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20th February 2003 Archive

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  • e-Govt not solving ‘digital divide’, says NAO

    Access for all

    The UK Government needs to do more to prevent the "digital divide" widening still further, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). In particular, it warns that older people could be left behind as the Government presses ahead with plans to wire up government services and departments. A report, due to be presented to MPs …

    Media 20 Feb 2003, 10:20

  • Future fuzzier for Mac, Linux as MS buys Connectix tech

    Putting it into the OS?

    Linux fell off the roadmap yesterday when Microsoft announced it had bought Connectix's virtual machine technology, and in characteristic style pitched it as meaning that existing Windows users would now be able to upgrade faster to new versions by running old windows virtually on new Windows. Products differently-purposed from …

    Software 20 Feb 2003, 11:38

  • Give your code a Kick Start with IT-Minds

    30 per cent off selected titles

    This week's offer from Reg associate IT-minds.com is a cool 30 per cent off a range of Kick Start guides. The books offer practical and useful code examples and quick, concise explanations for new and emerging topics, such as ASP.NET, Struts, Tomcat and EJB. Turn to almost any page in a Kick Start book and you'll find an …

    Site News 20 Feb 2003, 11:39

  • Lindows.com announces $799 Lindows sub notebook

    And there's that Via Tech connection again...

    The $799 subnotebook is the latest price breakthrough from Lindows.com CEO Michael Robertson, and as with the previous effort (the multimedia mini PC,) the spec can more than hold its own, with or without Lindows as the OS. Robertson, we feel, has a happy knack of figuring out how to source product at a keen price, spec them …

    Personal 20 Feb 2003, 13:21

  • Schoolgirl turns tables on email credit card fraudster

    Girl power

    A Nottingham schoolgirl managed to turn the tables on a cracker who'd pinched her father's credit card details by tricking him into revealing his identity online. This week Nottinghamshire police praised Danielle Athi for helping them track down a teenager computer criminal who'd plundered an estimated £2,000 through Internet- …

    Security 20 Feb 2003, 13:25

  • Siemens demos Series 60 phone, open sources Symbian

    Oops... But what about those keys?

    Siemens has unveiled its first Series 60 phone, and as you might have expected it looks rather Nokia 7650-ish. Siemens however hopefully describes it as "an instant design classic," extolling the virtues of its "unique keypad arrangement," which uses strips of keys down either side of the screen instead of a normal keypad. This …

    Mobile 20 Feb 2003, 14:13

  • Flying to the US? Give US.gov all your personal data

    Don't worry - the airlines are going to do it for you

    The European Commission has tamely agreed to airlines handing over personal details of all passengers flying to the US, in the name of 'homeland security.' These details could include all sorts of stuff the airline happens to have on record for you, including credit card numbers, phone numbers, special dietary requirements, and …

    Media 20 Feb 2003, 16:03

  • UK crack down on prescription drug ads on the Web

    Comply or else

    The Government is set to target the UK Internet industry in a bid to crack-down on sites illegally advertising and selling prescription medicines such as the male anti-impotence drug Viagra. In effect, the whole of the UK Internet industry is being warned to comply with the existing law concerning the advertising and sale of …

    Media 20 Feb 2003, 16:07

  • Symantec explains its ‘we spotted Slammer’ claim

    Over-excited marketing people, it seems

    Symantec finally stepped in last night to clarify its handling of the discovery of the prolific SQL Slammer worm. Last week Symantec raised hackles in the security community by claiming that it discovered the prolific worm "hours before it began rapidly propagating". The claim, contained in a press release extolling the …

    Security 20 Feb 2003, 16:12

  • World's first 419 revenge killing?

    Czech police hold man after Nigerian Embassy shooting

    The Czech Republic may have become the scene of the first 419-fraud revenge killing. Michael Lekara Wayid, 50, Nigeria's consul in the Czech Republic, was shot dead at the embassy yesterday morning. The embassy's 37-year-old receptionist was shot in the hand during the melee which began after a suspect opened fire after …

    Media 20 Feb 2003, 17:21

  • Lincolnshire gets £7m EU grant for BB

    Nice

    Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) has won a £7m grant from the EU to help subsidise broadband in the county. The money - which needs to be matched by LCC - should help around 3,000 rural businesses get hooked up to high-speed Net access. The project builds on the investment of a broadband network currently used exclusively for …

    Broadband 20 Feb 2003, 17:23

  • .uk.co killed by Colombian judge

    Net Registrar to appeal

    The second-level domain .uk.co through which domain company Net Registrar sold alternative Web addresses to UK businesses has been told by the High Court of Colombia that it has no continued rights on the domain. But Net Registrar managing director Robert Fox has told us he plans to appeal against the "bizarre" decision and win …

    Media 20 Feb 2003, 17:32

  • Grey IT broking worth $40bn a year

    Sing if you're glad to be grey

    The global grey market for IT goods is worth $40bn a year, resulting in lost vendor profits of $5bn a year, a KPMG study reveals. To the Anti-Gray Market Alliance which, we assume, commissioned the KPMG study, the grey market is defined as: "Branded products diverted from authorized distribution channels or imported into …

    Channel 20 Feb 2003, 18:11

  • Get a hot date on KaZaA!

    Swap Club

    File swappers can now become wife swappers, courtesy of KaZaA's new dating channel. The service is to incorporate content from American Singles, a website owned by Matchnet PLC. You get free profiles, but you have to pay if you want to make contact. Which will save you falling in love with a music-industry salted file. KaZaA …

    Media 20 Feb 2003, 18:44

  • NTL demo mars UK Net Oscars

    'We will not give up our fight'

    Four people have turned up outside the UK's prestigious Internet Awards in London tonight to protest about NTL's cap on its broadband service. The plucky group of protesters was barred from entering the hotel but instead targeted those people turning up to the glitzy event by handing out leaflets condemning the cableco's move …

    Broadband 20 Feb 2003, 19:41

  • Open Source security manual and training for ethical hacking

    Everywhere and nowhere

    The Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual (OSSTMM) has become an international open standard, according to its creator, Pete Herzog. It is used by large organizations like the U.S. Treasury Department, Home Depot, Verisign, and IBM, although Herzog says that he has a hard time getting entities that use the manual to …

    Data Center 20 Feb 2003, 20:40

  • Nintendo seeks US trade sanctions to fight piracy

    China, Paraguay, Mexico

    Following the seizure of over a quarter of a million pirated Game Boy Advance software units in China last month, Nintendo of America is lobbying for trade sanctions to help it bring organised large-scale piracy under control. The company's efforts are particularly aimed at China, Paraguay and Mexico, which it says are the …

    Personal 20 Feb 2003, 20:58

  • CDT attacks anti child-porn law

    ISP blocking

    A US civil liberties group has attacked an anti child pornography law because it potentially blocks access to legal sites. The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) said that a recent Pennsylvania law that forces ISPs to block access to numerous Web sites without adequate court oversight was unconstitutional. The law force …

    Media 20 Feb 2003, 21:18

  • SQL Server developers face huge royalty bills. How many, how much?

    MS loses Timeline case

    A Washington court ruling could see SQL Server developers liable for millions of dollars in licensing fees. The judgment concerns a contract dispute between Timeline Inc. and Microsoft, over three patents relating to datamarts. In Microsoft's interpretration of its licence with Timeline, published in a press release in July …

    Data Center 20 Feb 2003, 23:00