Despite numerous reports, directives, and promises by the Federal Government that they are making their IT systems more secure, a July 27, 2007, GAO report suggested that the government continues to provide inadequate data security to protect critical operations and personal information maintained by various agencies.

"Significant weaknesses in information security policies and practices threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical information and information systems used to support the operations, assets, and personnel of most federal agencies," the GAO concluded. Information security continues to be a governmentwide high-risk issue, GAO said.

According to the GAO report, every one of 24 major federal agencies and departments reviewed had weaknesses in at least one major data security area. The report recommended that agency inspector generals cover in greater detail information security processes such as system testing and evaluation, training, and incident reporting.

Read the full GAO report, "Information Security: Despite Reported Progress, Federal Agencies Need to Address Persistent Weaknesses" (GAO-07-837)

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A former plumbing contractor who has made a new career selling virtual cyber sex toys in the virtual world of Second Life, has now brought suit against another player who is allegedly copying and selling a device called the Sex Gen. The plaintiff, whose avatar is known as ‘Stroker Serpentine,’ is seeking the real name of the copycat entrepreneur. The reporter describing the lawsuit included commentary from a cyber law professor whose university maintains a virtual Supreme Court in the Second Life world.

Notwithstanding the facts, it is interesting on how the "real" Federal Court would rule on such demand especially when the damage is in the virtual world, but it may have some indirect connection to real-world damages (e.g. when you convert your Second Life currency into US dollars).

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