Russian hacker groups sold .wmf exploits

Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs claims exploits for the .wmf vulnerability that emerged over the Christmas period were being sold on the virus underground by Russian hacker groups for $4,000. Kaspersky claims in its Malware Evolution report for the last quarter of 2005 that 'it seems that two or three competing hacker groups from Russia were selling this exploit for $4,000. ...more

Dell boss unconcerned by Mac mini

The CEO of Dell appears wholly underwhelmed by the Mac mini, a machine which Apple hopes will reach into Dell's Windows-using constituency. Kevin Rollins said in an interview that, 'It might take some here and there, but Apple's market share in the global computer business has really shrunk pretty far. Where they've been making success recently is not in the computer business, but in the iPod music business. ...more

EU warns Microsoft over Vista feature set

The EU Competition Commissioner has warned Microsoft that it will not be allowed to sell Windows Vista in Europe if contains certain features. Neelie Kroes wrote to the company last week to express her concerns, which centre on Microsoft's plans for Internet searching. A spokesman for Kroes said that the EU is concerned that Microsoft could use Internet Explorer 7 to 'unfairly direct computer users to Microsoft's own search service'. ...more

HP puts its stamp on nanotechnology

HP is seeking a pay-off from 10 years's investment in nanoscale electronics with the announcement of a new licensing programme. It is for technology that HP says could enable the fabrication of semiconductor chips significantly more powerful than those available today. The technology involves a nanoimprint lithography (NIL) process, a method of stamping patterns less than 50 atoms wide on a substrate. ...more

Harry Potter and the Orders of Amazon

It may not be available for another five months but Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is already at the top of the charts on Amazon.co.uk. ...more