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********************************************************** Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for today's edition of the complete domain news, already online! Headlines from today's edition of the news include: And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings. *************************************************** The domain name news is supported by auDA *************************************************** Online revolution changed Australia's media game http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/online-revolution-changed-the-media-game/story-e6frg8zx-1225812240994 Kiwi kids victims of porn rings http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3192456/ India's Mobile Subscriber Base Crosses 500 Million Mark [IDG] http://www.pcworld.com/article/185399/.html New Zealand-born, Australian-based spam mastermind fined $210,000 http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/spam-mastermind-fined-210000-20091222-lb7f.html Companies never safe from cybercrime: Symantec boss http://www.theage.com.au/technology/enterprise/companies-never-safe-from-cybercrime-symantec-boss-20091222-lbds.html US Court says Microsoft violated patent, can't sell Word program after Jan. 11 [AP] http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-microsoft23-2009dec23,0,6522553.story Court's patent ruling won't keep Microsoft Word off the shelves http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/22/AR2009122203107.html Google Rests Its Defense of Executives in Italian Privacy Case http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/technology/internet/24google.html Russian hacker gang who 'stole millions from Citibank' under investigation http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/22/russian-hackers-citigroup-cyber-security President Obama's new cyber boss faces 'tough job' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8427805.stm Italy drops plans for Internet crackdown [AP] http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/italy-drops-plans-for-internet-crackdown-20091224-ldk4.html ********************** INTERNET USE ********************** Online revolution changed Australia's media game Shortly after Fred Hilmer was made chief executive of Fairfax in 1999 -- an achievement made all the more remarkable by the fact Hilmer was not a big reader of newspapers -- he kicked off a testing and sometimes fractious decade in the media industry by describing journalists as "content providers" and The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age as "advertising platforms". http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/online-revolution-changed-the-media-game/story-e6frg8zx-1225812240994 au: SA has lowest broadband usage: ABS SOUTH Australian households have the lowest broadband internet connection rate in mainland Australia, latest figures reveal. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/sa-has-lowest-broadband-usage-abs/story-e6frgakx-1225812669037 Study: US among world's leaders in broadband use [IDG] U.S. residents rank among the world's top in broadband use per month, meaning the broadband picture in the country isn't as bad as some critics might make it, a telecom trade group said Wednesday. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/122309-study-us-among-worlds-leaders.html http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142663/Study_US_among_world_s_leaders_in_broadband_use http://www.pcworld.com/article/185417/.html The Science of Managing Search Ads Cyber Monday had gone swimmingly for Tiny Prints. Despite the economic downturn, customers streamed into the Tiny Prints online store on the Monday after Thanksgiving, called Cyber Monday because it is one of the busiest days of the year for Web retailers. They snapped up the company’s custom holiday cards at roughly twice the rate of a year ago. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/technology/internet/22search.html ********************** SOCIAL NETWORKING ********************** To Deal With Obsession, Some Defriend Facebook Recognizing that Facebook was interfering with their lives offline, some students took steps to kick the habit. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/21/technology/internet/21facebook.html To Deal With Obsession, Some Defriend Facebook Facebook, the popular networking site, has 350 million members worldwide who, collectively, spend 10 billion minutes there every day, checking in with friends, writing on people’s electronic walls, clicking through photos and generally keeping pace with the drift of their social world. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/21/technology/internet/21facebook.html Facebook fuelling divorce, research claims Facebook is being cited in almost one in five of online divorce petitions, lawyers have claimed. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/6857918/Facebook-fuelling-divorce-research-claims.html Facebook users share what’s on their mind: the top trends for 2009 The top US Facebook status update trends of 2009 include application names, FML ("F*** My Life"), swine flu and celebrity deaths. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/facebook-users-share-whatrsquos-on-their-mind-the-top-trends-for-2009-1848427.html au: Police monitor Facebook to stem crime Police in far north Queensland say they are closely monitoring the use of social networking websites, including Facebook, that encourage antisocial behaviour. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/23/2779133.htm ************************************************ CHILD PROTECTION, FILTERING & CONTENT REGULATION ************************************************ Kiwi kids victims of porn rings A new police unit aimed at protecting children from online sexual predators has already identified Kiwi victims, with authorities warning that offending is becoming more depraved. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3192456/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/national/3192456/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/national-news/3192456/ http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/national-news/3192456/ Stephen Conroy: Dear Crikey, here’s why you’re wrong In these times of bloggers, citizen journalism and the 24-hour news cycle, quality journalism is under threat. Nowhere is it more apparent than in Crikey. Its coverage over the past week with regard to the government’s announcement on ISP level filtering has been nothing short of disingenuous. http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/12/23/stephen-conroy-dear-crikey-heres-why-youre-wrong/ au: Net filter opponents plan web protests More than 80 activists packed a Brisbane university classroom on Monday night, hoping to build on a social media campaign against the Federal Government's proposed internet filter. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/22/2778681.htm Podcast: Conroy explains his net censorship regime Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy has hit back at opponents of his controversial internet filtering scheme, labelling them "frauds" that cannot accept the findings of the Enex Testlab report. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/163364,podcast-conroy-explains-his-net-censorship-regime.aspx Transcript: Conroy explains his net censorship regime Broadband Minister Stephen Conroy details the Federal Government's plans to filter the internet. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/163366,transcript-conroy-explains-his-net-censorship-regime.aspx Lundy clarifies filter thoughts in 1641 words After making a surprise move in throwing her support behind the Federal Government’s controversial ISP-level internet filter, Senator Kate Lundy has made a follow up blog post acknowledging potential alternatives. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/330580/ The Filter Protests Guide The Federal Government’s ISP-level Internet content filter plan has led many down the path of considering serious protest and not just vehement online posting. It happened in December last year in almost every state and looks likely to occur again. See a slideshow of the last protests. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/330655/ http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=B4016241-1A64-67EA-E469B20C65B0E25B http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/122109-the-filter-protests.html http://www.infoworld.com/t/software-service/filter-protests-guide-196 http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/12/21/filter-protests-guide Conroy parody site shut down suddenly A site setup to mock the pro-internet censorship Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, has been shut down within hours of its registration. http://apcmag.com/stephenconroycomau-parody-site-shut-down-suddenly.htm Aussie government shows its censorship teeth ANY DOUBTS that the Austrialian regime will abuse its powers to censor the Internet have been laid to rest after the government ordered the take-down of an anti-censorship campaign website. http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/opinion/1566771/aussie-government-censorship-teeth au: A poetic view of Copenhagen ... Verity Pravda writes: Re. “The swift takedown of stephenconroy.com.au” (yesterday, item 16). There is no pleasing the likes of Stilgherrian and Electronic Frontiers Australia. I think they’d like us to believe that we should have faith in the anarchic and self-managing characteristics of the internet. However when the self-same processes come back to do something they don’t like they react with outrage. http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/12/22/a-poetic-view-of-copenhagen/ ********************** ONLINE TV & MUSIC ********************** WTO blocks Beijing’s curbs on film and music The appeals body of the World Trade Organisation has upheld an earlier ruling against China’s restrictions on imports of US films and music, rebuffing Beijing’s claim that the restrictions were necessary to protect public morals. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1ab3be62-ee60-11de-944c-00144feab49a.html Britain's mobile viewers watching favourite TV shows in prime time The technology may have changed, but tech-savvy consumers still watch their favourite TV shows on mobile phones at the same times as they used to watch TV, with a healthy dose taking the BBC iPlayer to bed at weekends. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/22/iplayer-mobiles-viewing-figures ********************** MOBILE/WIRELESS ********************** India's Mobile Subscriber Base Crosses 500 Million Mark [IDG] India's mobile subscriber base crossed the 500 million mark in November, according to data released Wednesday by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). http://www.pcworld.com/article/185399/.html ********************** SPAM ********************** New Zealand-born, Australian-based spam mastermind fined $210,000 A Queensland email spam mastermind has been fined and banned from sending unsolicited commercial messages for seven years. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/spam-mastermind-fined-210000-20091222-lb7f.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/worlds-top-spammer-fined-210000-20091222-lb94.html http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/spammer-fined-banned-from-cluttering-inboxes-20091222-lb41.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/3187270/ http://www.smh.com.au/technology/spammer-fined-banned-from-cluttering-inboxes-20091222-lb41.html http://www.examiner.com.au/news/local/news/economy-business-it-finance/spammer-fined-banned-from-cluttering-inboxes/1711484.aspx Man fined $210,000 over online spam A Federal Court judge in Brisbane has fined a Queensland man $210,000 over a major online spam operation. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/22/2778357.htm Sunshine Coast email spammer fined $210,000 Sunshine Coast man Lance Thomas Atkinson has been fined $210,000 in the Federal Court over a spamming scam that sent billions of emails to websites in India. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,23836,26517159-3102,00.html http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/sunshine-coast-email-spammer-fined-210000/story-e6frgakx-1225812829736 NZ spammer fined in Qld court [AAP] A New Zealand-born Queensland man who headed up one of the world's largest online spamming operations has been given a $A210,000 ($NZ265,600) penalty. http://www.3news.co.nz/Spammer-given-A210000-penalty/tabid/423/articleID/135160/Default.aspx?ArticleID=135160 http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/NZ-spammer-fined-in-Qld-court/0,130061744,339300178,00.htm http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/kingpin-spammer-lance-thomas-atkinson-fined-210000/story-e6frg12u-1225812775416 http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26517465-5005962,00.html http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/kingpin-spammer-lance-thomas-atkinson-fined-210000/story-e6freuyi-1225812775416 http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/kingpin-spammer-lance-thomas-atkinson-fined-210000/story-e6frfku0-1225812775416 http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/kingpin-spammer-lance-thomas-atkinson-fined-210000/story-e6frf7jx-1225812775416 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/kingpin-spammer-lance-thomas-atkinson-fined-210000/story-fn3dxity-1225812775416 http://city-north-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/king-pin-spammer-given-210000-penalty/ http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-national/spammer-given-210000-penalty-20091222-lb54.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/spammer-given-210000-penalty-20091222-lb54.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/spammer-given-210000-penalty-20091222-lb54.html http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/spammer-given-210000-penalty-20091222-lb54.html New Zealand spammer fined $210,000 A New-Zealand man has been fined $210,000 for breaching the Spam Act 2003 in a case brought by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in the Federal Court of Brisbane. http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/330723/ http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/122209-new-zealand-spammer-fined.html http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/12/22/new-zealand-spammer-fined-210-000 International spam mastermind fined £116,000 A New Zealander accused of being the mastermind of the world's largest known "spam gang" has been fined $A210,000 (£116,000) by an Australian court after admitting his involvement in the international network that could send 10 billion emails a day. http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article6964722.ece Global spam king fined in Australia [DPA] A New Zealander was fined by an Australian court Tuesday after a guilty plea over his part in a syndicate capable of sending 10 billion spam e-mails a day. Lance Atkinson, was fined 210,000 Australian dollars (189,000 US dollars) for breaching the Spam Act 2003 in a case brought by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/300533,global-spam-king-fined-in-australia.html ************************** ONLINE CRIME, SECURITY & LEGAL ************************** Companies never safe from cybercrime: Symantec boss IT managers who believe they are protected against cybercrime should think again, according to the boss of the world's largest security company. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/enterprise/companies-never-safe-from-cybercrime-symantec-boss-20091222-lbds.html http://www.theage.com.au/technology/enterprise/companies-never-safe-from-cybercrime-symantec-boss-20091222-lbds.html US Court says Microsoft violated patent, can't sell Word program after Jan. 11 [AP] A federal appeals court ordered Microsoft Corp. to stop selling its Word program in January and pay a Canadian software company $290 million for violating a patent, upholding the judgment of a lower court. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-microsoft23-2009dec23,0,6522553.story Court's patent ruling won't keep Microsoft Word off the shelves Pay no attention to headlines predicting that Microsoft Word will be banished from store shelves on Jan. 11 because of a patent ruling. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/22/AR2009122203107.html Ban on sales of Microsoft Word upheld Microsoft has failed in its attempt to dismiss a court case that would stop it selling Word. The software giant appealed against a ruling which found it infringed a patent owned by Canadian company i4i. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8427474.stm Google Rests Its Defense of Executives in Italian Privacy Case Lawyers for Google rested their case in defense of four executives charged in Italy with failing to comply with privacy laws, telling a judge that the company has a mechanism in place to rapidly remove objectionable video from its site. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/technology/internet/24google.html Russian hacker gang who 'stole millions from Citibank' under investigation The FBI is investigating the activities of a notorious Russian internet gang amid accusations that it stole tens of millions of dollars from US banks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/dec/22/russian-hackers-citigroup-cyber-security FBI probes cyber attack on Citigroup - WSJ The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing a computer hacking that targeted Citigroup Inc and resulted in the theft of tens of million of dollars, The Wall Street Journal said, citing unidentified U.S. government officials. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-44908620091222 http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5BL31T20091222 Facebook sex blackmail teen facing 50 years A Wisconsin teenager who blackmailed dozens of fellow high school students into sex acts by using photos and videos obtained in a Facebook scam is facing up to 50 years in prison after pleading no contest to two felonies. http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/facebook-sex-blackmail-teen-facing-50-years-20091224-le26.html President Obama's new cyber boss faces 'tough job' President Obama's long awaited cybersecurity tsar faces a "tough job", Security experts have warned. Despite saying the issue was a priority for the government, it has taken seven months to find someone to take the job. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8427805.stm Obama cyber czar pick looks to secure smartphones, social nets In choosing Howard Schmidt as cybersecurity czar, President Obama has someone who has held a similar job in a previous administration, has varied experience at high-level corporate jobs, was a frequent panelist at security conferences and who has even written a book on defending the Internet. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9142595/Obama_cyber_czar_pick_looks_to_secure_smartphones_social_nets Lawmakers, industry officials praise Obama's cyber-chief choice President Obama's selection of Howard Schmidt as the nation's first cybersecurity coordinator garnered a generally favorable response today from lawmakers and industry officials. http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091223_1715.php White House appoints cybersecurity chief The White House's new cybersecurity chief faces a tough agenda, but will be able to draw on the lessons of a 40-year career, including stints at Microsoft and eBay. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10420268-83.html Obama to name chief of cybersecurity Nearly seven months after highlighting the vulnerability of banking, energy, and communications systems to Internet attacks, the White House on Tuesday is expected to name a technology industry veteran to coordinate competing efforts to improve the nation's cybersecurity in both military and civilian life. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/technology/internet/22cyber.html http://news.cnet.com/Obama-to-name-chief-of-cybersecurity/2100-7348_3-6250343.html ********************** CENSORSHIP ********************** Italy drops plans for Internet crackdown [AP] Italy has abandoned plans to crack down on Web sites inciting hatred or violence - a proposal floated after an attack on Premier Silvio Berlusconi earlier this month drew some praise over the Internet. http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-technology/italy-drops-plans-for-internet-crackdown-20091224-ldk4.html http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/italy-drops-plans-for-internet-crackdown-20091224-ldk4.html ********************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS ********************** BT to complete super-fast broadband network by 2012 BT's superfast broadband network will be completed in time for the 2012 Olympic Games, the firm has announced. The £1.5bn fibre-optic network will offer speeds of up to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) for some customers, supporting high-definition video. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8424401.stm BT to speed up new broadband roll out British telecom carrier BT will accelerate the roll out of its superfast broadband network to connect 10 million homes to its fibre service in time for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, it said on Monday. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5BK1OV20091221 China 3G spending at $21 bln in 2009 China's telecoms regulator said on Monday that investment in third-generation mobile technology reached 143.5 billion yuan ($21 billion) this year, following its awarding of three 3G licenses early in the year. http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-44895320091221 New Zealand issues 4G spectrum New Zealand has made a push towards 4G network services, with its government confirming the initial frequency allocation from the old analog tv spectrum. http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/New-Zealand-issues-4G-spectrum/0,130061791,339300160,00.htm http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39948420,00.htm ********************************** ARRESTS/COURT CASES FOR ONLINE CHILD PROTECTION ********************************** nz: Porn peddlers taken off streets [NZPA] The jailing of two child sexual abuse image collectors this week means the market for such objectionable material has been reduced, but inspectors will continue to trawl the internet for offenders throughout the holiday period, says the Department of Internal Affairs. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/porn-peddlers-taken-off-streets-3317815 Police warn of child sex predators [AAP] Police have issued a warning to parents to protect their children from online predators these school holidays after Queensland raids resulted in four men being charged with child sex offences. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/police-warn-of-child-sex-predators-20091221-la0a.html au: Five arrested after child porn raids Five men have been arrested and charged after a Taskforce Argos investigation into child exploitation, police announced last night. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/five-arrested-after-child-porn-raids-20091221-l9z8.html http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26516995-952,00.html au: Police charge 5 after Toowoomba child porn raids FIVE men have been arrested in raids targeting sexual predators downloading child pornography and using the internet to meet underage youngsters. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26516995-952,00.html +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information on subscriptions to the domain name and/or general internet news please contact me. For archives of postings to the list, see http://lists.technewsreview.com.au/pipermail/technewsreview/. Also see http://GoldsteinReport.com/ for recent updates. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (c) David Goldstein 2009 --------- David Goldstein email: [email protected] web: http://davidgoldstein.tel/ http://goldsteinreport.com/ phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - office/home "Every time you use fossil fuels, you're adding to the problem. Every time you forgo fossil fuels, you're being part of the solution" - Dr Tim Flannery __________________________________________________________________________________ See what's on at the movies in your area. Find out now: http://au.movies.yahoo.com/session-times/ _______________________________________________ APPLe mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.apnic.net/mailman/listinfo/apple
