NetFlash: IRS: 1980s technology, screening keeps e-filing safe

If you, like 60 million of your fellow Americans, filed your taxes electronically this year, you have almost nothing to fear about the security of your return. Why? Because the IRS e-filing system is old. Parts of it would “qualify for AARP membership,” as the IRS’s associate CIO put it. While businesses might see that as a considerable drawback in their own IT systems, having ancient technology is a good way to protect against viruses, Trojans and potential network intruders. IRS: 1980s technology, screening keeps e-filing safe http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0415irs1980s.html?net

If you, like 60 million of your fellow Americans, filed your taxes electronically this year, you have almost nothing to fear about the security of your return. Why? Because the IRS e-filing system is old. Parts of it would “qualify for AARP membership,” as the IRS’s associate CIO put it. While businesses might see that as a considerable drawback in their own IT systems, having ancient technology is a good way to protect against viruses, Trojans and potential network intruders.

IRS: 1980s technology, screening keeps e-filing safe

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0415irs1980s.html?net

Feature: The 3Com saga

I remember interviewing Eric Benhamou back when he was CEO of 3Com, back in the salad days when 3Com was a growing company, one of the top vendors in networking. He exuded a confidence, almost a smugness in the company’s direction. But that was back when the direction was upward. Now 3Com is struggling to fortify a revenue stream that has dropped from $5.8 billion a few years ago to less than a billion.

https://www.nwfusion.com/research/2004/04123com.html?net

SEC gets its own e-mail house in order

In a wry twist, the same agency that requires securities firms to archive their e-mail for compliance reasons has chosen software and hardware from EMC and Legato to manage its own e-mail.

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0415secemc.html?net

FCC proposes spectrum for rural broadband

The Federal Communications Commission Thursday kicked off a process that may open up more radio frequency spectrum for high-speed wireless services in rural parts of the country.

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0416fccpropo.html?net

Today on Layer 8, where we’d hire Donald Trump’s hair any day:

Networking truly is funny; the PC meets the mood ring; A girl’s guide to the geek guy; and the last day to enter the Weekly Caption Contest; all this and more today at your home for not-just-networking news.

https://www.nwfusion.com/weblogs/layer8/?net

This week’s top 5 stories so far:

1. Q&A: Sun gambles big on future chip design

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0412sunyen.html?net

2. Linux pressures Windows but experts disagree on cost benefits

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0412mslinux.html?net

3. The makings of a do-it-yourself supercomputer

https://www.nwfusion.com/nlnetflash37

4. Feature: The 3Com saga

https://www.nwfusion.com/research/2004/04123com.html?net

5. Microsoft issues flood of critical patches

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0413microissue.html?net