Service Pack 2 begins its release via automatic update

Today is the day that Microsoft's major upgrade to its flagship Windows XP operating system - XP Service Pack 2 - begins to be distributed via the company's Automatic Update system. As we have previously reported, Microsoft has throttled back the release of the massive (up to 80 MB) update. Those on the SP2 beta test program will already have had the chance to have SP2 on their machines, but now the wider distribution is beginning. ...more

Sasser worm takes the world's PCs by stealth

PC users throughout the world are being warned about the threat of Sasser worms which are spreading rapidly. The fear is that the worm, which appeared over the weekend, may be given fresh impetus as much of the world goes back to work after the May Day holidays. W32/Sasser-D is a network worm which spreads by randomly scanning IP addresses for vulnerable systems. ...more

BMW crashes its Google ranking

BMW and other manufacturers face delisting from Google's index for their shabby web activities. Google engineer Matt Cutts writes in his blog that BMW's German website was somewhat duplicitous, presenting different pages to Google's search bot than it does to actual viewers. Cutts alleges that Google's bot leafing through the BMW site would see pages filled with car-related keywords. ...more

Yes to creativity, but no to Corel Linux

Corel has outlined its corporate strategy and the emphasis is on further developing its "creative" products while its desktop version of Linux will be spun-off. And there's a new logo, too. Following heavy losses incurred last year and October's $135m injection of investment from Microsoft, Corel has announced its future plans. ...more

Have I Got Extra News For You in video podcast

Unseen footage from the new series if Have I Got News For You will be available in a video podcast of the hit BBC comedy quiz. The specially produced material will not be broadcast when the show is first broadcast on BBC1, nor in the BBC2 repeat which itself includes extra footage. 'Have I Got News For You, as a topical comedy show, is ripe for spin-off viral programming,' said Hat Trick's head of interactive, Jonathan Davenport. ...more