Human rights campaign group Amnesty International has criticised a new human rights organisation backed by technology giants Google, Microsoft and Yahoo. The attack comes after the formal launch of the Global Network Initiative, a scheme to bring the technology industry together with human rights campaigners to help protect free speech in repressive countries.
Professor Challenges Copyright Law in RIAA Cases
A Harvard law professor has opened a new front in the battle between the Recording Industry Association of America and alleged music pirates by challenging the constitutionality of a statute being used by the industry group to bring lawsuits against alleged copyright violators. The case involves an individual named Joel Tenenbaum, who was sued by the RIAA for allegedly illegally copying and distributing copyrighted songs belonging to several music labels.
Google Changes Privacy Settings on JotSpot
Google said that it was modifying the privacy settings on its JotSpot online collaboration service after a researcher discovered that user e-mail addresses and names were being exposed to the Web without user consent. Ben Edelman, Harvard Business School professor and security researcher, posted a blog entry on Thursday showing how JotSpot user names and e-mail addresses were easily accessible on Google search.
Spammers Getting Better at Overcoming Obstacles
With new automated tools to help them, spammers are getting better at cracking CAPTCHA -- a program that protects Web sites by generating and grading tests that humans can pass but computers cannot, according to the MessageLabs Intelligence Report. One breach has resulted in fake blogs on Google's Blogger division, which may contain malicious code.
Consumer Group Opposes Google Ad Deal with Yahoo
U.S. Public Interest Group, a consumer organization, is opposing Google's plan to share advertising with rival Yahoo, saying it could harm consumer privacy, according to a letter sent to the U.S. attorney general, a copy of which was given to Reuters. U.S. PIRG argued that advertisers who try to compete with Google and Yahoo, which together have more than 80 percent of the search advertising market, will be forced to collect more information on Internet users because they would not be able to compete with the market leaders on price.
Russian Hackers Said to Earn $5 Million a Year
How much money can criminals make scaring naive computer users? Try $5 million a year. That is how much a marketing associate of one Russian operation appears to be earning from its sales of fake antivirus software through an elaborate scheme that relies on e-mail spam and indirectly controlling thousands of unprotected PCs, according to internal company files posted online by a Russian hacker.
Game Firms Accused of Wrongly Targeting File-Sharers
Games firms are accusing innocent people of file-sharing as they crack down on pirates, a Which? Computing investigation has claimed.
Israeli Hacker Indicted by Brooklyn Grand Jury
Israeli hacker Ehud "The Analyzer" Tenenbaum was indicted by a federal grand jury in Brooklyn on felony charges of conspiracy and fraud. Between Feb. 2008 and May 2008 Tenenbaum and others engaged in a scheme to initiate transactions on account numbers belonging to other people, "to receive payment and other things" with an aggregate value of more than $1,000, the indictment charges.
Appeals Court Considers Calif. Video Game Law
California is attempting to revive its anti-violent-video-game law in a federal appeals court. During a hearing in Sacramento, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was scheduled to review a San Jose federal judge's 2007 ruling finding the law violates the First Amendment.
DHS Cybersecurity Leader Defends Agency Amid Criticism
The man in charge of running the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity efforts has defended its efforts in the face of congressional criticism. Homeland Security undersecretary defends Robert Jamison, the man in charge of coordinated US government cybersecurity efforts on a day to day basis, told El Reg that criticism that the agency was poorly led and failing to deliver results came from lawmakers who were unfamiliar with the agency's operations or future plans.
Lawmaker Wants More DOJ Work on Google-Yahoo Deal
The top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee is joining a chorus of lawmakers urging the Justice Department to scrutinize the planned Internet advertising partnership between Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. Texas Republican Joe Barton also accuses Yahoo of resisting congressional inquiries into the deal.
Schools Not Reaping Rewards of Microsoft Settlement
Two years ago, California public schools received an unexpected gift: a grant of $250 million for new computers, software and training. But most of the money -- nearly $200 million -- remains untouched.
Online Comments Criticized in Detah of Chinese Actress
Though the reasons behind the suicide of one of South Korea's most beloved actresses remain unclear, her death has fueled a debate over how to tackle what are considered the two biggest social problems in South Korea: suicide and so-called cyber-terrorism. Since Choi Jin-sil's death, many high-profile figures have expressed sympathy for her emotional suffering from comments made by online posters.
Google Seeks to Settle Book-Scanning Case for $125 Million
In another step toward changing the future of books, Google Inc. has reached an agreement with publishers and authors to scan millions of copyrighted titles and post them on the Internet for users to read and print for a fee. Under the agreement, Google will pay $125 million to settle a long-standing class-action lawsuit with the Association of American Publishers and with the Authors Guild, which represents more than 8,000 authors.
Net Companies Plan "Code" for Free Speech Online
Google, Microsoft and Yahoo and a group of human rights and public interest organizations plan to introduce a global code of conduct that they say will better protect online free speech and privacy against government intrusion. The principles are the starting point for a new effort, called the Global Network Initiative, which commits the companies to "avoid or minimize the impact of government restrictions on freedom of expression," according to a final draft of documents.
Google Seeks Information from Copyright-Policing Service
In a motion filed in federal court in Viacom's copyright case against Google, the search engine demands internal records from closely held BayTSP Inc., one of a number of firms that offer copyright-policing services. Since launching its legal attack on Google in 2007, Viacom has leaned heavily on evidence compiled by Los Gatos, Calif.-based BayTSP.
Companies Partner to Educate on Phishing Scams
Microsoft, Yahoo, Western Union, and The African Development Bank are partnering to educate Internet users about the dangers of falling prey to the fake lottery winner e-mails. In such scams, victims are told that they have won a lottery, often in a foreign country, and are then asked to provide their personal and financial information to claim the winnings. In the current economic downturn, the fear is that desperate people will be more likely to take the bait.
Chinese Official Criticizes Microsoft on Anti-Piracy
A top Chinese copyright official chided Microsoft for launching an anti-piracy tool that nags users of counterfeit software with a black computer screen and said the company's prices were too high. The U.S. software giant launched Windows Genuine Advantage in China last week, a program that turns the background of the Windows operating system's desktop black if the software fails a validation test.
HotJobs Site Called Vulnerable to Phishing Attack
Yahoo's HotJobs site is vulnerable to a phishing-based attack that can give an attacker access to a Yahoo member's mail and other personal accounts, British network service firm Netcraft said, and someone has been taking advantage of it.
Officials Probe Computer Searches for "Joe the Plumber"
Ohio and local officials are investigating if state and law-enforcement computer systems were illegally accessed when they were tapped for personal information about "Joe the Plumber." Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher became part of the national political lexicon Oct. 15 when Republican presidential candidate John McCain mentioned him frequently during his final debate with Democrat Barack Obama.
