Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Updated New gTLD Budget Published http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-22oct10-en.htm Public Comment: Review of IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-22oct10-en.htm ICANN's compliance has a long way to go http://weblog.johnlevine.com/ICANN/notcompliant.html New TLDs dominate ICANN board agenda http://domainincite.com/new-tlds-dominate-icann-board-agenda/ au/nz: 2010 Australia and New Zealand Internet Best Practice Awards Winners Announced http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-19Oct2010/ 2 Million .IT Domains While .CN Registrations Continue To Plummet http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=12635 Consultation on DNSSEC Policy: .nz DNSSEC Policy Amendments Consultation Paper http://dnc.org.nz/story/consultation-dnssec-policy au: WIPO shuts down 1saleaday.com.au http://www.itnews.com.au/News/236114,wipo-shuts-down-1saleadaycomau.aspx/ Why IPv6? Vint Cerf keeps blaming himself http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/67778 IPv6 and cybercrime - what's the story? http://www.sophos.com/blogs/duck/g/2010/10/22/ipv6-cybercrime/ Sex.com sold (again) for $13m http://kierenmccarthy.com/2010/10/20/sex-com-sold-again-for-13m/#more-1441 Sex.com Sells for $13 Million In Possibly Largest Ever Domain Sale http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=12634 ********************** GOVERNANCE ********************** Internet Governance: A Developing Nation?s Call for Administrative Legal Reform by Dr. Surya Mani Tripathi [International Journal of Legal Information] Abstract: The internet has emerged as a reservoir of information and has pushed the world to evolve into a global village. Increased communication across political, social and economic barriers has created a virtual society of its own. This networked society poses considerable challenges for Internet Governance. ICANN is the institution responsible for the internet management. ICANN has been at the center of the debates over global governance of the internet. Key concerns raised in these debates involve the legitimacy of institutions as well as the participation of developed and developing nations in Internet governance. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1694086 ********************** DOMAIN NAMES ********************** ********************** - ICANN ********************** Updated New gTLD Budget Published The New gTLD Budget is a critical component of the program and has been recently updated following public comment and additional analysis. Taking that into account, the Board approved the budget at its most recent meeting. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-22oct10-en.htm Public Comment: Review of IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process We are nearing the one-year anniversary date (16 November 2010) of the launch of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process. The Final Implementation Plan for the Fast Track Process requires that the process undergo review annually. ICANN is now opening a public comments forum on the review of the process. http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-22oct10-en.htm TLG Review ? Independent External Reviewers' Draft Report for Public Comment ICANN continues its work to conduct bylaw mandated organizational reviews to provide for continual improvement in its technical coordination and policy development support roles. In August 2010, ICANN appointed JAS Communications LLC to carry out an independent, external review of ICANN's Technical Liaison Group (TLG). http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-23oct10-en.htm Letter from Alan C. Drewsen (INTA) to Peter Dengate Thrush New gTLDs Overarching Issues http://icann.org/en/correspondence/drewsen-to-dengate-thrush-12oct10-en.pdf ICANN's compliance has a long way to go About a month ago I reported a domain to ICANN which has the most completely bogus WHOIS non-information I've ever seen. On Monday they sent me this message. http://weblog.johnlevine.com/ICANN/notcompliant.html New TLDs dominate ICANN board agenda ICANN has published the agenda for next Thursday?s board meeting and unsurprisingly the new top-level domain process dominates. http://domainincite.com/new-tlds-dominate-icann-board-agenda/ The next DAG, final or not? When will the next version of ICANN's new gTLD Draft Applicant Guidebook come out, and will it be the last? Whether you are pro, or against, new gTLDs, those two questions have to be foremost in your mind as we move ever closer to the last ICANN meeting of the year, in Cartagena this December. http://stephanevangelder.com/archives/347-The-next-DAG,-final-or-not.html ********************** - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS ********************** DCA launched a"yes" campaign ? "It is time for .africa"! DotConnectAfrica (DCA) spoke on way-forward on the contribution of the ".africa" name to an ICT enabled environment, during the launch of the East Africa ".africa" campaign at the AITEC ICT summit held in Nairobi, Kenya. With a campaign theme "yes to .africa", and echoing the successful launches of both Europa and Asia with their .eu and .asia regional identities launched over two years ago, DCA's is saying "It is time for .africa",in its campaign to re-brand the continent and bridge the degital divide. http://www.ethiopianreview.com/articles/33469 au/nz: 2010 Australia and New Zealand Internet Best Practice Awards Winners Announced The winners of the 2010 Australia and New Zealand Internet Best Practice Awards were announced last night at a gala dinner at Crown Towers, Melbourne. http://www.auda.org.au/news-archive/auda-19Oct2010/ ch: Switchplus announces launch of new partner programme Switchplus, commercial domain hosting services subsidiary of Swiss domain name registrar Switch, has launched a new partner programme. http://www.telecompaper.com/news/article.aspx?cid=763851 39 per cent of Czech organisations do not monitor the number of visitors to their web pages Even though internet presentations have become a commonplace element of company marketing, only 61 per cent of Czech organisations are interested in the number of visitors they have, according to a survey conducted for the CZ.NIC Association by the Markent company. This is a long-term trend; survey results in 2006 and 2008 showed very similar results. http://www.nic.cz/page/790/39-per-cent-of-czech-organisations-do-not-monitor-the-number-of-visitors-to-their-web-pages/ TRA sets Press Conference Launching Top-Level Domain dotEmarat (.??????) New Identity The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has set a press conference during GITEX Technology Week launching the new Arabic top-level domain name new identity and trademark. The conference which kicked off at 11:00 am at TRA stand was attended http://tra.gov.ae/news_TRA_sets_Press_Conference_Launching_Top_Level_Domain_dotEmarat_(.%26%231575%3B%26%231605%3B%26%231575%3B%26%231585%3B%26%231575%3B%26%231578%3B)_New_Identity-207-1.php The consultative committees of AFNIC update the Action Plan for 2011 The consultative committee meetings comprising AFNIC user and registrar members were held on 14 and 15 October 2010. The meetings enabled an interim update on the current projects and a discussion of the decision taken by the Constitutional Court of the French Republic on October 6. The consultative committees also discussed AFNIC's priorities for 2011, which will be submitted for approval to the Board of Directors next month. http://www.afnic.fr/actu/nouvelles/263/the-consultative-committees-of-afnic-update-the-action-plan-for-2011 AFNIC publishes an overview of the consultation on the opening of the .fr TLD to Europe From July 12th, to September 26th, 2010, AFNIC carried out a public consultation on opening the .fr Top Level Domain to European companies and individuals residing within the European Union. With the opening of the .fr TLD to Europe scheduled for late 2011 as its background, the purpose of the consultation was to allow the public to comment on the changes to be made to the process of registering .fr domain names. http://www.afnic.fr/actu/nouvelles/264/afnic-publishes-an-overview-of-the-consultation-on-the-opening-of-the-fr-tld-to-europe gh: ccTLD must be managed by state institution - Akumiah Mr Eric Akumiah, General Manager of Africa Top-Level Domains (AfTLD), an ICT organization, has underscored the need for Ghana to vest the management of her Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) in an independent state institution. http://www.ghananewsagency.org/s_science/r_21751/ Native American domain gives .jobs critics ammo The coalition of companies opposed to the expansion of the .jobs top-level domain seems to think it has found a ?gotcha? in the recent registration of nativeamerican.jobs. http://domainincite.com/native-american-domain-gives-jobs-critics-ammo/ IE Domain Registry 2009 Annual Report shows IEDR continued to perform strongly The IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the not-for-profit organisation that manages Ireland?s top level internet domain, .ie, reports continued strong core trading performance for 2009 with overall continued growth in .ie domain registration numbers, reduced registry running costs and increased Members? Funds that will enable the IEDR to invest further in the development of the .ie namespace. http://www.iedr.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=237:21st-october-2010-ie-domain-registry-2009-annual-report-shows-iedr-continued-to-perform-strongly 2 Million .IT Domains While .CN Registrations Continue To Plummet The Italian ccTLD, .IT, has passed the two million active registrations mark this week with there being 2,001,192 registrations as of today. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=12635 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/10/22/2-million-it-domains-while-cn-registrations-continue-to-plummet/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/2-million-.it-domains-while-.cn-registrations-continue-to-plummet.html mobi: 2010 study of mobile Web trends shows continued explosion of mobile-friendly content dotMobi ... announced highlights of its third annual study on mobile Web trends. http://mtld.mobi/node/1857 Consultation on DNSSEC Policy: .nz DNSSEC Policy Amendments Consultation Paper .nz is preparing to introduce the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) to strengthen the security and reputation of .nz. http://dnc.org.nz/story/consultation-dnssec-policy Oman to offer Arabic domain names by 2011 Oman will introduce Arabic domain names or web addresses by mid-2011, the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) said yesterday. http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20101021060802/Oman to offer Arabic domain names by 2011 WHO?S HITTING YOUR SERVER? .ORG PROVIDES INSIGHTS WITH ?PRACTICE SAFE DNS? CAMPAIGN With the goal of promoting security and curbing growing abuse of the Domain Name Systems (DNS), .ORG, The Public Interest Registry is launching the ?Practice Safe DNS? campaign ? a new initiative that will serve as a key resource for domain holders, registrars, web developers and IT professionals to learn how they can respectively play a increasingly relevant role in providing a safer and more secure Internet. http://pir.org/news/pr/2010/psdns Keep In Good Company, Practice Safe DNS Who?s hitting your server? As we head deeper into National Cyber Security Awareness Month, it?s about time we all take a step back and think about whether or not you ? and your IT colleagues ? are practicing safe DNS. http://pir.org/blog/2010/psdns Terms and conditions of domain names registration in ccTLD .?? have been amended Please note that from 11 November 2010 amendments to the Terms and Conditions of domain names registration in ccTLD .?? and Agreement on Registrars Accreditation in ccTLD .?? are coming into force. http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=942 PNINA held a specialized workshop for certified registrars PNINA held a specialized workshop?Palestinian IDN country code Top-Level-Domain (.falasteen) Registration Policy? for .ps certified registrars on 14-10-2010 More than 20 company representative have been attended. http://www.pnina.ps/2010/10/pnina-held-a-specialized-workshop-for-certified-registrars/ Successful launch of IDNs and 2-letter domains under .si On October 10 at 10:00, .si Registry began the registration of Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) and 2-letter domain names under .si. Around 70 registrars participated in the landrush. In the first 30 minutes almost 2000 domain names were registered, however approximately 3000 registration requests were denied, because strings were not available anymore. http://www.registry.si/news/news-item/article/successful-launch-of-idns-and-2-letter-domains-under-si/285.html Sunrise Period for .SO Commences 1 November The Sunrise Period for .SO, the ccTLD for the Republic of Somalia, will commence on 1 November and continue until the end of the month. The Somalian government decided to open up the ccTLD and it was redelegated to The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MoPT) in April of 2009, and will be available to the public for Open Registration on 1 March 2011. http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/10/24/sunrise-period-for-so-commences-1-november/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/sunrise-period-for-.so-commences-1-november.html ********************** - DNS SECURITY ********************** Pentagon Will Help Homeland Security Department Fight Domestic Cyberattacks The Obama administration has adopted new procedures for using the Defense Department?s vast array of cyberwarfare capabilities in case of an attack on vital computer networks inside the United States, delicately navigating historic rules that restrict military action on American soil. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/us/21cyber.html Cybersecurity is 'really about the people,' official says A strong cybersecurity workforce is critical to protecting government computer networks from attack, according to cyber experts. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101021_2534.php FCC to Hold Workshop on Cybersecurity Roadmap [news release] The Federal Communications Commission?s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) today announced it will hold a workshop to discuss the development of a cybersecurity roadmap by the FCC. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-302276A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-302276A1.doc ********************** - DOMAIN DISPUTES ********************** au: WIPO shuts down 1saleaday.com.au The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has stepped in to effectively force the shutdown of an Australian e-tailer, following a trademark dispute with a U.S. company of the same name. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/236114,wipo-shuts-down-1saleadaycomau.aspx/ ********************** - IPv4/IPv6 ********************** Why IPv6? Vint Cerf keeps blaming himself If so, Vint Cerf, much-decorated "Father of the Internet," wants you to know that it's OK to blame him. He certainly does so himself. In fact, he does so time and time and time again. http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/67778 IPv6 and cybercrime - what's the story? [IPv6 Summit] I've recently returned from the Australian IPv6 Summit 2010 in Melbourne, where I was invited to give a talk about IPv6 and cybercriminality. Does switching to IPv6 have the handy side-effect of kicking the Bad Guys in the teeth at the same time? http://www.sophos.com/blogs/duck/g/2010/10/22/ipv6-cybercrime/ ********************** - MISCELLANEOUS ********************** us: Piracy domain seizure bill gains support A proposed law allowing the government to pull the plug on Web sites accused of aiding piracy received a sizable political boost yesterday. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20020408-38.html Chilean miner Jose Ricardo Ojeda Vidal copyrights 'los 33' [The Times] IT is probably the most famous sentence in the world this year. The six words and one number have been replicated on T-shirts, flags and mugs. ... Three applications have been made for the internet domain name los33mineros.cl and four for estamosbienenelrefugiolos33.cl. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/chilean-miner-jose-ricardo-ojeda-vidal-copyrights-los-33/story-e6frg6so-1225942111686 Bible.com investor sues company for lack of profit A shareholder of Bible.com Inc sued the company's board members, accusing the ordained ministers of failing to profit from the "goldmine" potential of the namesake Internet property, according to a lawsuit. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE69K28220101021 ********************** - DOMAINING & AFTERMARKET ********************** Sex.com sold (again) for $13m A set of three documents filed in California Bankruptcy Court earlier this week reveal that the world?s most valuable domain name ? Sex.com ? has been sold for $13m, just one million dollars more than it was sold for back in January 2006. http://kierenmccarthy.com/2010/10/20/sex-com-sold-again-for-13m/#more-1441 Sex.com Sells for $13 Million In Possibly Largest Ever Domain Sale This week it was announced that the domain name sex.com, that has had a rather troubled past was, sold for $13 million to a Caribbean company based in the offshore tax haven of St Vincent and Grenadines by the name of Clover Holdings showing that the old adage of ?sex sells? being as true as ever when dealing with domain names. Sex sells. has bid $13 million for the potentially lucrative domain name. http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=12634 http://www.domainpulse.com/2010/10/22/sexcom-sells-for-13-million-in-possibly-largest-ever-domain-sale/ http://www.domainnews.com/en/sex.com-sold-in-possibly-largest-ever-domain-sale.html Sex.com internet domain name sold for $13m The sex.com internet domain has been sold for $13m (?8.2m). The domain was put up for auction in July 2010 when its former owner, Escom LLC, went bankrupt. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11596477 Sex.com Seeks to Sell Itself for $13 Million The bankrupt owner of Sex.com is seeking to sell the domain name to offshore holding company Clover Holdings Ltd. for a hot $13 million. http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2010/10/21/sexcom-seeks-to-sell-itself-for-13-million/ Sex.com Will Be The Most Expensive Domain Name Ever Sold When the Central California Bankruptcy Court approves the sale of Sex.com for $13 million cash later this month, it will be the most expensive all-cash domain name ever sold and publicly disclosed. http://domainnamewire.com/2010/10/21/sex-com-will-be-the-most-expensive-domain-name-ever-sold/ Sex.com and the World's Most Expensive Domain Names If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that sex sells. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Web's simplest sex-based domain name -- sex.com -- has just sold for a reported $13 million. Or, to put it in a rhyme, 13 million bucks for a synonym of ... well, you know. http://www.pcworld.com/article/208483/.html Try.Me On For Size In Sedo's November Auctions Starting Nov. 11, 2010, you?ll have a chance to Text.Me, Track.Me, Finance.Me or Friend.Me if you score the winning bid from a long list of catchy .ME names ? all of which make dynamic call-to-action domains. http://www.nic.me/news/news.php?news=207 ********************** REPORTS & RESEARCH PAPERS ********************** Controlling the Uncontrollable: Internet Censorship in China by Haiping Zheng Abstract: Though internet was not commercially available in China until 1995, it has been growing tremendously over the years. At the same time, the Chinese government has never ceased censoring internet, which has drawn much international criticism. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1695818 ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Archiving the web: National libraries start to preserve the web, but cannot save everything In the digital realm, things seem always to happen the wrong way round. Whereas Google has hurried to scan books into its digital catalogue, a group of national libraries has begun saving what the online giant leaves behind. For although search engines such as Google index the web, they do not archive it. Many websites just disappear when their owner runs out of money or interest. Adam Farquhar, in charge of digital projects for the British Library, points out that the world has in some ways a better record of the beginning of the 20th century than of the beginning of the 21st. http://www.economist.com/node/17306104?story_id=17306104 Enough already: information overload Get a load of this. A survey released this week revealed the latest affliction to hit white-collar workers. It?s called ?information rage?, and almost one in two Aussie employees is affected by it. Overwhelmed by the torrent of data flooding corporate workplaces, many are on the verge of breaking point. http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/blogs/work-in-progress/enough-already-information-overload/20101022-16w8x.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** Gartner Says Social Media in Asia Pacific is Developing in Different Directions to the U.S. and Europe [news release] The dominant social network sites of Europe and North America have yet to extend their reach into parts of Asia Pacific where local sites retain the leading consumer mind share and profitable business models, according to new research from Gartner, Inc. http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1454513 S'pore govt taking cautious approach to social media While the local government is embracing social media in order to increase its reach and engagement with the public, it is taking the cautious approach to address concerns about data privacy and protection. http://www.zdnetasia.com/s-pore-govt-taking-cautious-approach-to-social-media-62203903.htm ********************** NEW TECHNOLOGIES ********************** DVD?s farewell The DVD is not yet dead, but this week Netflix declared the disk?s condition terminal, and Apple turned off the heart monitor. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3/570cbe48-de21-11df-9364-00144feabdc0.html ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Half of EU Kids Don't Know How to Be Safe Online [IDG] Half of the young children in the E.U. don't have basic Internet safety skills such as knowing how to control privacy settings or block unwanted contacts. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/208547/.html eu: Digital Agenda: survey of children's Internet use; competition for high quality online content [news release] Children in Europe are on average starting to use the Internet at the age of 7 but only one in three 9-12 year olds feel that there are enough "good things for kids" of their age online, according to a pan-European survey published by the European Commission. The study also shows that one in eight children have upsetting experiences online and they still lack skills and confidence using Internet. To help deal with these problems, the Commission has launched a competition to encourage the creation of online high quality content for children. The Commission is committed to helping parents and their children keep safe online as part of the Digital Agenda for Europe. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/1368 Sectoral conference on ?Safe internet for russian children? was held in Moscow [news release] On 12 October 2010 a sectoral conference ?Safe Internet for Russian Children? was held in Moscow. The Conference was co-sponsored by the Foundation for Internet Development, the Foundation Friendly Runet, and the Ministry for Telecom and Mass Communications. http://cctld.ru/en/news/news_detail.php?ID=943 us: The growing epidemic of children addicted to Internet porn Kids as young as 8 years old have become addicted to pornography. Pornography has been the bane of many American communities for decades. With the advent of the Internet the problem has become exacerbated. Most parents are aware of the dangers of pedophiles, but other dangers lurk online that are just as potentially damaging to children--especially children between the ages of 8 to 12 years old. http://www.opednews.com/populum/page.php?f=The-growing-epidemic-of-ch-by-Terrence-Aym-101023-680.html ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** Illegal online sports streaming of matches 'increases' The number of internet streams showing matches illegally has increased, say some of the UK's biggest sporting bodies. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/11549979 Big Networks Block Web Shows From Google TV In the latest sign that Google may struggle to transform television viewing with Google TV, its new service for Internet-connected TVs, three major broadcast networks and Hulu are blocking people from using the service to watch full-length TV shows on their Web sites. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/big-networks-block-web-shows-from-google-tv/ US Networks Block Web Programs From Being Viewed on Google TV ABC, CBS and NBC are blocking TV programming on their websites from being viewable on Google Inc.'s new Web-TV service, exposing the rift that remains between the technology giant and some of the media companies it wants to supply content for its new products. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303339504575566572021412854.html Google to Combat India Piracy With Online Music Search Google Inc. plans to launch a music service in India to help users search for legal online streams and downloads, a move aimed at combating rampant digital piracy that has held back the country's entertainment industry. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304023804575566363927521030.html ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** Smart-phone lawsuits: Nasty legal spats between tech giants may be here to stay History buffs still wax poetic about the brutal patent battles a century ago between the Wright brothers and Glenn Curtiss, another aviation pioneer. The current smart-phone patent war does not quite have the same romance, but it could be as important. http://www.economist.com/node/17309237 Gartner Says Mobility will be a Trillion Dollar Business by 2014 [news release] Worldwide mobile voice and data revenue will exceed one trillion dollars a year by 2014, according to Gartner, Inc. Mobile will generate revenue from a wide range of additional services such as context, advertising, application and service sales, and so on. Each of these will be a significant business worth several tens of billions of dollars per year. http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1455314 ITU paves way for next-generation 4G mobile technologies [news release] ITU?s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) has completed the assessment of six candidate submissions for the global 4G mobile wireless broadband technology, otherwise known as IMT-Advanced. Harmonization among these proposals has resulted in two technologies, ?LTE-Advanced1? and ?WirelessMAN-Advanced2? being accorded the official designation of IMT-Advanced, qualifying them as true 4G technologies. http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2010/40.aspx 4G World abuzz over LTE devices The 4G World conference this week attracted 10,000 attendees, but offered few clues about upcoming 4G smartphones and end-user devices other than a few for WiMax 4G already announced by Sprint Nextel and Clearwire. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9192320/4G_World_abuzz_over_LTE_devices 4G: Are we there yet? Two of the most popular next generation wireless technologies are close to getting their official 4G moniker from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20020365-266.html http://www.zdnetasia.com/4g-are-we-there-yet-62203911.htm http://www.zdnet.com.au/4g-are-we-there-yet-339306776.htm nz: Joyce's 4G network damper [Dominion Post] Communications Minister Steven Joyce appears to have poured cold water on plans to build a shared 4G cellphone network based on LTE technology, which would let carriers offer faster and cheaper mobile broadband. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/4268869/Joyces-4G-network-damper ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** FBI Warns Of 'Corporate Account Takeover' Scams Cybercriminals are targeting the financial accounts of small and midsize businesses (SMBs), fraudulently transferring money directly from their accounts, the FBI warned yesterday. http://www.darkreading.com/smb-security/security/perimeter/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=227900529 Cyber Criminals Take Over Corporate Accounts [news release] Cyber criminals are targeting the financial accounts of owners and employees of small and medium sized businesses, resulting in significant business disruption and substantial monetary losses due to fraudulent transfers from these accounts. Often these funds may not be recovered. http://www.ic3.gov/media/2010/CorporateAccountTakeOver.pdf Pentagon Will Help Homeland Security Department Fight Domestic Cyberattacks The Obama administration has adopted new procedures for using the Defense Department?s vast array of cyberwarfare capabilities in case of an attack on vital computer networks inside the United States, delicately navigating historic rules that restrict military action on American soil. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/us/21cyber.html Cybersecurity is 'really about the people,' official says A strong cybersecurity workforce is critical to protecting government computer networks from attack, according to cyber experts. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20101021_2534.php FCC to Hold Workshop on Cybersecurity Roadmap [news release] The Federal Communications Commission?s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) today announced it will hold a workshop to discuss the development of a cybersecurity roadmap by the FCC. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-302276A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-302276A1.doc au: Data privacy legislation hampering cyber crime prevention: ACC Organised crime groups have penetrated law enforcement bodies, and authorities are helpless to fight back due to restrictive data privacy legislation, according to the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) chief executive, John Lawler. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/365077/data_privacy_legislation_hampering_cyber_crime_prevention_acc/ us: Fraud Advisory for Consumers: Involvement in Criminal Activity through Work from Home Scams [news release] Consumers continue to lose money from work-from-home scams that assist cyber criminals move stolen funds. Worse yet, due to their deliberate or unknowing participation in the scams, these individuals may face criminal charges. Work-from-home scam victims are often recruited by organized cyber criminals through newspaper ads, online employment services, unsolicited emails or ?spam?,1 and social networking sites advertising work-from-home opportunities. Once recruited, however, rather than becoming an employee of a legitimate business, the consumer is actually a ?mule? for cyber criminals who use the consumer?s or other victim's accounts to steal and launder money. In addition, the consumer?s own identity or account may be compromised by the cyber criminals. http://www.ic3.gov/media/2010/WorkAtHome.pdf ************************** PRIVACY ************************** MySpace, Apps Leak User Data - Site Sends Personal IDs When Ads Are Clicked, a Journal Investigation Finds MySpace and some popular applications on the social-networking site have been transmitting data to outside advertising companies that could be used to identify users, a Wall Street Journal investigation has found. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303738504575568460409331560.html Facebook's Broken Promises: Facebook Apps Leaking Private Data to Advertisers and Trackers The Wall Street Journal is reporting today on yet another major Facebook privacy blunder. Despite Facebook's various polices and promises about users' privacy when using apps, apps have been feeding Facebook users' information to advertisers and Internet tracking companies regardless of the individual user's Facebook privacy settings. http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/10/facebooks-broken-promises-facebook-apps-leaking 10 Ways to Protect Your Privacy Online The landscape of personal data mining and exploitation is shifting faster than ever; trying to protect your online privacy alone is like trying to build your own antivirus software?really, really difficult. http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/22/10-ways-to-protect-your-privacy-online.html Marketers Can Glean Private Data on Facebook Online advertising offers marketers the chance to aim ads at very specific groups of people ? say, golf players in Illinois who make more than $150,000 a year and vacation in Hawaii. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/technology/23facebook.html Google admits Street View errors Google has admitted for the first time that the cars it uses to photograph residential streets for its Street View service have in some cases illicitly collected complete personal e-mails, as well as passwords, from the homes they passed. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/2b5b3590-de30-11df-9364-00144feabdc0.html Google says its cars grabbed emails, passwords Google Inc admitted for the first time its "Street View" cars around the world accidentally collected more personal data than previously disclosed -- including complete emails and passwords -- potentially breathing new life into probes in various countries. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE69L4MK20101022 http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-52390420101022 British privacy body to re-examine Google Britain's privacy watchdog is to look again at what personal information internet giant Google gathered from private wi-fi networks. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11614970 Google faces fresh Street View inquiry in UK Data protection officials in the UK are re-opening their investigation into Google after the search group admitted its Street View cars had captured complete emails and passwords from domestic WiFi networks. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/2295da56-df83-11df-bed9-00144feabdc0.html Google investigated over household data privacy breaches The UK privacy watchdog has launched an investigation into Google after it admitted copying household computer passwords and emails from unsecured wireless networks, when taking photographs for its Street View mapping service. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/24/google-investigated-data-privacy-breaches Google spied on British emails and computer passwords Computer passwords and entire emails from households across Britain have been copied by Google, the internet search giant, in a major privacy breach. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/8083008/Google-spied-on-British-emails-and-computer-passwords.html Italy orders Google to mark Street View cars: report Italy's privacy regulator has told Google Inc it will have to make sure its "Street View" photo-collecting cars are clearly marked and their itinerary is publicized, a daily newspaper reported on Saturday. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69M14720101023 http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE69M14K20101023 http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-52401220101023 Google tightening privacy leash on its employees [AP] Google Inc. is tightening its privacy leash on employees in an effort to ensure they don't intrude on people while the Internet search leader collects and stores information about its users. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/22/AR2010102204506.html http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10682836 Google: 244,000 Germans Say 'No' to Street View [AP] Internet giant Google says more than 244,000 Germans have asked that their homes be made unrecognizable in its Street View program, scheduled to launch in Germany next month. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/10/21/world/europe/AP-EU-Germany-Google-Street-View.html Thousands of Germans opt out of Google Street View Almost 250,000 Germans have told Google to blur pictures of their homes on the Street View service. The German government insisted that people get the chance to make the request as a condition of letting Google operate Street View. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11595495 Germans Unfazed by Google Street View; Low Number of Objections Back in August, politicians slammed the upcoming launch of Google Street View in Germany as a massive invasion of individuals' privacy. But residents of the 20 cities that will feature in the online service appear less concerned: Fewer than 3 percent have applied to get their homes made unrecognizable. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,724369,00.html More than 244,000 opt out of Google Street View in Germany A quarter of a million Germans have objected to having their homes put on display in Google Street View. The service plans to launch by the end of the year and has sparked a heated debate about privacy issues in Germany. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6133854,00.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Silence of the dissenters: How south-east Asia keeps web users in line Governments across south-east Asia are following China's authoritarian censorship of the digital world to keep political dissent in check, the Guardian can reveal. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/21/internet-web-censorship-asia ************************** GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC POLICY ************************** EU rules against levies on content copyright Changes to Europe?s much-criticised system of copyright levies ? surcharges on products that copy music, books, films and other protected content ? are finally in sight after a ruling in the European Union?s highest court. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/45fdbcc0-dcf4-11df-884a-00144feabdc0.html 'Surveillance state' fear as British government revives tracking plan A ?2bn plan to allow the police and security services to track the email, text, internet and mobile phone details of everyone in Britain is to be revived, the Home Office has confirmed. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/oct/21/surveillance-government-legislation ********************************* MISCELLANEOUS ********************************* Google 2.4% Rate Shows How $60 Billion Lost to Tax Loopholes Google cut its taxes by $US3.1 billion ($3.16 billion) in the last three years using a technique that moves most of its foreign profits through Ireland and the Netherlands to Bermuda. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-21/google-2-4-rate-shows-how-60-billion-u-s-revenue-lost-to-tax-loopholes.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/googles-31-billion-tax-haven-loophole-20101022-16wf8.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/googles-31-billion-tax-haven-loophole-20101022-16wf8.html Google under fire for using tax loopholes to save $3bn Google, the internet giant which makes profits at a rate of $1m every hour, is shielding billions of dollars from tax across the world by using complex financial structures known in the industry as "the Double Irish" and "the Dutch Sandwich". http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/google-under-fire-for-using-tax-loopholes-to-save-3bn-2113290.html Google: Why it's so much more than just a search engine Its activities beyond the internet, however, receive less attention. In the week that Britain cancelled orders for new Nimrod spy planes, it's striking to learn, for example, that Google recently placed an order with a German company for spy drones equipped with night vision cameras. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/google-why-its-so-much-more-than-just-a-search-engine-2114238.html Behold the new golden age of TV in Australia James Packer's $280 million raid on Channel Ten shows at least one person thinks there is still life in television, and at least one rich man who thinks there is money to be made from it. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/behold-the-new-golden-age-of-tv-20101022-16xt9.html Viewers vote with their remotes as box beats net Call it lazy or call it easy, but television is anything but difficult to watch. Plug it in, tune it in, sit on the couch, watch. Broadcast television's great advantage over internet TV is its effortlessness: the harder it is for people to find a program, the fewer people will watch it. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/viewers-vote-with-their-remotes-as-box-beats-net-20101022-16xte.html nz: Mayor plans round table on IT [Dominion Post] Wellington's information technology industry can expect more limelight following the election of former geek Celia Wade-Brown as mayor, but it is unclear whether the council will revive the leading role it assumed when it undertook its InfoCity initiative in the 1990s. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/technology/4268866/Mayor-plans-round-table-on-IT http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/4268866/Mayor-plans-round-table-on-IT ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** nz: Telecom split outline queried InternetNZ says an outline of the way Telecom's structural separation might be carried out does not represent a clean separation and cannot deliver the slashing of regulation Telecom wants. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10682426 nz: ComCom slams ministry over Telecom split [BusinessDay] The Commerce Commission has blasted the Economic Development Ministry's suggestions on how a split of Telecom into two businesses could be managed, saying the ministry seemed more concerned with the interests of investors than consumers. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-Telecom-split http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/business/national-business/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-split http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-split http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-Telecom-split http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/business/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-Telecom-split http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/business/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-Telecom-split http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/business/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-Telecom-split http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/business/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-split http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/business/4266103/ComCom-slams-ministry-over-Telecom-split nz: Mayor plans round table on IT [Dominion Post] Wellington's information technology industry can expect more limelight following the election of former geek Celia Wade-Brown as mayor, but it is unclear whether the council will revive the leading role it assumed when it undertook its InfoCity initiative in the 1990s. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/4268866/Mayor-plans-round-table-on-IT Asian Cities Dominate Fast Broadband High-speed broadband has become a phenomenon of densely-populated Asian cities, which now account for 74 of the top 100 global cities offering fast connections according to Akamai's latest State of the Internet report. http://news.techworld.com/personal-tech/3245415/asian-cities-dominate-fast-broadband-report-finds/ http://www.pcworld.com/article/208550/.html Australian broadband speeds stagnant: Akamai Australia?s internet speeds continue to lag behind the rest of the world, according to a new research report from Akamai. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/365251/australian_broadband_speeds_stagnant_akamai/ Akamai Announces Second Quarter 2010 State of the Internet Report [news release] Akamai Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of cloud optimization services, today announced the release of its 2nd Quarter, 2010 State of the Internet report available for download at www.akamai.com/stateoftheinternet. Leveraging information gathered from its global server network, the Akamai report provides insight into key Internet statistics such as broadband adoption, mobile connectivity, and attack traffic, as well as trends over time. http://www.akamai.com/html/about/press/releases/2010/press_102010.html FCC wants broadcasters' unused spectrum to help meet growing wireless demand Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski said he plans to encourage broadcasters to give up unused spectrum for auction to wireless carriers, an initial step toward achieving an agency goal of making networks faster for mobile phones and tablet computers. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102006154.html FCC: Wireless spectrum shortage coming [IDG] Mobile data traffic in the U.S. will be 35 times higher in 2014 than it was in 2009, leading to a massive wireless spectrum shortage if the government fails to make more available, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission said in a paper released Thursday. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9192337/FCC_Wireless_spectrum_shortage_coming NTIA Identifies Federal Spectrum For Reallocation The head of the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration said Thursday that his agency has recommended that 115 megahertz of spectrum now controlled by some federal agencies be reallocated for commercial mobile broadband use. http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/10/ntia-identifies-federal-spectr.php +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2010 --------- David Goldstein email: goldstein_david§yahoo.com.au web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim FlanneryReceived on Sun Oct 24 2010 - 15:15:44 UTC
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