IBM's patience runs out on SCO

IBM has filed a request to push through a Motion to Compel Discovery in order to get hold of the specific 'misappropriated' code it claims SCO is with-holding. The memorandum comes on the heels of a Hallowe'en conference between the two sides, where the administrative Judge handling the case ruled a final meeting would be held 21 November, to resolve the issue. After this, the discovery request would go to oral argument on 5 December if SCO still hadn't satisfied IBM's requests for SCO material that it needs to compile its defence. ...more

UK government seeks backdoor access to Windows Vista

The UK government has asked Microsoft to provide 'backdoor access' to Windows so that the police can read suspects' encrypted files. The Home Office said that it is 'working closely' with the software company, following concerns that security features to be introduced in Windows Vista will increase the number of files that are routinely encrypted. Its acknowledgement was prompted by comments made by Ross Anderson, professor of security engineering at Cambridge University, in evidence to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. ...more

EFF demands evidence of US army blog censorshop

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense, demanding information on how it monitors soldiers' blogs. The EFF, a coalition of lawyers to defend digital rights, says that there is evidence that the Army Web Risk Assessment Cell (AWRAC) reviews hundreds of thousands of websites every month, notifying webmasters and bloggers when it sees information it deems inappropriate. As a result, some bloggers have reported that they have cut back on their posts or shut down their sites altogether because of the activities of the AWRAC. ...more

Opera smoothes browser

Opera has released an important security update for its eponymous Web browser and email client, adding a few bug fixes for good measure. Three vulnerabilities are addressed, involving download dialog spoofing, fixed image dragging and link hijacking, which could have been exploited to retrieve users' files or trick users into running malicious files. Bug fixes provide greater stability, better plug-in handling and improved spelling checking. ...more

Intel reports sales up a fifth

Intel has reported record revenues for its third quarter financial results. Sales of $9.96 billion represent an 18 per cent increase year-on-year, and they put Intel in the black to the tune of $2 billion, up 5 per cent on the same period a year ago. ...more