[DNS] domain name news - 4 October

From: David Goldstein <david> Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 14:54:19 +1000 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Sat Sep 09 2017 - 22:00:11 UTC

Don't forget to check out http://www.auda.org.au/domain-news/ for the archive of the last 3 months of the news. And see my website - http://GoldsteinReport.com/ - for daily updates in between postings.

***************************************************

The domain name news is supported by auDA

***************************************************

ICANN Not Currently Planning to Place URS Providers Under Contract by Philip Corwin
http://internetcommerce.org/URS_contracts

ICANN Looking To Consolidate Meeting Locations
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/10/03/icann-consolidate-meeting-locations/

China domain name land grab about to start
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/03/china_domain_land_grab_about_to_start/

Nominet Proposes Second Level .UK Registrations For Business
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/10/01/nominet-second-level-registrations/

ICM Registry Makes Counterclaims Against Manwin
http://newswire.xbiz.com/view.php?id=154640

Growth of domain names hides numerous threats
http://www.neurope.eu/article/growth-domain-names-hides-numerous-threats

How Many Domain Names Papa? 240 Million And Rising!
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/10/03/240-million-and-rising/

Black Lotus Provides DDoS Protection for Australian Web Host VentraIP
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/black-lotus-provides-ddos-protection-for-australian-web-host-ventraip

au: VentraIP deploys DDoS mitigation after attacks
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/317580,ventraip-deploys-ddos-mitigation-after-attacks.aspx
http://www.scmagazine.com.au/News/317669,ventraip-deploys-ddos-mitigation-after-attacks.aspx

**********************
 - ICANN
**********************
ICANN Consolidated Meetings Strategy Proposal
Purpose (Brief): The ICANN meeting operations department is submitting for public comment a proposal on a Consolidated Meetings Strategy for ICANN Public Meetings. The purpose of this document is to advise the ICANN community of the issues surrounding the current process for selecting ICANN Public Meeting locations, and to propose an alternate method of doing so.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-02oct12-en.htm

Implementing the Global Policy for Post Exhaustion IPv4 Allocation Mechanisms by the IANA
Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose: The Board ratified the Global Policy for Post Exhaustion IPv4 Allocation Mechanisms by the IANA in May. This public comment period is intended to gather input on options for implementation.
http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/implementing-ipv4-post-04oct12-en.htm

ICANN Not Currently Planning to Place URS Providers Under Contract by Philip Corwin
On Wednesday, October 3rd ICANN held a ninety-minute webinar on implementation of the Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) rights protection mechanism (RPM) for new gTLDs. More than a hundred individuals participated.
http://internetcommerce.org/URS_contracts

ICANN to Hold October 3rd URS Webinar by Philip Corwin
On October 3rd, at 1500 UTC, ICANN will hold a publicly accessible webinar on the further development of the Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) rights protection mechanism (RPM) for new gTLDs.
http://internetcommerce.org/URS_Webinar

ICANN Looking To Consolidate Meeting Locations
Due largely to difficulties in finding host cities for its three meetings per year, ICANN is looking to host annual meetings in the Asia Pacific and Europe, while rotating the third meeting each year between North America, Africa and Latin America/Caribbean.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=18870
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/10/03/icann-consolidate-meeting-locations/

No more Club Med? America and Africa would lose out under ICANN meetings overhaul
ICANN is having a big rethink about how it decides where to drag the community to on its thrice-yearly meetings.
http://domainincite.com/10671-no-more-club-med-america-and-africa-would-lose-out-under-icann-meetings-overhaul

Europe Says Proposed WHOIS Data Verification and Data Retention Proposals Unlawful
The European Commission has expressed concerns to ICANN about the proposed revisions of the two remaining unresolved issues in the Registrar Accreditation Agreement concerning verifying contact details and data retention of WHOIS data saying the proposed requirements would be unlawful in Europe. The Working Party is also miffed that ICANN has made no effort to discuss the issues from a European perspective.
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=18850
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/10/01/europe-whois-data-verification-retention-unlawful/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/europe-says-proposed-whois-data-verification-and-data-retention-proposals-unlawful.html

**********************
 - ccTLD & gTLD NEWS
**********************
bn: AITI consults on domain name management
The Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) held an industry sharing forum on the domain name management framework.
http://www.telecompaper.com/news/aiti-consults-on-domain-name-management

China domain name land grab about to start
Domain names ending with .?? ? the Chinese characters for China ? will become available in mid-October and China is gearing up for the rush of expected applications.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/03/china_domain_land_grab_about_to_start/

doMEn uses comedy compo to plug .me domains
doMEN, the .me registry, is marketing .me domain names with a series of comedy videos, presented in the form of a knockout competition and sweepstake.
http://domainincite.com/10687-domen-uses-comedy-compo-to-plug-me-domains

NiRA Challenges FG on Local IP Registry
Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the body managing Nigeria?s ccTLD, the dot ng domain name, has called on the Federal Government to establish local Internet Protocol (IP) Registry for the country.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nira-challenges-fg-on-local-ip-registry/126758/

nz: Adequacy of second level domain names consultation paper questioned
The Law Society has questioned whether the consultation and policy evaluation undertaken so far on registration of .nz domain names at the second level has been sufficiently rigorous.
http://www.lawsociety.org.nz/home/for_the_public/for_the_media/latest_news/news/october_2012/adequacy_of_second_level_domain_names_consultation_paper_questioned

ResellerClub sells 11,000 .pro domains in a month
Directi says it sold 11,000 .pro domains via its ResellerClub channel in the first month after it started supporting the TLD.
http://domainincite.com/10661-resellerclub-sells-11000-pro-domains-in-a-month

Nominet Proposes Second Level .UK Registrations For Business
It is likely .UK is to join the ranks of ccTLDs to allow for registrations at the second level. Nominet today announced they are launching a consultation on registrations at the second level for business.
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/10/01/nominet-second-level-registrations/

Consultation on new .uk domain name service
Nominet is launching a consultation on the potential introduction of a new service, which if approved would signal a significant change for the .uk domain name space.
http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/consultation-new-uk-domain-name-service

Shorter .uk internet domain proposed by Nominet
Plans to offer UK-based firms shorter internet domain names backed by added security features have been proposed.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19767014

Dot UK, A No-Brainer! by St?phane Van Gelder
British registry Nominet has launched a consultation on whether .UK should be opened up at the top level under a scheme called direct.uk. Currently, registrations are only allowed at the second level, .CO.UK being Britain's main Internet suffix. The question really isn't should this be done. The question is: why has it taken so long to get here?
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20121001_dot_uk_a_no_brainer/

Proposed new '.uk' domain would offer greater security for business, claims Nominet
Businesses should be able to register shorter domain names rooted at '.uk', Nominet has proposed.
http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/october/proposed-new-uk-domain-would-offer-greater-security-for-business-claims-nominet/

Goodbye to .co? Nominet ponders releasing second-level .uk domains
Nominet wants to let UK companies register domain names directly under .uk for the first time.
http://domainincite.com/10642-goodbye-to-co-nominet-ponders-releasing-second-level-uk-domains

ICM Registry Makes Counterclaims Against Manwin
ICM Registry has filed a $40 million countersuit against Manwin, alleging the adult entertainment conglomerate filed its antitrust lawsuit against the .XXX operator in order to maintain its "current monopoly" over search and access to online adult entertainment.
http://newswire.xbiz.com/view.php?id=154640

ICM files $120m lawsuit over Manwin?s .xxx ?boycott?
ICM Registry has counter-sued YouPorn owner Manwin Licensing, looking for at least $120 million in damages, saying the porn giant is using its market power to sideline the .xxx domain.
http://domainincite.com/10653-icm-files-120m-lawsuit-over-manwins-xxx-boycott

ICM Operator of .XXX Counter Sues Manwin & Digital Playground For $120 Million
ICM the operator of the .XXX TLD just filed a counterclaim again Manwin Licensing International, the company that owns YouPorn.com and Digital Playground, Inc, both of which filed suit against ICM and ICANN over the .XXX extension.
http://www.thedomains.com/2012/10/01/iicm-operator-of-xxx-counter-sues-manwin-digital-playground-for-120-million/

**********************
 - NEW TLDS
**********************
Growth of domain names hides numerous threats
In June this year, Icann published a list with more than 1,900 new domain name suggestions, including .ninja, .cafe and .site.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/growth-domain-names-hides-numerous-threats

Could Booking.com be a good parent to the new .hotels domain extension?
The coming weeks could see Booking.com given the go ahead by ICANN for the .HOTELS TLD.
http://www.tnooz.com/2012/10/03/news/could-booking-com-be-a-good-parent-to-the-new-hotels-domain-extension/

RRPproxy and Hexonet offering new gTLD pre-regs
Two reseller-oriented registrars this week have enabled their resellers to start taking new gTLD pre-registrations.
http://domainincite.com/10658-rrpproxy-and-hexonet-offering-new-gtld-pre-regs

DotConnectAfrica Sends Third Letter To ICANN Alleging Conflict Of Interest Issues with its Board Members Over .Africa.
In a letter dated October 1, 2012, sent to the CEO of ICANN, Fadi Chehade? and the Chairman of the Board, , Dr. Stephen D. Crocker, DotConnectAfrica (DCA) sent a third letter on what it considers to be a ?Matter of Conflict of Interest on .AFRICA (DotAfrica) new gTLD Applications regarding Mr. Mike Silber and Mr. Chris Disspain, Members of the ICANN Board and the New gTLD Program Committee?s participation.
http://www.thedomains.com/2012/10/03/dotconnectafrica-sends-third-letter-to-icann-alleging-conflict-of-interest-issues-with-its-board-members-over-africa/

**********************
 - DNS SECURITY
**********************
DDoS Mitigation Provider Prolexic Finds DDoS Attacks Growing in Size, Sophistication
DDoS protection services provider Prolexic Technologies announced on Monday that it has seen an influx of unusually large and highly sophisticated DDoS attacks in the last week. The DDoS attacks have been launched using the itsoknoproblembro DDoS toolkit, according to Prolexic, and the attack signatures are extremely complex.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/ddos-mitigation-provider-prolexic-finds-ddos-attacks-growing-in-size-sophistication

Google Warns of New State-Sponsored Cyberattack Targets
In June, many Google users were surprised to see an unusual greeting at the top of their Gmail inbox, Google home page or Chrome browser. ?Warning: We believe state-sponsored attackers may be attempting to compromise your account or computer.?
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/google-warns-new-state-sponsored-cyberattack-targets/

In a Zero-Day World, It?s Active Attacks that Matter
The recent zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer caused many (present company included) to urge Internet users to consider surfing the Web with a different browser until Microsoft issued a patch. Microsoft did so last month, but not before experts who ought to have known better began downplaying such advice, pointing out that other browser makers have more vulnerabilities and just as much exposure to zero-day flaws.
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/10/in-a-zero-day-world-its-active-attacks-that-matter/

Hacktivist's Advocate: Meet the Lawyer Who Defends Anonymous
As a lawyer not particularly immersed in the technology world, Jay Leiderman first became interested in the hacker collective Anonymous around December 2010. That was when Anonymous activists launched distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS) against Mastercard and PayPal, who stopped processing donations to WikiLeaks.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/10/hacktivists-advocate-meet-the-lawyer-who-defends-anonymous/263202/

Internet Explorer security examined
Security expert Brian Krebs has adopted a new approach to comparing the security of web browsers: counting active attacks. In his analysis, Internet Explorer fares far worse than a pure look at vulnerability numbers would suggest
http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Internet-Explorer-security-examined-1721876.html

Espionage Hackers Target ?Watering Hole? Sites
Security experts are accustomed to direct attacks, but some of today?s more insidious incursions succeed in a roundabout way ? by planting malware at sites deemed most likely to be visited by the targets of interest. New research suggests these so-called ?watering hole? tactics recently have been used as stepping stones to conduct espionage attacks against a host of targets across a variety of industries, including the defense, government, academia, financial services, healthcare and utilities sectors.
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/09/espionage-hackers-target-watering-hole-sites/

uk: Hague issues warning about global cybercrime danger
It has never been easier to become a cybercriminal, Foreign Secretary William Hague is to warn an international conference in Budapest.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19824188

Attacks on 6 Banks Frustrate Customers
Six major American banks were hit in a wave of computer attacks last week, by a group claiming Middle Eastern ties, that caused Internet blackouts and delays in online banking.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/business/cyberattacks-on-6-american-banks-frustrate-customers.html

DDoS attacks on major US banks are no Stuxnet?here's why
The attacks that recently disrupted website operations at Bank of America and at least five other major US banks used compromised Web servers to flood their targets with above-average amounts of Internet traffic, according to five experts from leading firms that worked to mitigate the attacks.
http://arstechnica.com/security/2012/10/ddos-attacks-against-major-us-banks-no-stuxnet/

Cyberattacks on Banking Websites Subside -- for Now [IDG]
The wave of cyberattacks against a half-dozen U.S. financial institutions has subsided this week, but the recent demonstration of force shows a careful honing of destructive techniques that could continue to cause headaches.
http://www.cio.com/article/717940/Cyberattacks_on_Banking_Websites_Subside_for_Now
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9232016/Cyberattacks_on_banking_websites_subside_for_now

White House confirms cyber-attack on 'unclassified' system
The White House has confirmed it was the target of a cyber-attack but says the breach hit an unclassified network.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19794745

White House Confirms Spear-Phishing Attack
The White House has confirmed that a spear-phishing attack struck an unclassified network in its environment, but says the affected system was identified and isolated.
http://www.darkreading.com/insider-threat/167801100/security/attacks-breaches/240008253/white-house-confirms-spear-phishing-attack.html

us: Senator: Congress Needs to Pass Cybersecurity Bill Now [IDG]
The U.S. Congress needs to pass cybersecurity legislation creating voluntary standards for businesses operating critical infrastructure before the country is the victim of a major cyberattack, one lawmaker said.
http://www.cio.com/article/717705/Senator_Congress_Needs_to_Pass_Cybersecurity_Bill_Now

us: Cybersecurity Under the COPPA Cabana by Alex Palombo, Director of Online Strategies, Progressive Strategies
It came to my attention looking through my own Facebook Timeline that children being born right now could very well have their entire lives documented online -- from birth, if their parents have accounts and upload photos of them. And it brought up a few thoughts: one, what a colossal bummer it would be to have your awkward stage documented for hundreds of people to see; and two, how children are growing up online now and need security.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-palombo/cybersecurity-under-the-c_b_1936685.html

DDoS attacks: 150Gb per second and rising
DDoS attacks, favoured tactic of hacktivists and extortionists alike, are getting bigger, more numerous, and even smarter.
http://www.zdnet.com/ddos-attacks-150gb-per-second-and-rising-7000005075/

Mobile devices are the new frontier for botnets and DDoS attacks [Content Works]
Pop quiz: What has a dual or quad core processor, gigabytes of potentially sensitive data, and very fast Internet connectivity? The default answer is ?a PC.? But, if you responded with ?smartphone? or ?tablet? you would also be correct?and that blurred distinction is not lost on cyber criminals. 
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2011100/mobile-devices-are-the-new-frontier-for-botnets-and-ddos-attacks.html

HSTS becomes IETF proposed standard
HSTS, the HTTP Strict Transport Security protocol, has been approved as a proposed standard by the IETF. HSTS is designed to allow web sites to ensure that only secure connections are being made to them by informing browsers that they should use a secure connection.
http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/HSTS-becomes-IETF-proposed-standard-1722502.html

Web security protocol HSTS wins proposed standard status
A Web security protocol designed to protect Internet users from Internet hijackings due to unencrypted Web sites has won approval as a proposed standard.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57524915-83/web-security-protocol-hsts-wins-proposed-standard-status/

IETF Starts Work on Next-generation HTTP Standard [IDG]
With an eye towards updating the World Wide Web to better accommodate complex and bandwidth-hungry applications, the Internet Engineering Task Force has started work on the next generation of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), the underlying protocol for the Web.
http://www.cio.com/article/717858/IETF_Starts_Work_on_Next_generation_HTTP_Standard
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231975/IETF_starts_work_on_next_generation_HTTP_standard

**********************
 - DOMAIN DISPUTES
**********************
au: The Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia (IAMA) v. Adjudicate Today Pty Limited - Case No. DAU2012-0021
1. The Parties: The Complainant is The Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia (?IAMA?) of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, represented by ArgyStar.com, Australia. The Respondent is Adjudicate Today Pty Limited of Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia, represented by Moray & Agnew Lawyers, Australia. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar: The disputed domain name <iama.com.au> is registered with NetRegistryPty Ltd. ... 7. Decision: For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the disputed domain name <iama.com.au> be transferred to the Complainant.
http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/text.jsp?case=DAU2012-0021

**********************
 - IPv4/IPv6
**********************
US government gets an "F" for IPv6 Internet make-over
The U.S. federal government had until September 30th, 2012 to start supporting IPv6 on the Internet with their Web sites. They didn't come close.
http://www.zdnet.com/us-government-gets-an-f-for-ipv6-internet-make-over-7000005055/

The Logic of Bad IPv6 Address Management - What Makes Sense for IPv4 Doesn?t Make Sense for IPv6
I've written about IPv6 address design previously, and in that post I briefly touched on the fact that our long-ingrained habits of IPv4 address design can lead us astray when working with IPv6. I'd like to revisit that topic, with an eye to both design and management.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/81528

**********************
 - MISCELLANEOUS
**********************
How Many Domain Names Papa? 240 Million And Rising!
Johnny Cash sang in the song Five Feet High and Rising, "how high's the water mama?" The reply finished with "five feet high and rising." If he were alive today he could sing "how many domain names papa?" The answer would be "240 million and rising."
http://goldsteinreport.com/article.php?article=18868
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/10/03/240-million-and-rising/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/how-many-domain-names-papa-240-million-and-rising.html

Iran internet plan ignites debate
Shielding official and sensitive information from foreign attack, or the precursor to an unparalleled internet shut-down? The debate about Iran's soon-to-launch closed national computer network continues to polarise opinion.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/09/2012927132545740255.html

CENTR Monthly Roundup September 2012
For those interested in what?s happening in Europe (and occasionally beyond), CENTR has published their latest CENTR Roundup. While most of the news has already been covered on Domain News/Domain Pulse, it?s a good summary of ccTLD updates.
http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/10/02/centr-monthly-roundup-september-2012/
http://www.domainnews.com/en/centr-monthly-roundup-september-2012.html

Exploring the world's shortest domain names
A total of 676 websites have two-letter, dot-com domain names. Twenty-two of them, including that of Nextgov's new sister publication, Quartz (qz.com), are news websites. Nine people have their own personal websites on two-letter domains.
http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2012/10/exploring-worlds-shortest-domain-names/58525/

Blacknight dumps .ie from free domain program, replaces it with .co
Blacknight Solutions has dropped its local ccTLD, .ie, from the free domain name program it offers in partnership with Google to Irish small businesses.
http://domainincite.com/10648-blacknight-dumps-ie-from-free-domain-program-replaces-it-with-co

YouTube opens Turkish site, giving government more control
Turkey said on Tuesday it had won a long-running battle to persuade the video-sharing website YouTube to operate under a Turkish web domain, giving Ankara a tighter rein over the site's content and requiring the firm to pay Turkish taxes.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/uk-turkey-youtube-idUKBRE8910TG20121002

YouTube cedes to Turkey and uses local Web domain
Turkey and YouTube have a checkered past, so today's news isn't a big surprise -- the video-sharing site will now operate under a local Web domain -- "com.tr" -- and be subject to the country's content regulations and taxes.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57524907-93/youtube-cedes-to-turkey-and-uses-local-web-domain/

Why Jeremy Hitchcock Waited 11 Years To Raise $38 Million
Dyn is an old-fashioned American tech startup success story. After 11 years of growing a business he started in college by?wait for it!?making money from customers, CEO Jeremy Hitchcock raised $38 million from North Bridge Venture Partners, the first outside money he's taken.
http://www.businessinsider.com/dyn-fundraising-2012-10

Dyn grabs $38 million in funding
Managed DNS service provider Dyn has secured a $38 million investment from venture capital firm North Bridge.
http://domainincite.com/10683-dyn-grabs-38-million-in-funding

**********************
 - WEBHOSTING
**********************
Web Host Go Daddy Quietly Kills Off Cloud Servers Business
Just five months after officially launching a cloud server product at the beginning of May, web hosting giant Go Daddy has quietly abandoned the model, choosing instead to focus on the more traditional product the company has seen success with.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/web-host-go-daddy-quietly-kills-off-cloud-servers-business

Web Host Gandi Provides Domain Management Service to Social News Site Reddit
Web host and domain registrar Gandi announced on Wednesday that it now manages the domain portfolio of social news site reddit. This customer win comes three months after Gandi expanded its platform as a service offering to the US.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/web-host-gandi-provides-domain-management-service-to-social-news-site-reddit

Black Lotus Provides DDoS Protection for Australian Web Host VentraIP
Distributed denial of service solutions provider Black Lotus announced on Monday that it will provide Australian web hosting and domain name provider VentraIP Group with enterprise-grade DDoS protection.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/black-lotus-provides-ddos-protection-for-australian-web-host-ventraip

au: VentraIP deploys DDoS mitigation after attacks
... VentraIP is also a domain registrar, which brings with it additional customers and responsibilities to overseeing organisations such as auDA.
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/317580,ventraip-deploys-ddos-mitigation-after-attacks.aspx
http://www.scmagazine.com.au/News/317669,ventraip-deploys-ddos-mitigation-after-attacks.aspx

**********************
INTERNET USE
**********************
Firefox: back in the No. 2 seat once again
PCWorld's recent Web browser showdown may have crowned Chrome the ultimate winner, but new data suggests that Google's popular contender shouldn't rest on its laurels just yet.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2011022/firefox-back-in-the-no-2-seat-once-again.html

Peak Chrome? Google's browser falls as Firefox, Internet Explorer stay flat
Once again, Firefox has maintained its grip on second place, behind Internet Explorer. And as Chrome falls away, there's now a gap of more than one percentage point between the browsers.
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/10/peak-chrome-googles-browser-falls-as-firefox-internet-explorer-stay-flat/

Why should news organisations work together, when we can struggle separately?
David Leigh courted popularity, if that's the right way of describing it, in the Media pages last week, with his proposal for a "small levy on UK broadband providers" at ?2 a month. Taxes, even small ones, aren't terribly popular, and my colleague's provocative idea won plaudits from onlookers as diverse as the New Statesman ? which said it was "bonkers" (who said there was a leftwing conspiracy?) ? and the Sun. The nation's favourite redtop was equally unenamoured, also concluding in a "Sun Says" leader, no less, that the idea was, amongst other things, "bonkers". Which suggests, if nothing else, a certain unanimity of view in our hopelessly Balkanised business.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/sep/30/why-should-news-work-together

Why We Are So Rude Online - Online Browsing Lowers Self-Control and Is Linked To Higher Debt, Weight
... Why are we so nasty to each other online? Whether on Facebook, Twitter, message boards or websites, we say things to each other that we would never say face to face. Shouldn't we know better by now?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444592404578030351784405148.html

**********************
SOCIAL MEDIA
**********************
us: NEW STUDY: Mobile Phones Put the 'Social' in Social Media by Susan Moeller, Director, International Center for Media and the Public Agenda
When was the last time you saw a 20-year-old without a phone in his or her hands? Ever wonder what the world was coming to?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-moeller/new-study-mobile-phones-p_b_1927945.html

Facebook Sells More Access to Members
Facebook Inc. is experimenting with new ways to leverage its greatest asset?personal data on about 900 million people?reigniting concerns about privacy. The strategy: selling access to its users.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443862604578029450918199258.html

Zuckerberg Meets With Medvedev in a Crucial Market
The hoodie stayed back at the hotel when Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, met Russia?s prime minister and former president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, on Monday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/technology/zuckerberg-meets-with-medvedev-in-key-market.html

Why Facebook's Search Engine Won't Be Anything Like Google's
Trying to match Google's immense index of the Web would be very costly?but Facebook could instead build search on top of the data we've already given it.
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/429427/why-facebooks-search-engine-wont-be-anything-like/

uk: Police forces warned to treat their tweeters with care
Police forces risk looking "out of touch and heavy-handed" if they overreact to mistakes made by officers using social media, a senior officer has warned.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/02/police-warned-treat-tweeters-with-care

au: Status update: we don't like Facebook
Australians are beginning to turn away from Facebook, with an increasing number of users rejecting the culture of ''narcissism and self-absorption'' they say it promotes, according to the latest snapshot of the nation's mind and mood.
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/status-update-we-dont-like-facebook-20121002-26xhi.html
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/status-update-we-dont-like-facebook-20121002-26xhi.html

au: 'Necessary evil' Facebook a hard habit to break
Facebook may be on the nose with the Australian public but it has become as much a ?necessary evil? as TV, and half the population still uses it every month.
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/necessary-evil-facebook-a-hard-habit-to-break-20121004-270wo.html
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/necessary-evil-facebook-a-hard-habit-to-break-20121004-270wo.html

nz: Avoiding out-of-control Facebook parties
If an event looks like it will be out of control, police are the best people to call as even cancelling the invite may not deter unwanted guests, Netsafe says.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/7757831/Avoiding-out-of-control-Facebook-parties

Facebook wants you to pay $7 to promote your posts
Is that cat photo you posted on Facebook not resonating? A new feature the company is testing out lets you push Fluffy to the top of your friends' newsfeeds by shelling out cash.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/03/technology/social/facebook-promoted-posts/index.html

Facebook to charge for some posts [AP]
Facebook has long declared that it's "free and always will be". And it still is -- unless you want more friends to see what you have to say.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/facebook-to-charge-for-some-posts/story-e6frg996-1226487856184
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10838326

**********************
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
**********************
Researchers turn lights into world's fastest wireless with Li-Fi
The future of wireless broadband is here, and it may or may not give you a headache. The flicker in your office lighting may someday soon be caused by data transmissions and not faulty fluorescent bulbs.
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/10/researchers-turn-lights-into-worlds-fastest-wireless-with-li-fi/

*********************************
CHILD PROTECTION & ONLINE SAFETY
*********************************
Facebook Says Child Privacy Laws Should Not Apply to ?Like? Buttons
The social networking giant Facebook has told the Obama administration that child privacy laws should not apply to a Web site?s ability to incorporate a ?like? button, because that would inhibit free expression.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/facebook-says-child-privacy-laws-should-not-apply-to-like-buttons/

us: Fan Sites Settle Children?s Privacy Charges
The operator of fan Web sites for the pop stars Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Rihanna and Demi Lovato agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty to settle federal charges that the sites illegally collected personal information about thousands of children, the Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/technology/fan-sites-for-pop-stars-settle-childrens-privacy-charges.html

**********************
ONLINE TV, MUSIC & PIRACY
**********************
The Pirate Bay down in extended outage
Popular torrent hub The Pirate Bay suffered an extended outage on Monday and Tuesday, coinciding with a government raid on its former Web hosting service. The site says it's down mainly because of a power outage, however, and that it will be back later this week.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/02/technology/pirate-bay-down/index.html

Former Pirate Bay Hoster Raided By Police, Goes Down Amidst DDoS-attack [IDG]
Former Pirate Bay host PRQ.se went down in the middle of a police raid on Monday, affecting hundreds of hosted sites and thousands of users of PRQ's other services. But the raid and the outage are unlikely to be related, according to PRQ's owner.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231947/Former_Pirate_Bay_hoster_raided_and_shut_down_by_DDoS_attack
http://www.cio.com/article/717812/Former_Pirate_Bay_Hoster_Raided_By_Police_Goes_Down_Amidst_DDoS_attack

Swedish Police Raid Web Host PRQ, Take Down File-Sharing and Streaming Sites
Swedish police raided Stockholm-based web host PeRiQuito on Monday in order to confiscate four servers, according to a report by Forbes.
http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/swedish-police-raid-web-host-prq-take-down-file-sharing-and-streaming-sites

Swedish police confiscated three servers during raid on former Pirate Bay host [IDG]
Swedish police confiscated three servers allegedly connected to copyright infringements during a raid on PRQ, a hosting service that was once home to The Pirate Bay. The main target was the Swedish torrent site tankafett.nu, according to the hosting company's owner.
http://www.cio.com/article/717875/Swedish_police_confiscated_three_servers_during_raid_on_former_Pirate_Bay_host

uk: ISPs: Ofcom has underestimated cost of our obligations under anti-piracy code
Ofcom has not accurately accounted for how much it will cost internet service providers (ISPs) to comply with a regulatory code aimed at combating online copyright infringement, three major UK ISPs have claimed.
http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/october/isps-ofcom-has-underestimated-cost-of-our-obligations-under-anti-piracy-code/

Internet TV Isn't Ready to Displace Cable Just Yet
Roku founder Anthony Wood runs a startup that, along with companies like Apple and Microsoft, sells hardware that's bringing Web video to home television screens. It's no wonder his nine-year-old daughter prefers to watch her favorite Disney shows on Netflix at her whim, rather than surf Disney's own 24-hour cable channel.
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/429326/internet-tv-isnt-ready-to-displace-cable-just-yet/

**********************
MOBILE/WIRELESS
**********************
The Impact of 4G on the U.S. Economy - part 1
4G technology has the potential to strengthen U.S. economic performance, but the extent to which it will promote GDP growth and create new jobs depends, in part, on how closely the federal government adheres to the policy approach that allowed for rapid deployment of 3G networks.
http://deloitte.wsj.com/cio/2012/10/01/the-impact-of-4g-technology-on-the-u-s-economy-part-1/

The Impact of 4G on the U.S. Economy, Part 2
As the world moves into the 4G era, the United States is at risk of losing its standing as the world?s top mobile broadband innovator. Many countries are committed to 4G deployment and trials, and they are acting swiftly to gain an edge in the mobile broadband space.?
http://deloitte.wsj.com/cio/2012/10/01/the-impact-of-4g-technology-on-the-u-s-economy-part-2/

Mobile computing wars pose tough choices for Internet publishers
For Microsoft Corp, and Amazon.com, and the clutch of other companies that hope to carve out a big slice of a mobile computing business currently dominated by Apple Inc, the future depends on people like Scott Porad.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/uk-mobile-computing-apps-idUKBRE89105A20121002
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/mobile-computing-apps-idINDEE89102520121002

Phew! New smartphones less toxic than older models
Your smartphone may be sleek and shiny on the outside, but on the inside, it could be harboring some environmental troublemakers.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57524989-94/phew-new-smartphones-less-toxic-than-older-models/

Samsung adds iPhone 5 to its patent battle with Apple
Samsung has added Apple's latest handset to a US patent lawsuit claiming the iPhone 5 infringes eight of its technologies.
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19800342

Samsung files motion with California court accusing Apple?s iPhone 5 of patent infringement [AP]
South Korea?s Samsung Electronics Co. says it has filed a motion with a U.S. court to add Apple?s iPhone 5 to their ongoing patent battle.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/samsung-files-motion-with-california-court-accusing-apples-iphone-5-of-patent-infringement/2012/10/02/f27ddc84-0c4d-11e2-97a7-45c05ef136b2_story.html

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales ban lifted in the US
A temporary sales ban on Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer in the US has been lifted by a US court.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19796178

US court lifts ban on sale of Samsung Galaxy Tab
A U.S. court removed a temporary sales ban against Samsung Electronics Co Ltd's Galaxy Tab 10.1 won by Apple Inc in a patent dispute, allowing the South Korean company to sell the product in the United States.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/apple-samsung-galaxy-tab-idINDEE89101D20121002
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/uk-apple-samsung-idUKBRE89102820121002

**********************
SPAM
**********************
uk: Spam text senders face fines of up to ?500,000
Two people responsible for sending out millions of spam texts offering accident compensation and payment protection insurance mis-selling services face fines totalling about half a million pounds, following a crackdown by the Information Commissioner's Office.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/01/spam-text-senders-fines

**********************
ONLINE CRIME & LEGAL
**********************
Multinational Crackdown on Computer Con Artists
Consumer frauds often make claims that are too good to be true. But a recent one, cited by regulators around the world Wednesday, depended on a pitch that many people found completely believable ? that Microsoft or another computer company knows what is on your personal computer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/business/multinational-crackdown-on-computer-con-artists.html

Global operation nabs multi-million-dollar spamming ring
Joint action by the communications watchdog and US authorities has dismantled an international spamming ring that duped tens of thousands of unwitting computer users to collectively hand over millions of dollars in one of the world's biggest global phone scams.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/global-operation-nabs-multi-million-dollar-spamming-ring/story-e6frgakx-1226487642050

Australia helps foil global 'Microsoft Impostor' scam
Australian, American and Canadian authorities have joined forces to foil a major international phone scam, known as the Microsoft Impostor scam.
http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/australia-helps-foil-global-microsoft-impostor-scam-20121004-2706t.html
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/consumer-security/australia-helps-foil-global-microsoft-impostor-scam-20121004-2706t.html

US shuts down 'scareware' scam which hit Kiwis
US officials have shut down a series of so-called tech support scams, mostly operating from India, which targeted English-speaking consumers, including New Zealanders.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10838296

Millions swindled from New Zealanders in scam
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs says a major international phone scam shut down is believed to have swindled $10 million out of unsuspecting New Zealanders.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/117342/millions-swindled-from-new-zealanders-in-scam

FTC Targets Computer Support Scams
The Federal Trade Commission announced on Wednesday that it has uncovered an international scam that allegedly duped consumers into believing their computers had been infected with viruses and malware in order to charge them for fixing the problems.
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2012/10/ftc-targets-computer-support-s.php

FTC Halts Massive Tech Support Scams: Tens of Thousands of Consumers Allegedly Tricked Into Paying for Removal of Bogus Viruses and Non-Existent Spyware, and Allowing Scammers to Remotely Access their Computers [news release]
The Federal Trade Commission has launched a major international crackdown on tech support scams in which telemarketers masquerade as major computer companies, con consumers into believing that their computers are riddled with viruses, spyware and other malware, and then charge hundreds of dollars to remotely access and ?fix? the consumers? computers.
http://ftc.gov/opa/2012/10/pecon.shtm

us: FTC gets $163 million ruling against scareware defendant
A U.S. judge has imposed a judgment of US$163.2 million against a defendant accused by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission of being part of an operation that sold software to people it tricked into thinking their computers were infected with malicious software.
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/100212-ftc-gets-163-million-ruling-262989.html

FTC Case Results in $163 Million Judgment Against "Scareware" Marketer [news release]
At the Federal Trade Commission?s request, a federal court imposed a judgment of more than $163 million on the final defendant in the FTC?s case against an operation that used computer ?scareware? to trick consumers into thinking their computers were infected with malicious software, and then sold them software to ?fix? their non-existent problem.
http://ftc.gov/opa/2012/10/winfixer.shtm

Lessons learnt from high profile security breaches
InternetNZ policy analyst Dean Pemberton looks at how a Wired magazine reporter had his digital life erased
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/opinion-lessons-learnt-from-high-profile-security-breaches
http://www.cso.com.au/article/438029/lessons_learnt_from_high_profile_security_breaches/
http://www.cio.in/news/lessons-learnt-high-profile-security-breaches-311012012
http://www.computerworld.in/opinion/lessons-high-profile-security-breaches-31322012

nz: New auction site Wheedle puts passwords at risk
A new auction website aiming to knock TradeMe off its perch has had a disastrous first couple of days.
http://www.3news.co.nz/New-auction-site-Wheedle-puts-passwords-at-risk/tabid/412/articleID/271202/Default.aspx

nz: La venganza de Kim Dotcom
... El director ejecutivo de Internet NZ, Vikram Kumar, exigi? que se hiciese p?blico el informe sobre el caso de espionaje y record? que este asunto, unido a otros ocurridos durante el proceso judicial, lleva a que uno se pregunte si se han vulnerado otras leyes.
http://www.urgente24.com/205377-la-venganza-de-kim-dotcom

**********************
SECURITY
**********************
Google Warns of New State-Sponsored Cyberattack Targets
In June, many Google users were surprised to see an unusual greeting at the top of their Gmail inbox, Google home page or Chrome browser. ?Warning: We believe state-sponsored attackers may be attempting to compromise your account or computer.?
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/google-warns-new-state-sponsored-cyberattack-targets/