Researchers crack biometric security with Play-Doh

Using fake fingerprints, researchers in New York State have managed to break nearly all the biometric identification systems they tested. Headed by Clarkson University associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Stephanie C Schuckers, they used fake fingers made by taking casts of live fingers and using the molds to create copies in Play-Doh. The 60 fake fingers were then tested and were successfully authenticated by the combination of the fingerprint readers and their accompanying software in nine out of every ten attempts. ...more

Music industry threatens legal action to force ISPs to dump p2p traffic

A UK music industry body has called on leading ISPs to take action against p2p file sharing. The Music Business Forum (MBF) has written to BT, Tiscali and NTL, telling them that they have a 'corporate responsibility' to discourage 'illegal downloading'. 'Internet Service Providers have to take their share of responsibility for keeping the traffic on their networks legitimate. ...more

Microsoft launches SharePoint Services 3.0

Microsoft has announced a new version of its services add-on for the SharePoint collaborative working platform. Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, is an add-on product for existing SharePoint-based applications that adds a basic web development environment for developing intranet and workgroup or departmental portal sites, and expands the collaboration and content-sharing capabilities of the SharePoint platform. ...more

Ultra-slim notebooks targeted by Intel Centrino update

Intel has updated its Centrino platform with new low-voltage and ultra-low-voltage offerings. Designed for ultra-light notebooks, the new Centrino collections clock 1.4GHz (model 738, at the top of the range), 1. ...more

Express Newspapers enters music download market

Northern & Shell, owners of Express Newspapers, is the latest entrant into the crowded UK downloads market, launching separate stores for the Daily Express, Daily Star, OK Magazine and Daily Snack, its online presence. The publishing group has signed up Wippit to provide the stores which will be individually tailored for each publication's readership. The OK store, for example, will look to appeal to the magazine's largely female audience. ...more