Security News Issue #1

OK, I have decided to post a "news" thread every time I recieve lots of interesting and new security information. My sources will include multiple security news sites and general online newsletters.
(Note: www.infosecnews.com is setup so when you click the "more" button a new window pops up and the new URL does not appear in the address bar. Therefore, I can not post a direct link to the article, thus I will attach the whole article to my post. If anyone has a problem with this just PM me.) Hope you enjoy!


Teenage Hacker Given Two Years to Prove Himself

A 17-year-old hacker accused of breaking into his school's web site and posting images of the Confederate flag, as well as racially inflammatory messages, has been given two years to prove good behavior, after which the North Carolina court will reconsider its prosecution plans.

Under the agreement, John David McKeel, who now lives in California, will have the charges against him -- one felony count of damage to computers, one misdemeanor computer-trespassing charge and five felony counts of third-degree exploitation of minors -- dismissed.

McKeel, who had been accused of hacking into the Davie County Schools web site, will not get off scott-free, however, as the court has ordered him to carry out 500 hours of community service and pay his school more than $1,600 in expenses.
-from www.infosecnews.com

North Carolina, that is where I live! Go figure he posted the confederate flag, we have so many racist people in my state.
Does anyone have any more information on this story? I have searched, but didn't find anything else related to McKeel.

U.S. Elite Anti-Terrorist Force Planned

The U.S. government has outlined plans to create an elite team of around 100 professionals, drawn from the U.S. military's special forces and the VIA, to operate as a behind-the-lines anti-terrorist intelligence gathering team.

Plans call for the group to come under direct control of the White House and funded from an increased special operations budget. According to the U.S. government, the covert team will carry missions co-coordinated either by the Pentagon or by CIA headquarters at Langley, Virginia.

Announcing the plans last week, Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. defense secretary, said he is also considering a request for extra cash which would almost double the current $5.5 billion annual budget for conventional special forces.
- from www.infosecnews.com

Wouldn't it be so cool to work for the government as a anti-terroist intellignece gathering team?

Japanese Government Considers Dropping Windows

The Japanese government is said to be considering replacing MS-Windows with another operating system to boost security on PCs in its various government offices.

According to reports in the Japanese media, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration is looking to encourage citizens to use the Internet and e-government resources a lot more, but also wants to ensure the safety of users. Reporting on the matter, Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese newspaper, says that the government is actively considering Linux as an alternative to Windows, mainly because of its open source nature.

The advantage of open source programs, the paper observes, is that, unlike Microsoft's software products, they do not require licensing fees and can be modified because their source codes are made available for free.

The paper adds that Japan's Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications will set up a panel of experts to study how other countries are using open source operating systems over the next year and make its advice to the government next year.
-from www.infosecnews.com

Now, some links to more articles:

Hacker / Anarchist 'Dr. Chaos' Pleads Guilty in Cyanide Scare:
http://www.securitynewsportal.com/cg...one&id=49&op=t

Attack targets .info domain system:
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-971178.html

'Hacking Challenge' Winners Allege $43,000 Contest Rip-Off:
http://online.securityfocus.com/news/1717

Here is one that might trigger some memories of Metal Gear Solid (The Darpa Chief):
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-966894.html

Comic:
http://securitynewsportal.com/comic.html

Video game review of the week:
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance - http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/fun.gam...bat/index.html
Has anyone played this, it seems pretty cool?

if you right-click on the "more" link and 'copy shortcut' you get this when you paste it somewhere:

javascript:openScript('http://www.infosecnews.com/sgold/news/2002/11/26_01.htm',550,370)

just remove this:

javascript:openScript('

and this:

',550,370)

and your left with a perfectly good link

http://www.infosecnews.com/sgold/news/2002/11/26_01.htm

Oh, thanks tedob1, I was trying to figure out how to get that link. Now, I won't take up as much space. I appreciate it. It looked so crowded with all that text. BTW, does anyone have any security sites that I didn't use that has up to date info?

i think you might find doing it this way counter-productive. if its just a whole bunch of news it might just sink stright to the bottom. if you think its something that will provoke a good discussion post the highlights, give a link, and comment on it to start a discussion. everybody will get more from it. i could be wrong though.