Instead of prohibiting bad code, a better solution is to prohibit bad behavior. That could mean, for example, a general rule against fraud instead of trusting tech-impaired politicos to draw up a list of every type of possible code that could perform fraudulent acts. . . .. A congressional hearing on Internet porn last week illustrates what happens when politicians try to ban technology they don't like or understand. The topic of Thursday's meeting of the House of Representatives' consumer protection subcommittee was a bill intended to require that programs like Kazaa and Grokster obtain parental consent before installation. Peer-to-peer software is starting "to lure our children from the perceived safety of the family living room out into the dangers of the Internet wilderness," subcommittee chairman Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., warned. The only problem: The bill that Stearns and his colleagues suggest as a solution is so broadly worded that it regulates far more than just peer-to-peer applications. Anyone distributing instant-messaging programs, File Transfer Protocol software or Internet Relay Chat clients would have to follow a complicated set of regulations to be published by the Federal Trade Commission, which might as well be renamed the Federal Software Regulatory Commission. Software distribution sites like those of SourceForge and the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network would be outlawed, if they did not follow these byzantine legal rules, which include obtaining "verifiable parental consent," if the downloader is a minor, ensuring that the software can be readily uninstalled, keeping "records of its compliance" and so on. Anyone running such a Web site outside the United States would be required to hire a "resident agent" and file reports with the FTC--hardly a boon to the burgeoning global open-source movement. . A congressional hearing on Internet porn last week illustrates what happens when politicians try to . instead, prohibiting, better, solution, prohibit, behavior. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
"A computer expert in North Korea who has a number of personal computers and an internet connection can download the latest version of Linux, complete with multiprocessing capabilities misappropriated from Unix, and, in short order, build a virtual supercomputer," the letter says. . . .. The SCO Group has confirmed that it sent a letter to all 535 members of the US Congress which claimed that Linux and open-source software is a threat to the security and economy of the US. The letter, dated 8 January, was published on the internet this week by an open-source lobbying organisation called the Open Source and Industry Alliance (OSAIA). The letter states that the commoditising influence of open-source software such as Linux is bad for the US economy and argues that open source also skirts export controls governing commercial products. "A computer expert in North Korea who has a number of personal computers and an internet connection can download the latest version of Linux, complete with multiprocessing capabilities misappropriated from Unix, and, in short order, build a virtual supercomputer," the letter says. The link for this article located at ComputerWeekly is no longer available. . The Tech Alliance revealed it has dispatched a formal notice to every member of the 50 state legislatures, declaring open-source software a potential hazard.. Linux Threat, Open Source Security, US Security Concerns, Software Export Regulations. . Anthony Pell
A House of Representatives subcommittee on technology, reacting to the overwhelming worm activity of last month, picked the brains of leading security experts and executives Wednesday during a hearing. Testimony was heard on the need for legislation, cleaning up the software development process, full disclosure, public-private information sharing, education programs within the enterprise and the dissemination of information to home users.. . .. A House of Representatives subcommittee on technology, reacting to the overwhelming worm activity of last month, picked the brains of leading security experts and executives Wednesday during a hearing. Testimony was heard on the need for legislation, cleaning up the software development process, full disclosure, public-private information sharing, education programs within the enterprise and the dissemination of information to home users. Legislation and government regulation has been a bugaboo because lawmakers, enterprises and vendors have long fought to avoid political intervention. That may no longer be a viable scenario, said Chris Wysopal, director of research and development at consulting firm @Stake Inc. "We regulate just about every industry where safety is a concern," Wysopal said. "When computers are compromised, we're approaching similar safety concerns. If the Blaster worm contributed to the severity of the blackout for example, now we're talking about a safety issue. Lives are in danger." The link for this article located at searchSecurity is no longer available. . A House of Representatives subcommittee on technology, reacting to the overwhelming worm activity of. house, representatives, subcommittee, technology, reacting, overwhelming, activity. . Anthony Pell
This is an update from the status conference held today in the case against Dmitry Sklyarov (a visiting Russian programmer arrested in the US for allegedly violating the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act by writing, in Russia, software that is legal . . . . This is an update from the status conference held today in the case against Dmitry Sklyarov (a visiting Russian programmer arrested in the US for allegedly violating the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act by writing, in Russia, software that is legal in Russia), and Elcomsoft (his Russia-based employer). As expected, the only issue discussed at the hearing was the setting of dates for pre-trial motions. The issues were divided into two categories: DMCA (possible claims are unconstitutionality including vagueness under the First Amendment and lack of constitutional authority) and non-DMCA issues (possible issues are jurisdiction, a bill of particulars, and the conspiracy charge). The non-DMCA dates are: Jan. 14, 2002, the opening brief is due, Feb. 11, the opposition (govt.) brief is due, Feb. 25, Dmitry's reply brief is due, Mar. 4, 2002, hearing. The DMCA dates are: Jan. 28, the opening briefs and amici are due, Mar. 4, the opposition (govt) brief is due, Mar. 18, the reply brief is due Apr. 1, hearing . Keep updated on the recent progress in the case involving Dmitry Sklyarov, focusing on the challenges posed by the DMCA and the legal consequences that arise.. Dmitry Sklyarov, DMCA challenges, software regulations, court updates, programmer rights. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
Very encouraging news: "Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., introduced legislation on Friday that wouldforce software manufacturers to notify consumers when their productsinclude "spyware," bits of code that surreptitiously transmit information about the user's Web surfing habits back to the software company." . . . . Very encouraging news: "Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., introduced legislation on Friday that wouldforce software manufacturers to notify consumers when their productsinclude "spyware," bits of code that surreptitiously transmit information about the user's Web surfing habits back to the software company." The link for this article located at Newbytes is no longer available. . Sen. Jane Doe proposes new measures to educate users regarding malware embedded in app offerings.. Spyware Control Act, Consumer Protection, Data Security. . Anthony Pell
A Reuters report today said the government agency responsible for enforcing Internet rules has exempted a wide range of consumer software and equipment -- including mobile phones and Microsoft Windows, and added it would not insist on keeping trusteeship of . . .. A Reuters report today said the government agency responsible for enforcing Internet rules has exempted a wide range of consumer software and equipment -- including mobile phones and Microsoft Windows, and added it would not insist on keeping trusteeship of company encryption keys. The link for this article located at E-Commerce Times is no longer available. . The Chinese authorities ease restrictions on encryption for consumer applications and hardware, such as smartphones. Discover further details!. China Encryption Regulation, Consumer Software Security, Mobile Device Policy. . LinuxSecurity.com Team
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