Spamming and Spyware Boom Predicted. As spammers become more proficient and the stakes get higher, spamming and spyware likely will become more troublesome. http://www.cioupdate.com/trends/article.php/3464551 (Richard Stiennon, "Spyware: 2004 Was Only the Beginning," in CIO Update, CIO Information Network, January 26, 2005.)

House Renews Anti-Spyware Push. Revived and revised legislation aims for early passage in new Congress. http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3464631 (Roy Mark, "House Renews Anti-Spyware Push," in InternetNews.com, January 26, 2005.)

Recent French Court Ruling Reveals Possible Gap in U.S. Copyright Legislation. Google's practice of using trademarked terms as search keys may be treated more leniently in the U.S. than in Europe. Is it time for additional legislation? http://news.com.com/Google+loses+trademark+dispute+in+France/2100-1030_3-5543827.html (Stefanie Olsen, "Google Loses Trademark Dispute in France," in C|Net News.com.com, January 20, 2005.)

Loophole in Domain Transfer Policy Enables Theft of Domain. The domain transfer policy at an Australian registrar reveals a loophole that was used to hijack an ISP's domain over the weekend. http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3460871 (Jim Wagner, "Panix.com Hijacking Causes Panic," in InternetNews.com, January 18, 2005.)

First Conviction, Prison and Fines for P2P Copyright Theft. "'Like the defendants who pleaded guilty today, those who steal the work of others over the Internet stand to face serious consequences,' Kenneth L. Wainstein, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a statement." http://www.internetnews.com/xSP/article.php/3461501 (Roy Mark, "DOJ Scores First Criminal P2P Convictions," in InternetNews.com, January 19, 2005.)

Phishing Schemes Steal Money Intended For Tsunami Victims. "About 250 fake sites have been launched since the tsunami struck Asia on Dec. 26," according to Bill Franklin, president of Coral Gables-based Zero Spam Network Corp. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-ybtech17jan17,0,174957.column (Ian Katz, "IBM opens way to its code on 500 software patents," in South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com, January 17, 2005.)

Spammers Pirating Tsunami Donations Erode Efforts of Legitimate Charities. Search engines are favoring Tsunami charity phishing sites ahead of legitimate charities who play by the rules. http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/050118-100647 ("Shame On You: Tsunami Search Spammers," in Blog.SearchEngineWatch.com, January 18, 2005.)

New Tools Available For Fighting Spyware. James Coates of the Chicago Tribune, reprinted in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, January 16, 2005, has recommendations for dealing with accidentally downloaded spyware: search for and obtain HijackThis software from Downloads.com and follow the instructions. For more stubborn problems that require expert assistance from a removal specialist, Mr. Coates also suggests contacting one of the expert volunteer forums, such as SpywareInfo.com or CastleCops.com, with the results of your efforts with HijackThis, who may be of additional help.

House Revives Anti-Spyware Bill. California Republican predicts legislation will pass both the House and Senate in 2005. http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,1c1o,1,19fg,gb6b,kt94,1aqg (Roy Mark, "House Revives Anti-Spyware Bill," in Internetnews.com, January 6,2005).

Feds Hit Porn E-Mail Ring With CAN-SPAM Law. Agency moves to shut down operations of porno spam ring operating out of Nevada, England and Latvia. http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,1c1o,1,6elo,159j,kt94,1aqg (Roy Mark, "Feds Hit Porn E-Mail Ring With Can Spam Law," in Internetnews.com, January 12,2005).

FTC Enforces Anti-Spam Rule Against Adult Websites. The Federal Trade Commission has frozen assets and obtained a restraining order against several Las Vegas sending improperly labeled unsolicited email messages containing sexually explicit content. http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/business/2005/jan/12/518114954.html (Kevin Rademacher, "FTC Charges Vegas Companies Over Sexually Explicit Spam," in Las Vegas Sun, online edition, January 12,2005).

IAPP National Summit 2005. The International Association of Privacy Professionals holds a national summit this Spring, when authorities from business and academia will present an overview of the current privacy and data security operational environment. http://privacyassociation.org/html/summit.html (IAPP National Summit, Omni Shorham Hotel, Washington, D.C., March 9 - 11, 2005).

Court Rejects DMCA Subpoena Process ... Again. Decision upholds earlier ruling that music industry must use traditional
subpoenas in P2P legal wars. http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,1bk3,1,bq7g,9qvc,kt94,1aqg (Roy Mark, "Court Rejects DMCA Subpoena Process ... Again," in InternetNews.com, January 5, 2005).