MS Windows source code escapes onto Internet

<font size="3">MS Windows source code escapes onto Internet</font>

Microsoft has suffered what appears to be a severe leak of Windows source code, with a file circulating on the Internet appearing to consist of several million lines of code from around mid-2000. The source code seems to relate to NT4 and Windows 2000, and in a statement the company has conceded that "portions of the Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4.0 source code were illegally made available on the Internet.

"It's illegal for third parties to post Microsoft source code," the statement continues somewhat redundantly, "and we take such activity very seriously."

The impact of the leak is however massively more important for Microsoft than it is for the rest of the world, as it effectively blows the company's 'security via obscurity' approach to smithereens. Over the past year or so it has, with much pomp and ceremony, unveiled its shared...

BT Yahoo! ate my email

<font size="3">BT Yahoo! ate my email</font>


BT reckons that "a couple of thousand" customer have been hit by a snag that has left users of its ISP services without email.

The monster telco is currently migrating some 1.8 million users over to its BT Yahoo! platform following a tie-up between the two companies announced last year. The migration began early in January and is expected to be completed by the end of April.

As part of the move, punters get a new BT Yahoo! Mail service which includes spam and anti-virus filters bolted on to the system.

And, according to one reader, the spam filters worked instantly.

But as he explains: "My initial delight that I received not a single spam instead of the usual 50 every morning was wiped out when I realised I wasn't receiving any normal emails either - well, drips and drabs, but soon I was getting phone calls from friends asking why I hadn't replied to them."

And he's not alone....

Microsoft to end NT4 support

<font size="3">Microsoft to end NT4 support</font>

Support for all NT4 software will definitely end later this year - with no more extensions, according to Microsoft.
NT4 Enterprise Edition will be supported until 30 June and NT4 Server until 31 December. Microsoft has already extended the support life of NT4 twice.

"We'll upset more customers by extending than we would by cancelling support," said Bruce Lynn, business group leader for Microsoft's UK server division.

"I've seen so many internal emails on this, it's a big source of debate. But if we don't stick to the support dates we gave last time the cost to our reputation would be great.

They really mean it this time ...

News Source: vnunet.com

Taiwan-Based Braindumpers Arrested

<font size="3">Taiwan-Based Braindumpers Arrested</font>

The China Post is reporting today that four Taiwanese citizens have been arrested for selling IT certification exams questions through the Internet and for taking exams for other individuals.

According to the story, the four in custody -- Tung Pei-chang, 41; Hsu Ching-ping, 27; Hsiung Chih-yuan, 34; and "a man surnamed" Chang, 34 -- were arrested yesterday in various locations throughout Taiwan. Charges are fraud and copyright law.

The China Post article said that the groups sold the questions through the Web sites Test4U.net, TaipeiITtest.net and OPASScertification.net since 2001. According to the report, the sites boasted that the questions they sold were taken directly from Pearson Vue and Prometric test centers in various countries worldwide. The sites are currently offline.

News Source:...

CompTIA Updating Server+

<font size="3">CompTIA Updating Server+</font>

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announced today that it will be updating its Server+ title. According to CompTIA, the new version of the exam will launch sometime in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Objectives for the new exam are scheduled to be released within the next month on CompTIA's Web site. This is the first upgrade of the exam since its launch three years ago. The planned upgrade will not effect those already holding Server+, as the certification does not need to be renewed.

News Source: certcities.com

Microsoft teases users with 64-bit XP trial

<font size="3">Microsoft teases users with 64-bit XP trial </font>

Microsoft continues to redefine the notion of a software striptease with the 64-bit version of Windows XP, kicking off yet another early access program for the OS.

Rabid 64-bit computing fans can now pick up a trial version of Windows XP 64-bit Edition via CD or download off this Microsoft site. The pre-release software is good for 360 days and gives customers with an AMD64-based PC or laptop a chance to test the OS. The bra has come off, but you'll have to wait to see the pasties hit the floor.

Microsoft promised Windows XP 64-bit Edition for both AMD's Opteron and Athlon64 chips many moons ago. The software, however, has repeatedly been pushed back - surely a sore spot with AMD. Microsoft has been gracious enough to put out a beta version of the OS for developers - tuck your $1 bill in here, please - and has promised an AMD-ready version of Windows Server 2003....

Broadband through the sewers

<font size="3">Broadband through the sewers</font>

Thousands of Scottish homes could soon get high-speed internet access through the sewerage system. Scottish Water has launched a pilot scheme in Rosyth and believes leasing sewage pipes to broadband providers could drive down internet costs. It also avoids the problem of digging up streets to lay wires and could bring access to remote parts of Scotland.

Scottish Water said the first stretches of cables would be installed by the end of this week. Commercial director Chris Banks said it is a project that has been in the pipeline for some time. "Our partner Fibrelink is financing the network, the fibre that actually goes down the sewers, we are simply renting out the sewers to them," he said.

Full Story: news.bbc.co.uk

Mydoom author sorry for his sins...

<font size="3">Mydoom author sorry for his sins...</font>

A variant of the virus has a cryptic message in which the author appears to apologize for creating the infection. The MyDoom variant that joined the original virus in wreaking havoc on the Internet last week contains a cryptic message in which the author appears to apologize for the malicious code, security experts say.

The creator of what anti-virus experts say is the fastest spreading virus ever on the Internet signed MyDoom and MyDoom.B with "andy," and left the following message in the latter version: "I'm just doing my job, nothing personal, sorry."

Full Story: informationweek.com

The Mouse with the Blue Led and Fan!

<font size="3">The Mouse with the Blue Led and Fan!</font>

Ever had that feeling when you have been on the computer for a while and then all of a sudden your hand gets sweaty? We all have had that feeling one or more times before, and then you had to take your hand off of the mouse?

Manufacturers are constantly looking for new and unique ways to attract PC users in the growing modding community. Some products are so unique and bizarre that they boggle the mind and only tend to increase your curiosity. One such product is this new Optical Fan Mouse from Xoxide. Yes, that's right, a fan mouse. The purpose of the fan is obviously not to cool down the internal parts, but to cool YOU down.

News Souce: extrememhz.com

Microsoft responds to MyDoom Virus

<font size="3">Microsoft responds to MyDoom Virus</font>
Microsoft Consumer Virus Alert:

Why We Are Issuing This Alert

W32/Mydoom@MM spreads through e-mail. This worm can disguise the sender's address, a tactic known as spoofing, and may generate e-mails that appear to have been sent by Microsoft. Many of the addresses Mydoom uses are valid addresses that are being spoofed for malicious purposes.

Treat all e-mail attachments with caution, particularly .zip files in the case of this virus, even if they appear to be from a trusted source. Learn what to do about virus infections.

View: MyDoom Virus Information