Web Headlines

Headlines from around the Web for Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008
Compiled by Melanie Bender

Security Skills of IT Workforce Lacking, Survey Finds

NetworkWorld

While nearly three-fourths of 3,500 technology professionals polled in a recent survey identified security, firewall and data privacy as the IT skills most important to their organization today, only 57 percent said they believed their IT employees were proficient in such skills.

Can IT Alleviate the Pain of Those Miserable Commutes?

ComputerWorld

Between trains that seem incapable of running on schedule and bumper-to-bumper traffic, there aren't many people who can claim to love to commute. But government and grassroots efforts are attempting to make the experience more tolerable. For example, The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority recently began a pilot Wi-Fi program on its Worcester line.

Researchers Transmit Optical Data At 16.4 Tbps

InformationWeek

Alcatel-Lucent researchers at the Bell Labs in Villarceaux, France, announced Wednesday their successful transmission of 16.4 Tbps of optical data over 2,550 km. New technologies they used in their test may pave the way for 100 Gbps transmissions.

For Sale: Passwords To Fortune 500's Servers

InformationWeek

More than 8,700 FTP login names and passwords are being sold online through a sort of eBay for stolen data, a security company revealed this week. Some of the FTP credentials grant access to Fortune 500 Company servers, another set to a state court Web site, according to Finjan, the computer security company in Israel that made the discovery.

Tech Problems Delay ‘Virtual Fence’ on Border

The Washington Post

Technical problems discovered in a 28-mile pilot project have led the Bush administration to scale back plans to quickly build a "virtual fence" along the U.S.-Mexico border. Authorities confirmed that Project 28, the initial deployment of the Secure Border Initiative network, did not work as planned or meet the needs of the U.S. Border Patrol.

Pass Card Contract Talks Stall

Government Computer News

The State Department and General Dynamics, the leading company in the vendor team the government originally chose to carry out critical aspects of the Pass Card program, have "reached an impasse" in talks about how to carry out the job. Pass Cards are intended to serve as cheaper alternatives to passports for use by citizens re-entering the country via land ports.

Concerns Rising About Requiring a Paper-Ballot Election in Colorado

The Denver Post

Despite sponsorship of party leaders in both chambers, a handful of legislators have reservations about Colorado moving to paper ballots for the upcoming election. One legislator wondered why counties can't be allowed wide use of their electronic voting terminals, all of which have now been recertified.

China Still Years From Competing Against U.S. IT

eWeek

China is closing the technology gap with the U.S. every year, but it will be many years before it challenges the U.S. for dominance of the technology market, according to Fred Hu, co-head of Investment Banking for China at Goldman Sachs.

Governor Promotes Connecticut's Long-Term Care Web Site

Government Technology

Recognizing a growing need to provide easier access to comprehensive information on long-term care for people of all ages, Connecticut has launched a Web site that, as Gov. M. Jodi Rell said, "aims to help improve the lives of people needing long-term care now and to help those who will need it in the future -- meaning most of us -- plan ahead."

Google Unveils Low-Cost Collaboration Platform

Government Computer News

Google Sites is intended to be a low-cost alternative to Microsoft SharePoint and other commercial collaboration packages. Unlike other collaboration packages, Google's offering should not require IT staffs to provide significant training and maintenance.

Army Recognizes Conventional Warfare a Thing of the Past

WashingtonTechnology

In a climate of insurgencies and unstable peace, the Army must be more nimble. The Army Capabilities Integration Center hopes to chart the course for creating forces capable of using technology to handle modern conflicts.

Healthcare Organizations See Cyberattacks as Growing Threat

InfoWorld

Healthcare organizations feel under increasing attack from the Internet, while security incidents involving insiders and disappearing laptops with sensitive data are piling up. On top of that, there's now the prospect of a surprise audit from the federal government agency in charge of overseeing the HIPAA security and privacy rules.