In a new parliamentary report, Hackers, Fraudsters and Botnets: Tackling the Problem of Cyber Crime, it has been recommended that it become mandatory that computers have firewall and antivirus software installed prior to an Internet connection being activated. There have also been other measures suggested to assist in containing infected machines such as the “walled garden” approach …
Tag: Internet
Jun 20 2010
Net Filter is a “Toxic Subject”
Senator Scott Ludlam, communications spokesman for the Greens, today labelled the net filter as a “toxic subject” which would be swept under the carpet until the federal election. Time has seemingly run out for Labor to introduce legislation into parliament and follow due process before the final sitting. What doesn’t help is that the Opposition …
Apr 30 2010
Internet Filter Shelved – Make Your Vote Count
In news that may have gone under the radar, a spokesperson for Communications Minister Stephen Conroy announced that legislation regarding Internet filtering would not be introduced in the final sessions of parliament before the coming election. This follows the Emissions Trading Scheme also being put out to pasture for the time being as well as …
Apr 01 2010
TPG Opens the Bandwidth Floodgates
After midday today (perhaps to avoid the raft of April Fools Day jokes making the rounds), TPG brought their unlimited plan to the market. Granted, it has been initially limited to Sydney exchanges (with some people notably upset on Whirlpool about this restriction) but I guess TPG might be taking things easy before going the …
Mar 30 2010
Net Filtering – Even the US is Concerned
Over the last couple of days, it has become evident that the US has been keeping an eye on the Internet filtering policies of the Australian Government. The US has a strong sense of “net neutrality” (i.e. there should be no discrimination against users, particular types of traffic, etc on the Internet) which is enforced …
Feb 27 2010
Online Ombudsman – Toothless Tiger?
In an idea floated by Independent Senator Nick Xenophon, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is investigating the introduction of an “online ombudsman”. In a nutshell, this ombudsman would deal with issues such as pornographic and obscene messages being left on the Facebook memorial sites for Trinity Bates and Elliot Fletcher, both recent Queensland murder victims. Personally, …
Feb 26 2010
PAYG Internet Kiosks – Why Bother?
At the shopping centre near my workplace and also outside one of my favourite restaurants, The Palace Chinese Restaurant, there are these Hi-Speed Internet Kiosks. If memory serves me correctly, it costs $2 for 21 minutes and you get the use of a USB port, black and white printer and of course Internet access for …
Feb 18 2010
Education in the Digital Age
Over the next couple of weeks, I need to give some thought to the next course I will be undertaking as part of my Masters of Science degree. That got me thinking about how the Internet has changed education opportunities for many people including those who work full time (such as myself) and people who …
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