TECHNOLOGY & WWW 020707 Hackers Attack Key Net Traffic Computers in biggest cyberattack since 2002 http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2007-02-07-hacker-attack_ x.htm?POE=TECISVA <http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2007-02-07-hacker-attack _x.htm?POE=TECISVA>
Hackers evolve professionally: Computer-security experts said 2006 was also the year that hacking stopped being a hobby and became a lucrative profession practiced by an underground of computer developers and software sellers. Like true business people, bad guys not only broadened their reach by attacking popular social-networking sites, they also diversified their product line by launching attacks through popular software applications like PowerPoint and Adobe Reader and expanded their activities overseas. Software makers who try to stop online crooks say they are bracing for a new level of nastiness in 2007, including malicious Web sites that are booby-trapped with software that automatically loads itself onto machines of users who simply visit a site. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003556913_hackers0 5.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003556913_hackers 05.html> Rebellion growing as states challenge Real ID Act: Maine legislators started off the rebellion late last month by passing a nonbinding resolution that rejected the law, called the Real ID Act, which Congress passed in 2005. They said that it would cost the state $185 million to put into place and that instead of making Maines residents more secure, it would leave them more vulnerable to identity theft. Since then, legislatures in 5 states Georgia, Montana, New Mexico, Washington and Wyoming have voted in committee or on the floor of one chamber to move similar legislation ahead. The bill adopted in a 99-to-1 vote by the Montana House of Representatives would go furthest, ordering state officials there to ignore the federal law. Unless the federal law is revised, any state that defies it will risk causing major inconvenience for its residents, as noncompliant licenses will not be accepted as a proof of identification at airports, federal buildings or when applying for federal benefits. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/washington/05real.html <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/washington/05real.html> Cost is one of the factors in this rebellion: for example, Texas has just been told the $13 Million estimate to put Real ID in place there will actually cost 20 times more, $268 Million. Austin Statesman blogs 020807 <http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/legislature/ entries/2007/02/08/dps_real_id_cost_268_million.html> Add Nevada to the list http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Feb-07-Wed-2007/news/12440750.ht ml <http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Feb-07-Wed-2007/news/12440750.h tml> ALSO SEE 15 States moving to challenge Real ID Act http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0209/p01s02-uspo.html?page=1 <http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0209/p01s02-uspo.html?page=1> Web real estate firms challenge home economics: will give rebates from commissions to clients who do groundwork online. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-homefees8feb08,0,1469453.story?coll=la -home-business <http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-homefees8feb08,0,1469453.story?coll=l a-home-business>
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