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.: Europe: Time to crunch the cookies? - 12th Nov 2001
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"In a move that has riled Internet vendors and publishers, the European Commission is backing a plan to prohibit the placement of files on people's computers without their explicit permission.
The European Parliament is expected to debate the proposal Monday and vote on it on Tuesday in the context of a controversial draft law governing privacy in electronic communications such as faxing, e-mail and mobile-phone use. The measure would still require review by individual European governments, but already enjoys the support of the commission, the EU's executive branch.
The commission says the proposal, contained in an amendment to the privacy bill, would enhance consumers' confidence in the use of the Internet, which got off to a slower start in Europe than in the U.S. in part because of privacy concerns..."
[ZDNN] |
.: UK trade group rallies to save cookies - 12th Nov 2001
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"The cookie, a simplistic identification tag that most Internet users unknowingly carry when surfing the Web, runs the risk of being outlawed under a proposed privacy directive from the European Commission. The legislation has triggered concern in Europe's Internet advertising community. The Interactive Advertising Bureau U.K. (IAB) said British companies could lose $271.8 million (187 million pounds) if the directive is ratified.
"Cookies have been branded as spyware tools, or some kind of subversive software," said Danny Meadows-Klue, chairman of the IAB U.K. "But it's what we use everyday."..."
[ZDNN] |
.: IE security hole leads to cookie jar - 9th Nov 2001
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"Microsoft has warned that versions of Internet Explorer can expose consumers' personal data contained within cookies.
The vulnerability exists within IE 5.5 and 6.0, but earlier browser editions "may or may not be affected," according to a security bulletin posted to Microsoft's Web site Thursday. The security flaw allows an outsider to break into cookies--tiny electronic files used by Web sites to file account information or personalize pages--through a specially crafted Web page or e-mail. A person could then steal or alter data from Web accounts, including credit card numbers, usernames and passwords.
"A malicious Web site with a malformed URL could read the contents of a user's cookie, which might contain personal information," according to the Redmond, Wash.-based company. "In addition, it is possible to alter the contents of the cookie. This URL could be hosted on a Web page or contained in an HTML e-mail."..."
[news.com] |
.: Privacy expert resigns to focus on security - 1st Nov 2001
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"Well-known privacy watchdog Richard Smith said Wednesday that he is leaving his post at the Privacy Foundation to research security issues following the Sept. 11 attacks, one sign of the country's shifting focus from protecting privacy to ensuring safety.
A veteran computer programmer, Smith will leave his position as chief technology officer at the Denver-based Privacy Foundation to become independent consultant. Smith gained prominence early in the Net economy boom for revealing potentially harmful tracking technologies within software programs and operating systems, including high-profile privacy flaws at RealNetworks and Microsoft.
Smith plans to research issues related to Internet security and biometrics technologies, including the effectiveness of facial-scanning technology installed at airports and the possible threat of cyberterrorism...."
[news.com] |
.: Europe Goes After the Cookie - 31st Oct 2001
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"The "cookie," a simplistic identification tag that most Internet users unknowingly carry when surfing the Web, runs the risk of being outlawed under a proposed privacy directive from the European Commission.
The legislation has triggered concern in Europe's Internet advertising community. The Interactive Advertising Bureau UK (IAB) said British companies could lose 187 million pounds ($272.1 million) if the directive is ratified.
"Cookies have been branded as spyware tools, or some kind of subversive software," Danny Meadows-Klue, chairman of the IAB United Kingdom, told Reuters. "But it's what we use everyday."..."
[wired] |
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