Twenty-four new broadband exchanges

B ...more

Podcast takes top dictionary gong

Podcast has been declared 2005 Word of the Year by the New Oxford American Dictionary. The judges noted that only a year ago the term was known only to 'a few techies and self-admitted "geeks"'. Now thousands are available covering just about every subject imaginable. ...more

New virus uses Acrobat PDF for transmission

In what may be the first of a new wave of viruses targeted at cross-platform file formats, a method has been found of infecting Acrobat-authored PDF files. The virus, which was first discovered by Virus specialist Network Associates on 7 August, utilises a security hole opened by the ability of PDFs to have Visual Basic Scripts (VBS) embedded in them. VBS is a Microsoft scripting and programming language that has become a common method of writing viruses. ...more

Freeserve founder launches privacy browser

The founder of Freeserve, Ajaz Ahmed, has launched a browser focused on protecting privacy that he hopes will be as successful as eBay or MySpace have been in revolutionising their markets. Browzar is a small 264KB download that uses components already installed on your computer to offer a full browsing experience while ensuring no data is kept on your browsing session. Cookies - even session cookies - are deleted immediately. ...more

Microsoft to launch iTunes rival

Microsoft plans to launch a rival to Apple's iTunes Music Store some time next year, according to the Wall Street Journal. WSJ.com reports that a spokeswoman for the company confirmed that the service would be available through MSN in 2004, but would not give any other details. ...more