Pop Quiz on Copyright Law Cuts Down on P2P Software Abuse

One university is resorting to an old standby - the pop quiz - to cut down student abuse of peer-to-peer networks on campus to share music and movies illegally and stop the complaints and fines of the recording and movie industries. Missouri University of Science and Technology now requires students to ace a six-question quiz on digital copyright law to get six hours of access to peer-to-peer software they can use to share music and movies online. The quiz has cut copyright complaints on campus from the recording industry to eight this academic year, down from 200 in 2006-07. Missouri S&T students who violate copyright law may lose their Internet privileges or face fines, community service, extra research assignments or suspension from classes. Violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act also can draw lawsuits by the recording industry, which often cost several thousand dollars to settle. Universities that fail to stop repeat offenders can face liability too.

Are You Ready for Ransomware?

Ok - here's a new one. IT security provider Kaspersky Lab has issued a security alert following the detection of a particularly malicious piece of "ransomware." Even though not widespread, as of yet, the new virus called Virus.Win32.Gpcode.ak, if downloaded, employs RSA 1,024-bit encryption to lock users out of just about every common data file format found on their PCs, including .doc, .txt, .pdf, .xls, .png and .jpg. A ransom note is then generated, instructing the victim to fork over funds for a decryption key. (Sounds rather medieval, eh?)

Kaspersky is urging Net users to take extra precautions, make sure they are running the latest versions of anti-malware solutions and back up their data regularly, making sure to disconnect storage devices as soon as the back-up process is completed to avoid infection. If infected, do not power down or restart your PC, the company advises. Kaspersky also urges victims not to succumb to the ransom threat and instead report details of infection to their security providers, Kaspersky and law enforcement authorities.

Japanese Kids Told to Cool It On Cellphones

Most parents in this country can probably identify with the Japanese government's feeling that they need to start a program about limiting cell phone use among children. In Japan the government is worried about how elementary and junior high school students are getting sucked into cyberspace crimes, spending long hours exchanging mobile e-mail and suffering other negative effects of cell phone overuse. It seems that in Japan, as well as here, cell phones are being given to children at a younger and younger age. A government panel is also asking Japanese cell phone makers to develop cell phones with only the talking function, and GPS , or global positioning system, because the latter  feature that can help ensure a child's safety. Most mobile phones in Japan are sophisticated gadgets offering high-speed Internet access called 3G , for "third-generation." The panel said better filtering programming is needed for Internet access to protect children. Some youngsters are spending hours at night on e-mail with their friends. One fad is "the 30 minute rule," in which a child who doesn't respond to e-mail within half an hour gets targeted and picked on by other schoolmates. Other youngsters have become victims of Internet crimes. In one case, children sent in their own snapshots to a Web site and then ended up getting threatened for money.

Don't Let Phishers Get Your Stimulus Rebate Check

If you get an email promising you a quicker stimulus rebate check or quicker receipt through direct deposit, or are advised that you need to provide information to get your money, chances are you are being scammed. Also beware of any links to a Web site or, in some cases, downloading attachments with malicious code. Some emails have maliciously crafted PDF files that will install malware on your computer. Unless you have already established an e-mail communication with the IRS, you should delete all e-mails from the IRS, as it is extremely likely the IRS sent it to you.  Most of their communication - especially first contact from the IRS - is made by regular mail.

One Company Rules the Numbers

I'm old enough to remember when there was one company that ruled the phone system in the US. Since it's break up there certainly have been some ups and downs in the world of phones, but almost everyone would agree that prices have come down. But did you know that there is company that serves as the digital directory for all the rest? NeuStar is the carriers' digital directory for all phone calls in North America. More than 800 telephone companies have numbers in the database. NeuStar assigns blocks of available telephone numbers to carriers. It also manages the directory for common short codes: five- or six-digit codes that people punch into their cellphones to take part in sweepstakes or to vote for game-show contestants, for instance. And about one out of every four Internet transactions is routed using a NeuStar database, as NeuStar handles traffic for domains that include .biz, .us, .org and .info.

NeuStar's databases are so powerful that the FBI a few years ago sought direct, unfettered access to one containing 310 million phone numbers in the United States and Canada. The telephone companies that pay NeuStar to run the database denied the FBI's request, but they did allow NeuStar to create a site where authorized law enforcement officials with court orders can obtain carrier information on telephone numbers. That's some kind of little black book, eh?

(This entry is linked to the Washington Post, where you can read the article for free but you will have to register.)

Cyber Warfare – Not Fiction Anymore

Don't think that cyber warfare is merely fuel for novel writers. Cyber attacks are being waged in increasing numbers - and not by geeky hackers sitting in their bed or dorm rooms either. Computer network attacks are often perpetrated by gangs of professional criminal hackers attempting to break into a system for financial gain. But now there is an even new twist. Some criminal hacker groups are starting to test the same strategies on government agencies. Though political attacks haven't been as common as those seeking personal and corporate information, cyber attacks for political purposes could just as easily be used as a weapon against governments. A country's national security could be severely threatened by a team of hackers successfully cracking certain computer systems run by government agencies. Case in point - Estonia.  Last April, Estonian government and corporate Web sites were under constant attack by about 1 million computers worldwide. Over a three-week period, the attacks swamped Estonia's computer network with so much traffic that the government there was forced to shut them down. The Estonian government reportedly traced much of the attacking traffic to Russian computers and found instructions in Russian on the Internet on how to carry out the attack. The Russian government denied any involvement. No mater why the attacks happened it has served as a wake up call to governments world-wide.

New Site, Same Password Opens Door to Hackers

It's so easy to do in the whirl of everyday life - use the same password on every site you shop on, to open you Facebook page, for your email and who knows what else. But using the same password for multiple Web pages is the Internet-era equivalent of having the same key for your home, car and bank safe-deposit box. While people seem to understand this is a no-no - 88 percent of the 800 people interviewed in the U.S. and the UK for a survey on the subject said personal irresponsibility is the key cause of identity theft and fraud - nearly half of these 800 interviewees still said that they use just one password for all their online accounts. Researchers say the findings suggest that many users underestimate the growing threat from organized cyber-criminals who reap big profits from selling stolen identities. The result costs consumers hundreds of millions of dollars a year in higher security costs.

Google and the Tagalong Bugs

Doing a Google search may have some unexpected consequences. It appears that hackers are adding a little tagalong bug when you open certain sites. The bug is embedded in some of the coding that lets the site do some of those cool web features like changing the color of a button when you mouse over it.  The bug invisibly redirects your computer to a computer server that installs a hidden program. In turn, this program enables hackers to use your computer to spread spam and carry out scams. Most alarming, it also lets the attacker embed a keystroke logger, which collects and transmits your passwords and any other sensitive data you type online.

Most Google search results are safe. But in March alone security researchers found several hundred thousand corrupted Web pages returned in common Google search queries. They fear crime groups have just begun to take advantage.

Google issued a statement saying it is helping affected websites fix the problem and is also developing new tools "to detect and block" malicious Web pages.

Security experts say consumers can protect themselves by keeping anti-virus subscriptions and software updates current. Running an anti-virus scan may help repair infected computers, although more serious fixes may be necessary.

Phishing and the IRS

'Phishing,' Internet-based schemes of tricking people into revealing confidential financial information, topped the Internal Revenue Service's annual list of scams that taxpayers should be aware of. The IRS recently also warned people not to fall for predators posing as IRS representatives who tell them they must reveal personal information to obtain the economic stimulus payment. That payment goes out automatically to anyone who files a tax return.

Trends in the Digital Music Biz

Ok - the music biz is reeling and the editors at CNET have made some predictions about how being digital is going to change the biz in the next year or so. Why should you care? Because your kids are huge consumers and you need to stay current with what's going on to help them guide them through the landmines. To summarize, the folks at CNET see: Apple giving in on music price flexibility (labels want to set their own prices..is this end of the .79 to .99 cent download?), Digital Rights Management copy-protection schemes will cease to be an issue after 2008 (but your kids still will need to be careful where they use their music), music companies will use social-networking sites to promote acts rather than marketing departments, and bands, without the backing of music labels, will join forces to distribute their music on the Web. Welcome to the new world of digital music.