Driven underground, the al Qaeda terrorist network has learned to exploit the Internet as it recasts itself into a more elusive, self-perpetuating form.
Researchers have developed a smaller version of the Internet that will serve as a virtual laboratory to develop new business tools, computer programs and weapons against worms and viruses.
A global internet laboratory that simulates tens of thousands of virtual users has been launched by more than 60 companies and universities. PlanetLab will be used to test new weapons for fighting internet worms and to develop better distributed computer programs, i.e. those that operate on many machines at once.
Researchers are exploring the idea of using ordinary electric power lines to provide high-speed Internet access. Proponents argue that it can be a competitive alternative to digital cable, telephone digital subscriber line and wireless efforts to connect the "last mile" between homes and Internet service providers.
A new web programming language may make it possible for any Web user to remotely discover, access, and use real-time data obtained directly from Web-resident sensors, instruments, and imaging devices, such as flood gauges, stress gauges on bridges, mobile heart monitors, Web cams, and satellite-borne earth imaging devices.
NASA announced this week a new Web-based asteroid monitoring system, called Sentry, to monitor and assess the threat of space rocks that could possibly strike the Earth.
The web has spontaneously organized itself into communities. A new search algorithm that pinpoints these could help surfers find what they want and avoid offensive content.
The internet is continuing to boom, despite the current global recession, according to research from analyst firm IDC.
A row is brewing over the reliability and security of the servers that direct much of the net's traffic. Some of the organisations that oversee the net's domains are calling on the internet's ruling body to give guarantees about the safe running of these crucial servers.
Katie Hafner examines the ways in which the internet is decentralized and distributed, relying on "the cooperation and mutual interests of the telecommunications companies." She examines the prospects of a future need for government control.