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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2006 Students Recruited for Cybercrime Report Estimates Teen Use of Electronic Media Former Telecom Exec Charged in E-Rate Fraud STUDENTS RECRUITED FOR CYBERCRIME According to a new report from computer security firm McAfee, gangs of criminals are recruiting college students to do the dirty work of cybercrimes. In an annual report, McAfee compared the gangs' tactics to those of agents working for the USSR during the Cold War, saying that recruiters scan computer clubs and other online venues looking for individuals with strong aptitude for technology. Those people, many of them undergraduates, are brought in to the criminal gang, where they write viruses, commit identity theft, and launder money. McAfee said the growing business of cybercrime is more lucrative than illegal drugs. "Although organized criminals may have less of the expertise and access needed to commit cybercrimes," said the report, "they have the funds to buy the necessary people to do it for them." The report is based in part on information from the FBI and European intelligence agencies, according to McAfee. ZDNet, 8 December 2006 http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6141989.html REPORT ESTIMATES TEEN USE OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA Results of the 2006 Teen Trend study indicate that U.S. teenagers spend more than 72 hours per week using electronic media, which includes the Internet, television, cell phones, video games, and music. The study, which is in its third year, was conducted by the Harrison Group and sponsored by VNU Business Media. Jim Taylor, vice chairman of the Harrison Group, said that the prevalence of these forms of media causes teens to see themselves as stars of their own reality television shows. "Teen life," he said, "has become a theatrical, self-directed media production." Among specific findings of the study: 68 percent of teens have profiles on social networking sites, about 75 percent spend two to three hours a day listening to or downloading online music, and about half of the teens who download music believe that it is legal. CNET, 7 December 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-6141920.html FORMER TELECOM EXEC CHARGED IN E-RATE FRAUD A federal grand jury has indicted Rafael G. Adame on nine counts of wire fraud in connection with what federal authorities said was a practice of defrauding the E-Rate program. Operated by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) on behalf of the FCC, the E-Rate Program provides funds to extend Internet access to schools and libraries. Since it was implemented 10 years ago, the program has been the subject of numerous allegations of fraud and misuse. Adame is the 14th person to be charged in E-Rate fraud cases, and 12 companies have also been charged. Adame was the owner of ATE Tel, a telecommunications company in Texas that provided goods and services to the Weslaco Independent School District. Authorities said that Adame submitted fraudulent invoices totaling more than $140,000. Assistant Attorney General Thomas O. Barnett said, "Committing fraud upon the E-Rate program harms underprivileged school districts." Internet News, 7 December 2006 http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3647786 ***************************************************** 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
