Optus admits handing user phone numbers to websites

Without customer’s knowledge. Optus has admitted to handing over its customer’s phone numbers to certain third-party websites accessed by the user. As first flagged by a user on telco forum Whirlpool, when a user browses certain websites, Optus provides the customer’s mobile phone number to the website operator where a “commercial relationship” exists. The practice,…

Microsoft won’t fix Internet Explorer zero-day

HP researchers release exploit code after Microsoft declines to issue patch. HP researchers have published details and proof-of-concept exploit code for a number of zero-day vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser which allow attackers to bypass a key exploit mitigation. The researchers – part of HP’s zero-day initiative team – have a policy to…

Australia passes law to block overseas piracy sites

Content owners allowed to apply to take down copyright infringing sites. The Australian Senate today voted through legislation which allows rights holders to apply to a court to block overseas websites facilitating copyright infringment. The legislation passed despite strong opposition from the Australian Greens and a number of independent and minor party MPs, the telecommunications industry, technology companies…