SunnComm takes action on Princeton student for MediaMax hack

SunnComm Technologies has announced it intends to take 'legal action,' against Princeton graduate John Halderman for publishing a paper critical of the company's MediaMax CD-3 copy-protection technology which it reveals can be circumvented simply by pressing the Shift key. Hamilton's paper claimed MediaMax CD-3 was 'irreparably flawed' and could be easily hacked by holding down the Shift key when the CD is inserted, or disabling the driver. SunnComm claims that this tampering with copyright protection technology and posting it on the Net is in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, (DMCA). ...more

MI5 puts its private fears online

The once highly secretive MI5 is now turning to the Internet to publish its assessments of terrorist threats. Details that were previously restricted will now be publicly available on a new website, reports the BBC. According to the Website - to be found at www. ...more

Creative plugs in a USB-based Sound Blaster

Creative has announced the Sound Blaster MP3+, a USB-based sound card. 'No desktop user will have to tolerate poor-sounding motherboard audio any longer,' boasts Craig McHugh, President of Creative. The relatively small device is also aimed at laptop users. ...more

ASA ticks off Telewest for anti-BT broadband advert

Cable broadband provider Telewest has been admonished by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) for misleading advertisements. Ads placed in the regional press targeted existing dial-up users with the slogan: 'Faster broadband for just a few pounds more than dial-up,' and the claim that its '256kbps service is the fastest home cable broadband connection available at the price.' However, the advertisement compared Telewest's entry-level offering with that of BT, which offers a more expensive product, but at 512Kbps. ...more

Gates to crack open the Corona

The official public beta release of Windows Media 9, formerly code-named Corona, will be made by Bill Gates in Los Angeles on 4 September. It probably deserves the Corona moniker more, as it looks to be far more than a nudge along from Windows Media 8. For example, it will be the first codec with the ability to deliver six-channel audio, streamed over the Internet at CD quality (24-bit/96kHz sampling). ...more