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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2004 E-Mail Worm Predicted to Become Biggest Yet National Cyber Alert System Offers Cyber Alerts, Advice Wireless Supports Emergency Response Justice Department to Combine Information-Sharing Programs AND Planned Wireless Directory Rouses Privacy Concerns Universities Test File-Sharing Pilot Microsoft Toolbar Challenges Other Searchers E-MAIL WORM PREDICTED TO BECOME BIGGEST YET The Mydoom e-mail worm that appeared early this week has the potential to be the largest ever, according to some security experts. The worm, which is also knows as Norvag, is causing problems more from the volume of e-mail it creates than from the number of machines infected with the virus. The purpose of the virus seems to be an attack on SCO Group, the Utah company involved in a legal dispute over alleged copyright infringement by the Linux operating system. Machines that are infected with the Mydoom virus are instructed to launch a denial-of-service attack on SCO Group beginning February 1. Darl McBride, president and CEO of SCO Group, said Mydoom is the fourth such attempted attack on his company in the past 10 months. New York Times, 27 January 2004 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/27/technology/27CND-VIRU.html NATIONAL CYBER ALERT SYSTEM OFFERS CYBER ALERTS, ADVICE The U.S. government has announced a new cyber alert system to try to minimize the effects of computer threats such as the recent Mydoom virus. According to Amit Yoran, director of the Department of Homeland Security's cyber security division, the goal of the system is to spread information as quickly as possible to prevent cyber attacks from proliferating as rapidly as Mydoom and others, including the SoBig and Slammer worms. Yoran said the new system is intended to augment other warning systems from private firms. Users who are interested can sign up for the service (http://www.us-cert.gov). Alerts will be sent by e-mail and also posted to the Web site. Those who sign up will also receive information about how to secure their computers. Reuters, 28 January 2004 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=4230078 WIRELESS SUPPORTS EMERGENCY RESPONSE Growing numbers of municipal and state governments are turning to wireless technology to link emergency response systems. Wireless systems are potentially less expensive than other communications tools, and the federal government is encouraging cities and states to move to wireless in the interest of homeland security. The state of Delaware, which already has an 800 MHz system, is proposing a $12 million upgrade, and the city of Detroit is considering an $100 million 800 MHz system that would interoperate with the system set up by the state of Michigan. First responders in Arizona will be equipped with a pod communications system, which will link existing systems throughout the state. Frank Navarette, director of Arizona's homeland security, said that such an approach offers a functional system for much less cost than that of implementing a statewide communications infrastructure. Federal Computer Week, 26 January 2004 http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2004/0126/web-comm-01-26-04.asp JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO COMBINE INFORMATION-SHARING PROGRAMS Officials at the Department of Justice are expected to release details in April of an information-sharing initiative to cover federal, state, and local law enforcement. The Law Enforcement Information Sharing (LEIS) initiative will coordinate dozens of existing programs for sharing information. According to Vance Hitch, the Justice Department's chief information officer, the agency spends about $1 billion annually on information-sharing programs, which represent about half of the agency's 120 major IT projects. The plan for the LEIS initiative is expected to serve as a guide for how existing information-sharing programs will fit into LEIS and how a consolidated effort can be realized. Federal Computer Week, 22 January 2004 http://www.fcw.com/geb/articles/2004/0119/web-justice-01-22-04.asp AND ***************************************************** PLANNED WIRELESS DIRECTORY ROUSES PRIVACY CONCERNS The possible creation of a directory of wireless phone numbers is becoming a point of contention between wireless carriers and governmental and privacy organizations. Several members of Congress have expressed their intention to introduce legislation to establish federal regulations over wireless directories and policies surrounding them. Privacy groups agree that oversight is necessary to ensure wireless customers--many of whom want their wireless numbers to remain unlisted in a 411 service--are not hounded by unwanted calls. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) also noted that he opposes charging a fee to wireless customers who want to remain unlisted. Wireless companies, which until recently generally rejected the notion of a wireless directory, have begun cooperating on such a service and see Congressional involvement as a threat to the proposed directory. Such a directory could become a source of $3 billion in revenue annually, and members of the Cellular Telecommunications Internet Association believe they can adequately protect consumers' privacy without federal regulation. New York Times, 26 January 2004 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/26/technology/26directory.html UNIVERSITIES TEST FILE-SHARING PILOT Four universities are piloting a file-sharing tool that gives students online access to video files. Yale University, Duke University, Wake Forest University, and the University of Colorado at Boulder are testing the application from Cflix, which sets up a network on each campus for the transfer of video and--beginning in March--audio files. Those involved in the pilot projects have two goals: easier access to video clips that are part of course curricula, and a reduction in illegal trading of music and movie files. Using the Cflix network, students can see video clips without having to go to a screening room at a particular time. Students can also use the network to download movies for pleasure at a cost of between $1.95 and $3.95. Prices for online music have not been released. Graham B. Spanier of Pennsylvania State University said that even if the project fails to decrease illegal file sharing among students, it is important to start using peer-to-peer networks for educational purposes. Chronicle of Higher Education, 26 January 2004 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2004/01/2004012606n.htm MICROSOFT TOOLBAR CHALLENGES OTHER SEARCHERS Microsoft has launched a test version of a browser toolbar in an attempt to compete with Yahoo and Google. Paid search results are becoming a significant source of revenue for search firms, and the three top players in the market are hoping their toolbars will drive users to their sites. Microsoft's toolbar offers searches through its portal, MSN, as well as access to other MSN sites for shopping, entertainment, and financial news. The toolbars from Yahoo and Google offer similar features. Observers noted that Microsoft is likely to add a link from its toolbar to the company's online music store, which is expected later this year. San Jose Mercury News, 27 January 2004 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/7806363.htm ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For past issues of Edupage or information about translations of Edupage into other languages, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE PUBLICATIONS EDUCAUSE publishes periodicals, including "EQ" and "EDUCAUSE Review," books, and other materials dealing with the impacts and implications of information technology in higher education. 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