NewsBits for December 8, 2004 ************************************************************ Officials raid stores, arrest 2 in game piracy Federal authorities raided three Washington, D.C. -area video game stores and arrested two people for modifying game consoles to play pirated video games, an industry group said on Wednesday. The Entertainment Software Association said the Dec. 1 raids at three Pandora's Cube stores in Maryland and Virginia were a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Justice's computer crimes unit, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Maryland and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. http://news.com.com/Officials+raid+stores%2C+arrest+2+in+game+piracy/2100-1043_3-5484122.html - - - - - - - - - - FTC punishes porn dialler firm A US adult content payment processing firm has agreed to tear up disputed bills of $17m to settle Federal Trade Commission charges. Alyon Technologies has agreed not to pursue an estimated 200,000 consumers for their supposed use of adult videotext services. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/08/alyon/ - - - - - - - - - - Browser phishing 'flaw' could hook users Forward in EMAIL Format for PRINT Web browsers Security threats Microsoft Corp Apple Computer Inc A function built into all major browsers could be co-opted by attackers to fool Web site visitors into surrendering sensitive information, a security firm warned on Wednesday. The issue, which security firm Secunia labeled a flaw, could allow a malicious Web site to refer visitors to a legitimate site--such as a bank's Web site--and then control the content displayed in a pop-up windows. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5484315.html - - - - - - - - - - New set of Linux security flaws unveiled A security researcher has uncovered yet another set of security flaws in an image component, which could put Linux users at risk of system compromise if they view a maliciously crafted image. The bugs, in the imlib image library found in most Linux systems, haven't been patched by the library's developer, but Linux vendors are currently rushing out patches. So far Gentoo, Suse and others have released fixes. http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?NewsID=2768 http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5484080.html http://computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,98120,00.html - - - - - - - - - - Tech firms, FBI to fight 'phishing' scams Internet companies and law-enforcement agencies said Wednesday they will work together to track down online scam artists who pose as banks and other legitimate businesses, a practice known as "phishing." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6679100/ - - - - - - - - - - Experts push for more US computer security efforts Computer-security experts, including former government officials, urged the Bush administration on Tuesday to devote more effort to strengthening defenses against viruses, hackers and other online threats. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2004-12-08-more-security-sought_x.htm - - - - - - - - - - Sophos declares Netsky-P worst virus of 2004 Netsky-P tops the list of the worst virus outbreaks in 2004--a year marked with nearly a 52 percent increase in new viruses, according to a report released Wednesday by security software maker Sophos. Netsky-P represented 22.6 percent of all virus incidents reported to Sophos, the company said. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5483401.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6679126/ http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/12/08/viruses.reut/index.html http://computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,98125,00.html - - - - - - - - - - CSOs' Top Concerns For 2005 Worms, viruses and regulatory compliance topped the list of concerns of more than 85 Chief Security Officers who met yesterday in New York City for the second CSO Interchange. Participants at CSO Interchange discussed a wide variety of security issues that affect their organizations and revealed their top-of-mind concerns through interactive surveys conducted at the event. http://www.securitypronews.com/news/securitynews/spn-45-20041208CSOsTopConcernsfor2005.html - - - - - - - - - - Cybercrime remains a hard nut to crack THE internet may not be the haven it seems for hi-tech crime, an Australian criminologist believes. Australian Institute of Criminology director Dr Russell Smith says although significant steps have been taken, computer crime remains difficult to investigate and there are many unresolved legal and practical problems. http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,11584698%5E15318%5E%5Enbv%5E15306,00.html - - - - - - - - - - One in four Brits on net for Porn According to a survey conducted by British ISP Homecall, 23 per cent of Britons are getting broadband for the porn, and it's by far the most important factor in getting wired. 12 per cent cited access to music videos, 8 per cent access to movie trailers, and a gratifying 9 per cent for radio, which is undergoing a renaissance in the UK. Sometimes new media can be the best thing to happen to old media. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/12/08/brit_net_filth/ - - - - - - - - - - BlackBag Technologies Announces 'MacQuisition' Boot CD BlackBag Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of computer forensic hardware and software solutions, today announced general availability of its MacQuisition Boot CD, a unique application within the industry that simplifies the imaging of computer evidence from Macintosh systems. The new MacQuisition Boot CD, the first of its kind, provides both non-Mac users and experts with an easy to use and forensically sound boot disk for creating dd images. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/12-07-2004/0002587951&EDATE= - - - - - - - - - - Forensic software helps fight computer crime Vogon International has launched the latest version of its computer forensics software. Designed to meet the needs of government and law enforcement agencies, it offers a powerful range of imaging, processing and investigation software tools to enable investigators to fight computer crime and terrorism. Vogon says that it will also prove to be an essential tool for larger corporate users and accountancy firms. http://continuitycentral.com/news01654.htm - - - - - - - - - - Xandros 3.0 focuses on security The next version of the US-based Linux distro, which is sold at Walmart.com, includes a wizard to make it easier to install a firewall. Xandros released version 3 of its Linux distribution for consumers on Wednesday, which includes wireless support and improved security features. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/linuxunix/0,39020390,39179917,00.htm - - - - - - - - - - Internet hoax hoodwinks McNealy Sun Microsystems Chief Executive Scott McNealy showed a photo during a Wednesday speech to illustrate how rapidly technology improves--but instead illustrated another computing phenomenon: how easy it is to fall for an Internet hoax. http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5484053.html - - - - - - - - - - Temps 'a threat to network security' Temporary workers can threaten network security -- and cause legal troubles -- when not schooled in an organisation's IT policies. http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/employment/0,39020648,39179916,00.htm - - - - - - - - - - Access point impersonation Is that coffee-shop Wi-Fi connection the real thing? Each week vnunet.com asks a different expert to give their views on recent virus and security issues, with advice, warnings and information on the latest threats. This week Ken Munro, managing director of SecureTest, warns that personal information and company data is at risk from rogue access points set up to lure unsuspecting wireless surfers. http://www.vnunet.com/news/1159957 - - - - - - - - - - ACLU files challenge to law expanding DNA database Civil rights advocates sued in federal court to thwart a voter-approved proposition that would expand California's DNA database to include anyone arrested on suspicion of committing a felony. The lawsuit filed Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union says Proposition 69 is an unconstitutional and "vicious assault" on privacy. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2004-12-08-aclu-dna-challenge_x.htm - - - - - - - - - - Driver's license gets new high-tech features Minnesota will soon begin issuing new driver's licenses that contain high-tech features to curb counterfeiting, as well as a "status check" that will show a driver's immigration status. The changes include a reflective image of a row of loons that seem to "float" when viewed from different angles and an invisible digital watermark that can be detected by a computer or a police scanner. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-12-08-minn-tech-license_x.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 2000-2004, NewsBits.net, Campbell, CA.