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Last Update:
18.12.2000
2000 
| Index |
 p 1 Microsoft and E-mail facts, figures and software |
| p 2 Domain Names and Cyberstudies |
| p 3 Failurenalia and Dotcom Backlashes |
| p 4 CyberCrimes, Music and P2P |
| p 5 Short Messaging Services and Fun Online |
| p 6 Big Deals and Who's Online |
| What's New |
| TechNews |
| WorldNews |
| AskExperts |
| SiteSeeing |
| TravelLinx |
| Telephony |
| ScheduLinx |
| e-Commerce |
| e-Trading |
| Wise & Wired |
| Daily Quiz |
[ Headlinks ]
[ Inside/Out ]
CyberCrimes
The first «Denial of Service» attacks hit this year, and we lived through the usual round of defaced websites and viruses. Kevin Mitnick, the most notorious computer hacker in the world was released January 21 after 5 years imprisonment. And Europe has drafted an international cybercrime treaty, based on a coalition of 22 human rights and public policy organizations.
«DOS Attacks»
In February, a 15 year old Canadian hacker known as Mafiaboy, unleashed a series of denial of service attacks that crippled some of the biggest, best-known sites on the Web: ZDNet, Yahoo!, Amazonc.om, eBay, Buy.com, Excite@Home, MSN, E*Trade, Datek and CNN. Web Roundup Special «DOS Attacks».
Viruses
PC Viruses: Throughout 2000, hackers have seemed intent on exploiting the emotional side of human nature. Malicious applications tunneled through the Web with sneaky subject headers hinting of secret admirers, holiday greetings and even love. CNN's coverage of the top 10 viruses of 2000 [Kakworm, Love Letter, Apology-B, Marker, Pretty, Stages-A, Navidad...]
First Mobile Phone Virus: What makes this virus special is that it sends SMS short messages to GSM phones. Messages are sent to random numbers via a SMS gateway at Movistar.net. F-Secure
First PDA Virus: PDA's got hit this year with their first known virus, called: Phage. BBC
Some figures [Source: USA Today]
The «DOS» attacks in February that shut down such popular sites as Yahoo! and CNN.com caused $ 100 million in lost sales and revenue, according to the Yankee Group, a technology analysis firm in Cambridge, Mass.
The Melissa virus cost business and individuals more than $ 80 million in March 1999, the government says.
The Love Letter virus in the spring caused $ 2.6 billion in losses in 72 hours, according to industry reports.
According to some experts, up to 80%of all foreign attacks on US computers come by way of Canada. E-Commerce Times
In the largest known case of cybertheft, a computer intruder stole 485'000 credit cards and then secretly stored the massive database on a U.S. government agency’s Web site. MSNBC
Music and P2P
"Peer to Peer" technology, embodies what the Internet is all about, a free flowing of information, a sharing of knowledge. P2P technology allows computers talk to each other as equals, without going through server intermediaires. However, it also raises complex copyright issues and for many companies, this has been a year filled with litigation and lawsuits.
Napster — Program that allows Net users to share MP3 files
Considered by many as the most potent symbol of the free Internet, Napster, unable to reach an agreement with the major recording companies — struck a deal with German media giant Bertelsman and became subscription based.
MP3.com — Compresses music files at near-CD quality for easy transmission over the Internet.
After months of costly litigation with record conglomerates, MP3.com has bounced back with a revamped service and a deal with Tower records. The Industry Standard Europe
Scour Exchange — Online file-swapping service
After months of litigation with the music and movie industries, a bankruptcy and a series of layoffs, Scour Exchange closed down November 16th. The popular file-sharing application was downloaded by over 7 million Internet users.
Gnutella — Information-sharing technology from hard disk to hard disk
Gnutella puts the personal interaction back into the Internet. When you run a Gnutella software and connect to the Gnutella Network, you bring with you the information you wanted to make public. That could be nothing, it could be one file, a directory, or your entire hard drive. There are a few things that will prevent Gnutella from being stopped by lawyers, FBI, etc. First, Gnutella is nothing but a protocol. It's just freely-accessible information. There is no company to sue. No one entity is really responsible for Gnutella.
Aimster — IM file-swapping system
Aimster is the stake in the heart of the record industry. Piggybacking on AOL 's popular instant-messaging program, this file-sharing system makes swapping tunes much easier than Napster, much more reliable than Gnutella and likelier to withstand legal action than the other major players. The Industry Standard
Some figures
Ipsos-Reid, found that among teens and adults aged between 12 and 24 who had used the Internet in the last month, 47 percent have downloaded a music file. ZDNet
A Forrester Research report predicts that record labels will lose $3.1 billion annually, in potential music sales by 2005 to piracy and that book publishers will lose $ 1.5 bilion in the same period.
[ Contd... ]
Best of Chris Hiers
Editorial Cartoons
"Bridging the Digital Divide"
The first «Denial of Service» attacks hit this year, and we lived through the usual round of defaced websites and viruses. Kevin Mitnick, the most notorious computer hacker in the world was released January 21 after 5 years imprisonment. And Europe has drafted an international cybercrime treaty, based on a coalition of 22 human rights and public policy organizations.
«DOS Attacks»
In February, a 15 year old Canadian hacker known as Mafiaboy, unleashed a series of denial of service attacks that crippled some of the biggest, best-known sites on the Web: ZDNet, Yahoo!, Amazonc.om, eBay, Buy.com, Excite@Home, MSN, E*Trade, Datek and CNN. Web Roundup Special «DOS Attacks».VirusesPC Viruses: Throughout 2000, hackers have seemed intent on exploiting the emotional side of human nature. Malicious applications tunneled through the Web with sneaky subject headers hinting of secret admirers, holiday greetings and even love. CNN's coverage of the top 10 viruses of 2000 [Kakworm, Love Letter, Apology-B, Marker, Pretty, Stages-A, Navidad...]
First Mobile Phone Virus: What makes this virus special is that it sends SMS short messages to GSM phones. Messages are sent to random numbers via a SMS gateway at Movistar.net. F-Secure
First PDA Virus: PDA's got hit this year with their first known virus, called: Phage. BBC
Some figures [Source: USA Today]The «DOS» attacks in February that shut down such popular sites as Yahoo! and CNN.com caused $ 100 million in lost sales and revenue, according to the Yankee Group, a technology analysis firm in Cambridge, Mass.
The Melissa virus cost business and individuals more than $ 80 million in March 1999, the government says.
The Love Letter virus in the spring caused $ 2.6 billion in losses in 72 hours, according to industry reports.
According to some experts, up to 80%of all foreign attacks on US computers come by way of Canada. E-Commerce Times
In the largest known case of cybertheft, a computer intruder stole 485'000 credit cards and then secretly stored the massive database on a U.S. government agency’s Web site. MSNBC
Music and P2P
"Peer to Peer" technology, embodies what the Internet is all about, a free flowing of information, a sharing of knowledge. P2P technology allows computers talk to each other as equals, without going through server intermediaires. However, it also raises complex copyright issues and for many companies, this has been a year filled with litigation and lawsuits.
Napster — Program that allows Net users to share MP3 filesConsidered by many as the most potent symbol of the free Internet, Napster, unable to reach an agreement with the major recording companies — struck a deal with German media giant Bertelsman and became subscription based.
MP3.com — Compresses music files at near-CD quality for easy transmission over the Internet.After months of costly litigation with record conglomerates, MP3.com has bounced back with a revamped service and a deal with Tower records. The Industry Standard Europe
Scour Exchange — Online file-swapping service After months of litigation with the music and movie industries, a bankruptcy and a series of layoffs, Scour Exchange closed down November 16th. The popular file-sharing application was downloaded by over 7 million Internet users.
Gnutella — Information-sharing technology from hard disk to hard diskGnutella puts the personal interaction back into the Internet. When you run a Gnutella software and connect to the Gnutella Network, you bring with you the information you wanted to make public. That could be nothing, it could be one file, a directory, or your entire hard drive. There are a few things that will prevent Gnutella from being stopped by lawyers, FBI, etc. First, Gnutella is nothing but a protocol. It's just freely-accessible information. There is no company to sue. No one entity is really responsible for Gnutella.
Aimster — IM file-swapping system Aimster is the stake in the heart of the record industry. Piggybacking on AOL 's popular instant-messaging program, this file-sharing system makes swapping tunes much easier than Napster, much more reliable than Gnutella and likelier to withstand legal action than the other major players. The Industry Standard
Some figuresIpsos-Reid, found that among teens and adults aged between 12 and 24 who had used the Internet in the last month, 47 percent have downloaded a music file. ZDNet
A Forrester Research report predicts that record labels will lose $3.1 billion annually, in potential music sales by 2005 to piracy and that book publishers will lose $ 1.5 bilion in the same period.
[ Contd... ]
Best of Chris Hiers
Editorial Cartoons
"Bridging the Digital Divide"
