Computer researchers warn of Net attacks

A new variety of unusually powerful Internet attacks can overwhelm popular Web sites and disrupt e-mails by exploiting the computers that help manage global Internet traffic, reports the Daily Times.

First detected late last year, the new attacks direct such massive amounts of spurious data against victim computers that even flagship technology companies could not cope.

Experts traced at least 1 500 attacks that briefly shut down commercial Web sites, large Internet providers and leading Internet infrastructure companies during a period of weeks. The attacks were so targeted that most Internet users did not notice widespread effects.

A federal judge`s ruling on Friday afternoon that Google has to give the US government a limited amount of information - but not search queries - was immediately heralded by many bloggers as a victory for the search giant and for overall privacy rights, reports CNet.

The Justice Department requested the data to help it back its case in a pending trial over an anti-pornography law. But unlike some of its competitors, Google resisted the subpoena for search data, saying the data would not be relevant and the request would put consumers` privacy at risk.

Judge James Ware ruled that Google will have to hand over 50 000 Web addresses from its search index, but it won`t have to reveal terms its users had been searching for. Nicole Wong, Google`s associate general counsel, got the blogging rolling by posting the judge`s ruling and a statement on the search giant`s official blog.

Microsoft chief Bill Gates has put high-skills immigration as the "number one thing" for Microsoft. He says it is ironic that Indian IT professionals have to go back due to visa shortages despite having graduated from American computer science institutions, reports Sify.

Gates was in Washington last week to lobby the US Senate on a proposal to increase H1B visas, which are used by many multinationals to invite foreign employees to work in the US.

"It`s kind of ironic to have somebody graduate from Stanford Computer Science Department and there aren`t enough H1B visas, so they have to go back to India. And I have people who have been hired who are just sitting on the border waiting," said Gates.

"The high skills immigration issue is by far the number one thing" on Microsoft`s Washington agenda and for the electronics industry generally and "this is gigantic for us", Gates said. His comments came ahead of discussion in the Senate on a proposal to have the number of H1B visas increased from the current 65 000 to 115 000, with a 20% increase built in annually.