Hackers get hold of critical Internet flaw

SAN FRANCISCO -- Internet security researchers on Thursday warned that hackers have caught on to a "critical" flaw that lets them control traffic on the Internet.

An elite squad of computer industry engineers that labored in secret to solve the problem released a software "patch" two weeks ago and sought to keep details of the vulnerability hidden at least a month to give people time to protect computers from attacks.

"We are in a lot of trouble," said IOActive security specialist Dan Kaminsky, who stumbled upon the Domain Name System (DNS) vulnerability about six months ago and reached out to industry giants to collaborate on a solution.

"This attack is very good. This attack is being weaponized out in the field. Everyone needs to patch, please. This is a big deal."

DNS is used by every computer that links to the Internet and works similar to a telephone system routing calls to proper numbers, in this case the online numerical addresses of websites.

The vulnerability allows "cache poisoning" attacks that tinker with data stored in computer memory caches that relay Internet traffic to destinations. Agence France-Presse

SC, U.S. launch court info program

By: Cristina Lee-Pisco Journal online
THE United States Embassy in Manila and the Supreme Court of the Philippines have launched the $650,000 information system program to make the court more efficient in handling cases, ease congestion of cases and reduce case management delays.

A statement from the United States Embassy said the amount allocated for the program includes the cost of developing the software, building the information structure, computer equipment, technical assistance and training for the justices and court personnel.

U.S. Ambassador to Manila Kirstie Kenney and Chief Justice Reynato Puno led senior officials of the Philippine judiciary and other U.S. representatives in the program’s launching the other day at the Supreme Court.

The Case Management Information System (CMIS), designed in partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Supreme Court, is an automated system that will allow the courts and their officials to closely and effectively monitor and manage cases pending in their dockets.

Kenney said the program would help strengthen the judiciary’s management information system processes and capacities by ensuring accurate, up-to-date, and adequate information that is useful in court management and oversight monitoring, policy and planning, and evaluation.

The Ambassador turned over 50 computers and related equipment such as scanners, computer-aided transcription machines, and servers as part of the CMIS program.

“CMIS is a tool that on its own will not solve the problem of docket congestion and case delay, but it is a good tool that, if maintained, will certainly provide greater efficiency to the judiciary’s management information system,” Kenney said.

“This is a great example of U.S. and Philippine partnership, but there must be a strong commitment from the court leadership to ensure the success of computerization,” she added.

Digital or on paper?

A lesson plan comparing two Inquirer versions


Philippine Daily Inquirer

Editor's Note: To view the activity sheet for this lesson plan as well as how this lesson plan appears in print, download this PDF file.

COMPUTERS and the internet have had an amazing impact on news reporting and reading in these technological times.

Today's news can be read from a written source on paper, like the Philippine Daily Inquirer, or read from a digital source, like INQUIRER.net, the online version of the Inquirer.

This Inquirer in Education lesson on comparing and contrasting makes use of the print version of the Inquirer's front page and its electronic counterpart. Through the IIE, the Inquirer hopes to make life-long readers out of students by introducing them to the many interesting contents of a daily newspaper.

In the hands of a progressive teacher, Inquirer may be used to teach not just current events but subjects like language, history, science or math as well. IIE study guides may be adjusted to meet abilities of students and grade-level requirements.

Objective Students will compare and contrast the print and online versions of today's Inquirer. Materials Copies of the Inquirer, copies of the Activity Sheet, computer(s) with Internet access

Procedures
1. Introduce the lesson with an overview that news may be read (written or print sources), viewed (television) or heard (radio). Tell the class that there are different written sources of news as well. Can they name some? (Broadsheets, tabloids, magazines, local newspapers, school papers, etc.) The invention of the computer has brought more sources for the written news. Can they name some? (Online versions of newspapers, news aggregators like Yahoo! News), news blogs, cell phone text news alerts, among others).

2. Poll the class to find out how many students read a print newspaper on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. How many have parents who read the newspaper? How many of them read the online version of the daily newspaper? How many have parents who read online?

3. Explain to students that they will be working in groups to compare and contrast the front page of today's Inquirer and the homepage of its electronic counterpart on www.Inquirer.net. If you need to, review basic newspaper vocabulary words with the class.

4. Distribute copies of the Inquirer.

5. Divide the class into groups A and B. Instruct Group A to complete Part A of the Activity Sheet referring to the printed copy of the Inquirer. Divide Group B into subgroups, as many as there are computers available in the classroom. Have each subgroup complete Part B of the Activity Sheet.

6. After each group has completed their section of the Activity Sheet, switch newspaper sources. Have Group B now work on Part A of the Activity Sheet with their printed copies of the Inquirer. Divide Group A into subgroups, as many as there are computers available in the classroom. Have each subgroup complete Part B of the Activity Sheet.

7. Allow the class to share and discuss their responses to compare and contrast the print and online versions of the Inquirer. What are the most noticeable general differences between the print newspaper and the online version? What features are exclusive to each version? Under what circumstances would you recommend reading the print version of the Inquirer over the online version? Under what circumstances would you recommend using Inquirer.net over the print version of Inquirer?

DepEd backs cellphone ban

EDUCATION Secretary Jesli Lapus has expressed full support to the proposal of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez for a nationwide ban on mobile telephones in schools to put an end to class mischief, including test cheating with the use these hi-tech gadgets.

The education chief lauded HB 4246, authored by Rodriguez who claimed that aside from cheating during examinations, cellular phones are also being used by students in making prank calls such as reporting false bomb threats to achieve early dismissal of classes.

He said that some features of cellular phones, particularly games compete with the student’s attention.

“We favor the total ban of cellular phone in schools. It distracts from their school lessons especially play hi-tech games,” Lapus said.

He said that some schools, particularly in private and exclusive schools, have banned cellular phones inside school premises.

Rodriguez noted that police have expressed alarm over the upsurge in cell phone-related crime incidents victimizing many students. By: Alvin Murcia Journal online