* Forwarded (from: netmail) by Roy J. Tellason using timEd 1.10.y2k.
* Original dated: Wed Dec 11, 13:46

(Much snippage...)

From: RISKS List Owner 
Subject: [risks] Risks Digest 22.42

RISKS-LIST: Risks-Forum Digest  Weds 11 December 2002  Volume 22 : Issue 42

FORUM ON RISKS TO THE PUBLIC IN COMPUTERS AND RELATED SYSTEMS (comp.risks)
ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy, Peter G. Neumann, moderator



Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 09:54:22 -0700
From: "NewsScan" 
Subject: A little bit of anti-porn filtering can go a long way

"A little bit of filtering is O.K., but more isn't necessarily
better," says Vicky Rideout, vice president of the Henry J. Kaiser
Family Foundation, which conducted a study showing that when
anti-pornography Internet filtering software is set at a low level of
restriction, it's just as effective as when it is set a high level, and is
far less likely to prevent searchers from reaching bona fide health sites.
But some observers, such as Judith F. Krug of the American Library
Association, think that filters are such blunt instruments that they should
not be used at all in public institutions: "Filters are just fine for
parents to use at home.  They are not appropriate for institutions that
might be the only place where kids can get this information." The
filtering programs generally block any references to sex-related terms;
examples given by the report include such subjects as safe sex, condoms,
abortion, jock itch, gay, and lesbian.  [*The New York Times*, 11 Dec 2002;
NewsScan Daily, 11 December 2002]  
http://partners.nytimes.com/2002/12/11/technology/11FILT.html

(Personally,  I don't care for *any* of that filtering because none of them
will tell you what criteria they use to block stuff!  --RJT)

--

Date: Fri, 06 Dec 2002 09:38:42 -0500
From: "Dawn Cohen" 
Subject: Ironic filtering (Ray Dillinger in rec.humor.funny)

Freedom of sXYZch
bear{at}sonic.net (Ray Dillinger)

(smirk, computers)

"Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of sXYZch, or the right
of the people peaceably to XYZemble, and to peXYZion the government for a
redress of grievances."  

  -- but your ISP might.

  [This item also noted by Carl Ellison.  I changed the three-X strings
  in Ray's original piece to YXZ, in order to avoid having this issue
  ex-filtrated.  PGN]

--



Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 13:07:17 PST
From: "Peter G. Neumann" 
Subject: Feds raid Ptech looking for al Qaeda link

On 6 Dec 2002, Federal agents raided Ptech in Quincy, Massachusetts,
reportedly under suspicion of financial links to Osama bin Laden.  Ptech
provides unclassified software to many U.S. Government agencies and armed
services), and thus there suspicions were raised regarding possible Trojan
horses installed in their software.  However, on 9 Dec 2002, Justice
Department officials said that they do not have any reason to believe any
federal systems have been compromised.  The search was reportedly done
"in connection with an on-going financial crime investigation,"
according to a U.S. Attorney, rather than part of any terrorist
investigations. [Sources: (1) Feds Raid Boston Area Computer Firm Suspected
of Links to Al Qaeda Brian Ross, 6 Dec 2002, courtesy of Monty Solomon  
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/DailyNews/terror_raid021206.html (2)
Justice states Ptech presents no security risk, Wilson P. Dizard III and
Patience Wait, *Post Newsweek Tech Media*, 9 Dec 2002, courtesy of Lillie
Coney at ACM; severely-PGN-ed]

--



Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 10:24:15 PST
From: "Peter G. Neumann" 
Subject: UK police offer anonymity to cybercrime victims

To overcome the natural reticence companies have against exposing the cases
in which they have been victimized by digital attacks, Britain's National
Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) says it will grant full anonymity to businesses,
if they are forthcoming.  This is of course not a new concept, but is being
tried in hopes it will encourage greater cooperation.  [Source:
zdnet/Reuters, 9 Dec 2002; PGN-ed, courtesy of Keith Rhodes] 
http://zdnet.com.com/2110-1106-976530.html

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