Editorial
Two Sets Of Rules?
The "whois" utility is a simple tool that allows its users to extract some
useful information from the database of domain names created by a registrar
such as Domainz. Recently, after much lobbying and industry pressure,
the registrar responsible for administering the .nz namespace (ie: any
domain-name that ends in .nz) finally agreed to implement a whois server
on their system.
One of the potential problems with providing a whois service is that it
can be open to abuse. Unscrupulous marketers could, for instance, use the
server to gather email addresses for bulk emailing.
ISOCNZ, the organisation on behalf of which Domainz operate the .nz registry
therefore, has a policy which forbids:
"Using any information contained in the WHOIS query output to
attempt a targeted contact campaign with any person, or any
organisation, using any medium."
Unfortunately, it seems the rules about using this data don't apply to Domainz
itself who, earlier this week, sent out an unsolicited commercial email, touting
the sale of a piece of software by offering a free 30 day trial to all those
who appear as the technical contact for 10 or more domain names.
At the foot of the message is this comment:
"My apologies if you receive multiple copies of this message. The
e-mailing list has been taken from a summary of the technical contact
email in the .nz Register"
It would seem that while you and I are prohibited from using the information
in NZ's domain name registry for sending bulk, unsolicited commercial email,
Domainz is not.
Do as we say, not as we do?
General News & Current Events:
TODAY'S KEY NET-NEWS HEADLINES
e-Bay Battles Criminal Element
Already beset by system problems that
caused a series of frustrating crashes,
then a series of bogus offerings such as
human organs, e-Bay now faces another
embarrassing problem -- it's being used
to fence stolen goodsSeattle...
7am.com
Net punters bet on the Packers
The Packer family, Telstra Corporation, Rodney
Adler and the founders of OzEmail, are emerging
as Australia's internet stockmarket kingmakers...
AFR
Tune In, Black Out
You may notice some blank Web sites on
Wednesday as digital artists show the
world a day without art in recognition of
World AIDS Day...
Wired
Killer App for the Wireless Net?
Mobile technology experts converge to
discuss the ways wireless Internet will
provide everything from banking services
to finding you a parking spot. But critics
caution that the wireless Web still has a
long way to go...
Wired
Siemens German digital signature chip hacked
Hackers have succeeded in cracking the Siemens digital signature card used in cashless
payment systems and access control systems across the country...
The Register
Study reveals busiest web sites
Ninemsn has emerged as the most popular website in
Australia, recording more than three times the visitors of
its nearest competitor, LookSmart, according to new
research...
AFR
Variant Of ExploreZip Virus Discovered
ExploreZip virus variant was sophisticated enough to fool
corporate virus scanners and virus-conscious computer
users...
TechWeb
Kremlin's Early Christmas Gift-Nutcracker on Net
The Kremlin dipped into the sack to produce an early Christmas present Wednesday,
saying it would broadcast Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet live on the Internet
this month for the first time from Russia...
Yahoo/Reuters
Bug in new Pentium IIIs hampers boot-up
The flaw, computers containing the "Coppermine" chip, becomes apparent in the
boot-up sequence and essentially forces computer owners to hit the "on" button
twice...
CNet
Investment banking firms fall victim to virus
A handful of Wall Street firms are hit by a self-replicating email virus, forcing
at least one company to ask employees to shut down their computers...
CNet
More Domainz News
27 August 99
