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Atari Online News, Etc. Volume 08 Issue 10
Volume 8, Issue 10 Atari Online News, Etc. March 10, 2006
Published and Copyright (c) 1999 - 2006
All Rights Reserved
Atari Online News, Etc.
A-ONE Online Magazine
Dana P. Jacobson, Publisher/Managing Editor
Joseph Mirando, Managing Editor
Rob Mahlert, Associate Editor
Atari Online News, Etc. Staff
Dana P. Jacobson -- Editor
Joe Mirando -- "People Are Talking"
Michael Burkley -- "Unabashed Atariophile"
Albert Dayes -- "CC: Classic Chips"
Rob Mahlert -- Web site
Thomas J. Andrews -- "Keeper of the Flame"
With Contributions by:
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=~=~=~=
A-ONE #0810 03/10/06
~ Court OKs Porn Search! ~ People Are Talking! ~ New Ultracapacitors!
~ Apple's MacBook Pro! ~ Web Attacks Increasing ~ Spam Rates Rebound!
~ PlayStation 3 Delay! ~ MS Web Search Engine! ~ MySpace.com Safe?
~ MS Still Noncompliant! ~ Google's 'Click Fraud' ~ CeBIT Show Preview
-* Hacker Gets To Mac OS X Fast *-
-* Permanent Internet Tax Ban Proposed *-
-* Famed Computer Terrorist Is Now Teaching! *-
=~=~=~=
->From the Editor's Keyboard "Saying it like it is!"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Well, by now, the snow in Joe's yard has probably melted, so I can't really
rub it in this week. Spring is closing in on us; I can just feel it. In
fact, there was a huge golf expo last weekend, and a bunch of us took the
trip into Boston to attend. I've been looking to replace some of my 30-year
old clubs for quite some time now, and finally did. I'm in the mood for
Spring, and getting out on the golf course. If we're lucky, we'll find a
course that's open this weekend and I'll be able to try these out!
Other Than that, not much else going on these days. Retirement is still
weighing heavily on my mind. Too bad things like a mortgage, food, etc. has
to be a factor! Maybe I need some time off to get my thoughts together and
figure out the best course of action should be. We'll see.
Until next time...
=~=~=~=
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
compiled by Joe Mirando
joe@atarinews.org
Hidi ho friends and neighbors. Another week has come and gone, and
it seems that I've roused one or two people in the past seven
days. That's good! I only wish it were more.
If you remember, last week I talked a little bit about the media
and how they don't seem to have the same standards that they did
several decades ago. Several people emailed me to say that they
thought it was "the other side" that was influencing the media. I
had expected that, since I've seen it a lot lately. What I hadn't
expected was the ferocity of the opinions. People don't just think
that it's the other side that's ruining the media, they're sure of
it! It's almost like they're... "mad as hell.. and they're not
going to take this anymore!" <grin>
So if some of us are sure that the media is being controlled by the
left and some of us are sure that it's being controlled by the
right, and none of us believe that it's being controlled by the
middle-of-the-roaders, where does that leave us?
It leaves us, my dear friends, with the disturbing possibility that
the media just isn't doing its job. One of the great hallmarks of
journalism these days seems to be 'balanced' reporting. Y'know
what? That's not reporting. Journalists should be worried about
being factual, not balanced. In most cases someone is right and
someone is wrong. That's not balanced, it's factual. Life is bias.
Now, I have no problem with people who have different opinions than
I do... Hey, if they don't mind being wrong, who am I to complain?
<grin>
MY problem is when someone re-defines words we all want to live by.
Words like 'honor' and 'proper'. Sure, it starts out by redefining
words like 'torture' and 'phone tap', but it always ends up by
making 'wrong' seem 'right' and 'dumb' seem 'smart'.
So the next time you hear or read some journalist going about their
job, ask yourself what's underneath the catch-phrases and
half-thoughts. Do we really expect to "get pro-active and give a
hundred and ten percent"? Is black really white just because
someone switched definitions when they thought no one was
watching.
Okay, I'm stepping down off of my soapbox. Let's get to the news,
hints, tips and info from the UseNet.
From the comp.sys.atari.st NewsGroup
====================================
Guillaume Tello asks about capturing sound on a MegaSTE:
"Do you think it's possible to capture a sound (with a ST replay,
timer A at 11 or 22 KHz) and to save it at the same time? (a
double buffer: while I fill one, I save the other). Is it too much
for a Mega STE?"
'Phantomm' tells Guillaume:
"I think it is possible, since the MSTE is 16mHz.
This is a project that I have looked at myself.
I wanted to create a way to transfer small speech/sound recordings
from the Falcon or other Atari to another Atari while both are
connect to the net. So that one could really talk to one another.
After getting this done, then one could maybe add some pictures or
maybe video using the VideoMaster Falcon or VideoMaster ST
cartridge. (Really a program to transfer sound and maybe video too
could be done based on the VideoMaster cartridge since it does
both Sound and Video.)
I don't see why this hasn't been done by someone already.
I know it would work with Falcons. And should work with Ataris
with good cartridge based sound digitizers.
If you are just want to basically do Direct to Disk recording on a
MSTE. I think it is possible. If I am not mistaken, there was a
program on a ST Format Cover disk that did this using some type of
Cartridge based Sound Digitiser.
By all means create anything that you can in this area, as not much
has been done yet."
Guillaume tells Phantomm:
"What I do now is a link between the TT and Mega STE:
- the TT captures the images with Vidi ST 12
- the Mega STE captures the sound with the ST Replay (only in RAM!)
- a serial link to synchronize everything.
As I have upgraded the TT Ram, now I can take a lot of frames on
the TT, so I would like to take loger sounds on the Mega STE..."
Phantomm replies:
"I have some info for you that may help and is quite interesting,
In ST Format Issue 60, There is a program called SAM2DISK, Which is
suppose to allow D2D (Direct to Disk) recording (Hard Drive) on any
ST, using a sampler such as Stereo Replay, Replay 16, Master
Sound, Stereo Master.
The version on the cover disk is fully working except for the save
feature of the sequencer section disabled. ( I believe you can
still record to the hard drive though).
When registered you were suppose to get a few other useful
programs.
Does anyone have the full registered version of this program!??? If
so, do contact me.
The registration address was listed to be in England and cost 35.99
Pounds!! Back in 1994!
I have the Cover Disk with the Working Demo of SAM2DISK and
remember running it on a 1040STE, but didn't have a sampler at
the time to check it out.
This is the only program I know of that claims to allow Direct to
Disk recording on a ST!
Maybe there are a few more, if so I would like to know about them.
Guillaume, if you don't have the cover disk, you maybe able to
download it from the net. There is a site that has most of ST
Format Cover Disks, I forget the URL at the moment.
Google for ST Format Cover Disks, or Atari Magazines and you should
find it."
Well folks, that's it for this week. I know it's short, but I'm
feeling a sinus infection coming on. I've also got to go poke a
couple of journalists with a sharp stick. <g>
So tune in again next week, same time, same station, and be ready
to listen to what they are saying when...
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
=~=~=~=
->In This Week's Gaming Section - PlayStation 3 Delay A Reality!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
=~=~=~=
->A-ONE's Game Console Industry News - The Latest Gaming News!
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Variety Claims PlayStation 3 Delay
A new interview with Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer by Hollywood trade
magazine Variety has indicated that the PlayStation 3 will be delayed until
later in the year, due to complications revolving around the console's
complex chipset.
The Variety article attributes the delay to the company 'fine-tuning' the
console's technology, referring to the PlayStation 3 as a 'the poor man's
Blue-ray [sic]', and suggests that the console will be released before the
end of the year, but does not include a specific comment from Stringer
confirming this.
The only direct quote from Stringer on the subject suggests that if the
PlayStation 3 "delivers what everyone thinks it will, the game is up",
presumably referring to rival consoles from Microsoft and Nintendo.
Regarding the Blu-ray format in general, Stringer is quoted as saying,
"Once Microsoft picked sides it was clear we were going to be in a battle
royale." He also added, "We won't be stampeded" by Microsoft into rushing
decisions "that are there forever."
The article does not mention a specific territory when discussing the date
of the console's new launch, but it is implied that it is referring to
North America. Few analysts have ever expected a Western launch for the
PlayStation 3 in spring, although it is now looking increasingly likely
that the Japanese launch will also not take place until this summer at the
earliest.
=~=~=~=
A-ONE's Headline News
The Latest in Computer Technology News
Compiled by: Dana P. Jacobson
Permanent Internet Tax Ban Proposed
U.S. Representative John Campbell (R-Calif.) introduced on Friday
legislation to permanently protect Internet commerce from discriminatory
taxes and disallow taxation on Internet use.
The new bill amounts to an amendment of the 1998 Internet Tax Freedom Act,
which is set to expire in November 2007. Campbell is seeking to extend the
deadline on the tax ban indefinitely.
"Members of congress put a 'sunset' in the bill, which means that it
remains in effect for a while and then expires," Campbell said in an
interview. "I think we have enough experience now with the Internet and
what it has done and can do for commerce and communication, that we should
make that ban on taxation permanent."
Former California Congressman, and current SEC chairman Chris Cox authored
the original bill in a bid to promote and preserve the commercial potential
of the Internet. The bill likens the Internet to a form of interstate and
international commerce. It prevents the creation of new state and local
taxes on Internet access and bans taxes that discriminate against
e-commerce.
"We don't want to retard the growth or use of the Internet by having states
or localities tax it," said Campbell. "So, if the state of California
decided 'we're going to put a tax on shoes sold on the Internet because
there are lots of shoes being sold and we want to make money off of that,'
this prohibits that from happening."
The Internet Tax Freedom Act prohibits taxes on three different levels:
access, use and discriminatory taxes.
In terms of access, the bill would disallow local governments from taxing
the traveling of information across a broadband network to the users'
computer. In addressing "use," the bill would ban taxation on such services
as e-mail. To discourage discriminatory tax practices, the bill would
prohibit state governments from mandating a tax on Internet sales.
"I oppose taxes on Internet use, period - from federal, state or any other
government," said Campbell. "I think this bill symbolically says that we,
the federal government, don't believe that anyone should be taxing the
Internet."
Apple's MacBook Pro Is Fast Laptop
Apple Computer Inc.'s notebooks have long been highly regarded for their
thoughtful designs and leading-edge features. But when it comes to
performance, recent models have been lagging behind competitors that run
Intel Corp.'s chips.
Unable to beat 'em, Apple last year announced plans last year to join 'em.
It recently began shipping its first Intel-based laptop, the MacBook Pro,
which looks a lot like the old PowerBook G4 line it's replacing.
Like the iMac desktop that also got a silicon brain transplant, the new
notebook is fast, with decent battery life.
Also like the old PowerBooks, it includes some very nice touches, such as
an impressively bright screen, stylish aluminum body, a video camera built
into the display's frame, a keyboard that lights up in a dark room, and
built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transmitters.
The initial MacBooks, all with a 15.4-inch widescreen displays, start at
$1,999, for a 1.83 gigahertz Core Duo microprocessor, 512 megabytes of
memory and an 80 gigabyte hard drive. The $2,499 model has a 2 GHz
processor, twice the memory and a 100 gig drive.
I reviewed the higher-end model with a few extras tossed in - including a
faster 2.16 GHz chip, faster hard drive and the maximum 2 gigabytes of
memory. Besides its appearance and performance, there's something else
that's breathtaking: its $3,199 price tag.
Still, it boots up in about 20 seconds. Programs launch without hesitation.
The 69 megabyte, high-definition "Cars" movie trailer played flawlessly, to
the delight of our toddler, even with other programs running in the
background.
To execute instructions at maximum speed, Intel-based chips need
"Universal" software that's adapted to it. Older software written for the
PowerPC chips supplied by IBM Corp. and Freescale Semiconductor Inc. also
can be used, but there is a speed penalty. So far, more than 1,000 programs
have been "Universalized."
What about the all-important battery life? Starting with it fully charged,
I surfed the Web, listened to music and engaged in other regular tasks for
an impressive 3 hours and 10 minutes before the system went to sleep. Once
plugged in, it woke up in seconds, exactly where it stopped.
The run time was slightly longer than for an older PowerBook, which I
tested under similar under similar conditions a year ago. In that case, the
battery fully drained in just under three hours.
The MacBook's result is even more impressive because the Intel chip runs
two computing engines at once, instead of just one on the PowerBook's G4
chip. The MacBook's processor also runs at a faster clock speed.
But in another test, where I continuously played a "Thomas the Tank Engine"
DVD, the fully charged battery lasted a little over two hours before
running out of steam. It's basically the same result I had with the
PowerBook G4 I tested a year ago.
Another noticeable difference is in the power cord. Rather than snapping
into a socket in the laptop, it attaches magnetically. If someone trips
over the cord, it will just break away, leaving the MacBook on your lap
rather than the floor.
It works as advertised, though it also had a tendency to pull out while I
was surfing the Web on the couch. This is where the longer battery life
pays off.
Apple also ships the MacBook with a remote control and its Front Row
software, a program designed for watching movies, viewing pictures and
listening to music from a distance. The notebook also can be connected to
an external monitor or TV, using a built-in DVI port or other optional
cables.
One particularly neat feature, made available through a software update
last week, allows music and pictures stored other computers to be remotely
accessible through Front Row. It uses Apple's Bonjour technology, which is
arguably the easiest networking technology ever.
Still, there are some downsides to the MacBook.
Apple has switched to a slightly slower optical drive for reading and
burning CDs and DVDs and it's also dumped the built-in modem, which might
be an inconvenience to anyone without broadband. It's also increased the
size of the power adapter.
Still, those are minor quibbles. The new notebooks may have a new name and
brain, but they haven't lost the Apple shine.
MIT Researchers Extend Computer Life Without Batteries
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found a way
to extend the power life of mobile computers.
Instead of using batteries, they draw power from an electronic device
called an ultracapacitor. The approach is still several years away from
being used as the main electricity source for commercial laptops and
handhelds, but is already used for backup power in many small consumer
products.
"A number of electronic devices already use commercial ultracapacitors for
specialized functions," said Joel Schindall, a professor in MIT's
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, in Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
"For example, a clock radio may use an ultracapacitor as a keep-alive
source in case of power failure, and even the old Palm III used an
ultracapacitor to retain its memory while the AA batteries were changed."
The new technology could shake up the retail computer business, where
computer makers already compete for market share by boasting of more
power-efficient machines.
Chip makers battle for business by launching more efficient processors like
Intel's Centrino and AMD's Turion, trading high performance speed for
mobile endurance.
Hewlett-Packard also says its customers demand longer run-times. The
company announced Monday that its HP Compaq nx9400 notebook will run on
three levels of battery packs. Those range from the standard, four-hour
unit to a substitute battery that adds five more hours, and a clip-on,
supplementary battery that adds another 10 hours.
The speed at which a battery charges is also important to users. HP says
its enhanced lithium ion battery can gain 90 percent of a full charge after
just 90 minutes of being plugged into a wall outlet.
By comparison, a consumer with a cell phone powered by MIT's ultracapacitor
could gain a complete recharge in just a few seconds, Schindall says.
The new device is called a nanotube-enhanced ultracapacitor, or NEU. It
works by applying nanotechnology to an existing electrical device; the
capacitor.
Generic capacitors store energy as an electrical field. That is more
efficient than standard batteries, which get their energy from chemical
reactions. Even more efficient is the ultracapacitor, a capacitor-based
storage cell that provides quick bursts of instant energy. The drawback is
size - ultracapacitors need to be much larger than batteries to hold the
same charge.
The MIT researchers solved this problem by taking advantage of the enormous
surface area of nanotubes; molecular-scale straws of carbon atoms that
enable ultracapacitors to store electrical fields at the atomic level.
Storage capacity (and charging speed) in an ultracapacitor is proportional
to the surface area of the electrodes, so the nanotubes provide a great
leap forward.
Despite this promise, researchers say they still have three to five years
more work before they can replace a computer's main battery.
One drawback is that the ultracapacitor provides direct current power. That
is suitable for running power-off functions like a laptop's clock, but most
desktop devices use alternating current for their main operations.
Microsoft Launches New Internet Search Engine
US computer software powerhouse Microsoft unveiled a revved-up Internet
search engine geared to challenge its online arch-rival Google.
The Redmond, Washington, company went public with a beta version of
"Windows Live Search" and an updated tool bar at the website www.Live.com.
"Were unveiling a range of innovations that deliver an outstanding level
of power and simplicity to search," the unit's vice president Christopher
Payne said at a conference in southern California.
"Combined with the rich browsing and integrated searching services
delivered by Windows Live Toolbar and Live.com, the new search service
offers customers the next generation of unified services."
Live was designed to provide users with tools to quickly find, view and
organize Internet search results in categories including news, images,
e-mail, and news feeds, according to Microsoft.
Live was introduced as online search titans such as Google, Yahoo,
Microsoft, and Ask compete for the loyalty of Internet surfers.
The more users a search engine has, the more opportunities it gets to make
money from online advertising and selling premium services.
Spam Rates Rebound
After several months of slipping spam rates, junk mail rebounded during
February, message filtering company Postini said Tuesday.
According to Postini's data, spam grew by two percent over the previous
month.
"The increase in spam was due to an increase in tax preparation offers and
other financial service offerings," said Andrew Lochart, Postini's senior
director of marketing. It's usual to see a spike in financial-oriented spam
during the run-up to the April 15 tax-filing deadline, he added.
Spam accounted for 73 percent of all mail sent during February, Postini's
data showed, although some days were significantly above that average. On
Feb. 18, for instance, 82 percent of all mail was classified as spam by the
San Carlos, Calif. company. The number was almost as high Tuesday:
81 percent.
Virus-carrying mail, meanwhile, slipped back to its usual 1.5 percent of
all messages, after a bump up in January due to the Kama Sutra (aka MyWife,
aka Nyxem) worm, which was widely distributed prior to a Feb. 3 trigger
date when it was to delete files. Kama Sutra, however, turned out to be a
bust.
"MyWife ranked only eighth on Postini's top ten viruses for the month,"
said the company in a statement. The worm is currently ninth on Postini's
list.
The volume of phishing attacks also fell in February, and were 65 percent
lower than during January. But Postini's numbers conflict with those from
other sources, which while noting a slackening of phishing during the
middle of 2005, have claimed record-setting phishing levels already this
year.
Hacker Gains Root Access to Mac OS X in 30 Minutes
It took a hacker less than 30 minutes to gain root-level access to Mac OS
X, according to a report from ZDNet. The hacker who penetrated the system
called the Mac "easy pickings."
The security breach took place on February 22 after a Swedish devotee of
the Mac set up a Mac Mini as a server and invited all takers to try to
compromise the system's security to gain root-level control. Once a hacker
has gained root access to a computer system, the attacker can install
applications, delete files and folders, and use the computer for any
nefarious purpose.
The competition was over in a matter of hours after a hacker, who asked to
be identified only as "Gwerdna," gained access to the server in question
and defaced the Web site with a message that read, "This sucks. Six hours
later this poor little Mac was owned and this page got defaced."
Gwerdna told ZDNet that it took him a mere 30 minutes or less to gain root
control of the Mac. "It probably took about 20 or 30 minutes to get root
on the box," Gwerdna said. "Initially, I tried looking around the box for
certain misconfigurations and other obvious things but then I decided to
use some unpublished exploits - of which there are a lot for the Mac OS
X."
Although Gwerdna said that the Mac Mini could have been protected more
effectively, he also said that, even had the machine been configured for
better security, it would not have stopped him because the vulnerability
he exploited has yet to be published and Apple has not released a patch
for it.
The winner of the hacking contest went on to say that there is a limitation
on what hackers can do with unknown and unpublished vulnerabilities because
there are countermeasures that systems administrators can employ to tighten
security - even for unpublished software flaws.
Although Gwerdna said that Mac OS X contains unpatched vulnerabilities that
would permit a hacker to infiltrate Apple's operating system, he said that
the relatively small number of Macs in use - in contrast to the vast number
of PCs running Windows - is the reason more hackers do not try to exploit
them.
"Mac OS X is easy pickings for bug finders," he told ZDNet. "That said, it
doesn't have the market share to really interest most serious bug finders."
News of this contest comes on the heels of Macs being hit by two viruses
and a critical security flaw. Security experts called the Leap and Inqtana
viruses relatively harmless because of their limited scope, but rated the
security flaw in Apple's Safari Web browser as critical.
Discovered by Michael Lehn, a graduate student and research assistant at
the University of Ulm in southern Germany, the Safari vulnerability could
have allowed attackers to disable a Mac computer after tricking the user
into accessing a phony Internet site that contained malicious code.
Up until the point that Apple patched the flaw, the Safari browser's
default configuration was set to open and run compressed files
automatically. Attackers could exploit the flaw when Mac users downloaded
files in which malicious software had been disguised to appear as safe.
Apple issued a security update last Wednesday to fix 20 Mac OS X
vulnerabilities, including the Web-browser problem and a similar flaw in
Apple's Mail client. The update also patched iChat, Apple's
instant-messaging application, which now relies on an Apple technology
called "download validation" to warn users of unknown or unsafe file types
during transfers.
"The lesson here is that if we look at Mac OS X and compare it to, say,
Windows XP, we find that, in terms of the number of vulnerabilities, they
are actually quite comparable," said Vincent Weafer, senior director at
Symantec Security Response.
What might surprise many is that both Apple's Mac OS X and Microsoft's
Windows have roughly the same type of vulnerabilities in a similar volume,
said Weafer.
But he did say that direct comparisons are not possible because both
companies report vulnerabilities and security updates differently - and
Apple ships more applications with Mac OS X than Microsoft does with
Windows.
Weafer also said that hackers are not capitalizing on vulnerabilities in
Mac OS X to the same degree they are trying to exploit flaws in Windows.
Weafer estimated that there are between 100,000 to 200,000 Windows viruses
compared to 200 or so Mac viruses.
According to Weafer, the number of Mac vulnerabilities discovered and the
possibility they will be exploited will gradually rise as a direct result
of an increased interest in Mac OS X. Weafer urged Mac users to make sure
they have installed antiviurs and antispyware applications and are updating
them regularly.
Famed "Computer Terrorist" Teaches Anti-Hacking
He can find George Bush senior's social security number and Leonardo
DiCaprio's mother's maiden name in under 15 seconds, and led the FBI on a
three-year manhunt as he hacked his way into the world's biggest firms.
"Computer terrorist" Kevin Mitnick is one of the world's most famous
computer hackers and became a cause celebre after breaking into networks
and stealing software at companies including Sun Microsystems and Motorola.
Now Mitnick, from the United States, travels the world teaching companies
how to guard against people just like him.
He argues that while sophisticated technology can help keep networks clean
from viruses, it is useless if hackers can con a company's employees into
handing over passwords by posing, for example, as colleagues.
"Hackers find the hole in the human firewall," Mitnick told an information
technology security conference on Wednesday in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"What's the biggest hole? It's the illusion of invulnerability."
"Social engineering" - as hackers call tricking people - formed the main
thrust of his career, in which he penetrated some of the world's most
sophisticated systems often by persuading unwitting staff to hand over
top-secret information.
Mitnick, now in his early 40s, started hacking phone systems in his teens
before moving on to computers, but says he never stole money or caused
deliberate damage and hacked just for the thrill of it.
The hobby earned him a place on the FBI's most wanted list and an almost
five-year stint in U.S. jail in the 1990s.
On his release he was initially banned from surfing the Web, and has since
written two books about hacking and started an IT security consulting firm.
Now the companies he once stole secrets from pay him to hack into their
systems and show them how to improve security.
Mitnick said hackers conduct meticulous research into companies and their
staff, even swotting up on the hobbies of target employees to better win
their trust.
And firms underestimate how easily hackers can get hold of personal
information - like driver's license numbers, social security numbers and
mothers' maiden names - which are often used by banks or other companies
to screen customers.
To prove it at the conference, he found former U.S. President George Bush's
driver's license number and the maiden name of Hollywood actor DiCaprio's
mother within 15 seconds, and said he knew how to find social security
numbers.
"The problem is that it is a good human quality to give people the benefit
of the doubt, and unless you've been burned, or you're paranoid, then you
will probably trust them," he said.
Companies must guard against smooth-talking hackers by making their staff
aware of the risks, developing simple company policies on data protection,
and getting the best technology, which will at least "raise the bar" for
hackers.
"It's not about being paranoid, but it's about being very aware, and very
alert," he said.
MySpace.com Safe Despite Reports
The popular Web hangout MySpace.com is as safe as anyplace in the offline
world despite recent reports that sexual predators may be using it to find
and lure young victims, the company's CEO said.
"If you go to the mall and start talking to strange people, bad things can
happen," Chris DeWolfe, the site's co-founder, said in a telephone
interview. "You've got to take the same precautions on the Internet."
MySpace, a division of News Corp., offers a free way for users to meet any
of more than 60 million members. Searching by hometown, alma mater or
interest, people can make new friends, reconnect with old ones and interact
in other ways.
But in the past month, authorities nationwide have expressed concern that
the searching options that make the site popular also put children at risk
for abuse.
Last week, two men were arrested in what prosecutors said were the first
federal sex charges involving MySpace. Both met the girls through their
MySpace.com profiles, the FBI said.
In one case, prosecutors said Sonny Szeto, 22, traveled from Jersey City,
N.J., to Connecticut in October and molested an 11-year-old girl in her
playroom while her parents slept upstairs, according to an FBI affidavit.
In the other case, Stephen Letavec, 39, was charged with molesting a
14-year-old visiting from Elrama, Pa., in October.
A Middletown officer called it "a predator's dream come true." Connecticut
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said it was a "parent's worst
nightmare." And U.S. Attorney Kevin O'Connor said he would have serious
reservations about letting his own children use the site.
DeWolfe said MySpace gets a lot of attention because it has so many
members, but he said the site simply offers a collection of tools already
widely used online: personalized home pages, instant messaging, e-mail,
Web logging and video sharing.
People who put themselves at risk on MySpace, DeWolfe said, would be doing
so elsewhere.
"This isn't a MySpace issue," he said. "It's an Internet issue."
Parents are accustomed to teaching their children how to stay safe and
DeWolfe said that needs to extend to the Internet. He said MySpace offers
a list of safety recommendations.
"Don't post anything you wouldn't want the world to know. On the Internet,
people aren't always who they say they are," he said. "If you keep some of
those safety tips in mind, the Internet can be a pretty safe place."
Children younger than 14 aren't allowed on MySpace and 14-year-olds are
allowed only restricted access. DeWolfe said the site uses a computer
program that analyzes user profiles and flags members likely to be under
14. More than 200,000 users have been deleted, he said.
But children regularly lie about their age to get around those
restrictions.
DeWolfe said company officials have assisted on more than 2,400
investigations, from criminal cases to runaways, and make themselves
available to investigators around the clock.
"We think MySpace is a great place for all users over 14," he said.
US Court OKs Computer Searches for Child Porn
Police may search computer hard drives for child pornography if their
owners subscribe to Web sites selling the images, a U.S. appeals court
ruled on Thursday.
There is a "fair probability" customers of child pornography Web sites
receive or download the illegal images, opening the door for police
searches, according to the ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The ruling affirmed a lower court's decision supporting an affidavit by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation for its probe of Lolitagurls.com Web site
and subscriber Micah Gourde.
Gourde had sought to suppress more than 100 images of child pornography
seized from his home computer, arguing an FBI affidavit did not establish
probable cause he had violated child pornography laws to justify a search
of his computers.
The San Francisco-based court took up his appeal. The panel voted nine to
two in ruling that a district court had properly declined to suppress the
evidence.
The majority opinion by Judge M. Margaret McKeown held there was a
"reasonable inference" that supported a "fair probability" Gourde had
downloaded banned images.
She noted the owner of Lolitagurls.com admitted to selling child
pornography over the Web site and Gourde subscribed to it with a credit
card and had unlimited access to its images. Additionally, she held
computer technology assured any images he received would leave a trail for
investigators.
"It neither strains logic nor defies common sense to conclude, based on
the totality of these circumstances, that someone who paid for access for
two months to a Web site that actually purveyed child pornography probably
had viewed or downloaded such images onto his computer," McKeown added.
Gourde's attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Colin Fieman, said he
would discuss with Gourde whether to appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Google to Pay $90M in 'Click Fraud' Case
Google Inc. has agreed to pay up to $90 million to settle a lawsuit
alleging the online search engine leader overcharged thousands of
advertisers who paid for bogus sales referrals generated through a ruse
known as "click fraud."
The proposed settlement, announced by the company Wednesday, would apply
to all advertisers in Google's network during the past four years. Any Web
site showing improper charges dating back to 2002 will be eligible for an
account credit that could be used toward future ads distributed by Google.
The total value of the credits available to advertisers will be lower than
$90 million because part of that amount will be used to cover the fees of
lawyers who filed the case last year in Arkansas state court. The proposed
settlement still requires final court approval.
The lawsuit, filed by Lane's Gifts and Collectibles on behalf of all Google
advertisers, revolves around one of the most sensitive subjects facing
Google and Yahoo Inc., which runs the Internet's second largest marketing
network.
Yahoo, which is also named in the suit, said Wednesday that it intends to
fight the lawsuit's allegations.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Google makes virtually all of its money from
text-based advertising links that trigger commissions each time they are
clicked on. Besides enriching Google, the system has been a boon for
advertisers, whose sales have been boosted by an increased traffic from
prospective buyers.
But sometimes mischief makers and scam artists repeatedly click on specific
advertising links even though they have no intentions of buying anything.
The motives for the malicious activity known as click fraud vary widely,
but the net effect is the same: advertisers end up paying for fruitless Web
traffic.
The lawsuit alleged Google had conspired with its advertising partners to
conceal the magnitude of click fraud to avoid making refunds.
The frequency of click fraud hasn't been quantified, causing some stock
market analysts to worry Google's profits will falter if it turns out to
be a huge problem.
Google executives have repeatedly said the level of click fraud on its ad
network is minuscule - a contention that the proposed settlement amount
seems to support.
The $90 million translates into less than 1 percent of Google's $11.2
billion in revenue during the past four years.
Symantec Report: Internet Attacks Are Increasing
In its recent Internet security threat report, Symantec concluded not only
that threats are rising but also that there is an increasing amount of
evidence supporting the contention that these attacks are being done with
profit in mind.
The report covers the six-month period from July to December, and includes
analysis of network-based attacks, reported vulnerabilities, and the
effects of adware, spyware, and malicious code. Also tracked is spam and
phishing data.
Symantec collects the information from more than 40,000 security devices
that are installed around the world.
A significant concern in the security industry is the growth in the number
of attackers that are motivated by financial gain rather than by bragging
rights.
"Phishing has gotten a lot of attention, and for good reason," said Javier
Santoyo, development manager at Symantec Security Response. "These people
tend to share information, like how to set up dummy e-mails, and that's
driving more phishing by people who aren't as technologically savvy."
In addition, Symantec found that companies have been targeted by small
hacker groups practicing a form of extortion in which attackers threaten
their systems or steal data.
Enterprises should remain diligent about their security measures, Santoyo
said, and also continue aggressive user-education campaigns.
"Just letting users know about configuration management and maybe
installing heuristics-based solutions on desktops goes a long way," he
said. Security products that rely on heuristics look for patterns in
viruses and hack activities.
In addition to drawing conclusions about the profit motive of attackers,
Symantec noted that the tools used to launch attacks have become more
sophisticated. In particular, Internet-related threats are gaining momentum
through use of "crimeware," software tools built specifically with the
intention of committing online scams and stealing information.
Attackers are moving away from large, multiple-purpose attacks against
routers and firewalls, according to Symantec. Instead, they are targeting
desktop- and Web-based applications that provide an entry point to
corporate and personal information.
"Programs that provide attackers with unauthorized control of a computer,
known as bots, also contribute to the rise in cybercrime threats," the
Symantec report stated.
While the number of bot-infected computers is 11 percent lower than the
security firm's last report, Symantec noted that bot networks are being
used increasingly for activities like denial-of-service attacks and
extortion attempts.
China experienced the largest increase in bot-infected computers, the
report stated, most likely related to the country's rapid growth in
Internet connections.
EU: Microsoft Still Not Obeying Ruling
The European Commission told Microsoft Corp. on Friday that it was "still
not in compliance" with a 2004 antitrust ruling that ordered it to share
information with rivals to make their software work with Microsoft servers.
The EU has already threatened the company with 2 million euros ($2.4
million) in daily fines, backdated to Dec. 15, and said it will make its
final decision after a hearing for Microsoft to plead its case later this
month.
"The Commission takes the preliminary view that this information continues
to be incomplete and inaccurate," the regulators said in a statement,
basing their view on two reports from independent experts who looked at the
latest version Microsoft had submitted.
Microsoft said the fact that the Commission looked at the evidence after
it filed charges last December showed that the charges were "fundamentally
flawed and should be withdrawn."
"Microsoft has submitted, in its response to the Commission's statement of
objections, a large volume of expert testimony that finds in the clearest
terms that Microsoft's documentation reaches or exceeds every industry
standard for the documentation of such technologies," it said.
"That documentation, coupled with free technical support and source code
access for licensees, meets and surpasses the requirements of the
Commission's 2004 decision."
The man appointed to monitor Microsoft's compliance with the ruling -
computer science professor Neil Barrett - found that although the
documentation had improved slightly, "nothing substantial was added."
"The improvements required to the documentation are not merely refinements
or improvements to the text: The documentation as it stands is unusable,"
the Commission said.
Another report from information technology consultancy TAEUS Europe Ltd.,
described parts of the Microsoft documentation as "entirely inadequate,"
"devoted to obsolete functionality" and "self-contradictory."
It said the document was written "primarily to maximize volume (page
count), while minimizing useful information."
Both experts said Microsoft seemed to assume that users should inform it
of incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate information.
TAEUS compared this to a car manufacturer responding to a customer
complaint that a car had been delivered without wheels: "This would be like
the manufacturer supplying wheels only to have the next deficiency come
up - namely that the automobile has no engine, and then no steering wheel,
then no brakes, etc."
Last December, the EU charged that Microsoft had not obeyed the 2004 ruling
and threatened daily fines. Microsoft will get an oral hearing on March 30
and 31 to plead its case.
The EU will afterward decide if it will fine the company every day from
Dec. 15 until the date of its decision to impose the fines. It warned it
might take other steps to extend the daily fines.
"What they have done is insufficient," said EU spokesman Jonathan Todd.
"It's now two years since the decision."
Earlier Friday, the EU defended Barrett from Microsoft's allegations that
he, EU officials and Microsoft rivals had colluded ahead of Barrett writing
a report last autumn that criticized Microsoft's earlier efforts to provide
documentation.
Microsoft wants to see correspondence between them to see if Barrett had
been influenced in any way.
Last week, it asked three U.S. courts to compel Sun Microsystems Inc., IBM
Corp., Oracle Corp. and Novell Inc. to hand over correspondence to use as
evidence in its legal challenge to the EU charges.
Microsoft said Friday the EU was still failing to address its main
criticism that the regulator is acting both as prosecutor and an
independent judge of how much access the company should have to documents
connected to the case.
The EU levied a record 497 million euro ($613 million) fine against
Microsoft in March 2004. It also ordered the company to share code with
rivals and offer a version of Windows without the Media Player software.
Microsoft is appealing the ruling and the case will be heard in late April
by the European Court of First Instance, the EU's second-highest court.
CeBIT Show to Unveil New Range of Products
The annual CeBIT high-tech fair is set to show off a new range of advanced
mobile phones, ultra-light laptops, powerful yet compact digital cameras
and - maybe - Microsoft's latest secret project.
Established names such as Intel and Samsung will vie for product buzz with
newcomers seeking entry into the minds and wallets of consumers at the fair
beginning Thursday at the sprawling exhibition center in Hanover.
The show focuses on how companies and countries can expand their business
and promote investment, and there also is a growing emphasis on new gadgets
for consumers.
"It is the biggest show in Europe, especially for those of us who have
operations in Central and Eastern Europe," said Jeremy Roche, chairman of
the European Software Association. "It puts us all in a room together and
it's a time where we can share views."
While CeBIT remains an industry event at its core, it has branched out in
recent years to focus on consumer products from high-powered digital
cameras and gaming to the latest in wearable fashion with built-in speakers
for portable MP3 players.
The most widely anticipated event is likely to come on opening day, when
Microsoft Corp. may unveil its hyped Project Origami. It's expected to be
the first version of paperback book-sized computers that will run
Microsoft's regular Windows XP operating system.
Microsoft has not said how or where it will reveal the Origami project, but
has said it will be unveiled on March 9 - coinciding with the first day of
the CeBIT event. The company will also be showing off Office 12, the latest
version of its stalwart suite of office-related productivity software.
But staying true to its corporate roots, CeBIT also will feature dozens, if
not hundreds, of displays of technology aimed at business users. Intel
Corp., the world's biggest maker of semiconductors, will show off
technology that can be used by the health care field.
Other companies, however, will not be going at all. Shoko Yanagisawa, a
spokeswoman for Sony Corp., said the company will not be at CeBIT due to a
"strategic decision after weighing the costs and returns."
She said CeBIT is primarily a telecommunications event and Sony decided it
would be more appropriate if Sony Ericsson, its mobile-phone joint venture
with Sweden's LM Ericsson, takes part.
This year's phone lineup is expected to display smaller, more feature-laden
cell phones using the 3G standard, which permits them to send data at
higher speeds, and feature television on their small screens.
CeBIT will also showcase products that are offbeat as well as new.
Dutch distributor of USB memory sticks, SPECS, will have a lineup of the
useful portable storage drives, but at a steep price.
One model, designed by White Lake, is made from 14-carat gold and features
not one but five diamonds built-in for a touch of flash. It is expected to
retail for euro2,950, or around $3,545, and comes in storage sizes of 128
megabytes to one gigabyte.
=~=~=~=
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