Googlemania



Google's powerful search technology has spawned a host of imitators and even a fan site. Check out this listing of Google-related sites that revolves around Everything Google.



Perfect storm for Google AdSense?



On the less rosy side of Google's business, Hans Riemer points out that pay-per-click (PPC) advertising systems like AdSense are threatened by scams that recruit random users to artificially drive up search engine revenues. The potential downside is the dilution of the PPC model, at best, and its demise, at worst. I like AdSense, but always wondered what some bad guys with Linux boxes and some IPtables hacks could do to the entire business model.



Not to pick on Microsoft, but...



Look, I'll be the first to admit that developing secure, system-level software is damn tough. Damn tough. There are always holes where you least expect them, no matter how carefully you've reviewed your code. News.com reports that Microsoft and Cisco have several major flaws in their implementations of Voice-over-IP using H323, to wit:



"...The security problems can cause a product that supports H.323 to crash. For example, in Cisco telecommunications products running its IOS operating system, the vulnerability could be used to cause the devices to freeze or reboot. However, on Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000, which is included with Small Business Server 2000 and 2003 editions, the vulnerability could allow an attacker to take control of the system... Ironically, in Microsoft's case, the Internet Security and Acceleration Server is designed to help protect companies' networks from online attacks. Specifically, a filter used in the server that secures VoIP communications is vulnerable to the flaw..."



Flaws threaten VoIP networks