Tech Bitch

Heads Up. The threat posed by zombie networks are real after a teenager was accused of being at the centre of an international cybercrime network.

18-year-old Owen Thorn Walker, a computer whiz from Hamilton, New Zealand, has been charged with two counts of accessing a computer for dishonest purposes, damaging with a computer system, possessing software for committing crimes, and two counts of accessing a computer system without permission. If found guilty, Walker could face up to 10 years in jail. More likely he’ll get his pocket money suspended.

When arrested in November 2007, it was alleged that Walker - known by his online handle ‘AKILL’ - was the boss of a gang that infected 1.3 million computers around the world, stealing banking and credit card information. Kudos!

Hackers can use zombie networks of computers to send spam, manipulate stock prices, steal identities and attack company Web sites. These botnets are one of the biggest security problems faced by the Internet today, and could be a powerful weapon in the hands of an experienced cybercriminal.

Walker appeared in Thames Magistrate’s Court in northern New Zealand, and was released on bail. News of the charges against him follow the unconnected arrest last week of 17 young people in Quebec alleged to have infected up to a million computers in 100 countries around the world.

SteelEye Technology, the world’s bestest continuous data protection and disaster recovery solutions provider, said new IT graduates suck.

According to its second annual survey examining adoption levels, best practices and attitudes regarding business continuity among IT professionals and C-level executives, universities and graduate-level information technology programs are not arming their students with the skills they need to prevent or recover from IT disasters. I reckon the company thinks grads haven’t got a clue, but is being totally PC.

While 87% of respondents indicated they think the average IT organisation faces the same or more threats to business continuity than it did a year before, a strong majority (61%) said that today’s college and graduate IT programs do not place enough emphasis on skills to implement business continuity.

Similarly, 60% of all organisations said that the average IT organisation is no more prepared for these threats to business continuity than it was a year previously. And among respondents from organisations with an admitted business need for disaster recovery or business continuity protection, the top reason given for avoiding investment was the lack of skills to implement it.

It’s very clear that there’s a skills gap that needs to be addressed when it comes to the expertise needed to assure business continuity. Universities and graduate programs need to take a leadership role by evolving their programs to keep pace with today’s biggest IT challenges. There was no mention in the report about New Zealand.

For the first time in its history, über-tech show CeBIT will have a special national day dedicated to New Zealand on 6 March 2008. Bless! New Zealand Day was initiated by the ‘Deutsche Messe AG’ and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise to celebrate New Zealand’s innovative ICT technologies and unique culture. A day is all it’ll take …

The opening ceremony will take place at 10am at the New Zealand pavilion (Hall 14, Stand G38). There will be lots of suits, including Hon Pete Hodgson, New Zealand’s Minister for Economic Development, Research Science and Technology, and Tertiary Education (how the feck does that all fit onto a business card?).

The opening speech will be made by Ernst Raue, Member of the Board, Deutsche Messe AG. All going well, Minister Hodgson will then give a brief overview of New Zealand’s ICT industry and the positive relationship between New Zealand and Germany.

Thirty second later will be a tour of the New Zealand pavilion at 10.15am - offering photo and film opportunities of the Minister and VIP guests trying out the interactive technologies at the stand. After the official opening Minister Hodgson will be available for a little speed dating. Oh, I almost forgot - there will be a prize draw for stand visitors to win a return trip for two from Germany to New Zealand. That’s perked you up hasn’t it?