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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2006 Men Charged in Botnet Scheme Intellectual Property Group Calls for Focus on Russia Microsoft, Vodafone Challenge BlackBerry MEN CHARGED IN BOTNET SCHEME Three men have been charged by federal authorities in a botnet scheme that reportedly netted the three $100,000 and caused $150,000 in damage. According to the indictment, Christopher Maxwell and two unnamed conspirators created a network of computers by illegally accessing networks at California State University at Northridge, the University of Michigan, and the University of California at Los Angeles. Using the network of zombie machines, the men installed adware on users' computers and also launched a denial-of-service attack on the network of Seattle's Northwest Hospital. The attack on the hospital resulted in the monetary damages cited in the indictment and also shut down the facility's intensive care unit. U.S. Attorney John McKay noted that although botnets are often seen as mere nuisances, this case shows that the repercussions from them can be deadly. If convicted, Maxwell could serve 10 years in prison and be fined $250,000. CNET, 13 February 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-7350_3-6038478.html INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP CALLS FOR FOCUS ON RUSSIA In comments submitted to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) urges the agency to identify Russia as a Priority Foreign Country, a designation for countries considered most threatening to intellectual property. The IIPA estimates that piracy rates in Russia are as high as 85 percent for business software, 67 percent for music, 81 percent for movies, and 82 percent for entertainment software. In addition, the Priority Foreign Country list indicates countries whose antipiracy efforts are minimal. The IIPA has previously requested that Russia be put on the list, but only Ukraine is on the highest-priority list. According to the IIPA, Ukraine should be moved down a step, to the Priority Watch List, with 15 other countries, including China, Egypt, Thailand, and Venezuela. The IIPA said countries including Pakistan, Brazil, and Taiwan had improved efforts during 2005 to address intellectual property concerns. ITWorld, 13 February 2006 http://www.itworld.com/Man/2683/060213iipa/ MICROSOFT, VODAFONE CHALLENGE BLACKBERRY Microsoft has teamed with Vodafone to challenge BlackBerry in the portable e-mail market. The Windows Mobile E-mail service will allow users to send and receive e-mail from portable devices and to access and edit Microsoft Word and Excel documents. The service will also allow users to have mail sent to Microsoft Outlook clients forwarded to handsets. Microsoft's Pieter Knook said, "It's an exciting time for companies who are now realizing the true business potential of mobile solutions." Meanwhile, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) is fighting a patent claim by NTP that threatens to shutter the company. RIM recently unveiled a workaround for the patents in question that it said would allow the company to continue operating and offering its services even if the patent case is decided in favor of NTP. BBC, 13 February 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4709184.stm ***************************************************** 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. To access resources including articles, books, conference sessions, contracts, effective practices, plans, policies, position descriptions, and blog content, go to http://www.educause.edu/resources ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/31 ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2006, EDUCAUSE
