overall quality of online e-commerce privacy. The study is expected to be released in 2002, and will be the fourth such report that the PFF has conducted on e-commerce privacy. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/172879.html - - - - - - - - Microsoft To Plug Devastating Browser Download Hole Microsoft will patch a flaw in its Web browser that could allow an attacker to silently download and execute malicious programs on the computers of users who view a specially constructed Web page or e-mail message. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/172878.html - - - - - - - - Microsoft interactive TV to track viewers Microsoft and Predictive Networks signed a deal Tuesday to incorporate profiling technology into the software behemoth's interactive TV platform, matching similar moves in the market. Through the partnership, Microsoft said it will incorporate Predictive's software into its ITV operating system to create profiles based on subscribers' viewing habits--but without collecting personally identifiable data. http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8145129.html http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/172888.html http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,49028,00.html http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/22/23318.html http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001/12/11/microsoft-watching-you.htm - - - - - - - - Airport Privacy vs. Airport Security Safer airports may come at the risk of embarrassing privacy invasions. Is it necessary for X-ray machines to look underneath everyone's clothing to increase security? In the current rush for safer airports, one technology has already caused controversy. http://www.techtv.com/cybercrime/privacy/story/0,23008,3349475,00.html Body Scanner Sees Like Superman http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,48966,00.html - - - - - - - - Contracts round up DMS offerings With secure communications at the forefront of government concerns, the Pentagon Information Technology Services Center has awarded a series of indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts collectively worth up to $8 billion to offer products and services for the Defense Messaging System. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2001/1210/web-dms-12-11-01.asp - - - - - - - - Is Open-Source Security Software Safe? Companies such as Guardent are so sure it is that they're building entire corporate product lines around it. Will the average bank care if the hacking underground can examine the basic source code of the security software protecting its networks? That's what information-security company Guardent is about to find out. http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2001/nf20011211_3015.htm - - - - - - - - Kid Porn Suspect's Strange Saga Larry Benedict is sitting cross-legged on the floor of his home in New York's picturesque Finger Lakes region, surrounded by the detritus of a once-happy life. A pair of hermit crabs scuttles about in an aquarium in the corner, left behind when his wife and son moved out. Squirreled away in a cardboard box are 15 patents he was awarded as a senior engineer at Xerox, which has told him he no longer has a job. Closer at hand is a bottle of Amitriptyline, a prescription medication to stave off depression. http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,48946,00.html - - - - - - - - State, local officials seek federal help on homeland security. Local and state police and public health officials on Tuesday asked Congress to give them money and to change current law to help them protect communities from potential terrorist attacks. In two separate Senate hearings, representatives from police and mayoral offices, counties and the public health sector said they lack the resources and information to adequately do their jobs. http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1201/121101td1.htm - - - - - - - - Police, ACLU settle dispute over secret fund for high-tech gear. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge John Themelis brokered a settlement agreement in a lawsuit over the release of records detailing a confidential fund the city established in January to purchase high-tech police surveillance gear. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/17638-1.html *********************************************************** Search the NewsBits.net Archive at: http://www.newsbits.net/search.html *********************************************************** The source material may be copyrighted and all rights are retained by the original author/publisher. The information is provided to you for non-profit research and educational purposes. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however copies may not be sold, and NewsBits (www.newsbits.net) should be cited as the source of the information. Copyright 2000-2001, NewsBits.net, Campbell, CA.