ACM TechNews - Monday, May 15, 2000

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ACM TechNews
Volume 2, Number 56
Date: May 15, 2000
Site Sponsored by Gateway (http://www.gateway.com)

Top Stories for Monday, May 15, 2000:
http://www.acm.org/technews/current/homepage.html

"Microsoft Says Flaw in Its Web Browser Offers Hackers
  Access to Sensitive Data"
"'Love Bug' Probe Finds Password-Stealing Program in Data Files"
"Big Test Set for Biometrics"
"Intel to Spin Off Company of Customized Technology"
"AOL, Time Warner Urge Quick Approval From FCC on Merger"
"G8 Meeting Will Tackle Global Efforts Against Internet Crime"
"Next E-Security Threat: Mobile Phones"
"Dot-Com Legalities Afloat in Cyberspace"
"Pan-European Subscription-Free Net Access Coming Soon"
"Building Stronger Brands Through Online Communities"
"Virus Prevention Efforts Now Focus on Networks"
"Worldwide E-Commerce: It's More Than a Web Site"
"It's a World Wide Web After All"
"Battle Brews Over Reverse-Engineering"
"E-government? Mostly Talk So Far, Says Researcher"
"Tech Industry Lobbying Hard for China Trade Deal"

******************* News Stories ***********************

"Microsoft Says Flaw in Its Web Browser Offers Hackers
 Access to Sensitive Data"
Microsoft has owned up to a flaw discovered in its Internet
Explorer that could allow hackers to read the contents of cookies
on a victim's system.  Coding embedded in a Web address can trick
the user's browser into responding to a request for a cookie as . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item1

"'Love Bug' Probe Finds Password-Stealing Program in Data Files"
Investigators tracking down the creator of the love bug virus
discovered a number of data files on the systems of Sky Internet,
an ISP in Manila, that further incriminate Filipino computer
student Onel de Guzman.  Among the files is a Trojan Horse . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item2

"Big Test Set for Biometrics"
Biometric technology is rapidly moving into the mainstream.  Visa
International and the Financial Services Technology Consortium
will soon announce a joint six-month project that will test
fingerprint scanning, facial scanning, and electronic signature . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item3

"Intel to Spin Off Company of Customized Technology"
Intel today will unveil plans to spin off an Internet company
called Developonline.com that will allow customers to order
tailored technology products, in a move that brings the chipmaker
into the trend of providing customized goods over the Internet.  . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item4

"AOL, Time Warner Urge Quick Approval From FCC on Merger"
AOL and Time Warner have sent a filing to the FCC urging the
agency to "promptly" approve their proposed merger without
placing any stipulations on the arrangement.  The filing claims
that the merger "further advances consumer choice in Internet . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item5

"G8 Meeting Will Tackle Global Efforts Against Internet Crime"
The Group of Eight today kicks off a three-day conference on
Internet crime, a timely topic considering the rash of computer
attacks that have occurred this year, including the recent
ILOVEYOU virus.  Government officials and representatives will . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item6

"Next E-Security Threat: Mobile Phones"
Security experts contend that mobile phones will soon replace PCs
as the conduit of choice for hackers launching cyberattacks over
the Internet.  Wireless Application Protocol technology, which
enables mobile phone users to access the Internet, as well as . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item7

"Dot-Com Legalities Afloat in Cyberspace"
New laws are gradually being implemented to regulate the
Internet, causing many online businesses to keep an eye on the
courts to see how various laws are being upheld and to take a
closer look at their own business practices to ensure they are . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item8

"Pan-European Subscription-Free Net Access Coming Soon"
AltaVista, the harbinger of unmetered access to the U.K. market,
is developing a strategy to introduce a similar offering for most
of Europe by year's end, according to a company spokesperson.
The spokesperson would not release details about the timeframe . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item9

"Building Stronger Brands Through Online Communities"
Companies are increasingly recognizing the value of promoting a
brand by building an effective online community of loyal
consumers through chat rooms, bulletin boards, and forums.  In
most product categories, few consumers are completely loyal to . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item10

"Virus Prevention Efforts Now Focus on Networks"
Security experts contend that last week's "love bug" virus proves
that most antivirus software does not work, and that new products
need to be developed that are more proactive.  Experts say the
new antivirus software must work at the network infrastructure . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item11

"Worldwide E-Commerce: It's More Than a Web Site"
Global e-commerce success requires companies to partner with or
acquire outright foreign companies, operate foreign sales and
support offices that are staffed by local people familiar with
the laws and customs of the region, and implement a robust . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item12

"It's a World Wide Web After All"
American business-to-consumer players on the Internet are
venturing into markets abroad to better position their businesses
for the hypergrowth in the global economy that is projected to
occur in the next few years.  For example, Amazon.com says 24 . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item13

"Battle Brews Over Reverse-Engineering"
Critics are furious at recent court decisions that ban developers
from reverse-engineering, saying developers and users will be
limited as they try to interoperate or search for flaws in
commercial software.  Restrictions are expected to be tightened . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item14

"E-government? Mostly Talk So Far, Says Researcher"
The federal government is failing to provide its citizens with
enough online government and electronic service initiatives,
according to Fed Sources President Tom Hewitt.  Hewitt,
addressing the crowd at the company's recent annual Outlook . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item15

"Tech Industry Lobbying Hard for China Trade Deal"
A tug of war battle is being waged between the high-tech industry
and labor unions, human rights advocates, and anti-communists
over whether the U.S. should accept China as a member of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) and grant the country permanent . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2000-2/0515m.html#item16


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