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business

SATAN uncovers
Web attack risks

Program details Net security problems


Dan Farmer
YOUR WEB SITE may be as secure as a sieve. At least, that's the tendency detailed in a study using SATAN, the controversial software program created by maverick computer-security researcher Dan Farmer. He found that nearly one-third of the Internet's most commonly used addresses are highly vulnerable to attack. The survey of more than 2,200 Web sites was conducted independently over the past two months by Farmer, the co-author of Security Administrator Tool for Analyzing Networks. While none of the Web sites his study deems vulnerable contain truly sensitive data, they do store information that many people rely upon to conduct business or make decisions. And as electronic commerce becomes more prevalent on the Net, computer crackers could infiltrate Web sites to commit fraud or theft.

Story by Simson L. Garfinkel
Graphic: Satan on the loose

living

Concierges: Latest perk
at work

CORPORATE CONCIERGES are Silicon Valley's glitziest employee benefit. "It's kind of a do-everything, do-anything kind of attitude," explains Heidi Shotz, who helps tend to 9,000 workers at Sun Microsystems. She works for LesConcierges, which contracted with individuals and office building managers before landing Sun as its first corporate client. Now they see corporate service as their future.

Story by Mercury News Staff Columnist Mike Cassidy
business

Free speech
covers encryption

Judge voids limit on export
of scrambling software

FEDERAL RULES barring the export of data-scrambling software violate the Constitution's free speech protections, a U.S. judge in San Francisco ruled. By defining computer programming code as a form of speech, U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel's decision has potentially broad impact on the computer industry and national security. Civil libertarians and industry leaders hailed the ruling -- made public Wednesday -- as a boost for free speech and the U.S. computer industry. The decision damages the Clinton administration's continuing efforts to restrict the export of encryption technology, which it considers a threat to law enforcement and national security. A White House spokeswoman expressed disappointment.

Story by Mercury News Computing Editor Dan Gillmor
Breaking News
About News Break

Tandem to sell unit to Newbridge
CUPERTINO, Calif. (Reuter) - Tandem Computers Inc. said Thursday it agreed to sell its computer networking equipment unit, UB Networks, to Newbridge Networks Corp. for about $100 million. The sale, expected to close in 30 days, will help Tandem concentrate on its fault-tolerant computer business and will help Newbridge Networks, a computer networking equipment maker, expand its product lines, the companies said.

Shots heard at site of Lima hostage drama
LIMA (Reuter) - Two single shots were heard Thursday from inside the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima, where Peruvian leftist rebels were holding about 400 of hostages. The shots, at 4.30 p.m. EST, were followed by silence.

Cruise line charged with dumping oil
WASHINGTON (AP) -- One of the world's largest cruise lines was indicted on charges that five of its ships routinely dumped oily bilge water in the ocean during a four-year period, the Justice Department said Thursday.

Allen, Gates sell chunk of Microsoft stock
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft Corp. directors and executives sold 2.84 million shares last month, with the company's co-founder Paul Allen raising at least $270 million and chairman Bill Gates reaping $110 million.

Lack of funds threaten Russia's space program
MOSCOW (Reuter) - Russia may have to abandon its manned space program next year due to a severe shortage of funds, a senior space official said Thursday. Yuri Koptev, general director of the Russian space agency, told a gathering of government ministers that Russia also has ``practically no reserve of rockets.''


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