December 31, 2001 - SPECIAL EDITION FBI warns of Windows XP holes The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center has urged users of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system to disable a feature that could leave computers open to attacks from hackers. In a statement issued on Saturday, the FBI's NIPC, which usually leaves computer security warnings to the private sector, said it held technical discussions with Microsoft Corp. and other industry experts on Friday to identify ways to minimize the risk from security holes in the XP software, which was launched in late October. http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2834773,00.html http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-8287567.html Microsoft Stung By Severe Windows XP Security Flaw http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/15458.html - - - - - - - - Zoher Worm Gives Unwelcome Christmas PC Present PC users returning to their machines after the Christmas break should take care to update their security software, after two antivirus firms issued warnings about the Zoher worm. F-Secure issued a level two security alert to users on its Radar security advisory service over the Christmas break. Level two is one of three alert levels. Level two means the virus is active in the wild and is technically sophisticated. http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173214.html - - - - - - - - NJ court backs FBI spying on suspect's computer A defense attorney for reputed mobster Nicodemo Scarfo Jr Thursday promised an appeal of a federal judge's ruling that the FBI properly spied on Scarfo's computer system. The ruling -- the first of its kind in a federal district court -- capped six months of controversy that weighed computer privacy rights against law enforcement's right to use secret computer technology in criminal probes. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/025900.htm http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/2001/12/27/fbi-snooping.htm - - - - - - - - Feds sift evidence in software piracy probe Law enforcement officials from the Justice Department, FBI, Customs Service and other federal agencies are reviewing evidence from dozens of computers seized in a worldwide series of raids earlier this month against criminals who illegally copy and distribute software. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/17658-1.html - - - - - - - - Piracy & hacking prevention efforts should target kids When law enforcement agents seized 129 computers in 27 cities recently in a coordinated assault on online piracy, they focused much of their effort on colleges like Duke University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California at Los Angeles. They were probably too late. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/001635.htm - - - - - - - - Security bill fails to pass in 2001 Despite a strong post-September 11 push for passage, legislation intended to encourage companies to share security data with the government -- and one another without fear of it becoming public failed to be adopted this year. The legislation, sponsored in the Senate by Robert Bennett (R-Utah) and John Kyle (R-Arizona) and in the House by Tom Davis (R-Virginia) and Jim Moran (D-Virginia), seeks to amend the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to protect security data shared with the government from disclosure. http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/12/30/data.sharing.bill.idg/index.html - - - - - - - - Stand by for more nasty Web attacks in 2002 If security experts are calling 2001 the worst year for computer viruses, and December the worst month, how bad will things get in 2002? Experts are predicting that viruses and their cousins, the self-propagating worms, will find new and even more nasty ways to attack computer systems, possibly even hitting mobile devices, pocket PCs and smart phones in the coming year. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/056919.htm http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/reuters_wire/1715368l.htm http://www.msnbc.com/news/678086.asp - - - - - - - - Fitting IT into homeland security The final report from the Gilmore Commission on the capabilities needed to respond to terrorism mirrors many of the cybersecurity and information technology recommendations to emerge since the Sept. 11 attacks. The group -- established in 1998 as part of the Defense Authorization Act -- released an executive summary of the report in November. The full report, released Dec. 15, goes into much more depth about how IT fits into the country's protection. http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2001/1217/web-report-12-24-01.asp - - - - - - - - Fight Against Terrorism Could Fuel Tech Rebound A recovery in technology could come as soon as next year, with the fight against terrorism and heightened priority on security playing a larger role and helping to fuel innovation -- as well as investment. http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/15480.html - - - - - - - - 2001: Protecting intellectual property How monitoring the workforce can protect both the employer's property and the employee's livelihood. In 2001, there were tens of thousands of layoffs in the tech industry, with companies like Marconi shedding 10,000 employees since January. When thousands of employees are laid off, the economics of the industry means it happens fast, with few people thinking what might be lost in the process. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2101780,00.html - - - - - - - - Retail gift cards often unprotected Some stores ignore security, putting consumer funds at risk. Ahead of the holidays, gift-givers gave away millions of magnetic stripe gift cards charged with billions of dollars in value. By now, the money might already be stolen. http://www.msnbc.com/news/598102.asp - - - - - - - - Six jailed for Falun Gong Web activity China arrests academics for distributing information about the banned religious group over the Internet. China has jailed six academics for downloading material on the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong and distributing it over the internet, a Hong- Kong based human rights group said. Beijing's Number One Intermediate Court sentenced the six Falun Gong practitioners, including four graduate students at the prestigious Tsinghua University, the Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said in a statement seen on Sunday. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2101689,00.html - - - - - - - - USPS gets good grade for e-commerce privacy To meet online competition, the Postal Service has narrowed its e-commerce projects to five but cannot yet report what they cost, the General Accounting Office said last week. Postal officials told GAO that only some of their online initiatives were meant to generate revenue. The others support core delivery services and help customers find information, they said. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/17659-1.html - - - - - - - - New features planned for file swappers In the midst of a potentially crippling lawsuit leveled by the recording and movie industries, peer-to-peer company MusicCity is planning a new, more powerful version of its popular file-swapping software. MusicCity, also known as StreamCast Networks, makes the Morpheus file-trading software application that has consistently been one of the most popular downloads online for the last several months. http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-8291508.html - - - - - - - - Why Worm Writers Stay Free Virus writers often act as if the Internet, the most public forum in the world, is their very own private playground. Law enforcement officials are amused and amazed by the many virus writers who carefully include identifying comments or credits in their code, and who often are found bragging about their skills and latest creations in newsgroups or on Internet Relay Chat channels. http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,49313,00.html - - - - - - - - Security consultant finds plenty of holes to plug Cruising about the Twin Cities, with his wireless laptop on the seat next to him, Brad Rubin can see one business opportunity after another pop up on his computer screen. His laptop, hooked to a homemade antenna housed in a Pringles can, runs sniffer software that detects wireless networks, even those people have tried to hide. Many are not protected by encryption, making it easy for someone with a wireless modem to plug into them and snoop -- or worse, Rubin says. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/073824.htm - - - - - - - - Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt, Inc. Everyone from the FBI to the L.A. Times has something scary to say about the new XP vulnerability. Here's why they all have it wrong. The creation of marketing niches from Microsoft technologies is a model of perpetual motion. Redmond develops the products, and we get paid to implement, install, configure, customize, upgrade, secure, and to even break and exploit them. Now the simple act of talking about Microsoft security is becoming a remunerative endeavor. http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/50 - - - - - - - - The Littlest Security Pro A teenaged computer prodigy in India becomes the youngest CISSP in the certification's twelve-year history. At a time when teenagers are more likely to be noted for cracking networks than defending them, a computer prodigy in South Bombay, India shattered some stereotypes this month when he became the youngest person ever to be credentialed as a "Certified Information Systems Security Professional", or "CISSP," after acing the lengthy certification exam and clearing a special investigation triggered by his young age. http://www.securityfocus.com/news/301 - - - - - - - - Orlando fliers face high-tech security scrutiny Passengers and their bags will be scanned, sniffed and otherwise scrutinized at Orlando International Airport, in a test of emerging security devices meant to stop airplane attacks. The National Safe Skies Alliance will install five new machines at a security checkpoint in February to see if they can be implemented at other U.S. airports. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/050075.htm - - - - - - - - Orange Co. to become first to use GPS to track offenders. Orange County officials will make a controversial step by becoming the first in the state to use global positioning satellites to track released sex offenders. Starting next year, officials will require some sex offenders on parole and probation to wear wristbands linked to the satellite tracking system. http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/tech/049528.htm *********************************************************** 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.