Symantec identifies dirtiest sites

Symantec has issued its "Dirtiest Web Sites of Summer 2009" list, which features "the worst of the worst" when it comes to malware threats, reports CNet.

The security vendor says "48% of the dirtiest Web sites are, well, dirty sites that feature adult content”. That means that more than half the sites cover a wide range of other categories, including legal services, catering, figure skating and electronics shopping, according to the report.

On average, sites on the dirtiest list have 18 000 threats per site, but 40 of the sites have in excess of 20 000 threats. One site that appears to offer restaurant catering services has 23 414 computer threats.

According to research, IT vendors are still being cautious when it comes to expressing confidence about economic recovery, says Computing.co.uk.

A study by accountant BDO Stoy Hayward asked technology, media and telecoms firms what their prospects were for the next three months. While 30% said they were “slightly or more confident” about the economy, 32% were “slightly less” or “much less” confident.

In the middle were 38%, who said their views have not changed since the previous quarter.

A US law stopping online firms selling to minors has made number one in a top 10 list of "the worst Internet laws in America", reports The Register.

The law in question was passed by the Maine legislature at the end of its session in June. This local legislation has gone to the top of a debut list of the Web's worst compiled by NetChoice, a group representing trade associations, e-commerce businesses and online consumers.

The group's list is designed to track "dangerous legislation and mobilise citizens to defeat Bills and proposals that threaten the future of e-commerce and online communication”.

Any attempt to rig or interfere with Afghanistan's election could be caught out by a system that allows anyone to record incidents via text message, says the BBC.

The Alive in Afghanistan project plots the SMS reports on an online map.

Citizens can report disturbances, defamation and vote tampering, or incidents where everything "went well".