The Register reveals that “

[a] new type of denial-of-service attack, called permanent denial-of-service (PDOS), damages a system so badly that it requires replacement or reinstallation of hardware. A researcher has discovered how to abuse firmware update mechanisms with what he calls ‘phlashing’ — a type of remote PDOS attack.”

The Guardian reports that a “[UK] government database holding details of every phone call made, email sent and minute spent on the internet by the public could be created as part of a centralized fight against crime and terrorism, it emerged today.  News of the proposal prompted alarm about the country’s growing surveillance culture and raised fears of ‘data profiling’ of citizens. It follows on from plans for databases for ID cards and NHS electronic patient records.  Telecoms companies and internet service providers would be compelled to hand over their records to the Home Office under proposals that could find their way into the new data communications bill.  The information would be stored for at least 12 months and police, security services and other agencies across Europe would be able to access the database with court permission.  Industry sources have warned that a single database would be more vulnerable to attack and abuse.”

BusinessWeek’s Olga Kharif has some interesting stats on Internet use in the U.S. today.  Kharif points out that “[o]ne fifth of Americans have never used e-mail, according to a recent survey by consultancy Parks Associates. Of 1,088 people surveyed, 21% have never done a search on the Internet or looked up a Web site. This is startling — and troubling.  Yes, many of these people are older: Half of the people who said they’ve never used e-mail are over 65, and 56% had no schooling beyond high school. But so what? I know of plenty of Web sites geared toward older folks: Gather.com, Eons.com, for instance. Everyone can benefit from Amazon.com and eBay. Clearly, Web businesses — and perhaps even U.S. government — must find a way to reach out to people who’ve been completely left out of the Web revolution.”

In eWeek.com, Larry Seltzer explains why “[c]alls for government and industry leadership to avert the coming [IP address depletion] crisis leave [him] unimpressed.”

Register Hardware writes that “Apple will formally launch the iPhone on June 9, yet another anonymous ‘mole’ has alleged.  The so-called ‘confirmation’ – though it’s actually nothing of the sort – comes from website Gizmodo. Had the information come directly from Apple or one of its carrier partners, that would be a confirmation, but so far as we can tell it doesn’t. Gizmodo’s certainly giving nothing away that might allow us to say categorically that the gen’s bona fide.”