Lawmaker Introduces Online Privacy Bill Again

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., reintroduced his legislation from the last Congress aimed at enhancing consumer privacy online. The bill appears to be similar to the legislation he offered in the last Congress that would allow for the collection and use of information from consumers but require firms to provide consumers with the ability to opt out from such collection.

Obama Pushes to Expand Wireless Internet Access

Declaring that "we can't expect tomorrow's economy to take root using yesterday's infrastructure," President Obama made the case that expanding wireless access is critical to the nation’s economic recovery. "This isn't just about a faster Internet or being able to find a friend on Facebook," Mr. Obama said in a speech at Northern Michigan University, after viewing a demonstration on long-distance learning over the Internet.

Chinese Hackers Target Oil, Energy Industry, McAfee Says

For years, companies in the oil and energy industry have been the victims of attempts to steal e-mail and other sensitive information from hackers believed to be in China, according to a new report from McAfee. The attacks, to which McAfee gave the sinister name "Night Dragon," penetrated company networks through Web servers, compromised desktop computers, bypassed safeguards by misusing administrative credentials, and used remote administration tools to obtain the information, the security firm said.

Grand Jury to Consider Evidence of "Anonymous" Attacks

A U.S. grand jury will consider evidence collected by the FBI about Anonymous, which attacked websites of four companies to punish them for blocking contributions to WikiLeaks, according to court papers and an informal spokesman for the group of activist hackers. The federal grand jury in San Jose, California, will begin reviewing evidence that includes computers and mobile phones seized from suspected leaders as prosecutors probe the coordinated so-called denial-of-service attacks in December, according to a federal subpoena and the spokesman, Barrett Brown.

More Security Threats Reported Against Smartphones

Cellphone security threats rose sharply last year as a proliferation of Internet-enabled mobile devices like smartphones and tablets provided new opportunities for cybercriminals, security software maker McAfee said. In its fourth-quarter threat report, McAfee said the number of pieces of new cellphone malware it found in 2010 rose 46 percent over 2009's level.

"Net Neutrality" Professor Joins FTC as Adviser

Columbia Law School professor Tim Wu, an influential academic and author who popularized the term "net neutrality," has been appointed senior advisor to the Federal Trade Commission. Mr. Wu, 38, will start his new position on Feb. 14 in the FTC's Office of Policy Planning, and will help the agency to develop policies that affect the Internet and the market for mobile communications and services.

Senator Asks SEC to Investigate Nasdaq Hacking

A key lawmaker called on U.S. securities regulators to work with criminal authorities to crack down on hackers following reports that cyber attackers have repeatedly tried to break into trading systems run by Nasdaq OMX Group. Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey and a member of the Senate Banking Committee, sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission urging the agency to take a closer look into hacking incidents and what can be done to prevent them.

Company Settles with Worker Fired After Facebook Posting

A company that fired a worker after she posted negative remarks about her boss on Facebook has settled a complaint brought by the National Labor Relations Board by agreeing to revamp its rules to ensure they don't restrict workers' rights, the NLRB said. A separate, private settlement was reached between the employer -- ambulance service American Medical Response of Connecticut Inc. -- and the employee, though terms of that agreement weren't immediately available.

$10 Million in Fake Apple Products Seized in L.A.

More than $10 million in counterfeit iPods, iPhones and other items have been seized from a sophisticated downtown warehouse operation in a theft case begun by Los Angeles Port Police. Investigators said they thought that the shipment was designed to get Apple Inc. lookalike products into the market during the recent buzz over the Consumer Electronics Show.

Security Firm in WikiLeaks Probe Hacked

Anonymous hacked security firm HBGary Federal in retaliation for the company's efforts to track the people behind a spate of denial-of-service attacks. "Anonymous" launched an attack against security firm HBGary Federal, taking down its website and stealing corporate e-mail in retaliation for the company's efforts to track down "hacktivists" tied to cyber-attacks conducted in support of WikiLeaks.

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U.S. Government Seeks Veto Power Over New Domains

The Obama administration is quietly seeking the power for it and other governments to veto future top-level domain names, a move that raises questions about free expression, national sovereignty, and the role of states in shaping the future of the Internet. At stake is who will have authority over the next wave of suffixes to supplement the venerable .com, .org, and .net. At least 115 proposals are expected this year, including .car, .health, .nyc, .movie, and .web, and the application process could be finalized at a meeting in San Francisco next month.

Judge Refuses to Dismiss Craiglist's Suit Against eBay

EBay Inc. must face a lawsuit claiming it fraudulently hid its intention to start a competing classified advertising site during negotiations to buy a stake in Craigslist Inc., a judge tentatively ruled. Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer in San Francisco rejected eBay's argument that Craigslist's lawsuit should be dismissed because shareholder agreements between the companies allowed them to compete.

FCC Plans to Revise Rural Broadband Funding

Federal regulators plan to launch a new effort to overhaul an $8 billion subsidy program to fund new broadband lines in rural America instead of phone service. The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to kick off its efforts to overhaul the program during a meeting, when it asks for comments on how to chart a new course for the Universal Service Fund, or USF, which subsidizes phone lines in rural areas and for low-income Americans.