Novalawcity

Smiley Emoticon B-Day

The :-) turned 25 years old this week: :-)

That German spam

Seems that everyone was hit by German spam this week.  While working folks would not open the files attached to the messages, technology experts did.  Computer World describes the content of the messages as "propaganda spam."  For more on the content of this spam attack see "Computer Virus Spews Right-Wing Spam."

Gmail offers 2 gigabytes

The San Jose Mercury News reports today that Google's Gmail service has upped its e-mail storage capacity to 2 gigabytes.  Two gigabytes is the equivalent of 20 meters (or 65 feet) of shelved books.  This does not appear to be an April Fool's Day joke, despite the timing of this news release.  Gmail is celebrating its one year anniversary today.  For more news on what's new with Gmail, see this.

Gmail update

The Gmail invitation continues to appear periodically on the Google search page.  The folks at Google want to gather Gmail users randomly, rather than through the invitation process.  So keep trying.  A Forbes magazine article offers a review of Gmail and its current open registration:  Gmail Nearing Prime Time.

1 Gig of E-mail

Looks like Google has opened up Gmail accounts to everyone.  The announcement appeared briefly under the Google search box today.  What's the big deal?  Previously, Gmail accounts could only be created by invitation.  One gig of free storage was the main draw, plus, it was an exclusive club.  The accounts are still free and the stored messages are searchable.  Gmail launched last April 2004.

Phishing guide

We've discussed the dangers of phishing previously on this blog (see E-mail category).  As the dangers increase it's best to be aware of how it works.  Not to mention the criminal and technical aspects that lawyers should comprehend.  Here's a dynamite in-depth report on the history and development of the phishing trap called The Phishing Guide:  Understanding & Preventing Phishing Attacks.  It's from Next Generation Security Software Ltd. found via cyberlaw-ish blog NetSec.

Gmail and students

Like most students, the students at NSU's Law Center are experimenting with new technology all the time.  Gmail is a hot commodity because an account can only be obtained by invitation.  The Harvard Crimison's story on student usage of Gmail points to the advantages of having a Gmail account. I have several Gmail account invites to share.  So if you are reading this blog, stop by my library office to let me know that you want one. 

Enhancements are regularly added to Gmail, such as yesterday's addition of POP3 support with plans for anti-virus protection.  The future of Gmail accounts remains mysterious, i.e. when will they start to charge for access?  See "Google offers a few hints to Gmail direction."

SunTrust Bank phishing attack

Web Host Industry Review Magazine reports that the SunTrust Bank experienced a new kind of sophisticated phishing attack last week. What's noteworthy about this particular attack is that the bank's own web site was used to advance the scam. For more on phishing scams, see novalawcity's earlier post.

E-mail tsunami

There's more to e-mail than just sending and reading messages, especially in the workplace. "What you should know about e-mail archiving" explains the divergent e-mail practices that can occur in an organization. Every department has different concerns: legal, technical, and productivity. Which way do you turn? Found this article via LISnews.com (a library blog).

Managing E-mail

Is your e-mail inbox already overflowing? Can't respond to all the messages in one day? Should you just hit the delete key? Before you do that, take a look at this Law Practice Today article: "Fifteen Practical Tips for Managing Your E-Mail."