NewsBits for February 24, 2004 sponsored by, Southeast Cybercrime Institute - www.cybercrime.kennesaw.edu ************************************************************ FBI takes computer servers from Internet chat room company Federal agents conducting an Internet crime investigation confiscated computer equipment and data files from a company that hosts private Internet chat rooms, an FBI spokesman said Tuesday. Agents took computer servers from CIT Hosting while executing a search warrant Feb. 14 at a house in the Columbus suburbs, FBI spokesman James Turgal said. He would not elaborate on the investigation other than to say it concerns "cyber crime" and is not terrorism-related. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2004-02-24-fbi-takes-servers_x.htm - - - - - - - - - - Netsky.B infections spread E-mail inboxes are being swamped as Netsky.B continues to increase its infection rate. The worm first appeared on February 17 and appears to have originated in the Netherlands. MessageLabs, an e-mail management company, claims to have stopped more than 1.3 million e-mail since the virus started spreading, and believes the infection rate is increasing rapidly. Symantec has rated the worm as severe. This means the worm is a dangerous threat and is difficult to contain. http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5163968.html http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39147299,00.htm Despite bounties, no virus arrests yet http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5164072.html - - - - - - - - - - New MyDoom Virus Packs a Wallop The most virulent e-mail virus ever is continuing its romp through the e-mail in-boxes and the alphabet with the recent release of MyDoom.F. The good news is that MyDoom.F is infecting far fewer computer users than its predecessors did, according to security experts. The bad news: MyDoom.F packs an even nastier punch than its older siblings. http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,62401,00.html http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_title=Mydoom_F_Unleashed_on_RIAA__Microsoft&story_id=23240 - - - - - - - - - - Net Dissidents Jailed in China In its ongoing repression of Internet speech, the Chinese government has sentenced five Falun Gong members to prison for posting an article to a discussion board that accused authorities of mistreating a jailed colleague. http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,62391,00.html - - - - - - - - - - Homeland Security rolls out tactical response network The Homeland Security Department today took the wraps off the Homeland Security Information Network, an upgraded version of the Joint Regional Information Exchange System pilot that it developed with help from the Defense Intelligence Agency. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/25062-1.html http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/0223/web-hsin-02-24-04.asp Ridge unveils plans for national information network http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0204/022404tdpm2.htm Translation in the Age of Terror http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/erard0304.asp Senators grill Homeland official on threat assessments http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0204/022404tdpm1.htm CIA to issue cyberterror intelligence estimate http://computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,90448,00.html Arizona, New Mexico collaborate on homeland security http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2004/0223/web-info-02-24-04.asp The Patriot Act Is Your Friend http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,62388,00.html - - - - - - - - - - OMB: Privacy assessments pass muster The Office of Management and Budget is pleased with agencies initial attempts at developing privacy impact assessments for major systems. The quality of the more than 300 assessments the agency received with the fiscal 2005 budget submissions was good, said Eva Kleederman, an OMB policy analyst focusing on privacy. http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/25056-1.html - - - - - - - - - - UK police chief: Shut down 'abhorrent' Web sites The Internet is no place for people looking for 'perverse gratification', claims the police officer leading the UK's fight against e-crime. The most senior officer from the UK's Hi-Tech Crime Unit has called for Web sites devoted to subjects such as cannibalism and necrophilia to be closed down, claiming they contribute to Internet criminality. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,39020369,39147312,00.htm - - - - - - - - - - E-crime costs UK business billions Detective Chief Superintendent Len Hinds, head of the National High Tech Crime Unit(NHTCU), warned British business today that denial of service attacks, coupled with threats of extortion are the fastest growing threat faced by IT departments. http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/35779.html http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39147317,00.htm Cyber-crime law to be strengthened http://www.vnunet.com/News/1153002 - - - - - - - - - - EBay wants to protect UK buyers The online auctioneer is launching a buyer-protection fee that gives customers PS250 of insurance. Online auctioneer eBay says it has launched a buyer-protection security feature for its British unit, aiming to attract bigger-spending traders to its booming UK marketplace. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/ecommerce/0,39020372,39147300,00.htm http://www.vnunet.com/News/1152994 - - - - - - - - - - Digital detective tracks perps online Det. Peter Jupp, of the Ottawa police department's high-tech crime unit, has seen it all when it comes to computer-related crimes -- short of victims being beaten to death with hard drives. Jupp spoke with TIG recently about his work and how technology is being used to fight crime. http://www.itbusiness.ca/index.asp?theaction=61&lid=1&sid=54724 - - - - - - - - - - Microsoft working with RSA on secure Windows log-on system Office computers running the latest Windows operating systems could get a new degree of protection against snoops and intruders from a partnership announced Tuesday by Microsoft Corp. and RSA Security Inc. http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/8028692.htm http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39147296,00.htm http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2004-02-24-sec-key_x.htm RSA Security Tweaks Its Channel Program http://www.crn.com/sections/BreakingNews/dailyarchives.asp?ArticleID=48151 RSA Conference: New lines of defense (series of stories) http://zdnet.com.com/2251-1110-5163906.html Gates 'optimistic' on security http://www.securityfocus.com/news/8111 http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/25061-1.html Is security getting any easier? http://news.com.com/2100-7355-5164431.html Will IM be the next security culprit? http://news.com.com/2010-7355_3-5163671.html Microsoft Confident Bounties Will Nab Virus Writers http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1209&e=2&u=/nm/20040224/tc_nm/tech_microsoft_bounties_dc&sid=95573713 http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/security/0,39020375,39147319,00.htm http://computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,90442,00.html - - - - - - - - - - AMD teams with SafeNet on security processor Advanced Micro Devices' personal connectivity solutions (PCS) group is sampling a security network processor with an integrated security engine and security technology licensed from SafeNet's embedded security division. http://www.eetimes.com/semi/news/OEG20040224S0011 Sun to boost Java ID plan for PCs http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5163746.html - - - - - - - - - - Yahoo, Sendmail to test antispam system Internet company Yahoo and software provider Sendmail said Tuesday that they will jointly develop a system for authenticating e-mail, with the goal of mitigating spam. The two Silicon Valley companies announced support of DomainKeys, a proposed system for verifying the identity of an e-mail sender and reducing e-mail forgeries. http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5164279.html Finding a way to fry spam http://news.com.com/2008-1032-5164246.html?tag=nefd_gutspro Microsoft Announces Anti-Spam Initiative http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2187-2004Feb24.html With anti-spam law in effect, companies work to foil junk e-mail http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/internetprivacy/2004-02-24-uncanned-spam_x.htm - - - - - - - - - - WLAN security enhanced Aruba Wireless Networks Inc. has announced several security improvements to its wireless network switch, aimed at protecting corporate Wi-Fi networks from problems with client devices. http://computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,90430,00.html - - - - - - - - - - Computer crimes in former Warsaw Pact countries Dr. Golubev: Anti spam and anti internet crime law will really be efficient only in case when there would be technical opportunity to identify spammer. In the East (former Warsaw Pact) governments have come to understanding of such problem as spam and other computer crimes, though laws are not adopted yet. http://www.crime-research.org/news/02.24.2004/75 - - - - - - - - - - Covering tracks: New privacy hope for P2P Jason Rohrer was battling an insect invasion last year when he hit on an idea that he hoped would help file swappers hide from the copyright police. As ants marched with impunity through the Santa Cruz, Calif., home of the programmer, frustration turned to inspiration and Mute was born. The program, which seeks to hide the source of downloads by passing files between computers along twisting pathways, is gaining attention as an interesting solution to file swapping's hottest problem: privacy. http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-5164413.html - - - - - - - - - - Information security is about people Front Lines is a guest viewpoint section offering perspectives on current issues and events from people working on the front lines of Canada's technology industry. Robert Masse is the president of GoSecure Inc., a Montreal information security services firm, and a former security consultant for KPMG. http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040223.gtflmassefeb23/BNStory/Technology/ - - - - - - - - - - Who's Afraid of Chinese Pirates? Xybernaut's Edward Newman explains why he's doing business in China, despite the country's reputation for stealing intellectual property. http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2004/tc20040224_1878_tc058.htm *********************************************************** Computer Forensics Training - Online. An intense, 150 hour, instructor lead program that teaches you computer forensics and helps prepare you for the Certified Computer Examiner exam. For more information see; www.cybercrime.kennesaw.edu *********************************************************** 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 2000-2004, NewsBits.net, Campbell, CA.