IBM spreads hardware-based encryption

IBM has introduced new technologies to bring hardware-based encryption to the masses. Its research facility yesterday announced Secure Blue an architecture that can be built into a microprocessor cheaply and provide on-the-fly encryption and decryption facilities without affecting the overall performance of the host device. Software-based on-access encryption usually means the main processor has to handle the encryption tasks, and this can impact performance, particularly for mobile devices where the processor may not be that powerful in the first place. ...more

IBM adds to Java Security

IBM has released a number of free tools to help improve the security of Java applications. Among the tools on offer is automatic data encryption for Java. The company says that the IBM Secure Shell Library for Java automatically encrypts data transmitted from one computer to another, including passwords and information stored in files, therefore preventing it from being exposed to hackers and other online menaces. ...more

Leopard is 'feature complete' says Apple

Apple has revealed that the version of Leopard it will be giving away to attendees at this year's Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC) will be 'feature-complete'. This would indicate that development is significantly more advanced than many suspected after Apple's decision to shift resources to the iPhone development team pushed back Leopard's final release date by four months. It also means that Steve Jobs will be demonstrating the operating system's much-hyped cool new features that to date have been kept under wraps. ...more

Kaspersky looking to go public to fund expansion

Security specialist Kaspersky Labs is is looking to expand rapidly next year, even mooting the possibility of the compaany going public. The privately-held Moscow-based company has plans to reach beyond its stronghold in Russia and Europe to hit the US and China markets next year. Doing so 'will require additional investment,' said CEO Natalya Kaspersky. ...more

UK gains 30,000 broadband sign ups a week

There are nearly 30,000 new broadband connections made every week, according to new Oftel figures. With PC and Internet connection penetration remaining static at 53 per cent and 42 per cent respectively, the switch seems to be driven by those upgrading from an unmetered narrowband package (48 per cent). The UK now has more than 1. ...more