'Hacktivists' of all persuasions take their struggle to the Web

Article Abstract:

Several groups of international activists are relying on digital hacking as a political tool. The trend represents a change for radicals, who largely have avoided the Internet and World Wide Web as platforms to broadcast their messages. Independent hackers have adopted a frontier style of rebelling against authority, but their tactics usually consist of random vandalism and credit-card number theft. By contrast, activists throughout the political spectrum are realizing that cyberspace has made social institutions more vulnerable to small groups of protestors. Some popular hackers' methods have gained popularity on how-to Web sites, making it easier for political groups to emulate. The rise in digital vandalism continues to threaten Internet security, according to security experts. The National Information Protection Center was founded by Attorney General Janet Reno in 1998 partly to examine whether political forces could harm US interests in cyberspace. Political hackers defend their 'hacktivism' as honorable.

United States, Nonmanufacturing technology, Safety and security measures, Online services, Political aspects, Data security, Computer hackers, Data security issue, Hacker

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The American way of spam: is it (a) the end of civilization or (b) a triumph of free enterprise?

Article Abstract:

The rise in spam, or junk E-mail advertising, has triggered a fierce cyberspace debate over democratic expression on the Internet. Spam opponents mention how junk messages have overwhelmed many Usenet newsgroups despite the cancelbot software and human despammers. Spammers defend the free-market system, saying instant money schemes and pornographic Web sites have sullied legitimate operations that draw a receptive audience. Internet technology allows spammers to pay just $20 a month in access charges, while being able to mail 10 million pieces of mail inexpensively. AOL, perhaps the largest spamming target, says junk mail represents up to 30% of its processed Internet mail. The largest US on-line service has won recent legal battles that bar spammers from transmitting bulk E-mail to the service.

Prepackaged software, Advertising, Electronic mail systems, Email, Email software, Spam (Junk email), Unsolicited bulk e-mail

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