December 20, 2001 Windows XP vulnerable to unusually serious hacker attacks. Microsoft's newest version of Windows, billed as the most secure ever, contains several serious flaws that allow hackers to steal or destroy a victim's data files across the Internet or implant rogue computer software. The company released a free fix Thursday. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/069131.htm http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-8244349.html http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173164.html http://www.msnbc.com/news/675850.asp http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/12/20/microsoft.hackers.ap/index.html http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,49301,00.html http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001/12/20/windows-vulnerable.htm http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/23480.html http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/199162p-1933847c.html Microsoft plugs XP security hole http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5100941,00.html - - - - - - - - CERT Warns Of Deadly Security Hole In Internet Explorer A government-funded computer security team is warning users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser to patch a flaw that could allow attackers to upload and execute malicious programs on the victim's PC. The federally funded Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), today issued an alert about the security hole, which affects IE for Windows versions 5, 5.5, and 6.0. The vulnerability was first discovered last month by Finland's Oy Online Solutions. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173157.html - - - - - - - - Sklyarov stands by boss in DMCA case The Russian software programmer who escaped prosecution as the first person charged under a controversial new U.S. copyright law said on Wednesday he stands by his employer, who still faces trial. "I am extremely disappointed with any implication that I am, in any way, cooperating with the (U.S.) government," Dmitry Sklyarov said in a news conference. "I am a man of integrity and as such am doing nothing more than telling the truth, not for or against anyone." http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2834162,00.html http://www.techtv.com/news/politicsandlaw/story/0,24195,3365800,00.html http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/industry/12/20/hacker.reut/index.html http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001/12/20/russian-programmer.htm Dimitry Sklyarov: Enemy or friend? http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2800985,00.html Russian Hacker Has a Party http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,49272,00.html - - - - - - - - Computer disk drives from WTC could yield clues A new data-recovery technique could help trace suspicious financial transactions made shortly before the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11. An unexplained surge in transactions was recorded prior to the attacks, leading to speculation that someone might have profited from previous knowledge of the terrorist plot by moving sums of money. http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/industry/12/20/wtc.harddrives.idg/index.html - - - - - - - - Students nabbed in Dutch Warez raids The Dutch department of Justice raided the University of Twente as part of a software piracy investigation, a school representative said Thursday. The late November raid, a major setback for underground "warez" groups, came just days before a massive international crackdown spearheaded by the U.S. Customs Office. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,5100945,00.html http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8244958.html Has the warez battle been won? http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2101309,00.html - - - - - - - - Stripper to stand trial for alleged cyberstalking A Las Vegas stripper accused of posting photos of herself having sadomasochistic sex with a married political cartoonist on the Internet after he ended their affair was ordered to stand trial on extortion and cyber-stalking charges. Robin Kelly--a self- described topless dancer named "Ruby Tuesday," hairstylist and former professional wrestler known as "The Red Snapper"--faces a possible eight years and four months in prison if convicted on eight criminal counts. http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8242259.html - - - - - - - - Lawsuit targets last scraps of Net-obscenity law The National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and artist Barbara Nitke have filed a lawsuit challenging the remaining provisions of the Communications Decency Act, much of which was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1997. http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/industry/12/20/obscenity.suit.idg/index.html - - - - - - - - Hack turned loads of computers into waiting zombies A company that processes credit card transactions for Web sites confirmed on Thursday that customer Web server computers have been hacked and could be used in a massive Internet attack on other computers. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/reuters_wire/1711578l.htm - - - - - - - - U.S. imposes sanctions on Ukraine in CD piracy row The United States will impose sanctions on $75 million worth of Ukrainian goods in retaliation for the continued piracy of U.S. music compact disc and other optical media products, a spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office said Thursday. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/041973.htm - - - - - - - - Microsoft sues `Lindows' for Windows infringement Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it is suing a small software company called Lindows, claiming that name infringes the trademark of the software giant's flagship Windows operating system. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/025093.htm http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-8246647.html - - - - - - - - Bill Strengthens Internet Criminal Sentencing A new bill introduced this month in the House of Representatives would give judges greater power to apply tough sentences to online criminals. The bill, H.R. 3482 - the Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2001 - was introduced by House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., and Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and would give judges additional factors to consider in sentencing cybercriminals. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173162.html - - - - - - - - Secret Service To Expand Electronic Crimes Task Force Al Qaeda operatives arrested last month in Spain with information provided by the United States also were suspected of financing activities through credit card fraud. Fearing an invisible army of terror lurks in cyberspace, the Secret Service will launch electronic crimes task forces in eight cities modeled on a New York City program that has identified credit card fraud and techniques that may have been used by the Al Qaeda terror network. http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/15260.html - - - - - - - - UK Government-Industry IT Security Alliance Formed The U.K.'s Computer Software and Services Association (CSSA) has teamed up with the British government to launch a new information-technology security alliance. Known as SAINT, short for the Security Alliance for the Internet and New Technologies, the alliance sees the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), a British government agency, working with the CSSA to tackle the problems of hackers, viruses and other cyber-attacks. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173152.html - - - - - - - - Experts: Empower homeland office The Office of Homeland Security needs more discretionary spending and authority -- including coordination with state and local governments -- several current and former government officials said at a conference this week. The office was among the topics discussed during the Homeland Defense and Crisis Management conference. http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2001/1217/web-home-12-20-01.asp - - - - - - - - FBI puts police chiefs in the security loop The Justice Department will let police chiefs from cities, counties and other municipalities apply for national security clearance that would put them in the information-sharing loop during national emergencies. Barry McDevitt, chief of police for the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, said Attorney General John Ashcroft made the decision because many police chiefs had difficulty getting information after terrorists struck on Sept. 11. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/17654-1.html - - - - - - - - Amendment considered to make info more accessible. Californians seeking records, documents and other information that public agencies keep secret may get new help next year. Advocates for open government are considering a constitutional amendment to make cities, counties and other agencies explain why providing documents would create a bigger problem. http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/local/docs/openrecord20.htm - - - - - - - - Walker story: On the Net, you are what you write Of course the disturbing tale of John Walker, Marin County's own Taliban fighter, is not without an Internet angle. Before he fell under the sway of a group of people whose views on technology could charitably be characterized as 14th century, Walker left his share of footprints through cyberspace. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/opinion/daveplot/dp122001.htm - - - - - - - - Hackers Show Light in a New Art Leave it to Berlin's always unpredictable hacker group, Chaos Computer Club, to one-up the British art world's current sensation of the nanosecond. Martin Creed won Britain's prestigious Turner Prize earlier this month -- and a £20,000 check handed over by pop queen Madonna herself -- with a work that was nothing more than an empty room whose lights switch on and off. http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,49265,00.html - - - - - - - - Is Distributed Computing A Crime? A computer network administrator faces multiple felony charges and years in a Georgia prison for allegedly installing Distributed.net clients without permission. Prosecutors say its justice, others aren't so sure. A college computer technician who offered his school's unused computer processing power for an encryption research project will be tried next month in Georgia for computer theft and trespassing charges that carry a potential total of 120 years in jail. http://www.securityfocus.com/news/300 http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/23477.html - - - - - - - - Talkback: Is Ripping a Crime? Patrick cracked Universal's uncrackable CD encryption. Should he be tossed in the slammer? I wouldn't be so miffed if it wasn't for Coltrane. I own quite a few Coltrane CDs -- mad jazz saxophone player from the '60s. Timeless. If you've never heard "A Love Supreme," well, you've missed out. It's one of the only things that can keep my shattered skull together at the tail end of a business trip; that CD has logged tens of thousands of miles with me. http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/interact/story/0,24330,3365632,00.html - - - - - - - - Use common sense for best security An established company moves into a downtown high- rise and a few months later discovers that many of its secrets are going public. How is that possible? Its networks are locked down. Its employees use passwords, and are given security clearances. So what's the problem? How about that old warehouse next door? A competitor has rented it and mounted large antennas behind closed window blinds to listen for electronic emissions from its neighbor's electronic equipment. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2833569,00.html - - - - - - - - Cybersex addiction grips males A new study highlights the risks to men who spend more than 5 hours a week engaging in fantasy online sex. About 6.5 percent of male Internet users are compulsive cybersex fans, with online fantasy lives so intense that their off-line relationships may suffer, according to a new study. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2101304,00.html - - - - - - - - Cyber sin site is launched The Seven Deadly Sins are now accessible online after a British university launched an image database of the forbidden acts. The University of Leicester in central England compiled the images of transgression from churches across England and Wales. The database also displays the virtuous acts of the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/reuters_wire/1711285l.htm *********************************************************** 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.