Feds want VOIP, e-mail backdoors

The US government is seeking a federal law forcing Internet e-mail, instant messaging, and other communication providers offering encryption to build in backdoors for law enforcement surveillance, reports The Register.

The legislation would, among other things, require cellphone carriers, Web sites and other types of service providers to have a way to unscramble encrypted communications travelling over their networks, the report said.

It specifically mentions companies such as Research In Motion and Skype, which are popular in part, because their cellular communications and VOIP services respectively are widely regarded as offering robust encryption that is impractical if not impossible for government agents to crack.

The personal details of thousands of Sky broadband customers have been leaked on to the Internet, alongside a list of pornographic movies they are alleged to have shared online, reveals the BBC.

The list, seen by BBC News, details the full names and addresses of over 5 300 people thought by law firm ACS:Law to be illegally sharing adult films.

It appeared online following an attack on the ACS:Law Web site.

The European Union (EU) has called off anti-trust investigations into Apple's warranty repair service and developer tool requirements for the creation of iPhone applications, writes Computing.co.uk.

The EU Competition Commission was looking into Apple's failure to recognise warranty policies for the iPhone across member states' borders.

The commission had expressed concerns that this could amount to territorial restrictions aimed at dissuading EU citizens from buying iPhones outside their country of residence, which would lead to a partitioning of the market.

Cyber experts have warned of sophisticated malicious computer software attempting to infiltrate factory computers in China's key industries, threatening the country's national security, says Times of India.

Called Stuxnet, the worm was first discovered in mid-June and was specially written to attack Siemens supervisory control and data systems.

These systems are commonly used to control and monitor industrial facilities - from traffic lights and oil rigs to power and nuclear plants - the state-run Global Times daily reported, quoting experts.