Hackers huddle in the desert

Hacking contest promotes security
Despite tough talk on computer crime, hackers--including some from federal agencies--are learning about defending networks by breaking into computers.
August 4, 2003

Has 'haven' for questionable sites sunk?
An effort to convert a platform in the English Channel into a refuge for controversial Web ventures has succumbed to political and other problems, one of the company's founders says.
August 4, 2003

Robot 'guard dog' protects Wi-Fi setups
A strange two-wheeled creature makes an appearance at the DefCon show in Las Vegas--a robot that's designed to patrol around and sniff out security flaws in Wi-Fi wireless networks.
August 4, 2003

Attack bot exploits Windows flaw
Online vandals are reportedly using a program to compromise Windows servers and remotely control them through Internet relay chat (IRC) networks.
August 2, 2003

Waiting for the worm to turn up
Will DefCon be the trigger for some online vandal to write a much-anticipated worm?
August 1, 2003

Hackers get lesson in the law
The director of Stanford University's Center for Internet and Society warns attendees of the Black Hat security conference that publishing info on flaws could lead to legal woes.
August 1, 2003

Government preps Net security system
A centralized early warning system for Internet security alerts should be working by this fall, according to an official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
July 31, 2003

Hackers look to hide communications
A program called NCovert lets people intent on anonymously sending information conceal the source of communications and the data that travels over a network.
July 31, 2003

Black Hat puts hacker on mock trial
Real-life attorneys battle over a hacker's guilt in a mock trial held to illustrate how slippery electronic evidence can be.
July 31, 2003

Panel defends flaw disclosure guidelines
A security group thinks researchers should give software companies at least 30 days to come up with a patch before going public about a flaw.
July 30, 2003

Study: Bad security flaws don't die
A study of Internet security flaws shows that for serious issues, half of vulnerable systems remain unfixed after 30 days.
July 30, 2003

Security pros talk, but can they walk?
A new national policy and 18 months of Microsoft's highly touted security initiative haven't shown a significant improvement in security.
July 30, 2003

related coverage
U.S. says Windows vulnerable to attack
The federal government says there is new evidence that an attack is being planned on computers using Microsoft's Windows.
August 1, 2003

Commentary: Misunderstanding security's value
In the boom heyday, IT managers' spending decisions were rarely questioned. A Forrester expert says today's environment makes for deeper thinking about security.
July 31, 2003

Company patches flaws in 'Half-Life' game
A security research company releases its own patch for critical flaws in a popular computer game, saying it had waited months for the game's creator to do something.
July 31, 2003

Commentary: People, process secure businesses
Microsoft's and Cisco's recent announcements of major vulnerabilities mean that companies cannot rely on products alone for protection, says a Forrester analyst.
July 31, 2003