Grant Gross

ChoicePoint Inc., the data broker that set off a national debate after disclosing a data breach early in 2005, will pay US$15 million in fines and other penalties for lax security standards, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced. ChoicePoint's $10 million fine is the largest civil fine in the FTC's history, the FTC said. Under a settlement with the FTC, the Georgia company will also set up a $5 million fund to aid victims of identity theft that resulted from the data breach..

A Washington, D.C., civil liberties and consumer group has filed two complaints against Web-based marketer 180solutions Inc., accusing the company of "duping" Internet users into downloading intrusive advertising software. The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) filed the complaints Monday with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), accusing 180solutions of unfair and deceptive business practices. The CDT accuses 180solutions of tricking millions of Web users into downloading adware that can slow users' computers and deliver multiple pop-up ads.

Internet users looking for information at the U.S. government's Web portal will get more complete and relevant results using a new search engine unveiled Tuesday, according to officials with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

Software giant Oracle Corp. has pulled out of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) partly because the trade group's president may consider challenging a Republican U.S. senator in the 2006 election.

Some antispam vendors and computer users haven't seen the same picture the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was viewing when it reported Tuesday that many people are receiving less unsolicited commercial e-mail in their inboxes now, compared to two years ago.

A California man who operated a Web site selling millions of dollars of pirated software has pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal copyright infringement, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

Vonage Holdings Corp.'s VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) customers will be able to get calls in areas covered by Wi-Fi hotspots after the release Tuesday of a combination VOIP/Wi-Fi phone.

A 10-point drop in the estimated 35 per cent global software piracy rate would create 2.4 million jobs and US$400 billion in economic growth over four years, according to a study released by a software trade group Thursday.