According to the SANS Internet Storm Center, there have been reports of continuing attacks related to Microsoft server software and Domain Name System (DNS) cache systems, resulting in users being routed to sites run by attackers.

Also called “cache poisoning,” the attacks differ from more common phishing or pharming attacks because they do not rely on spyware installation or users clicking on bogus links.

Instead, attackers put false information into the DNS caches of servers that have been compromised. The servers then route users away from legitimate sites.

However, these attacks also can lead to traditional phishing methods, putting Internet users at risk for a kind of one-two identity-theft punch.

At least three attacks using DNS cache poisoning have been reported since early March, according to the Internet Storm Center.

Two attacks drove users to adware installation sites, and the other routed users to a site purporting to sell herbal supplements.

Approximately 500 to 1,000 companies have been affected by these attacks, the Center estimates.

Source: News Factor Network (via Yahoo)

The Internet’s key oversight agency (ICANN) gave final approval Friday to two new Internet suffixes — “.jobs” for the human resources community and “.travel” for the travel industry.

It could take months, though, for the domain names to start appearing in use, as companies running those names now must set up registration and other procedures.

Negotiations continue on two other names already given preliminary approval: “.post” for postal services and “.mobi” targeting mobile services.

Source: AP

One of The Register’s contacts revealed to that she and some of her student pals share a single Napster account to reduce the cost of subscribing. Apparently it’s a relatively common practice, at least among these London youngsters, for one person to pay for the £9.95 per month Napster account and then to distribute the username and password among several others - in exchange for favours and drinks. Our contact couldn’t remember exactly how many people she’d given the details to, but stated that she knew for certain at least two other people who used her account on a regular basis.

Over the past couple of days MusicAlly has run several tests, during which we were able to download and stream simultaneously from four separate computers across two separate Internet connections for good stretches of time.

Source: The Register

Microsoft and Canadian authorities on Thursday launched a software program designed to help police worldwide hunt down child porn traffickers by enabling authorities for the first time to link information such as credit card purchases, Internet chat room messages and arrest records.

Microsoft said the Child Exploitation Tracking System is the first software designed specifically to capture pornographers who prey on children and sell their images via the Internet. It will allow police departments worldwide to share and track previously unlinked information on investigations and suspects.

Source: AP

AMD will announce at an event on April 21 in New York that the first dual-core Opteron processors are available, months ahead of schedule, sources familiar with the situation said. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based chipmaker also is expected to announce its dual-core chips for personal computers will go on sale in June.

In an attempt to encourage rapid adoption, AMD will sell some of the new chips at the same prices as the corresponding single-core models they’ll replace, a source familiar with the products said. The company is expected to first release its high-end and more expensive 800 series Opterons, which are geared for servers with four or eight chips, with lower-end 200 series models coming in May.

Source: News.com