The News, thursday 12/20/01

[VWguy]

Russian Hacker Has a Party

Programmers and cyber-rights activists throw a party celebrating the release of Russian programmer Dmitri Sklyarov, who expresses surprise at all the attention. Jeffrey Benner reports from San Francisco.
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,49272,00.html


HP, Compaq Defend Merger Plan

Hewlett-Packard and Compaq officials go on the offensive, issuing a long statement justifying the need to go forward with their proposed merger.
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,49283,00.html


Microsoft Issues Windows XP Fix

The company offers a free fix five weeks after an independent hacker discovers a serious flaw in the newest version of Windows that allows hackers to steal or destroy files or implant rogue software.
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,49301,00.html


Dark Worlds 'Discovery' Retracted

Visions of a galaxy filled with planets cast out from systems by bullying bigger planets spurred excitement when published in June. But Nature retracts the article because the author goofed. By Erik Baard.
http://www.wired.com/news/technology...,49264,00.html

Xerox wins Palm handwriting case
By Drew Cullen
Posted: 20/12/2001 at 21:23 GMT

Xerox has established in court that it is the inventor of Graffiti handwriting technology used in Palm devices. The next step is to establish damages which, considering the numbers of Palms sold, will run into several million dollars. And that's if the court works out the fees on a royalty basis.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/23481.html


ADSL from Freeserve below £30 a month
By Tim Richardson
Posted: 20/12/2001 at 14:37 GMT

The UK's biggest ISP is offering ADSL for less than £30 a month to help prove that low cost broadband will stoke-up demand.
Trialling the wires-only DIY installation service, Freeserve is offering the service at just £29.99 a month. Punters also have to buy a modem from Freeserve for £99.99.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/23475.html


Tax AOL now, says Freeserve
By Tim Richardson
Posted: 19/12/2001 at 14:45 GMT

A tax loophole that exempts AOL from paying VAT in the UK could about to be closed.
A new European Directive that is scheduled to be ratified in February would mean that non-European Union businesses offering digital services in the EU would now be liable to pay Value Added Tax (VAT).
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/23462.html


Bill Strengthens Internet Criminal Sentencing

By Staff, Newsbytes
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A.,
20 Dec 2001, 4:48 PM CST

A new bill introduced this month in the House of Representatives would give judges greater power to apply tough sentences to online criminals.
The bill, H.R. 3482 - the Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2001 - was introduced by House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., and Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and would give judges additional factors to consider in sentencing cybercriminals.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173162.html

CERT Warns Of Deadly Security Hole In Internet Explorer

By - Brian Krebs, Newsbytes
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A.,
20 Dec 2001, 2:38 PM CST

A government-funded computer security team is warning users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser to patch a flaw that could allow attackers to upload and execute malicious programs on the victim's PC.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173157.html

Congressional Opinion Varies On AT&T-Comcast Deal

By Brian Krebs and Robert MacMillan, Newsbytes
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A.,
20 Dec 2001, 12:33 PM CST

Some of them like it and some of them don't, but among members of Congress asked about the proposed AT&T-Comcast merger, the prevalent reaction so far is no reaction.
The earliest responses from several lawmakers who were willing to comment suggest that feelings are split over the merger, which would create a cable television and Internet service behemoth fit to rival AOL Time Warner.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173149.html

Intruder Breaks Into Optus' Australian Network

By Adam Creed, Newsbytes
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA,
20 Dec 2001, 5:21 AM CST

Optus, one of Australia's biggest Internet service providers (ISPs), reported its Internet network had been breached early this morning by an as-yet unknown intruder.
Both Optus and the police will investigate the intrusion, Optus said in a media statement today. The company said it has seen no evidence that customer records databases have been hacked.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/173131.html

Argentine President Resigns Amid Riots

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — President Fernando De la Rua submitted his resignation Thursday, a high-ranking official said, as his government crumbled amid deadly rioting and looting sparked by anger over Argentina's deepening economic crisis.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,41237,00.html


Hackers Find Serious Flaw in Microsoft's Windows XP

A Microsoft official acknowledged that the risk to consumers was unprecedented because the glitches allow hackers to seize control of all Windows XP operating system software without requiring a computer user to do anything except connect to the Internet.

Microsoft made available on its Web site a free fix for both home and professional editions of Windows XP and forcefully urged consumers to install it immediately.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,41282,00.html


Some D.C. workers get anthrax vaccinations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Doctors injected four dozen people Thursday with the anthrax vaccine, as thousands began weighing the government's first printed list of the pros and cons of the experimental inoculations. It's a tough decision — the required consent forms for the shots warn that the vaccine can cause side effects. And because it has never been used after exposure to anthrax, there's no guarantee the vaccine will help anyone who relapses. One health department, in the nation's capital, advised against the vaccinations, saying two months of antibiotic treatment already prescribed to people exposed to anthrax during the mail attacks this fall was enough.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/...-20-postal.htm

Five injured in failed arrest raid on Hamas leader

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Intensifying a crackdown on Islamic militants, Palestinian police exchanged fire with supporters of a fugitive Hamas leader outside his hideout during a failed arrest raid Thursday. Three officers and two bystanders were wounded.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2...mas-arrest.htm

Game glorifies a life of crime

Grand Theft Auto III: It has been banned in Australia, but, says Ron Luessen, owner of Famcom Games in Washington state: "I am surprised I haven't heard more bad comments."

In the violent world of video games, blood and guns rarely raise an eyebrow anymore. But this holiday season, a heavily promoted game called Grand Theft Auto III may be testing the limits of interactive entertainment
http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/t...fies-crime.htm

[TankGirl]

Wow, new volunteers on the news team! Thank you VWguy!

- tg

[Catbert13]

Originally posted by VWguy
Russian Hacker Has a Party

Programmers and cyber-rights activists throw a party celebrating the release of Russian programmer Dmitri Sklyarov, who expresses surprise at all the attention. Jeffrey Benner reports from San Francisco.
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,49272,00.html

I was wondering when that was going to end...Go Dmitry!

[VWguy]

Wow, new volunteers on the news team! Thank you VWguy!

- tg



Christmas Food

In our special holiday section, share memories of one family's Christmas breakfasts. Discover a Christmas dinner alternative from Mexico. Get linked to baking hotlines. And find the perfect last-minute gift for a foodie.
http://www.latimes.com/features/food...y.storygallery

Compaq: a very special Christmas:

Compaq offered investors some good news this morning, announcing it had inked two IT service and technology deals, one with defense contractor Raytheon for $200 million to $250 million and one with Swedish cell phone maker Ericsson for $150 million. The deals are a coup for the company, which won them away from Dell Computer and, ironically, Hewlett-Packard.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200...html?tag=mn_hd

Bush targets two more groups

Groups believed to be funneling money to al Qaeda, other terror organizatons
One group accused of providing al Qaeda information on nuclear weapons
AP report: 100 people injured in explosion at a Mazar-e Sharif market
Vanguard of British-led peacekeeping force arrives in Afghanistan
Military sources: 500 Marines may be searching caves by weekend
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/12/20/gen...ror/index.html

Ibuprofen cancels aspirin's effect on heart

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- The popular pain reliever ibuprofen blocks the heart-protecting effects of aspirin, according to a study that sounds a warning for people who take both medicines.

"It would not do you a lot of good to take one medication only to have another wipe out its effects," said Dr. Muredach Reilly, a University of Pennsylvania cardiologist who took part in the 30-patient study reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. The study was funded partly by the National Institutes of Health and aspirin maker Bayer.
http://www.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/12/20....ap/index.html

U.S. stocks scale back on tech weakness stemming from Microsoft, Juniper.

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Wall St. took a tech tumble Thursday as investors took in a negative forecast from networking issue Juniper, weak results from brokerages and the conclusion of the AT&T broadband deal.
http://money.cnn.com/2001/12/20/mark...rkets_newyork/

Kazaa plays on despite threat of fines

HILVERSUM, Netherlands--Nearly a week after a court-ordered deadline to institute anti-piracy controls, the operator of Kazaa, a popular file-swapping network, is continuing to negotiate with copyright holders over its fate.

In a decision last month, Judge Orobio de Castro told the network to block customers from trading illegal files by Dec. 13 or pay a $45,000 a day fine. As of now, however, the service has not altered its business practices, company attorney Christiaan Alberdingk Thijm said Thursday. The service was developed by Netherlands-based FastTrack.

"You could derive from that, that the negotiations have went in a such a way that for now no fines have to be paid," he said.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200...html?tag=mn_hd

Game makers face "Rings" rivalry

It might not be as colorful as Sauron vs. Gandalf, but a battle is shaping up in the game industry over "The Lord of the Rings."

Electronic Arts announced Wednesday that it has secured rights to produce video games based on the "Rings" series of films, which opened Wednesday with "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." EA said in a statement that it plans to have its first "Rings" game on the market late next year, to tie in with the release of the second film of the series, "The Two Towers."
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1006-200...html?tag=mn_hd

Microsoft sues Linux start-up over name

Microsoft asked a court on Thursday to stop a Linux start-up from using a name the software giant contends infringes on the Windows trademark.

The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant filed a motion with the U.S. Court for the Western District of Washington against Lindows, which is developing a version of the Linux operating system that will run popular applications written for Microsoft's Windows OS.

Microsoft contends the company, which plans to formally release its product next year, purposely is trying to confuse Lindows with Windows.
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200...html?tag=mn_hd

Andromeda 1.8.5 is out

For those of you who don't know, Andromeda turns collections of MP3s and other media files (mpg, avi, and many more) into easy-to-use, streaming web sites. It's not exactly a file sharing program; it's really about what you do with your files once you've got them. It's great as a personal jukebox, over local networks, and even over the Internet (bandwidth permitting).
http://www.zeropaid.com/andromeda/


Osama's Really An Alien!
For conspiracy theorists who don't believe the Osama Bin Laden tape, the perfect holiday gift. Mark Fiore. (Flash)
http://www.sfgate.com/comics/fiore/

[JackSpratts]

good job vwguy!

andromeda looks interesting - but you've got to have a server.

- js.

[walktalker]

What the... is that competition ??? My monopoly is being threatened... quick quick, a lawsuit to try to protect my precious money !!!

Hehehe, joke aside, nice work dude. Wanna archive this into the news forum ?