9th April 2002 Archive

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Not Brilliant, KaZaA's crackers

P2P sleeper poses security risk

The bundling of distributed computing software within file sharing software used in the KaZaA network continues to generate controversy across the Internet. Since late last year KaZaA downloads have contained 'sleeper' software which let Brilliant Digital Entertainment, a 3D advertising and modelling software start-up to …

Music and Media 9 Apr 2002, 05:58
IBM profit warning shocks market

OEM biz worst hit

IBM Corp shocked the market with a profit warning yesterday that led to investors wiping a staggering $17bn from the company's trading value. Armonk, New York-based IBM said yesterday that sales for its first fiscal quarter 2002 would be between $18.4bn and $18.6bn, about 6% less than it had led analysts to expect, and 12 …

Business 9 Apr 2002, 06:07
Enterasys slashes headcount by 30%

Big cost cutting

Enterasys Networks Inc is to lay off about 730 people, 30% of its workforce, as the company executes a restructuring plan aimed at saving costs. The layoffs follow last week's management shakeout, which saw the resignation of its chairman, CEO and president, as well as vice chairman and EVP of worldwide marketing, and the …

Business 9 Apr 2002, 06:07
Check Point brings out budget VPN

Cheap and cheerful

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd is targeting network administrators with cheap-n-cheerful virtual private network software, VPN-1 Net, released this week. The company has also rebranded its VPN-1 Gateway product as VPN-1 Pro, to reflect the feature differences of its product line. Product manager Raphael Reich said …

Data Networking 9 Apr 2002, 06:08
Insignia extends Mobile Java platform

No more handset recalls?

Insignia Solutions Inc has launched a new wireless Java infrastructure platform intended to enable maximum flexibility of service deployment while simultaneously protecting investment in handsets, Tony Cripps writes. The new multimedia-enabled platform marks a concerted effort by the Fremont, California-based company to …

Mobile 9 Apr 2002, 06:08
Walter Hewlett wins his day in court

Claims sufficient to merit trial, says judge

Walter Hewlett is to have his day in court, following a judge's decision that his claims of merger skullduggery have sufficient merit for the matter to go to trial. Dissident shareholder and (soon to be former) HP director Hewlett is still trying to block the sircam HP-Compaq merger, claiming that HP management resorted to vote- …

Business 9 Apr 2002, 10:30
Lara Croft's costume up for grabs

Sweaty auction for charry-tee

The original costume of video game heroine Lara Croft, is to be auctioned online for the UNICEF children's charity. The outfit includes Ms Croft's distinctive green rubber all-in-one vest and military-style shorts plus twin Smith and Wesson automatic replica pistols and leather holsters. The ensemble was worn by Nell McAndrew …

Music and Media 9 Apr 2002, 10:32
Pegasus gets wings clipped

European site offline after attempted security breach

The European download site for the popular Pegasus email package has been taken offline following an attempted security breach. A statement on the Pegasus site states "our European site is unavailable because of a recent attempted security breach. We are currently relocating our server, but until the process is complete, we …

Business 9 Apr 2002, 13:03
BT goes for broadband broke

The monster stirs

Blimey - what a week for BT. And it's only Tuesday. Yesterday, the monster telco unveiled further plans about how it sees the future of broadband in the UK. It teased us with sketchy details of a new, cheaper "no frills" broadband package that it claims will simply provide high-speed Net access without any services or content …

Telecoms 9 Apr 2002, 15:04
Sun exec argues for tougher measures for Microsoft

Well now, there's a surprise...

Sun chief strategy officer Jonathan Schwartz is the latest in a string of witnesses to argue in favour of tougher measures to control Microsoft. In testimony for the unsettling States' remedies proceedings Schwartz said that without tougher measures, Microsoft could use its Windows monopoly and dominant position in the browser …

Software 9 Apr 2002, 15:56
Bidders circle Energis

Could raise £700m

Some half a dozen outfits are preparing to make their bids for ailing alternative carrier, Energis, according to news reports. Reuters</> claims that Energis wants to receive the bids for its business by next week in a move that could net the company more than £700 million, although previous reports claim the figure could even …

Data Networking 9 Apr 2002, 15:57
Scottish ISP floored as DDoS attacks escalate

edNET attack part of wider assault

Most of the customers of Edinburgh business ISP edNET were left without Internet services yesterday after it experienced a serious distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. edNET began to experience what it described in an email to users as a "catastrophic network failure" at around 8am yesterday. This resulted in most of …

Music and Media 9 Apr 2002, 16:00
A trio of MS-Office security vulns

IE integration again

Researchers at GreyMagic Software have uncovered three novel vulnerabilities provided by Microsoft Office Web Components (OWC), which can override security settings in Internet Explorer. First up, it's possible, using the spreadsheet component of OWC, to enable active scripting when the user has it disabled in IE. "One of the …

Software 9 Apr 2002, 17:54
GPRS roaming tops agenda at Rome summit

Roamfest

Extending the availability of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) roaming services has become a key focus for a GSM Association meeting in Rome next week. It's hoped the 47th Plenary Meeting of members of the GSM Association, which will take place between April 16-18, will provide the ideal forum for the negotiation of roaming …

Mobile 9 Apr 2002, 18:24