Microsoft to bundle anti-virus scanning into its monthly security bulletins

Microsoft's next monthly security bulletin will include its first foray into antivirus software since its buy of Romanian antivirus company GeCAD 18 months ago. Next Tuesday, 11 January, the security bulletin will include the Microsoft Windows malicious software removal tool. Essentially a cumulative patch of the past year's scanning utilities built to detect common viruses such as Blaster, MyDoom and Download. ...more

Support for software patents faltering in Europe

The Netherlands has withdrawn support for a controversial draft that would legalise software patents in Europe. The Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) reports that the Dutch Parliament has ordered Minister Brinkhorst and Secretary of State van Gennip (Economic Affairs) to withdraw the Dutch vote in support of the Council of Ministers' controversial text for the Directive on Software Patents. The FFII says this is the first time in the history of the EU that this has happened. ...more

Bank's hacked server supports phish attack

Phishing is a familiar online threat, but news has emerged from China of a bank's webserver being used to host phishing sites. The Shanghai branch of the China Construction Bank, reports Network World, was hacked in order to host the phishing sites, which attempt to dupe visitors into revealing their bank details. The illegal sites were in hidden directories on a server with IP addresses belonging to the state-owned bank. ...more

IDF Spring 2004: Microsoft gives 64-bit backing to Intel

Microsoft has said that its 64-bit extensions in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 will be compatible with Intel's 64-bit extension technology announced at its IDF conference this week. Building on the announcement that Intel is to include 64-bit extensions in its Xeon server chips as well as desktops chips further down the line, Microsoft says that the 64-bit editions of XP and Server - currently in beta - will be available in the second half of this year. 'Microsoft's and Intel's leadership continues to deliver powerful, cost-effective, 64-bit computing to the broad IT market,' said Jim Allchin, group vice president of the Platforms Group at Microsoft. ...more

Spam rules mean opt-out is out

The DTI has unveiled new controls that update legislation on spam sent via email, phone or from the Internet. Communications Minister Stephen Timms said: 'These regulations will help combat the global nuisance of unsolicited e-mails and texts by enshrining in law rights that give consumers more say over who can use their personal details.. ...more