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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2006 Beware the Wiki Virus Case Expected to Clarify Online Accessibility Requirements New Company Sets Sights on Oracle, SAP BEWARE THE WIKI VIRUS In another sign of the evolution of computer threats, a posting on the German version of Wikipedia purporting to be a virus-removal tool was in fact a virus. The posting said that a new version of the Blaster virus was in circulation and that the link would help remove the new variant. Although the scam was discovered and taken down, observers noted that this incident follows the pattern of threats moving away from e-mail and into Web applications, relying on social engineering to trick users into downloading malicious code or providing confidential information. Gregg Mastoras of Sophos, which discovered the virus on Wikipedia, said the risk is not just for wikis but for a range of Web 2.0 applications, which tend to give broad control for content creation and exchange to users. Peter Firstbrook, research director for information security and privacy at Gartner, said that sites like Wikipedia and MySpace "will have to start intercepting uploads and start scanning them for malware." Doing so, he said, will be a considerable challenge because scanning software is generally poor at identifying unknown viruses. Internet News, 3 November 2006 http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3642011 CASE EXPECTED TO CLARIFY ONLINE ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS A lawsuit filed against Target is expected to establish an important ruling concerning the level of access Web site operators are required to provide to users with disabilities. Specifically, the suit alleges that Target's Web site failed to make its site accessible to screen readers, which help visually impaired users read and navigate online. The Americans with Disabilities Act, which was enacted in 1990, sufficiently predates the Web that it provides little guidance on what access retailers are required to offer online. Jane Jarrow, president of Disability Access Information and Support, said that the online education sector is at particularly high risk for discovering that it has unmet legal obligations for users with disabilities. Many online programs rely heavily on chat rooms, a technology that does not accommodate screen readers well, leaving blind and visually impaired students at a significant disadvantage in their efforts to complete coursework online. A recently changed federal regulation allows online programs to qualify for federal financial aid, but institutions that seek to take advantage of this program must meet the terms of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which stipulates that Web sites must be accessible to all users to qualify for federal aid. New York Times, 6 November 2006 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/06/technology/06ecom.html NEW COMPANY SETS SIGHTS ON ORACLE, SAP A new company, started by Dave Duffield, founder of PeopleSoft, is set to enter the market against companies including SAP and Oracle, the company that completed a hostile takeover of PeopleSoft just two years ago. Duffield's new company, Workday, has released a human resource planning suite designed for medium to large companies; products to manage financials, resources, and revenues are expected to follow next year. Duffield, who fought Oracle's takeover bid of PeopleSoft, is seen as a cagey veteran whose knowledge and experience could offer formidable assets in what some see as a "David versus Goliath" scenario. In a statement, Duffield said the current business environment and advances in technology offer "a great opportunity to create a new breed of ERP--one that is not beholden to aging technologies and business models." Workday has at least two customers already and has secured strategic partnerships with Microsoft and Accenture. CNET, 6 November 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-1012_3-6132795.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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