[iwar] [NewsBits] NewsBits - 08/08/02 (fwd)

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2002-08-10 07:07:42
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From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net>
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Date: Sat, 10 Aug 2002 07:07:42 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [iwar] [NewsBits] NewsBits - 08/08/02 (fwd)
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August 8, 2002

French far-right group ordered to shut site A French court on Thursday
ordered the banned extreme right-wing group Unite Radicale, linked to
the man who tried to shoot President Jacques Chirac, to shut down its
Internet web site.  But as soon as the court ruling was issued the
group's web site stuck up a notice announcing a new Internet address and
saying "the fight goes on." http://zdnet.com.com/2110-1105-949009.html

Microsoft settles over Passport privacy After a Federal investigation
into privacy violations by Microsoft's Passport authentication service,
the software giant has agreed to settle.  The US government has reached
a settlement with Microsoft over complaints that the company's Passport
authentication service poses a threat to consumers' privacy and
security.  http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2120563,00.html
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-948922.html
http://www.msnbc.com/news/791587.asp
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/18954.html

Pornographer says he hacked al Qaeda 'I wanted to do something ...  I
know the Internet' A self-proclaimed Web warrior says he enlisted in the
United States' war on terror by mounting an incursion into an Internet
site said to be run by al Qaeda.  From his beachfront home, Jon Messner
uses his keyboard as a weapon against the enemy's site -- first reported
by CNN four months ago -- that posts statements from high-ranking al
Qaeda members.  http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/08/08/porn.patriot/index.html

FCC pushing for digital TV security The Federal Communications
Commission stepped up pressure on the technology, entertainment and
consumer electronics industries on Thursday to end a long-running
dispute over protecting digital television broadcasts from piracy.  With
key members of Congress already threatening to legislate some form of
digital security, the FCC said it will consider whether to mandate a so-
called broadcast flag on digital programming.  The broadcast flag is an
electronic marker that could tell DVD recorders and other devices not to
record those programs. 
http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/492954p-3931947c.html
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/3825001.htm
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103-948956.html
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/industry/08/08/digital.tv.ap/index.html
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2002-08-08-digital-tv-piracy_x=
.htm http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/26590.html

Boy, Have You Got Mail: Spam Attacks on Rise Experts have no concrete
answer for why junk e-mail has proliferated so much.  Some note that
spam is more appealing to marketers in a weak economy because it's
relatively inexpensive.  If you think your mailbox is filling ever
faster with junk e-mail, you're right.  More than 4.8 million "spam
attacks" were counted last month by Brightmail Inc., a software maker
that monitors junk mail on the Internet, compared with just over 879,000
attacks in June 2001.  As recently as December, the monthly figures were
under 2 million.  http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/18939.html

Porn spam on the rise UK corporates are bombarded by porn and pedo
bulk-emails - and ineffective anti-spam software and outdated email
usage policies mean that many are coping badly.  That's the warning from
messaging firm Nexor which reckons pornographic emails are on the rise
and that many are passing through ineffective defences to reach workers'
desktops.  It reckons pornographic email is growing at a mininum of 20
per cent per annum, and possibly more, because of under-reporting of the
problem.  http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/26589.html

Windows API 'flaw' sparks security debate A security researcher has
stirred up a new controversy around the security of the Windows
operating system, with claims that a flaw in the design of the Windows
architecture has led to vulnerabilities in an unknown number of Windows
applications.  On Tuesday, freelance security consultant Chris Paget
published a whitepaper demonstrating what he calls a Shatter Attack,
which allows a user to elevate his or her privileges and gain control of
a system.  The attack makes use of a flaw that Paget says may be found
in many Windows applications, due to the way the Windows application
programming interface (API), Win32, is designed. 
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-948931.html

Treasury employees to get smart cards About 9,000 Treasury Department
employees will be issued smart cards this fall.  The General Services
Administration=92s Federal Technology Service last month awarded a $1.4
million task order to Maximus Inc.  of Reston, Va., for Electronic
Treasury Enterprise Cards under its Smart Access Card Common ID
contract.  Employees of the Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, IRS and Treasury departmental offices will get
cards to govern both physical and logical access, GSA officials said. 
The cards will contain integrated circuit chips and antennas, and
biometric and public-key infrastructure technology. 
http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-updates/19543-1.html

VA awards cybersecurity contract The Department of Veterans Affairs has
awarded a $103 million contract to a consortium of five small businesses
to develop and manage its response to cyberattacks =97 an innovative
approach to deal with hackers that could become a model for other
federal agencies.  Known as the VA Security Team (VAST), the consortium
won the one-year contract with 10 one-year add-ons for the VA's Computer
Incident Response Capability (VA-CIRC).  The team, which began its work
Aug.  1, will be responsible for protecting the VA's entire network,
including hospitals, cemeteries, medical records and insurance. 
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/0805/web-va-08-08-02.asp

Attacking Nimda-infected attackers A presentation at Blackhat last week
by Tim Mullen of AnchorIs, offering a novel treatment for the Nimda
worm, has caused considerable controversy because it involves taking
unauthorized actions against the offending box.  Mullen has come up with
two possible ways of shutting down the bandwidth-hungry attacks when an
infected IIS box attempts to spread the worm, each with its own
advantages and problems.  Method one places a bit of harmless code in
the boot sequence which simply precludes Nimda from loading.  The
advantage here is that the machine will be made harmless without
interfering with any functionality or damaging any files. 
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/26593.html

The Password Is...  Confusion One potential roadblock to portable
password management is that the business and development communities
have not yet agreed on technology standards to make passwords portable
and secure.  For Web travelers seeking to lighten their load of
usernames and passwords, help has generally been slow to arrive.  Some
relief for the forgetful has come in the form of functions -- installed
on popular operating systems -- that serve to ease the mental burden of
those surfing from a single computer. 
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/18937.html

Biometrics: Beyond hype and hysteria Although the September 11 terrorist
attacks focused the spotlight on technologies that recognize irises,
facial features, fingerprints and voice, the heightened focus on
security is not translating into boom sales of biometrics products.  In
fact, biometrics suppliers are still struggling to find ways to sell
their technology to more enterprise- level customers.  Even worse, they
are viewed in some quarters as facilitators of a "Big Brother" police
state.  http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1107-948921.html

Smile, You're on In-Store Camera Johnny Q.  Consumer walks into a
national chain store, picks up diapers, pays in cash.  He does not walk
alone.  One store camera captures his face, while another network of
cameras traces his stroll through the aisles.  The pressure-sensitive
floor panels note how he lingers and nervously shifts his feet while
browsing in the diaper section. 
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,54078,00.html

Traffic system causes privacy outcry In about a month, traffic sensors
being installed along San Francisco Bay area highways will be able to
track a quarter million drivers along their commutes.  Proponents say
the $37 million enhancement to the region's electronic toll system will
be a boon to commuters, providing motorists real-time information about
some of the nation's worst road congestion via cell phone, radio or
Internet.  Traffic planners will be able to gather crucial data on
problem areas.  But despite government assurances, the new program is
also raising fears that drivers' privacy will be invaded. 
http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/493211p-3933455c.html
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/3825855.htm

Government to unleash SMS floods Notification engines will send alerts
by email, text or chat.  The government wants to use text, email and
chat to allow the public to make appointments with state-run
organisations such as hospitals, and to issue warnings of potential
disasters such as flash floods.  In an exclusive interview with
vnunet.com, Alan Mather, chief executive of the Office of the e-Envoy's
e-Delivery Team (EDT), revealed the ambitious highlights of its efforts
to get all government services online by 2005. 
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1134208

GPS devices that fight crime Tracking your kids With all these lunatics
kidnapping kids, here=92s an idea: Let=92s install a GPS device in every
newborn human, dog and kitten.  That way, when some creep comes along,
or when fireworks scare off the family pet, we=92ll be in a Minority
Report pre-crime busting future where we won=92t have a minute of worry. 
http://www.msnbc.com/news/791811.asp

Online blagging nets cash A bid to save Karyn from her shopping bill
enjoys success.  A New York woman is trying to blag $20,000 to pay off
her shopping debt from people on the internet - and is succeeding. 
Since setting up her website - www.savekaryn.com - in late June, Karyn,
who refuses to reveal her surname, says she has had more than 200,000
hits and that money is starting to roll in, albeit along with hatemail. 
The home page says: "Hello! My name is Karyn, I'm really nice, and I'm
asking for your help.  You see, I have this huge credit card debt and I
need $20,000 to pay it off.  So if you have an extra buck or two, please
send it my way!" http://www.vnunet.com/News/1134210

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