Microsoft woos EU privacy watchdogs

Euractiv.com reports that Microsoft's Bing search engine will retain private Internet search data for a maximum period of six months, the ICT giant announced yesterday (19 January) as EU antitrust regulators started to scrutinise the company's alliance with Yahoo.

Microsoft offered to reduce from 18 to six months the period it retains the IP addresses of Internet users making queries through its Bing search engine, the company said. The change will be implemented over the next 12 to 18 months, it added.

Read the article here: http://www.euractiv.com/en/infosociety/microsoft-woos-eu-privacy-watchdogs/article-189063

EU Parliament threatens to derail EU-US bank data deal

EUObserver.com reports that the European Parliament is threatening to derail an interim agreement allowing US authorities to track European bank transactions in terrorism investigations unless certain concessions are made.

The president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek at the end of last week sent a second letter to the Spanish EU presidency asking for more information on the so-called Swift agreement.

A plenary debate on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday in Strasbourg, during which the Spanish presidency is expected to give more answers on the technicalities of the deal.
The agreement would allow US prosecutors and investigators to tap into intra-European bank transactions as part of anti-terrorist enquiries - something EU lawmakers say raises privacy concerns.

Read the article here: http://euobserver.com/9/29284/?rk=1

Brussels pledges antitrust overhaul

Euractiv.com reports that the EU executive is promising to make its complex antitrust procedures more transparent in a move designed to make competition cases more predictable for businesses.

The European Commission's competition arm has published a series of documents detailing how antitrust decisions are reached and pledging to help companies engage with the process.

The EU has sweeping antitrust powers and has conducted major inquiries into corporate giants including Intel, Microsoft and a host of energy firms. It has also launched high-profile investigations into competition in the pharmaceutical sector and has the power to block mergers and acquisitions.

Companies under investigation often find the process to be complex and opaque, something the Commission is keen to address.

Read the article here: http://www.euractiv.com/en/enterprise-jobs/brussels-pledges-antitrust-overhaul/article-188641

New ENISA publications available

In implementing its annual Work Programme, ENISA in December 2009 published a number of studies, reports, and a survey covering issues of resilience of communication networks, anti-spam measures by providers, and CERT/CSIRT material.

*Resilience: Tracking standardisation activities in NIS* ENISA published a study on "Gaps in standardisation related to resilience of communication networks". The study provides five recommendations for future standardisation activities. It can be downloaded from the ENISA website at: http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/it/library/deliverables/gapsstd

*Third ENISA Survey on anti-spam measures implemented by European providers* The survey aims to determine how e-mail service providers are combating spam on their networks. It helps identifying the state of the fight against spam and helps service providers to learn from their peers throughout Europe. The survey report is available from the ENISA website at: http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/res/other-areas/anti-spam-measures

*New CERT material*ENISA launched new Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT or CSIRT) material including a field report on two CSIRT exercise pilots, a draft baseline capabilities definition for national/governmental CERTs, and three DVD images to support the exercise material.
The field report on the exercise pilots which is a hands-on report on logistics, preparation and experiences during the event can be obtained from the ENISA website at: http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/cert/support/exercise
The draft document defines baseline capabilities for CERTs with national responsibility in the areas of service provision, mandate, cooperation and operation. This document which is a snapshot of an ongoing activity to enhance cross-border cooperation of national/governmental CERTs can be obtained from http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/cert/support/baseline-capabilities
Three DVD images for teachers and students aim at enabling an easy application of the CSIRT exercise material. The material which is not only useful for CERTs but can also be applied in any kind of training for security professionals is available at http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/cert/support/exercise