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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 Iowa State to Host Information Protection Center Georgia Tech Device Defeats Digital Cameras Report Warns of VoIP Threats Movie Studios Create Research Lab Grokster in Talks to Be Acquired IOWA STATE TO HOST INFORMATION PROTECTION CENTER The National Science Foundation (NSF) is providing the initial funding for a new Center for Information Protection (CIP) at Iowa State University. Corporations, security vendors, and academic researchers will work together through the center to develop solutions to short-term security concerns. The center has already attracted 13 charter members, including Boeing, Cargill, Principal Financial Group, Palisade Systems, Iowa State University, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The center's goal is to draw 30 corporate members and to develop security solutions in one year or less. Kurt Shedenhelm, chief executive officer and president of Palisade Systems, said the new center differs from similar efforts in its quest for short-term fixes, compared to the five- and ten-year cycles of other initiatives. The NSF will continue to provide funding for three years, at which time the center can apply for further funds; organizers hope the center can be self-sustaining in five years. Federal Computer Week, 19 September 2005 http://www.fcw.com/article90846-09-19-05-Web GEORGIA TECH DEVICE DEFEATS DIGITAL CAMERAS A new technology developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology could prove to be an effective tool in efforts to limit the use of digital cameras. As digital cameras--both still and video--have gotten smaller and have been incorporated into other devices such as cell phones, some users have started using cameras in inappropriate places, such as locker rooms or movie theaters. The new technology senses digital cameras trying to take pictures or movies and sends a focused beam of light into the lens, leaving the user with a fuzzy picture of what looks like a headlight. Shwetak Patel, a Georgia Tech graduate student and one of the researchers on the project, said other no-picture settings include corporate labs, conferences, and even some retail locations. Because authorities cannot confiscate all cell phones or even all digital cameras from such places, the technology could be used to enforce no-picture policies easily and inexpensively. Other technologies have been developed to prevent pictures in places where photography is not allowed, but those tools require an additional chip located in the camera that "hears" an electronic no-picture message and defeats the camera. CNET, 19 September 2005 http://news.com.com/2100-7337_3-5869832.html REPORT WARNS OF VOIP THREATS A new report from security firm Symantec identifies voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology as potentially fertile ground for a wave of cybercrime, including a new variation on an old scam. Within the next 18 months, Symantec expects VoIP to become a "significant" channel for electronic mischief including audio spam, voice phishing, call hijacking, and caller-ID spoofing. Ollie Whitehouse, technical manager at Symantec's research labs, said that although few VoIP attacks have been reported so far, the company "believes it's only a matter of time before attackers target it more intensely." A technique called war-dialing, in which computers call many thousands of phone numbers looking for those that respond with data tones, could also see a reemergence with VoIP. Hackers could comb VoIP phone numbers and locate unprotected or poorly protected servers that could then be compromised. BBC, 19 September 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4259554.stm MOVIE STUDIOS CREATE RESEARCH LAB Unhappy with the pace at which consumer electronics firms and IT researchers are developing tools to protect digital content, the six major movie studios will launch a research lab to address their concerns. Called Motion Picture Laboratories, or MovieLabs, it will focus on technologies to protect content, with the expectation that such research can also lead to new ways to deliver digital content, ultimately expanding consumer access rather than limiting it, according to James Gianopulos, cochairman of 20th Century Fox. Among the lab's subject areas will be tools to prevent camcorders from working in theaters, technology to monitor campus and corporate networks for copyrighted material and to block it, and methods to prevent unauthorized access to digital content that do not infringe on legitimate uses. MovieLabs is modeled largely on CableLabs, which was established in 1988 to address issues confronting the cable TV industry. Efforts at CableLabs are credited with encouraging the development and adoption of various technologies including fiber optics, cable modems, and digital video. New York Times, 18 September 2005 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/19/business/19film.html GROKSTER IN TALKS TO BE ACQUIRED Following a Supreme Court defeat this summer, P2P service provider Grokster is reportedly considering being acquired by Mashboxx, a provider of legal downloads that is expected to start operating in the next few months. The Supreme Court's decision opened the door to record studios' suing Grokster and its codefendant Morpheus for damages from copyright violations taking place on their networks. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which brought the suit and has since notified other P2P providers of its intention to force them to limit copyright violations, is reportedly considering dropping its complaint against those providers that agree to adopt a business model of legal downloads. Indeed, the RIAA has already reached a settlement with iMesh, though the organization declined to comment on any discussions with Grokster. Wayne Rosso, cofounder of Mashboxx and formerly the president of Grokster, said his current company will talk to any P2P provider that wants to transition to a legitimate, legal service. Mashboxx has signed a deal with Sony and is negotiating deals with other major record labels. Wall Street Journal, 19 September 2005 (sub. req'd) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112709561414344552,00.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 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] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. 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