1997
A group of computer hackers break into Yahoo! servers and deface the portal’s homepage. The hackers, who called themselves the “Pantz – h4gis Alliance,” post a message that states, “For the past month, anyone who has viewed Yahoo’s page and used their search engine, now has a logic bomb/worm implanted deep within their computer.” The message states that the federal government will be notified of the location of the malicious code and an counter program upon the immediate release of Kevin Mitnick, who was once listed as the world’s most wanted computer hacker by the FBI. Mitnick, who has been in prison since 1995, allegedly stole thousands of credit card numbers by breaking into an Internet service provider’s web server. A Yahoo! spokesperson will later state that the company learned of the message within minutes of its posting and that the website was restored within fifteen minutes. The threat turns out to be an empty one, as no such virus will ever be found. View an archived version of the defaced website.
Yahoo! launches Yahoo! Sports.
1998
The NonStop-UX C51 Unix operating system was released.
Version 2 (v1.2) of the Java programming language is released. Visit the language’s official website.
1999
Ericsson announces a partnership with Microsoft to develop end-to-end solutions for wireless Internet service. Ericsson’s stock subsequently rises to a record SEK549 a share, with a total value of SEK100 billion to SEK165 billion, becoming the first Swedish company to surpass the 100 billion mark. The increase in value rises from the twelfth to the seventh largest European company. The Stockholm stock exchange surges five percent for the day, setting a record for a single day.
Samsung announces plans to release a NUON compatible DVD player in early 2000.
The website of Film World is hacked by “#Hack-org”. View an archived version of the defaced website.
The website of Fight Club Germany is hacked by “kryptek”. View an archived version of the defaced website.
Yahoo! is added to the S&P 500 index, replacing transportation service provider Laidlaw (LDW).
2000
New Line released the fantasy film Dungeons & Dragons, directed by Courtney Solomon and starring Justin Whalin, Marlon Wayans, Zoe McLellan, Thora Birch, and Jeremy Irons, to 2,078 U.S. theaters. The film will be widely reviled by fans of the Dungeons & Dragons table top game. It’s plot, though conforming to most Sword and Sorcery conventions, makes few allusions to the game, and in more than one instance, violates the tenants of its systems. The film’s director blames the film’s poor quality on difficulties in negotiating a license with TSR and Wizards of the Coast, as well as his own inexperience as a director. Produced on a budget of US$45 million, it will gross US$7,237,422 domestically in its opening weekend. IMDB listing (MPAA Rating: PG-13) Running Time: 1 hr 47 mins
Sony releases a new version of the PlayStation 2 in Japan, the model SCPH-8000. It features built-in DVD drivers, a DVD remote control, but no memory card. Price: ¥39,800 (about US$390)
The top cyberspace official of the United States National Security Council, Richard A. Clarke, warns the nation that several other nations have created information-warfare units for disrupting computer networks.
2001
Federal prosecutors accuse one time Los Alamos National Laboratory employee Jerome Heckenkamp of breaking into Qualcomm and half a dozen other corporate computer systems including eBay Inc. and E*Trade Inc., over a nine-month period using the handle “MagicFX” while he was a student.
Version 4.1.0 of the PHP programming language is released. Visit the language’s official website.
2004
New Line Cinema releases the action film Blade: Trinity, directed by David S. Goyer and starring Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel, and Dominic Purcell, to 2,912 U.S. theaters. In it, Blade, now wanted by the FBI, must join forces with the Nightstalkers to face his most challenging enemy yet, Dracula. Produced on a budget of US$65 million, it will gross US$16,061,271 domestically in its opening weekend. Visit the movie’s official website. IMDB listing (MPAA Rating: R) Running Time: 1 hr 54 mins
2005
Imagine Publishing re-launches Retro Gamer magazine. It’s original publisher, Live Publishing declared bankruptcy on September 27, 2005. Visit the magazine’s official website.
Scientists publish the complete DNA sequence for dogs based on a boxer named Tasha. The gene count is estimated at 19,300, most of which resemble human genes. A preliminary sequence was announced in 2003.
Yahoo! launched a beta version of its Yahoo! Answers service. The service allows users to submit questions to the community and answer the questions posed by other users in order to earn points. The system is based on the Naver Knowledge Search. By December 14, 2009, Yahoo! Answers will have 200 million users worldwide. Visit the official Yahoo! Answers website.
2006
Internet security firm McAfee makes national headlines by reporting on the growing trend of organized gangs employing “KGB-style” tactics by employing college computer students to commit Internet crime.
Nintendo releases the Wii video game console in Europe.
2007
Grupo Carso, the Mexican conglomerate that acquired the CompUSA retail chain in 2000, announces that the remaining 103 locations will either be liquidated or sold. In January, Systemax will acquire the CompUSA.com ecommerce site.
2008
The Chicago-based Tribune Co. files for bankruptcy following a sharp drop-off in advertising revenue. The newspaper company reportedly struggles to settle an accumulated US$13 billion in debt.
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