contributed by laney
ISS has identified the proliferation of a Trojan Horse dubbed SubSeven DEFCON8 2.1 Backdoor and has given it a number 4 threat rating (5 is the highest). SexxxyMovie.mpeg.exe. Is one of several file names the code lurks within. It is believed that major DDoS agent proliferation is what's really going on, with a potentially massive attack looming on the horizon.

Techweb
Newsbytes via TelekomNet

contributed by laney
The Department of Defense is set to roll out smart cards to all 4.3 military personnel over the course of the next two years. Privacy advocates are up in arms over the potential effect smart cards could have on civilians once the military role out is complete. The bigger questions remain - what technology will be employed to protect the IDs? What sensitive information will the cards contain, and consequently be put at risk during combat?

Reuters via ZDNet
DefenseLink

contributed by laney
Politicians, along with other non profit organizations, employ some rather shady tactics in an attempt to rally support for their respective causes. The purchase of targetted, direct mailing lists has long been around but has been getting quite a bit of ink these days, mostly in conjunction with electronic privacy issues. How safe is our personal information? Not very.

The Washington Post

contributed by laney
Consider this one of the most nervy ecommerce plays of all time: Burglar.com allows thieves to "sell back" stolen items to the original owners. The website is considered illegal under British law and is keeping its server location a secret for now to avoid legal action. The site justifies its business model by stating that it is merely the "middleman."

ZDNet UK

contributed by weld pond
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the group in charge of sorting out the Internet address issue, opened up an election to its 76,000 members, allowing them to chose the 5 newest members of the board. Within important several issues on the docket, the new committee is set to convene in late November. The most controversial winner appears to be Chaos Computer Club member Andy Mueller-Maguhn.

AP via Wired
Reuters via Techweb