IP Media Monitor: SECURITY - articles

A request for digital backup

CRAYTON HARRISON / The Dallas Morning News — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

09:46 AM CST on Thursday, December 28, 2006 By CRAYTON HARRISON / The Dallas Morning News

Wild Predictions for a Wired 2007

Wired News Staff — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Computers will be instant-on, Digg becomes the new Friendster, and virtual adultery ends in real-life murder. Here are our predictions for 2007. By Wired News staff.

Hollywood wins copyright suit in China

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Hollywood movie studios have won a lawsuit in China over the posting of movie clips on the Internet, the Motion Picture Association said on Friday.

China drives home standards goes here please

Mike Clendenin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

(12/30/2006 11:09 AM EST)

New UMPCs Hit Closer to the Mark

Asus's new UltraMobile is packed with features — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The first ultramobile PCs--tablet-shaped, touch-screen handhelds that are larger than PDAs but smaller than laptops--had limitations that detracted from their mainstream appeal.

Music industry may do more with mp3

Troy WolvertonSan Jose Mercury News — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

For years, the recording industry has fought the popular MP3 music format. Now, some think the industry is ready to declare a truce.

AllofMP3.com Fires Back at RIAA

Michael Calore — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Claiming its activities are legal under Russian law, the dirt-cheap online music store calls a Recording Industry Association of America lawsuit against it "unjustified." In Monkey Bites.

Bob Greenberg On Web 2.0's Impact

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

As I begin to write this "looking ahead for 2007" article, Time has just declared its "Person of the Year" is "you … for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy…" The article claims victory for the revolution called Web 2.0, all of those online places like Wikipedia, YouTube and MySpace that exemplify a new world of community and collaboration. In declaring victory for the user-generated world of Web 2.0, Time itself has recognized it is less relevant amid a global movement of people who are "working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game."

The top ten hang-ups in home networking

Rick Merritt — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

(01/02/2007 10:07 PM EST)

Copyright Lawsuit Names Leading Technology Firms

JOHN MARKOFF and MIGUEL HELFT — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The latest patent dispute pits Apple, Google and Napster against a company that closed five years ago.

802.11n morphs into spec for home video stream

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

When the IEEE first pondered antenna diversity for its 802.11n wireless LAN standard, the multiple-input/multiple-output antenna topology was seen as a general tool for increasing Internet data access to 500 Mbits/second--some 50 times that of 802.11b. But as draft silicon of 802.1n networks sampled in 2006, the focus had changed to a singular concentration on Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) and high-definition television video streams.

• What Tech Entrepreneurs Need to Know

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

He may be a Harvard dropout, but Mark Zuckerberg is now the main character in a Harvard Business School case. His company, Facebook, "had grown from just a few friends programming around a kitchen table to a full-fledged technology business with over 100 employees and 7.4 million users," says Harvard's summary of the case. "Zuckerberg would have to develop an organizational strategy that could allow the company to keep up with its underlying growth metrics, while ensuring Facebook's consumer experience was better than its alternatives." The case is available for anyone interested in combing through the issues, either on paper or electronically, for $6.50 a copy. (Hey, Harvard has to make a living, too.)

Ailing music biz set to relax digital restrictions

Antony Bruno — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - The anti-digital rights management (DRM) bandwagon is getting more crowded by the day. Even some major-label executives are pushing for the right to sell digital downloads as unprotected MP3s.

Movement of content consumes CES

Rick Merritt — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

(01/02/2007 9:09 AM EST)

Morning Reboot: Gmail Hackable

Michael Calore — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The new year starts with news that Google's Gmail contact lists are vulnerable to hijacking. Also, Reuters claims the DRM wall will crumble in 2007 and the FCC approves what may be the largest telecommunications takeover in U.S. history. In Monkey Bites.

Five Hackers Who Left a Mark on 2006

Category — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

In the security year that was 2006, zero-day attacks and exploits dominated the headlines.

Hot Tech: The Year that Was and The Year that Will Be

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

From gaming consoles to smartphones to dual-core CPUs, 2006 was an exciting year for tech lovers. And, right from the start, 2007 is set to continue the silicon assault on the senses as manufacturers up the ante with new gadgets and gear for both consumers and business.As we get ready to start the new year, we asked some well-known tech-industry watchers about their predictions of what to expect in the months ahead. We also took the opportunity to look back on some of the highlights as well as the 'low lights' of the past 12 months.2006: The Year That WasFor Intel and AMD, the song remained the same: two tech titans fighting mano-a-mano for silicon supremacy, as each continued its efforts to build better, faster chips to run our PCs and other high-tech gadgets. During 2006, AMD and Intel each released mobile and desktop versions of their new dual-core CPU designs as both companies embraced the multi-core concept. As 2006 came to a close, the fight between the two tech titans was definitely still in full gear, with the rapid adoption of dual-core chips underway and the impending arrival of quad-core chips, as well.On the consumer side, storage capacities grew for external and internal hard drives, as prices nosedived. Consumers seeking scads of space for all those digital home videos and photos found that they could satisfy their storage jones as monster drives with terabyte (yes, terabyte!) storage capabilities became readily available -- and reasonably priced -- at most electronics outlets.Smartphones continued to pound the proverbial nails into the PDA's coffin as service providers Verizon, Cingular, Sprint, and T-Mobile introduced a number of sleek new smartphones from manufacturers like Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola. The popularity of carrying around a 'personal digital assistant' plus a separate cell phone pretty...

Which Movie Download Site Is Best?

Michael W. Muchmore — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

We're not talking about those little blurry things you see on YouTube: These movie download sites offer full-length feature films for download, saving you the trip to the video store or the wait for the Netflix envelope, but what do you lose along the way? VOD Video on demand.

Top 10 Hang-Ups In Home Networking

Too hard to use — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The home network is the next big frontier in electronics, but it's still untamed territory today.

Flat Digital Music Sales May Augur the End of DRM

Nettwerk's McBride — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The anti-Digital Rights Management crowd may find some ammo in the final 2006 figures for digital music sales when they're released, with many industry experts saying sales were flat.The recording...

2007 Technology of the Year Award Winners

InfoWorld Test Center staff — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

PLATFORMS

Macrovision acquires Mediabolic for $43 million

Greg Sandoval — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Blog: Macrovision has paid $43 million in cash for Mediabolic, a software maker that specializes in creating digital entertainment networks...

Is Apple The New Microsoft?

Michael Calore — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

As the Cupertino wonder faces an antitrust lawsuit over iTunes' digital rights management, questions arise about the company's intentions. In Monkey Bites.

Google ties up with China Mobile

minutes Ago — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

SHANGHAI - The world's top Internet search engine, Google said it has forged an alliance with China Mobile to provide mobile and Internet services in China.

Now Your Car Can Have Wi-Fi, Too

David Garrett — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

It's in airports. It's in coffee shops. It's in your home and every FedEx Kinko's store in the nation. And if a San Francisco-based start-up named Autonet has its way, it will be in your car, too.It's Wi-Fi -- high-speed access to e-mail and the Internet without the annoyance of plugs and a rat's nest of wires. Autonet plans to debut Autonet Mobile at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in a device that will bring Wi-Fi to your Honda or Saturn.Of course, Autonet hopes that what happens in Las Vegas won't stay in Las Vegas. The firm expects its product to appeal to enterprise customers and road rogues who feel ten minutes is too long to be without e-mail or access to the corporate network.Autonet's device, which draws power from a car's cigarette lighter, piggybacks on the EVDO mobile broadband systems of Sprint and Verizon, then converts the data streams into a standard Wi-Fi transmission so users don't need special equipment in their laptop computers -- just the standard Wi-Fi adapters that most of today's notebooks have by default.Speed Problem?EVDO is one of three mobile broadband systems in the U.S. today, and according to some experts, it's the fastest. Sprint and Verizon have spent heavily to install EVDO networks across the nation; their rival, Cingular, has invested in HSDPA, which rivals EVDO for speed, while T-Mobile still has an older, slower system called EDGE.But not all Autonet users will get EVDO speeds, which range between 400 and 700 Kbps. "The areas in between the major cities I'm not so convinced about," said Eddie Hold, an analyst with research firm Current Analysis. "I don't think most rural areas have EVDO coverage."Where fast coverage is not an option, Autonet will switch to slower networks that still provide data transmission...

Security Flaw Discovered in Acrobat

David Garrett — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Adobe has become the latest software giant to see its applications exposed to hack attacks, but experts suggest the problem might not be grave, even though its potential reach is vast.Researchers Stefano di Paola and Giorgio Fedon have discovered a flaw in Adobe's Acrobat system that would let any Web site hosting a Portable Document Format (PDF) file unwittingly aid hackers in assaulting end users' computers.The flaw does not occur in Acrobat or the Acrobat reader directly, but in the Web browser plug-in that lets PDF documents be read directly over the Internet in programs such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Mozilla's Firefox."A weakness was discovered in the way that the Adobe Reader browser plug-in can be made to execute JavaScript code on the client side," wrote Symantec researcher Hon Lau on his company's Web log. "This stems from the 'Open Parameters' feature in Adobe Reader, which allows for parameters to be sent to the program when opening a PDF file. Like most things in life, this was a feature designed for benign usage, but unfortunately somebody has discovered that it can also be used for malicious purposes."Suspicious LinksThe flaw exploits a technique called "universal cross-site scripting." In Adobe's case, a hacker could send a victim a link to a PDF document, even one located on a trusted or well-known Web site, and embed extra commands in the link's syntax. The Acrobat plug-in would then execute those commands, giving the hacker access to the user's computer.Because Acrobat is a nearly universal application in both corporate and consumer worlds, Lau called the hack "breathtaking," but offered a quick fix for Firefox users on his Symantec blog. Reports conflict as to whether the flaw affects Microsoft's Internet Explorer and other Web browsers as well.Lau also counseled readers to avoid e-mails or links...

Researchers Focus on Mac Security

Elizabeth Millard — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Two security experts have announced that they will be spending January publicizing flaws in Apple's OS X operating system, beginning with reports of a serious vulnerability in the QuickTime media player that affects both Macs and Windows PCs.Noting that their work was not driven by malice, researcher Kevin Finisterre and hacker LMH told news sources that they aim to highlight problems to make OS X, and the programs that run on the system, more secure.Another desired effect will be to create a more security-aware user base, the researchers have stated. The team also claims to want better practices from Apple in terms of patching flaws and eradicating bugs.Previously, Finisterre and LMH have done similar work focusing on revealing vulnerabilities in Web browsers and other operating systems.Mac AttackFinisterre, founder of security startup Digital Munition, has noted in the past that he "loves" Mac hardware, but does not care for the machine's operating system. His preference, he has stated, is to run Linux on a Mac computer.The researcher has found vulnerabilities in Mac OS X in the past, and said that e-mails sent to Apple went unanswered, a situation he found personally frustrating.Soon after starting the recent Mac project -- dubbed the Month of Apple Bugs -- on January 1, Finisterre and LMH discovered a flaw in Apple's QuickTime video software, and the way it handles certain media protocols.The bug reportedly lets hackers exploit QuickTime's Real Time Streaming (RTS) protocol to cause a buffer overflow. A buffer overflow is simply a problem that occurs when a program, such as QuickTime, attempts to store too much data in the space allotted for it, and can give hackers complete control over a computer.The QuickTime flaw can be triggered through HTML, JavaScript, and QuickTime files, making its vector -- that is, the method through...

Google says bought stake in China's Xunlei

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Google Inc., the world's largest search engine, has bought a stake in China's Xunlei Network Technology Co, which provides file-sharing and other services, a Google spokesman said on Thursday.

Busting BitTorrent's Bullies

Michael Calore, with Scott Gilbertson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Two new experimental P2P clients, BitThief and BitTyrant, promise better download speeds at the expense of all that is good about sharing. In Monkey Bites.

How to protect yourself at wireless hot spots

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

It's all too easy to fire up your laptop and use it at a public hot spot just like you're at work, but that's an invitation to disaster, says Preston Gralla, who offers a surefire plan to avoid security breaches.

Who Needs Google? We've Got Amazon

David Garrett — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Google giveth and Google taketh away, so thank goodness, some would say, for Amazon. Today the book-selling giant launched Askville, an online service that lets users ask questions and get a response from other users, in lieu of posting query after query to one of the Web's many search engines. Google discontinued its own answer service, Google Answers, in November of last year.Amazon bills Askville as a place where users can "ask, answer, meet, and play." If you'd like to know about food safety or the proper care of hedgehogs, just leave your question on one of Askville's forums, where other users are free to respond. Users get "Quest Coins" and "Experience Points" for their activity, which they can redeem at Questville, a Web site that Amazon plans to debut later this year.A quick trip to Askville's FAQs shows that Quest Coins and Experience Points are governed by a Byzantine system of rules that determines who gets what and when, and even when points are lost. (Wrong answers? That will cost you five points. "Lame" answers cost 10.)Unlike Google's defunct service, Askville's users can jazz up their answers with self-made movies from YouTube, bolt.com, and yes, even Google Video. They can also integrate Google Maps into their answers, if their subject deals with geography.Web 2.0 Spoken HereEven as Google exits the dance floor, Amazon is not without a partner -- or rather, a competitor. Yahoo's answer site, not surprisingly called Yahoo Answers, offers customized versions for 20 countries (21 if you count the U.S.-based Spanish-language version). Questions run from "What can I expect to pay for a speeding ticket in Missouri?" to such age-old gems as "Is forgetting forgiving?" Forays into hair curling, student loans, Creek Indians, Christina Aguilera, sex scenes in movies, and Super DVD Creator 9.2 (used, perhaps,...

How to protect yourself at wireless hot spots

They can be an invitation to disaster — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

CES: Digital Content Roils Media Landscape

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The many players in today's consumer electronics industry share a vision of digital entertainment content flowing easily across all manner of networked products. But delivering on that vision is the challenge for 2007 and beyond, thanks to a plethora of network and content-protection technologies.

Can Apple Gain Ground in the Enterprise?

Elizabeth Millard — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

As the usual buzz surrounding Macworld intensifies, pundits are predicting that a slew of new consumer technology will debut at the Apple-centric show, but some are waiting to see whether Apple will make another big play for the enterprise.For years, Apple has slowly gained ground in corporate environments, but has been relegated mainly to graphic design and publishing departments. In most companies, Microsoft's operating systems and hardware by vendors such as Dell and HP reign supreme.But Apple's continued efforts to get more systems into data centers might ramp up in the coming year. And it's possible that in the midst of unveiling new iPods or even an iPod-esque mobile phone, Apple CEO Steve Jobs might also reveal some enterprise-related plans.Slow and SteadyIt is not likely that Apple will become standard issue in Fortune 1,000 firms, said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Jupiter Research, but the company could have more of an impact this year in garnering interest from corporate customers.As Microsoft rolls out Windows Vista, there's potential for I.T. managers to look at alternatives rather than do the extensive testing that Vista requires, Gartenberg noted."Apple has learned in the past that the enterprise is a formidable obstacle," he said. "But that doesn't mean Macs won't be used for business computing, particularly in small and medium-size businesses."In line with Apple's interest in the enterprise, the Macworld conference will offer three days of training sessions geared toward corporate customers, and will include topics such as integrating Macs into heterogeneous environments.Change AgentIf Apple does gain more ground in the enterprise, it likely will be due to the changes made in its platform over the past year, Gartenberg noted, particularly its drive to integrate Intel technology."There's definitely more opportunity for Macs in business, but the key is for Apple to play to its...

Virgin Kills Music Subscriptions

Eliot Van Buskirk and Sean Michaels — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Richard Branson pulls the plug on his experiment selling DRM-ed music subscriptions to Americans, offering them a deal if they switch to Napster. In Listening Post.

Setting up a storage network in your home

With shared file space on a NAS device — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

My interest in network storage represents the happy convergence of dropping prices and cumulative aggravation over my current home office setup. Network attached storage has been around for years in data centers, but the prices have dropped to the point where a $200 consumer-grade unit could easily meet my needs.

Sidebar: Home NAS for content sharing

There are risks in setting up a personal server — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Seagate Technology's Mirra Sync and Share Personal Server let you publishcontent so that it is accessible to other users on your local network or to users over the public Internet for things such as photo sharing.

Media Frenzy: A Cool Gadget Here, an A-List Chieftain There

RICHARD SIKLOS — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The Consumer Electronics Show has quickly emerged in the last few years as the Super Bowl of cluster-huddles.

Hands on: Setting up a storage network in your home

If your computers are networked — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Home NAS for content sharing

There are risks in setting up a personal server — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Seagate Technology's Mirra Sync and Share Personal Server let you publish content so that it's accessible to other users on your local network or to users over the Internet for things such as photo sharing.

Music Fans: Dismantle DRM

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

When it comes to legal action over downloaded music, the defendants are often individuals: The lone user downloads one too many copyrighted files and Big Media goes on the offensive. But now, the little guy is turning the tables.

Sophos box takes aim at bad Web sites, misguided end users

Ellen Messmer — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Sophos Monday unveiled an appliance that can block access to harmful Web sites to prevent malware infection as well as filter out banned Web sites for productivity purposes.

TiVoToGo Comes to Mac

Pete Mortensen — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Fanatics can now move recorded TV shows to their Mac or iPod. Finally graduating from the Vaporware hall of fame, TiVoToGo becomes a bonafide bit of software. By Pete Mortensen.

Who's Killing MP3 and iTunes?

Eliot Van Buskirk — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

DRM is toast. Here are seven reasons why major record labels will abandon it in 2007 -- and why that's bad for Apple.

Motorola to put Windows Media DRM in cellphones

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Motorola Inc said on Monday it would use Microsoft Corp's Windows Media digital rights management in music playing phones in the first half of this year.

CES: Marketing Crystal Bawl

Dan Goodin and Fred Vogelstein — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A cry for smarter ways to spread the word about new products and technology echoes from the overcrowded aisles of the gadget mega-conference. In Epicenter.

Sophos seeks to stand between harmful sites, surfers

Hardware appliance handles bans — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A hardware appliance introduced by Sophos Monday promises to block end-user access to sites known to be malware infectors, and can be configured to enforce banned-site lists.

Motorola sees media, Internet as '07 priorities

Sinead Carew — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Motorola Inc, the world's No. 2 handset maker, unveiled plans on Monday to improve media services on its cellphones via agreements with Microsoft Corp and Yahoo Inc and said it is developing set top boxes that can send home television to phones.

Experts: Vendors need to reach DRM consensus

Time for a showdown — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The long-running debate over digital rights management is due for either industry consensus or a showdown, said experts at this week's Consumer Electronics Show.

Report: Apple, Cingular to team for cell phone

Long-expected announcement due today at MacWorld — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple Computer Inc. will announce a cell phone with wireless service from Cingular Wireless LLC, The Wall Street Journal said.

Researchers: Hack will help kill HD DVD copy protection

Another encryption standard cut off at the knees — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The recently released BackupHDDVD software doesn't crack AACS, but according to Princeton researchers it's the first step toward making that encryption standard obsolete.

CES: Motorola music handset marries Microsoft, Linux

New phone syncs Linux with Windows Media Player — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

New phone syncs Linux with Windows Media Player.

Experts: Vendors need to reach DRM consensus

Elizabeth Montalbano — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

It's time for a DRM showdown, according to experts and industry executives. The debate over digital rights management (DRM) is as contentious today as it was five years ago. But industry experts on a panel at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) said Monday there will have to be some industry consensus soon over digital content protection as the purchase of digital multimedia files become more pervasive among the average consumer.

Hack Will Help Kill HD DVD Copy Protection

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

New video decryption software is "the first step in the meltdown of AACS," Princeton researchers say.

Judge lifts YouTube ban in Brazil

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Read full story for latest details.

Researchers: Hack will help kill HD-DVD copy protection

Another encryption standard cut off at the knees — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The recently released BackupHDDVD software doesn't crack AACS, but according to Princeton researchers, it's the first step toward making that encryption standard obsolete.

Opinion: Knowing when to jump ship from a technology

A smart buyer keeps aware of industry trends — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

At some point lower-cost technologies become robust enough to warrant a move away from high-end systems that offer little more than bigger price tags.

Report: Apple, Cingular to Team for Cell Phone

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple CEO Steve Jobs expected to announce phone during keynote speech today at Macworld Expo.

IPhone: Gadget Lab's Gut Check

53:22 PM — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The iPod is dead, and other instant reactions. The Wired News blogging team weighs in on Apple's most anticipated device in years. In Gadget Lab.

Updated: Apple, Cingular tout iPhone

Kevin Fitchard and Dan O'Shea — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

LAS VEGAS-- Apple CEO Steve Jobs formally announced the long-anticipated iPhone at the MacWorld Conference and Expo in San Francisco today, sending reverberations throughout the consumer electronics and mobile industries, most notably here in Las Vegas where the Consumer Electronics Showcase was in full swing. The mobile phone/iPod melding will be available in June through Apple, as well as Cingular Wireless, the computer company's exclusive U.S. carrier partner, through what the companies described as a multi-year partnership.

Latest innovation from Sling Media debuts at CES 2007

The Clip + Sling — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Video: Latest innovation from Sling Media debuts at CES 2007. The Clip + Sling, which is in beta testing, aims to make video file uploading and sharing easy. With major backing from media giant CBS, Clip + Sling is expected to be out of the box in Q2 of 2007. Sling Media says it hopes to create a community centered around legal video uploads.

Media new and old merge at CBS

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

CBS President Les Moonves takes the CES stage to declare company's plans for riding the new content-swapping wave.

Vista Upgrade: The Not-So-Rosy Picture

Holiday Gifts From Bass International — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Reports on Microsoft's new OS, free notebooks for bloggers, and a killer of a movie trivia game.

Supermodel Opposes YouTube Ban in Brazil

ALAN CLENDENNING — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Brazilian supermodel Daniela Cicarelli said she disagreed with a judge's now-reversed order to ban YouTube in an attempt to stop steamy footage of her from being viewed. But she stopped short of offering an apology.

• Turning Cell Phones on Their Ear

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

His usual smooth voice turned raspy, Steve Jobs nonetheless radiated the satisfied glow of a man who had just pulled off a bravura performance before a packed house at San Francisco's Moscone Center. In his hand was his latest gem: a combination phone/music player/Web browsing device called the iPhone. Tapping on its sleek, candy-bar-size screen, Jobs conjured up Wall Street's verdict: "Let's see, Apple's stock is up…8%!" he said matter-of-factly. "Now let's look at RIM [cell-phone rival and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIMM)]. Hmm, it's down 7%."

How to Get More Out of Your URL Filtering Solution

Frank Derfler — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

4:00 p.m. Eastern / 1:00 p.m. Pacific (45 minutes)

Adobe Patches Acrobat Security Flaw

David Garrett — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

On Tuesday, Adobe released a patch for a security flaw that affects several of its widely used programs, including Acrobat Reader, one of the Web's most popular software titles.In fact, the flaw affects not only Acrobat Reader, but also Acrobat Standard, Professional, and Elements in versions 7.08 and older. The most recent version of these programs -- version 8.0, which had been released at the time the flaw was discovered -- is immune. In a published statement, Adobe noted that Acrobat 3D was also at risk, but did not state which versions were affected.The flaw let hackers use a technique known as cross-site scripting, in which they blend malicious JavaScript with a link to a Portable Document Format (PDF) file on a Web site to hijack a user's computer. The problem does not affect PDF documents themselves, and can only be used when someone attempts to retrieve a PDF document by clicking a malicious link, such as one a spammer might embed in unwanted e-mail.The FixWorried users can avoid the problem by upgrading their software to version 8, the most recent release. For users who can't upgrade to version 8, Adobe has released a patch for the affected programs, allowing users to upgrade to version 7.0.9.Further information on upgrades and patches can be found on Adobe's Web site, or simply by using the auto-update features in Adobe's software.Adobe also offered Web designers guidance on avoiding cross-site scripting attacks that involve PDFs by changing the way they deliver those files on their Web sites.A Victim of SuccessAdobe's mishap caused a stir when it was first announced by researchers Stefano Di Paola and Giorgio Fedon, in large part because Adobe's software has seen enormous adoption rates by companies and consumers alike.Adobe's system for making, reading, and sending PDF documents -- in...

Putting a squeeze on Net video

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

On2 Technologies and others see a growing opportunity in the YouTube era for tech that handles video compression.

Supermodel opposes YouTube ban in Brazil

Alan Clendenning — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Brazilian supermodel Daniela Cicarelli said she disagreed with a judge's now-reversed order to ban YouTube in an attempt to stop ...

Cisco & Microsoft: IPTV War Ahead?

Mark Sullivan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO - message board) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT - message board) consider each other partners in IPTV now, but Cisco's ambitions in the space may eventually put the two at odds, industry sources say.

Mask-R-Aid icon mask tool upgraded to version 4

Mathew Honan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

True North Software released Mask-R-Aid 4.0, a tool for creating icon masks. An icon consists of an icon image and a mask that tells the system how to render the transparency of the icon.

Recording Industry Wins Judgment in Piracy Case

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Michelle Santangelo was ordered to pay $30,750 for the 41 songs she is accused of downloading illegally because she failed to respond to the record companies' claims.

CES: Multimedia Cell Phones Take Center Stage

The latest handsets play music — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

LAS VEGAS -- Remember the days when a cell phone did little more than make calls? Judging by the latest crop of handsets on display here at the Consumer Electronics Show--not to mention Apple's new iPhone--those days are long gone. New handsets do everything from playing music to capturing...

AOL Scraps Music Now in Favor of Napster

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Existing customers will continue to pay the same fees and retain their login and payment details.

Digital Domain: Want an iPhone? Beware the iHandcuffs

RANDALL STROSS — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Like its slimmer iPod siblings, the iPhone's music-playing function will be limited by factory-installed "crippleware."

CES: PC World's picks and pans

PC World staff — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Editor's Note: The following article is excerpted from PC World. For the complete article, please click here.

Video Emerges As Key to Cisco's Growth

JORDAN ROBERTSON — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Net Video Now Key to Cisco's Growth

Jordan Robertson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

So far, when it comes to making money, the online video explosion is mostly about potential. Studios selling TV shows and movies for download, and Web sites like YouTube that link ads to user-generated content, stand to reap billions from the Internet's hottest trend.But a select group of companies whose products exist largely outside the public view are already profiting handsomely. Led by industry powerhouse Cisco Systems Inc., the network equipment makers are seeing their gear snapped up by service providers who must upgrade their networks to accommodate surging Internet traffic and booming broadband demand."Cisco would like to see video delivered to every device everywhere," said Zeus Kerravala, a network infrastructure analyst with Yankee Group. "If you're looking to something to create the next wave of network upgrades, video is front and center. It drives bandwidth like we've never seen before."Video consumes thousands of times the network space of e-mail messages, and demand is growing so fast that it's poised to overtake peer-to-peer file sharing as the dominant form of Internet traffic.But online video -- which is projected to grow from $1.3 billion in revenue last year to more than $7 billion by 2010, according to the market research firm Parks Associates -- isn't yet the profit machine the online community envisions. Companies are still grappling with how to generate reliable revenue from content that is largely free and often littered with copyright-infringement land mines.That's a rich opportunity for Cisco, Alcatel-Lucent, Juniper Networks Inc. and Redback Networks Inc., companies that build the Internet's infrastructure.Their products -- routers and switches that direct traffic over the Internet and other networks -- help the cable companies and telecoms manage the growing traffic load and intelligently direct massive amounts of data.The end result for the consumer: faster downloads, higher video quality, and the ability...

British band breakthrough another online victory

Mike Collett-White — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A little known band reaching no. 31 in the British charts is not normally the stuff of headlines.

Computer Privacy in Distress

Jennifer Granick — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A string of court decisions strips computers and databases of important Fourth Amendment protections against warrantless searches and seizures. But it's not too late for judges to do the right thing. Commentary by Jennifer Granick.

Pirate Bay's new cry: Sealand ahoy!

Margaret Kane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Blog: The Pirate Bay, a Swedish file-sharing Web site, may have found a way out of its legal woes: buying its own country.The group...

Google partner in China is accused of abetting piracy

Steven Schwankert — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A Google partner in China has come under fire for allegedly encouraging piracy, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) said Saturday.

A DVD Copy Protection Is Overcome by Hackers

BRAD STONE — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A loose-knit coalition of hackers around the world defeated the antipiracy software protecting several high-resolution movies in the HD DVD format and began distributing copies of the films.

Global digital music sales nearly doubled in 2006

Kate Holton — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Global digital music sales almost doubled in 2006 to around $2 billion, or 10 percent of all sales, but have not reached the industry's "holy grail" of offsetting the fall in CD sales, a trade organization said.

Computer Privacy in Distress

Jennifer Granick — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A string of court decisions strips computers and databases of important Fourth Amendment protections against warrantless searches and seizures. But it's not too late for judges to do the right thing.

Digital music isn't halting CD sales decline

Jeremy Kirk — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Digital music sales doubled in 2006 thanks to better distribution, but the rise hasn't made up for the decline in CD sales, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) said on Wednesday.

Risky Employee Behavior on Web Threatens Corporate Networks

Category — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Research by FaceTime Communications has found risky Internet activity by employees poses an increasing threat to network security for corporate enterprises.

Creators of Kazaa unveil Web TV service

Dawn C. Chmielewski — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The duo behind the blockbuster Internet applications Skype and Kazaa think they have the secret to online video: Make it more like TV.

Digital Music Up 80% but Shy of Lost Revenue

ERIC PFANNER — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Sales of digitally distributed music rose about 80 percent worldwide in 2006 but failed to make up for falling sales of compact discs.

Music industry's got the blues: Global sales fell 3% in 2006

09 AM ET — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Worldwide online music sales nearly doubled in 2006 to about $2 billion, or 10% of all sales, but they failed to compensate for ...

Public Libraries, Private DRM

Eliot Van Buskirk and Sean Michaels — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Want to check out digital content from the library? Better be prepared to use Windows, a DRM app, and only Microsoft-approved devices. In Listening Post.

Apple may open FairPlay (a crack)

Greg Sandoval — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Blog: Apple plans to make it possible for people to listen to iTunes' songs on devices other than iPods, according to a published report....

Digital Music Sales Double, Don't Cover Gap in CD Sales

Click to enlarge — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Digital music sales almost doubled worldwide in 2006, but that still wasn't enough to make up for the loss in CD sales, according to a new report.The International Federation of the Phonographic...

Netflix: iTunes complements new streaming service

Peter Cohen — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Earlier this week mail order movie rental service Netflix introduced a new service that enables computer users to stream movies directly to their desktops. The company said it's a complementary service to Apple's iTunes Store, not a competitor.

Ordeal by Appliance: Weekend Home Tales

TERI KARUSH ROGERS — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

For some people, the most elusive aspect of owning a vacation home is finding someone to service the deluxe appliances inside.

Suit by Record Companies Against XM Heads to Trial

Larry Neumeister — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

NEW YORK, Jan. 19 -- A lawsuit in which record companies allege XM Satellite Radio Holdings is cheating them by letting consumers store songs can proceed toward trial, a judge ruled Friday after finding merit to the companies' claims.

Adesso's Tubes simplifies peer-to-peer file sharing

John Cox — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Adesso Systems this week released a free client application that lets users quickly and easily share and update the information they use every day, such as documents, PDF files, spreadsheets, photos and video clips.

Effort to secure Internet freedom

Frank Davies — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Four technology and communications giants criticized by lawmakers for doing business in China and other countries that censor Internet activities are working with human rights groups to agree on a code of conduct for doing business abroad.

Which Comes First -- the Programming or the Sets?

Frank Ahrens — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

For much of the past decade, there has been something of a chicken-and-egg scenario with high-definition television, or HDTV: Consumers weren't buying the very expensive HD television sets because there was so little HD programming. On the other side, television networks said it was not worthwhile to produce pricier HD programming because no one was buying HD sets....

Don't fall victim to the 'Free Wi-Fi' scam

Those wireless connections could be a trap — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

You see the wireless network connections all over the place -- especially in airports -- advertising "Free Public Wi-Fi" or "Free Internet Access." But don't connect, warns Preston Gralla, because they could be a security attack.

Critics Blast Music DRM Legislation

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Electronic freedom advocates oppose a US bill that would require Internet broadcasters to use DRM technology.

Right to Time-Shift Threatened

Eliot Van Buskirk and Sean Michaels — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A judge gives the music industry's attack on radio-recording devices a boost, coinciding with Diane Feinstein's attack on digital recording tech. In Listening Post.

Drilling Down: Free Content Dominates Video Downloads

ALEX MINDLIN — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

More than four times as many households downloaded videos from file-sharing networks as they did from centralized services like iTunes in the third quarter of 2006.

Site of the Week: MP3tunes

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

For music lovers everywhere, the concept of unlimited online storage/streaming will likely prove too good to pass up.

Music industry divided over digital future

Kate Holton — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

CANNES, France (Reuters) - With global music sales down for a seventh straight year, the talk at an annual industry meeting in Cannes, France, has become heated over how to develop digital sales against competition from the dreaded F word -- free.

A Real Music Store Sprouts Online

Eliot Van Buskirk — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Other Music, an institution in Manhattan's East Village, will soon start selling high-quality, unprotected MP3s you might actually want to hear.

Blu-Ray DRM Cracked

05:42 AM — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Muslix64, fresh from hammering down the walls of HD-DVD, applies the same technique to partially crack Blu-Ray disks. How long until the inner keep of high-def DRM comes tumbling down? In Gadget Lab.

US 'Worst' Malware and Spam Threat

Spam and malware are still out there — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Security is still a big problem online.

'Storm' Worm Continues Surge Around Globe

Category — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Experts are forecasting an increase in spam as a result of the "Storm" worm that sent out six separate waves containing hundreds of thousands of e-mails during the weekend, and continues to touch down on computers worldwide.

Record Labels Contemplate Unrestricted Digital Music

VICTORIA SHANNON — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Major record labels are moving closer to releasing music on the Internet with no copying restrictions -- a step they once vowed never to take.

Report: U.S. Still World's Spam Leader

Jennifer LeClaire — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

According to a new report from security firm Sophos, the United States still retains its title as king of the spam scene, but China is now sharing in the shame as the nation that generated the most malicious code in 2006.Sophos' annual Security Threat Report revealed that U.S.-based computers relayed 22 percent of the world's spam last year, followed by China at 15.9 percent and South Korea at 7.4 percent. What's more, 90 percent of all spam is now relayed from zombie computers, machines hijacked by Trojan horses that are under the control of malicious hackers.Security researchers are warning I.T. professionals to ramp up for more targeted attacks in 2007. "The U.S. market is undeniably a target for online criminal activity," Ron O'Brien, senior security analyst for Sophos, said in a statement. "More and more, organizations with U.S.-based Web sites are falling victim to targeted attacks."Rise of Image SpamAlthough Sophos said the U.S. has made progress in its efforts to reduce spam-relaying, the security firm pointed out that new spam techniques are making it more difficult to block the unsolicited e-mail. Specifically, image-based spam -- spam that conveys its message through an embedded graphic -- is on the rise.According to data from IronPort Systems, image spam accounted for 25 percent of total spam volume in October 2006 compared to 2.8 percent in October 2005, an increase of 421 percent."Overall, spam catch rates are declining because signature-based antispam solutions can't keep up with the advanced techniques spammers are using," said Craig Sprosts, a senior product manager at IronPort. "This can cause your e-mails to get delayed 24 hours or more because it puts a strain on the infrastructure."Threats on the HorizonWhile spam might be annoying, it also can be downright dangerous. Sophos detected 41,536 new pieces of e-mail-borne malware...

Judge Dismisses Online Phone Suit

ALEX VEIGA — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A federal judge has thrown out an antitrust lawsuit filed by the distributor of Morpheus file-sharing software against Internet phone service provider Skype Technologies SA, eBay Inc. and other defendants.

Oversi: Set-Tops Next Stop for P2P Video

Mark Sullivan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Israeli startup Oversi says it can help service providers provide a wider variety of video content to consumers with its peer-to-peer (P2P) video servers. (See Oversi Gets $6M.)

Move Over Silicon Valley, Here Come European Start-Ups

JOHN MARKOFF — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

European entrepreneurs who have taken the start-up culture pioneered in Silicon Valley as a template and are successfully transplanting it.

Record Labels Invest in Chinese Venture

ALEX VEIGA — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group have partnered with a joint venture operating in China that develops technology for distributing music downloads and other content to mobile phones, the record companies said Tuesday.

Hillary: The Privacy Candidate?

Sarah Lai Stirland — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Internet privacy advocates hail presidential contender Hillary Clinton for proposing drastic reforms of U.S. privacy laws. But skeptics say she's biting off more than she can chew.

Skype to tout enterprise features

Joris Evers — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Blog: Skype on Thursday plans to tout the control functionality for businesses built into the latest release of its popular Internet...

Norway toughens iTunes stance

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A showdown may be in the offing between the Norwegian government and Apple, unless the company agrees to follow that nation's digital-rights management laws and uncouple its iTunes online music store from its iPod media player.

GNU License Revision Sparks Open-Source Debate

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Yet this spring, the GPL's author will release a controversial new version of the license, a move that's already sending tremors along the software industry's fault lines.

IBM's bet on social networking tools faces IT scrutiny

John Fontana — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Orlando - IBM /Lotus is betting heavily that social networking software will be a boon to corporate productivity, and while many observers agree, they caution that features such as access and management controls and training issues could be a major hurdle toward adoption.

Why pirated Vista has Microsoft champing at the BitTorrent

On the eve of launch — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

With Vista on the cusp of launch, Microsoft's had mixed results in managing a factor that didn't exist during its last major consumer launch five years ago: highly efficient file-sharing services such as BitTorrent and the piracy threat they pose. Eric Lai reports.

Bad News for Hollywood

More Americans are downloading movies — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Let 'em rip!

YummySoup manages, shares recipes

Peter Cohen — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

HungrySeacow Software has released YummySoup, a recipe management and sharing application for Mac OS X. A free 15-day trial is available, and it costs $20 to register.

The Skype roadmap: Trial and error

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

When Niklas Zennstroem shows up at sessions on digital issues here at the World Economic Forum in Davos, an aura of awe surrounds him.

Labels Cautious Over Ad-Funded Songs

LAURENCE FROST — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

When SpiralFrog announced a deal with a major recording company to offer free, ad-supported music downloads, it made headlines as a bold but natural step, giving the label a share of the fast-growing Internet advertising pie, while squeezing out pirates.

Ditching DRM

Pile it on — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Critics piled on the Zune for many reasons, but the digital rights management issues will do more than just doom Microsoft's music player, says columnist Jon Espenschied. No, DRM's intrinsic problems will lay waste to any product -- or business model -- it touches.

Vista success hinges on developers

Ina Fried — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

There's a reason Steve Ballmer runs around screaming about developers.

Music Biz Balks at Ad-Funded Downloads

LAURENCE FROST — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

There's still no such thing as a free lunch - just yet. But consumers now expect an increasing array of online media and services, from phone calls and maps to videos and even games, to be delivered without charge.

France Telecom: 'More IPTV, Please'

Ray Le Maistre — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

TVoDSL 2007 -- France Telecom SA (NYSE: FTE - message board), one of the world's biggest IPTV service providers with 600,000 telco TV customers, has issued a plea to other carriers: Build more IPTV.

Microsoft starts Vista hard sell

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Microsoft is launching its latest version of Windows, called Vista, with more than 100m computers predicted to be using it worldwide within 12 months.

• YouTube: Upload Video, Download Cash?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

When Ben Relles uploaded his first video online, he didn't do it for the money. Like many creators filling video-sharing sites with material, Relles' initial motivations were more artistically pure. He just wanted attention. "It was more about, 'Let's create something and see how far it can go,'" Relles says.

Build This Cheap But Effective Firewall

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Savvy system builders are well aware that hordes of hackers stand ready to descend on your clients' operations and steal everything from personal identities to state secrets. Worse, some hackers are out to destroy your clients' valuable data--and your reputation along with it. So unless a system builder enjoys rebuilding disks, recovering data, and fielding downtime complaints, they should know at least a little something about firewalls. Namely, how firewalls work and how to select the best firewall for a specific installation.

Sony BMG Settles Anti-Piracy CDs Charges

Technology Video — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

U.S. regulators said Tuesday that Sony BMG Music Entertainment agreed to reimburse consumers up to $150 for damage to their computers from CDs with hidden anti-piracy software.

Sony BMG settles with federal regulators over anti-piracy CDs

27 AM ET — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

U.S. regulators said Tuesday that Sony BMG Music Entertainment agreed to reimburse consumers up to $150 for damage to their computers ...

Sony BMG Settles Anti-Piracy CDs Charges

The Associated Press — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

WASHINGTON -- U.S. regulators said Tuesday that Sony BMG Music Entertainment agreed to reimburse consumers up to $150 for damage to their computers from CDs with hidden anti-piracy software.

Symantec Unveils e-Discovery Control Suite

Category — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Data storage and security vendor Symantec Jan. 29 introduced a new integrated information security and archiving suite of applications that offers consistent enforcement of content control policies across a Microsoft-centric enterprise--from e-mail gateway security to archiving.

Vendors Begin Plugging Products for RSA Show

Category — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The avalanche of new security products launched for the RSA Conference 2007 has already begun, even though the show itself does not kick off for another week.

Sony settles with FTC in rootkit case

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Proposed agreement includes barring Sony BMG from installing copy protection software on CDs without users' consent.

Sony Settles With FTC Over Rootkit Debacle

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Company agrees to settle charges over copy-protection software it included in music CDs.

Vista gives a view of a new world

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Internet law professor Michael Geist casts an eye over the fine print in Windows Vista and is concerned at what he finds.

• Europe vs. Apple: Facing the Music

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

When Norway's consumer protection agency filed a complaint last June against Apple (AAPL), the Cupertino (Calif.)-based digital music and computing giant barely blinked. After all, with sales booming around the world, how much damage could a small band of critics in a nation of 4 million people wreak?

BitTorrent Preps February Launch

Mark Sullivan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

BitTorrent will finally launch its retail Internet video site this month, Light Reading has learned.

Napster Looks to Mobile in Fight against iPod

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Napster says it may have found a significant advantage in its fight against Apple's iTunes: mobile phones.Apple's iTunes music service sells digital music that's playable only on the iPod and comes...

On-demand threatens TV shake-up

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The BBC wants to let viewers catch-up with television programmes via the net but the plans are proving controversial.

Bloggers air gripes over Vista's DRM

As noted elsewhere on CNET News.com Tuesday — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Blog: As noted elsewhere on CNET News.com Tuesday, Microsoft's Vista operating system launched to a not-very-exciting turnout and relatively...

Europe vs. Apple: Facing the Music

At some point — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Super Bowl stadium site packed Trojan horse

Joris Evers — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Cybercrooks broke in to the Dolphin Stadium Web site and rigged it to load malicious software onto unpatched Windows PCs, security experts warned Friday.

Study: More Kids Exposed to Online Porn

LINDSEY TANNER — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

More children and teens are being exposed to online pornography, mostly by accidentally viewing sexually explicit Web sites while surfing the Internet, researchers say.

Teen exposure to online pornography common

Michael Conlon — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

CHICAGO (Reuters) - About four in every 10 U.S. youngsters age 10 to 17 report they've seen pornography while on the Internet, two-thirds of them saying it was uninvited, according to a study published on Monday.

Net safety day marked worldwide

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Efforts to make the net less risky for children are being marked by the fourth Internet Safety Day on 6 February.

Utility rate plan will cut average bills $32 year

the utility — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

THE REGION Average NStar Electric residential and small business customers would save about $32 this year under a rate change the utility plans to file with state regulators. NStar spokeswoman Caroline Allen said the $110 million reduction for 1 million electric customers comes from a move by the utility, the Massachusetts attorney general's office, and others to get federal regulators ...

RSA - FaceTime to offer Skype management

Robert McMillan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Next month, FaceTime Communications Inc. plans to release new software that will make Skype a little easier to manage.

How Bad Is Windows Vista's EULA?

Michael Calore, with Scott Gilbertson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Digging into the document yields a few surprises, nasty internet rumors aside. In Monkey Bites.

ITunes for Linux: Don't Bet On It

Leander Kahney and Pete Mortensen — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Penguin fans petition for a custom version of the popular Apple software, but they shouldn't get their hopes up. In Cult of Mac.

Data thieves target retailers

Jenn Abelson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

With a scan of your index finger, some supermarkets memorize what kind of toilet paper or cereals you buy. They share that information with suppliers who offer coupons so you'll purchase more of their products next time.

Stand-up Download: User-Generated Video Drawing Eyes, and Money

Mike Shields — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

There's a reason why Santa Claus, who, it turns out, is also a renowned ninja, wears a red suit. The jolly crimson hue comes from the blood of all the kids he's had to kill after they've busted him delivering toys on Christmas Eve. "He has to do it," explains the ninja from Askaninja.com. "It's the code of the ninja."

Apple: Record Labels Should Drop DRM

MICHAEL LIEDTKE — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple, Cisco, Ready for an IPhone Truce?

Apple's Jobs calls for DRM-free world

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Record companies are the ones who demand digital rights management technology, not Apple, CEO says in rare open letter.

Podcast: Why Jobs says it's time to abandon music copyright

CNET News.com Staff — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Also, online game players pay for the big score and experts gather to consider the state of security.

Jobs to music industry: Drop DRM

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs is calling on the four major record companies to drop the use of digital rights management software when they sell songs online.

Jobs: Apple would drop DRM if record labels agree

Jim Dalrymple — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple would drop digital rights management (DRM) technology from the music sold through its iTunes Store if major record companies would allow such a move, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in an online post at Apple's Web site. Jobs also called on people unhappy with DRM systems--particularly European regulators who want Apple to open its FairPlay DRM to competitors--to push record companies to sell online music without digital-rights restrictions.

Apple calls on music firms to drop anti-piracy restrictions

Ben Charny — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Steve Jobs on Tuesday issued a challenge to the music industry, saying Apple Inc. would support an open online music marketplace if the four-largest music companies would allow their music to be sold without any protections against being copied and redistributed.

Apple's Jobs calls on music industry to drop DRM

Yinka Adegoke and Duncan Martell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs on Tuesday called on the four major record companies to start selling songs online without copy protection software known as digital rights management (DRM).

Jobs launches salvo over digital music

Troy Wolverton — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

With his company under criticism for how it sells digital music, Apple CEO Steve Jobs today tried to shift the blame to the record labels.

Apple CEO Jobs pressures record labels to drop anti-piracy technology

32 PM ET — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple indicated it would open its iTunes store to other portable players besides its ubiquitous iPod if the world's major record ...

Study: Weak passwords really do help hackers

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The University of Maryland put four Linux computers with weak passwords online for 24 days. The result: 270,000 intrusion attempts, or about one attempted hack every 39 seconds.

Google CEO: Internet's role in freedom expanding

Grant Gross — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The Internet has an ever-growing role to play in allowing free expression across the globe, but only if attempts to reign it in are unsuccessful, Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt, said Tuesday.

Why Steve Jobs is right about digital rights

John C. Dvorak — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

BERKELEY, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- Digital rights management (DRM) is an out-and-out disaster both as a concept and as an always changing technology.

Apple calls on music firms to drop anti-piracy restrictions

Ben Charny — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Steve Jobs on Tuesday issued a challenge to the music industry, saying Apple Inc. would support an open online music marketplace if the four largest music companies would allow their music to be sold in digital form without anti-piracy protections.

Apple's Chief Calls for End to Music Copy Protection

MICHAEL J. de la MERCED — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Steven P. Jobs says that dropping digital anti-piracy protection would benefit record labels and customers.

Apple's Jobs calls on music industry to drop DRM

Yinka Adegoke and Duncan Martell — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Despite lawsuits, digital music downloads grow

Yinka Adegoke — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Despite success in suing people who download music illegally and in reaching deals with personal networking sites like YouTube, the music industry is still bleeding millions of dollars in sales to online piracy.

Hollywood Takes Its Concerns About Piracy and Taxes to Washington

DAVID M. HALBFINGER — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The heads of the major movie studios visited Congress to press their agenda of fighting piracy, obtaining new tax advantages and reining in movie and television production from going abroad.

Security better, but needs work, Gates says

Jon Swartz — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

In his swan song to an annual gathering of 15,000 computer security experts here Tuesday, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said ...

Jobs Calls for Open Music Sales

Mike Musgrove — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs yesterday called on record companies to let online music stores sell digital music files without anti-piracy controls, an idea that some analysts say has merit.

Jobs pitches dumping anti-piracy software

Michelle Quinn — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Steve Jobs, the chief executive of Apple, wrote an open letter today asking the music industry to consider giving up anti-piracy software on the digital music it sells.

Jobs launches salvo over digital music

Troy Wolverton — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple CEO Steve Jobs wants the music industry to loosen its grip on the way digital music is sold, but depending on whom you ask, his stance is either a call to arms or a clever marketing ploy.

Jobs asks music firms to end copy controls

Bloomberg News — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs asked the four largest music companies to license songs for online distribution without copy protection software so music purchased online can be played across multiple devices.

Norway Agency Questions Apple Music Move

DOUG MELLGREN — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Norway's Consumer Council applauded signs of willingness from Apple Inc. to open its iTunes music store to players other than its iPod, but said Wednesday the company was skirting key issues and passing responsibility to record companies.

Jobs' comments not good enough for Norwegian group

Nancy Gohring — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Just because three major online music retailers bind their music stores to specific portable players doesn't make it acceptable, a Norwegian consumer group leading the charge against Apple's DRM (digital rights management) policy said.

Will Apple pick music's digital locks?

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Steve Jobs, the boss of Apple, has set out his stall on the future of the music industry

EMI in talks to dump copy protection

Jefferson Graham — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The music industry is looking ahead to life without copy protection. Major label EMI home of Coldplay and Norah Jones is in ...

Mobile carriers to make it easy to send money home

Lucas van Grinsven — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Mobile communications operators andbanks joined forces on Monday to make it easier and cheaper forhundreds of millions of immigrants and migrant workers to sendmoney home by using their mobile phones.

Music Vets Prep Next-Gen Player

Eliot Van Buskirk — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Former execs from iriver, Musicmatch and Diamond Multimedia work in stealth mode on a new MP3 player that could be the first major advance in years. By Eliot Van Buskirk.

P2P Ad Firm Skyrider Unveils Video Product

Kate Kaye — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

While many users of open source file sharing systems despise the commercialization of those services, Skyrider intends to change that. The firm is launching a new video ad product today, something President and CEO Ed Kozel hopes will help bring peer-to-peer, a.k.a. P2P, into the "normal world." For him, that means making P2P networks viable places to advertise.

GPL 3 release could slip past March

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

New draft of revamped open-source General Public License is due soon, but final release schedule is open, FSF executive director says.

Universal turns DRM thunder on Bolt

Margaret Kane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Blog: Nothing gets bloggers' dander up like digital rights management. The news that Universal Music Group is close to a DRM deal with...

Will the Record Industry Ditch the DRM?

Jennifer LeClaire — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Apple CEO Steve Jobs sparked an industry debate with a controversial suggestion to remove copy-protection technologies on digital music. Jobs posed his notion to nix digital rights management, or DRM, in an open letter to record labels last week, but so far the responses have been mixed.Warner Music has come out against the proposal, which would allow consumers to purchase digital music downloads without DRM. In an earnings conference call late last week, Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman said the idea was "completely without merit."EMI, the third-largest record company in the world, however, has reportedly been pondering the idea of offering unrestricted downloads in an industry whose revenues are still dominated by traditional CD sales.As the debate heats up, analysts are considering the impacts of a DRM-free download scenario on consumers who would have free rein to copy the music they purchase on multiple devices, or even share it with friends.Apple's StanceApple's Jobs said he would do away with FairPlay, the company's proprietary DRM technology, "in a heartbeat" if the major record labels would license their music without mandating copy-protection mechanisms. He criticized Warner, EMI, Sony, and Universal for forcing online music stores to sell music with DRM while selling CDs without the same protection."So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a DRM system?" Jobs asked. "There appear to be none."Warner Music's response is to continue advocating DRM. Bronfman said, "The notion that music does not deserve the same protection as software, film, video games, or other intellectual property, simply because there is an unprotected legacy product in the physical world, is completely without logic or merit."With or Without Merit?With expected total music industry revenues to...

No DRM Could Mean Cheaper Music

Eliot Van Buskirk and Sean Michaels — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Steve Jobs' essay questioning the wisdom of selling DRM-wrapped tunes is still spurring lots of discussion about the future of music, and rightly so. In Listening Post.

Microsoft launches 'PlayReady' DRM system

At 3GSM conference — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

At 3GSM conference, company unveils system that allows sharing of protected content between mobile phones, PCs and other devices.

Reporters' Roundtable Podcast: Imagining a world without DRM

CNET News.com Staff — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Everyone hates DRM, but what can be done? If Steve Jobs has his way, the music industry will pull the plug on digital rights management.

3GSM : Microsoft unveils DRM for mobiles

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Microsoft has announced a version of their digital rights management platform geared specifically for mobile content.

Google accused of aiding movie pirates

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

But search giant is not a defendant in the case and denies defendants' allegations.

Microsoft Unveils DRM for Mobile Devices

Microsoft unveils PlayReady — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Microsoft unveils PlayReady, a digital rights management platform designed to protect a wide range of mobile content.

Upgrade to Vista, Get More DRM

Michael Calore, with Scott Gilbertson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Watching "premium content" in Windows Vista requires users to play nice with Microsoft's built-in digital rights controls. In Monkey Bites.

Sorry, no Vista for me

John Thompson — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Symantec CEO John Thompson takes a dim view of Microsoft's new operating system--and that's just for starters.

Beatles downloads 'soon,' across the online universe

Margaret Kane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Blog: Fab Four fans have been eagerly awaiting the day when the Beatles' music would finally be released in digital form. When Apple...

New capabilities drive mobile security demands

Nancy Gohring — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The growing functionality of mobile phones -- which in the future could be used to unlock doors and make credit-card purchases -- is driving demand for new and stronger security products, companies exhibiting at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona said.

Hacker allegedly breaks hi-def disc encryption

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

A hacker has reportedly found the keys to the digital rights management of the new high-definition DVD formats, Blu-ray and HD DVD, enabling users to backup their movies to hard disk drives.

Microsoft Launches New DRM, Bloggers Up In Arms

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

PlayReady for handsets and mobile devices would be available in the first half of this year.

New Capabilities Drive Cell Phone Security Demands

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The growing functionality of mobile phones is driving demand for new and stronger security products.

New RIAA Site Pimps P2P Malware

Eliot Van Buskirk and Sean Michaels — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

P2PLawsuits.com, registered recently by the Recording Industry Association of America, serves up ads for nasty file-sharing clients. The site is described in a leaked strategy letter allegedly sent by the group. In Listening Post.

Hacker Unlocks HD DVD/Blu-Ray DRM

35:33 PM — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Opening the "processing key" that protects high-def DVDs is surprisingly simple. Happy Valentine's Day, AACS. In Gadget Lab.

Microsoft Launches New DRM, Bloggers Up In Arms

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

PlayReady for handsets and mobile devices would be available in the first half of this year.

Parsing Steve Jobs' alternative views of the future

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Attorney Eric J. Sinrod says Jobs' proposal for a DRM-free world is a clever gambit that puts the onus on the big music companies.

3GSM : After Jobs criticism, Warner exec defends DRM

Nancy Gohring — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

The head of Warner Music Group defended the use of DRM (digital rights management) with digital music on Wednesday in an apparent response to recent criticism from Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

Music execs criticise DRM systems

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00

Almost two-thirds of music industry executives think removing digital locks from downloadable music would make more people buy the tracks, finds a survey.