Provided by CommunityDNS, the information in this post consists of news items in the security-based Internet community.

Record level bug fixes

This week has seen an unprecedented number of fixes to Microsoft and Apple systems.

Yesterday Microsoft issued a record number of fixes, 30, in its weekly patch update. Packaged in 10 bulletins, 5 were classified with Microsoft’s most severe rating of “critical”. Even with the updates Microsoft. Microsoft expects some of the vulnerabilities included in this patch to be exploited within the next 30 days.

Yesterday Adobe began its quarterly release cycle of bug fixes to it software releases, namely Acrobat and Acrobat Reader.

On Monday Apple announced the release of Safari 4.0, which includes fixes to more than 50 vulnerabilities in the browser. While Microsoft and now Adobe have specific release dates, as well as a program to institutionally incorporate security within future development efforts, Apple’s corresponding initiative, or lack there of, are criticized.

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Cisco Visual Networking Index: Forecast and Methodology, 2008-2013

Cisco’s recently released report discusses Internet traffic four years from now. On a clip of 40% growth each year, by 2013 the volume of traffic across the Internet is expected to reach 667 exabytes, or more than 2/3 of a zettabyte.

Mobile data traffic is expected to grow 66 times its current level between 2008 and 2013. More broadband handsets and laptop aircards will drive 80% of the global mobile traffic by 2013 with 64% being video.

Comment: Absent from this report is information specifically related to IDNs. If not included the figures included in this report may actually fall short.

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French court savages “three-strikes” law, tosses it out

France’s recent success in passing a “three-strikes” law to curb online piracy of repeat online copyright infringers was crushed when the French Constitutional Council threw out the law based upon the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”.

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Pirates ‘ignore’ warning letters

While some countries have recently been successful in passing a 3-Stikes law against the downloading of pirated content a recent study suggests a letter followed by action is the best way to curb such activity. 80% of those polled said they would stop downloading pirated content if a warning letter from their ISP were followed by the cutting of their Internet connection. Only 33% would stop if they only received a warning letter from their ISP.

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Online businesses oppose ’10 worst’ proposed Net laws

Organizations, such as AOL, Yahoo, eBay, Oracle and other online companies came together against proposed laws across the US that would be harmful to e-commerce and consumers. Partly due to states wishing to increase income from additional taxes, such as North Carolina’s attempt at impose a sales tax on downloads, among other things. Another bill requiring encryption and new recordkeeping is seen as burdensome.

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Bank says its e-mail too important to be spam

According to a recent study over 90% of e-mails that travel the Internet are labeled as spam. What constitutes e-mail being termed, or labeled as “spam”? Unwanted or unsolicited e-mail? What about firms with which you do business. Should you be able to opt out of unwanted e-mails? Some say “No”.

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