NEWS - January 12, 2006

By Alorie Gilbert
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: January 12, 2006, 2:52 PM PST

A coalition of software companies have agreed on standard methods for identifying and combating spyware, those unwelcome downloads that have plagued Internet users with pop-up ads and other annoyances.

The Anti-Spyware Coalition, whose members include Microsoft, Symantec, Computer Associates, McAfee, AOL and Yahoo, said on Thursday that it has finalized its spyware detection guidelines. The final version takes into account public comments on a proposed version introduced in October.

Spyware and adware have become widely despised for their sneaky distribution tactics, unauthorized data gathering and tying-up of computer processing power. Although adware makers say there are legitimate uses for their programs, an entire anti-spyware market has been spawned to combat the stuff.

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http://news.com.com/Anti-spyware+guidelines+get+final+version/2100-7349_3-6026632.html?tag=html.alert

By Joris Evers, CNET News.com
Published on ZDNet News: January 12, 2006, 4:12 PM PT

A tape with confidential data on about 90,000 customers of a Connecticut bank has been lost, putting the bank's clients at risk of identity fraud.

Bridgeport, Conn.-based People's Bank on Thursday said it is notifying all affected customers. The tape was lost while being transported by the United Parcel Service to credit reporting bureau TransUnion.

The incident is the latest in a string of reported data security breaches, many of which are being reported by companies to comply with state notification laws. Earlier this week a major Bahamas resort said information on more than 50,000 guests had been exposed to possible identity theft.

Since February of last year, about 53 million personal records have been exposed in dozens of incidents, according to information compiled by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

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http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6026692.html?tag=zdnn.alert

By Dan Ilett, CNET News.com
Published on ZDNet News: January 12, 2006, 5:30 PM PT

A Detroit-area man is facing at least two years in jail on charges that he sent millions of spam messages over a number of high-profile company networks in violation of the Can-Spam Act.

Daniel Lin, of West Bloomfield, along with three other men from West Bloomfield, was charged in April 2004 with sending spam over compromised computers belonging to the likes of Ford, Unisys and the U.S. Army Information Center. They were the first people to face charges under the U.S. Can-Spam Act.

A report in the Detroit News said the e-mails offered diet aids, herbs and drugs to fight male impotence. U.S. authorities claim the gang made approximately $100,000 for their efforts.

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http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6026708.html?tag=zdnn.alert

By Joris Evers, CNET News.com
Published on ZDNet News: January 12, 2006, 5:34 PM PT

A security update to Apple Computer's popular QuickTime media player software is said to be causing problems for some Max OS X and Windows users.

People have reported a variety of glitches on discussion boards on Apple's Web site. Mac OS X users appear to be having the most trouble, including deleted applications and files, unplayable movie files and the disappearance rights to use the professional version of QuickTime, according to postings on Apple's support forum.

Apple released the update, QuickTime 7.0.4, on Tuesday to fix a handful of serious security vulnerabilities. The flaws put computers running Microsoft's Windows and Apple's Mac OS X operating systems at risk of being commandeered by an outsider. An attacker could exploit the flaws by tricking the user into opening a malicious file, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company said.

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http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6026745.html?tag=zdnn.alert