The New York Times writes that “

[i]n the Internet age, the corporate firewall is a leaky sieve.  That is the sobering conclusion, spelled out in technical detail, in a new report on what is actually happening on corporate computer networks.  The research was done by Palo Alto Networks, a start-up in Silicon Valley, and some of the findings were presented by Nir Zuk, the company’s chief technology officer, at a panel last week at the RSA computer security conference in San Francisco.  It should be noted that Palo Alto Networks is marketing what it calls next-generation firewalls to address the problems described in the report. But the research itself looks quite solid. It is based not on surveys of people but on a study of network traffic at 20 large companies and government agencies over the last six months. Using its software, Palo Alto Networks monitored the computer behavior of more than 350,000 users. The company has pledged to update and publish the results every six months.”

The New York Times also reports that “[t]here’s been a marked drop in the number of venture capitalists raising money. But the drop doesn’t signify economic troubles for the industry, nor is it a function of a recession, according to members of the industry.  The numbers are these: In the first quarter of this year, 57 venture firms raised $6.3 billion to be invested in startup companies; by comparison, in the first quarter of 2007, 83 companies raised roughly the same amount.  At first glance, this might suggest that there are fewer venture capitalists who either want to raise money, or are capable of doing so. But the National Venture Capital Association, which published the latest statistics, said first glances — in this case — are deceiving. The reality, the organization points out, is that fund-raising is cyclical and that a big burst of fund raising activity occurred last year. Those firms that raised large amounts are now investing the money in start-ups, and they don’t have the need to look for money again this year.”

According to Internetnews.com, “AOL today announced that it has expanded its deal with Verizon to manage the telecom provider’s online inventory and its wireless subsidiary’s mobile inventory through the Platform A advertising division.  The deal builds on the existing partnership Verizon had with Third Screen Media, a mobile ad-placement company which AOL acquired last May. Under the new arrangement, AOL will be the only ad sales group that can guarantee ad placement on Verizon’s online and mobile networks.”

CNet points out that “[a] growing number of state politicians are proposing new laws to levy taxes on digital downloads, including music, video, and books, as a way to remedy budget pains.”  However, “a wide array of Internet companies, retailers, local chambers of commerce, and the Motion Picture Association of America“ have pointed out that “new fees will impair digital media sales and, at least in some cases, reduce the incentive of high-tech companies to do business in high-tax states.” And “[m]aking matters more complicated is that not all states have statutes explicitly stating their position on taxation of digital downloads.  ‘If a state wants to start taxing a product or service not previously taxed, they’ve got to enact new legislation, such as the Maryland computer services tax that was just repealed,’ said Steve DelBianco, executive director of NetChoice, which represents e-commerce companies like eBay and Yahoo.  ‘But many of these states are hiding behind tax administrators who are anxious to create new taxes on so-called digital equivalents.’”

The Sidney Morning Herald writes that “[a]s Google comes under ever increasing scrutiny for the power it has over our lives, the web giant is tiptoeing back from its long-held corporate motto, Don’t Be Evil.  Dominating internet advertising and search have allowed the company to embark on a seemingly endless expansion into all manner of internet products, including email, video sharing, online mapping, mobile phone software, social networking and office productivity.  But while Google’s revenues in 2007 were 37 times greater than in 2002 and its headcount has ballooned to well over 16,000 employees, the quest to provide ever-increasing returns to shareholders – the primary objective of any public company – has at times conflicted with its perceived core values.  ‘It really wasn’t like an elected, ordained motto,’ Google’s vice-president and 20th employee, Marissa Mayer, said in an interview during her trip to Sydney last week. I think that ‘Don’t Be Evil’ is a very easy thing to point at when you see Google doing something that you personally don’t like; it’s a very easy thing to point out so it does get targeted a lot.’”