contributed by Rapier311
Metallica claims that it has discovered the names of 335,435 individuals who have used Napster to trade their songs. The band hired 'NetPD' to do the research over the weekend to come up with the names. Metallica plans to offer the names to Napster first before adding them into the lawsuit. (Be interesting to know how NetPD came up with that list and how accurate it is.)

C|Net

contributed by Maggie
The Global Positioning System has been purposely crippled for civilian use since its inception. Now president Clinton has decided that civilians should get the same use of GPS as the military by disabling the degradation of the signal or Selective Availability. Degradation of the civilian signal was originally to prevent foreign nations from having the same advantage as us but the US has demonstrated the capability to selectively deny GPS signals on a regional basis during times of conflict so the Selective Availability is no longer necessary. The removal of Selective Availability will increase Civilian GPS accuracy from 100 to 10 or 20 meters. (Wow, this should mean some real cool GPS products should hit the market soon.) the White House
Federal Computer Week

contributed by Evil Wench
The 'Draft Convention on Cybercrime', written in part by US law enforcement is currently circulating among 40 countries for approval. If enacted the proposal would make software designed or adapted to gain access to a computer system without permission illegal, interference with the 'functioning of a computer system' by deleting or altering data, force people to give up their encryption keys, and require ISPs to collect info about their users.

Wired
Draft Convention on Cybercrime

contributed by acopalyse
FileMaker Pro 5 database package has security flaws in the Web Companion software. This flaw allows Internet users to view the contents of online Web Companion databases and access the plug-in's e-mail functions without authorization. A third flaw allows unauthorized users to send anonymous or impersonated e-mail. FileMaker says that no customers have yet complained about this problem.

MacWeek

contributed by Code Kid
A 18 year old student has been sentenced to four months in jail for issuing a threat over the Internet. Michael Ian Campbell had pleaded guilty last February to 'transmitting a threat of violence' against Columbine High School via an Internet chat room. is lawyer attempted a novel defense based on 'Internet intoxication.' (Yes, Columbine was a tragedy but if this threat had been made face to face I'd bet no one would have even taken it seriously let alone arrest the guy and give him four months.)

Newsbytes - via Computer User

contributed by root66
Kevin Sills, a police officer in New York City, was charged that between 1996 and 1998, Mr. Sills possessed software that was programmed to intercept alphanumeric pager messages -- a violation of §2512(1)(b) of the Electronics Communications Privacy Act. It also charged Mr. Sills with violating §2511(1)(a) of the act by intercepting such messages. Mr. Sills claimed that since there was dissemination of the interception, either for profit or other reasons, that the law should not apply. Senior Judge Shirley Wohl Kram disagreed and has refused to dismiss the case.

The National Law Journal