In This Issue:
1. Editor's Note: Lock 'Em Up!
2. Today's Top Story
    - Ridge Sees IT Challenges For Homeland Security
    Related Stories:
    - U.S. Senate Goes After Spyware
    - Sony Rootkits: A Sign Of Security-Industry Failure?
    - Apple ITunes, QuickTime Face Flaws
3. Breaking News
    - Sun Jumps On Open-Source Database Bandwagon To Boost Solaris
    - Golden Oldies: Used IPods Are Hot E-Commerce Item
    - Authors, Publishers Argue Over Google's Library Project
    - Contactless Credit Cards Work In The 'Blink' Of An Eye
    - Microsoft Makes Windows Validation Plug-In For Firefox
    - HP Fourth-Quarter Profit Falls On Restructuring Charge
    - RFID Goes To The Races--In NASCAR Tires
    - NetSuite Spruces Up E-Commerce Apps
    - Cisco Buying Set-Top Vendor Scientific-Atlanta
4. In Depth: Windows' 20th Anniversary
    - 20 Years Of Windows
    - The Making Of Windows 1.0
    - Windows Steps And Missteps Through The Years
    - Windows Time Line
    - The Future Of Windows
5. Voice Of Authority
    - New Hope That U.S. E-Health-Record Effort Is Real
6. White Papers
    - Federated Identity: A Buyer's Guide
7. Get More Out Of InformationWeek
8. Manage Your Newsletter Subscription

Recent enforcement efforts include:

It's only through this kind of successful enforcement effort that there's even a chance of stemming the tide. Kudos--and many thanks--to the federal, state, local, and international law-enforcement personnel involved, and for the cooperation and other behind-the-scenes efforts that are inevitably required to make these kinds of charges stick.

When the spammers and phishers are in jail, they might be able to get their hands on at least one computer-related device, if a vendor has its way. A new RFID-enabled phone is being offered to correctional facilities for prepaid or direct-bill telephone service geared toward inmates, to automatically identify and bill the caller.

In the meantime, here's a longer-term approach to security I'm hoping that more universities will adopt. This past weekend, Iowa State University hosted a hacking competition for its students, who were charged with protecting and defending a business-oriented network from threats. That's really our best long-term strategy, to train these upcoming IT security professionals more thoroughly than ever and to teach them how to think like the bad guys.

Speaking of training, it seems like that's what's needed to tackle a related security issue--that of, um, intellectually challenged employees. Two stories plumb this field: one about employees unknowingly sending risky E-mail messages that can do some serious legal damage to their employers, and another is about office workers stealing supplies. You might want to keep an eye on your pencils and Post-it notes.

To read more of my thoughts on these issues, please check out my blog entry and let me know what you think.

Johanna Ambrosio
jambrosio@cmp.com
www.informationweek.com

Related Stories:
U.S. Senate Goes After Spyware
Earlier anti-spyware bills have stalled in Congress.

Sony Rootkits: A Sign Of Security-Industry Failure?
One analyst wonders why it took so long to catch onto Sony's use of rootkits on CDs and whether customers may have a false sense of security.

Apple ITunes, QuickTime Face Flaws
On Tuesday, Apple released a security update to iTunes 6 for Windows; a bug reported by eEye, however, wasn't addressed in that fix.

Golden Oldies: Used IPods Are Hot E-Commerce Item
A busy online market has sprung up as users looking to upgrade seek to dispose of their older models.

Authors, Publishers Argue Over Google's Library Project
At a panel discussion this week, one legal scholar maintained that Google's plans do constitute fair use, but an author's representative wasn't buying it.

Contactless Credit Cards Work In The 'Blink' Of An Eye
Chase Bank USA is testing Visas and MasterCards with RFID technology called "blink," which eliminates the need for purchasers to sign and swipe. Instead, the buyer just waves the card in front of a scanner.

Microsoft Makes Windows Validation Plug-In For Firefox
The plug-in, which can be installed in any Mozilla-based browser, does the duty of an ActiveX command that ensures Windows software is legal.

HP Fourth-Quarter Profit Falls On Restructuring Charge
Aside from the one-time expense, all the company's business units--from personal computers and printers to enterprise servers and software--reported revenue growth.

RFID Goes To The Races--In NASCAR Tires
The technology, embedded in the sidewall, will be used to help race managers track and return thousands of leased tires.

NetSuite Spruces Up E-Commerce Apps
Among the new features of the hosted suite for E-retailers: an analysis of leads driven to their sites from Google's search engine.

Cisco Buying Set-Top Vendor Scientific-Atlanta
The $6.9 billion deal is Cisco's second-largest acquisition ever and is a huge bet that video is the next online "killer app."

All our latest news
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Watch More News
http://www.thenewsshow.tv/
Eric Chabrow keeps the anchor chair warm for Jack Soat in the current episode of "The News Show."

Eric Chabrow With 'IT Near And Far'
Microsoft Office 12 introduces a toolbar, consumers are scared to make online purchases, and a spammer heads to the slammer.

Also in this episode:
Paul Kapustka With 'IT Rolls The Dice On IP'
Report from the IP 4 IT Show in Vegas.

Tony Kontzer With 'The Return Of The IT Chef'
There's a lot cooking in the IT world. Chef Tony dishes the skinny.

The Making Of Windows 1.0
Think Microsoft's development and release of Windows 1.0 was smooth? Think again.

Windows Steps And Missteps Through The Years
Take a trip down memory lane with Windows' best and worst moments.

Windows Time Line
An outline of major Windows happenings, along with computing milestones and world events for reference.

The Future Of Windows
A sneak peek at Vista, Blackcomb, and beyond.

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