Online brand abuse of many of the world’s most popular brands increased in 2008, according to a new report from MarkMonitor.
The report found that 80 percent of abusive sites flagged in 2007 were still active today
Cybersquatting continued to rank as brandjackers tool of choice for exploiting reputable brands, growing by 18 percent in 2008. In addition, phishers expanded their targets in 2008, with 444 organizations phished for the first time.
Undersea Cable Whac-A-Mole Game Continues
The people and businesses that rely on the SeaMeWe-4 underwater cable for Internet connections cannot be happy. Although repairs following a December 19th incident were more or less completed on schedule, a new break has screwed things up yet again.
Google Continues to Take Other Languages More Seriously
About a month ago, Google announced some things it was doing that would improve the way sites rank across different language versions of its search engine, in an effort that would clearly make Google more useful on a global scale. In what seems to be a continuation of this tradition, Google has announced a couple more language-based improvements to its products.
Hulu Continues Holiday Usability Run
It’s new feature Tuesday for "Hulu for the Holidays", the JCPenny-sponsored event that has Hulu adding something new each day through the holiday season. On Mondays they add new TV shows. Tuesdays its new site features, and Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays are for new movies.
Yahoo Continues Quest for Relevancy
Yahoo is still awaiting approval from the U.S. Department of Justice on their proposed search advertising deal with Google, but that has not stopped them from making adjustments to their own advertising platform. In fact, some think they might even be doing it to emphasize to critics of the deal, that they are still serious about their own advertising endeavors, and are not just bowing down to the forces of Google.
Google Continues Hiding Parked Domain Clicks
Webmasters might be forgiven if they didn’t notice the option to opt their ad campaigns out of Google’s AdSense for Domains.
After Hours, Yahoo Bid Happiness Continues
Late trading after the bell continues to nudge shares of Yahoo upward, after a dramatic day initiated by Microsoft’s disclosure of a $44.6 billion bid to acquire the Internet company.
Facebook Continues To Sell Out Users
There is no expectation of privacy in public, last I checked. If I’m on the sidewalk in my underwear (yes, I’ve been on the sidewalk in my underwear – it was the Rocky Horror midnight show when I was younger and skinnier) it’s kind of hard to get upset when other people see me. So why should Facebook, or any other social (public) network, be different?
DoubleClick, Jones Day Drama Continues
The Center for Digital Democracy and the Electronic Privacy Information Center have filed a Freedom of Information Act request for information from the FTC about DoubleClick and law firm Jones Day.
Online Video Viewing Continues To Rise
More and more people are consuming online video, primarily, say researchers, because of the increasing availability of broadband connections. As mobile devices become more ubiquitous, so too is mobile video consumption.