contributed by Project Gamma and Macki
In an effort to stop further distribution of the DeCSS program the Motion Picture Association of America has filed lawsuits in federal courts. This follows similar action two weeks ago by the DVD industry association. The MPAA feels that allowing potential illegal copying of DVDs with the DeCSS the program would be a violation US copyright law.

Wired
ZD Net

CNN has some interesting quotes from a Warner Home Video spokesperson regarding this hole mess.
CNN - Look about halfway down

MPAA has a few interesting things to say as well.
MPAA

The folks over at CopyLeft have come up with a T-shirt that has the source code to css_descramble.c printed on it. (Cool, and only $15)
CopyLeft

2600 has posted the story of what has happened to them since their involvement began including them being named as a defendant in the case.
2600.com

OpenDVD.org is attempting to cover all the developments (and doing a damn good job) in this case including the scheduled injunction for January 18, 2000.
OpenDVD.org

contributed by mack
MSNBC found seven ecommerce sites open for business with easily accessible customer databases. By connecting to weakly secured SQL databases MSNBC was able to access the personal information including credit card numbers of 2500 people. All of the sites have been informed of the problem. (And people act surprised when I tell them that I don't buy anything on the web.)

MSNBC

contributed by tom
It is alleged the a team of sophisticated professional electronic intruders have broken into twelve multinational companies and have issued ransom demands to prevent the release of stolen information. This report only names one of the company's in question, Visa, and says that Scotland Yard is investigating. (While it would appear that Visa has admitted to the intrusion we would like know who the other companies are.)

The UK Times

contributed by deeeek
Telstra (Australian Telephone Company) has to upgrade 29,000 payphones due to fraud involving a drinking straw. The problem affects 80% of the pay phones installed since 1997. No information about exactly how the fraud was committed was given. (A Straw? Oh, there must be a text file on this somewhere.)

Fairfax IT

contributed by Evil Wench
A high school student in Long Island New York has been arrested for electronically breaking into his schools computer system. He has been charged with computer tampering and unauthorized use of a computer. Police say that he was caught after bragging about the intrusion to friends and teachers. Damage was estimated at $3,000.

WABC News

contributed by Benjamin
The NSA has contracted Secure Computing as a sole source provider for a new Linux based secure OS. Secure Computing will integrate its patented Type Enforcement technology they use for the Sidewinder firewall at the OS level. The technology is scheduled to be made available to the public as well as the NSA.

PR Newswire - via Yahoo

contributed by White Vampire
Leading Internet civil liberties groups said today that new encryption export regulations released by the U.S. Commerce Department fall short of the Clinton Administration's promise to deregulate the privacy-enhancing technology. One example of this concerns the popular Internet site Cryptom where PGP is made freely available to anyone in the world who wants it. It is unclear with the new regulations whether this is a criminal act or not.

Wired