Linus Torvalds quits Transmeta

Linus Torvalds, the brains behind the Linux operating system is to take a 'leave of absence' from his job at chip designers Transmeta and work full time on the Linux operating system. He has accepted the position of 'Fellow' at the Open Source Development Lab (OSDL), an organisation which helps to build Enterprise class Linux software. From his email announcing his move Torvalds is unclear whether the move is permanent or temporary. ...more

BT announces new Internet deal early

BT has confirmed leaked reports obtained by The Guardian that it will be announcing its latest Internet and telephone deals earlier than originally planned. BT Talk Together will offer unlimited off-peak calls for ?14.99 a month, including line rental. ...more

Almost half SMEs are virus lazy

Survey shows 42 per cent of SMEs don't update virus protection more often than weekly. A survey from Sophos reveals that 42 per cent of SME businesses and nearly a third of large businesses leave themselves open to attack by failing to update antivirus software more regularly than once a week. The survey, in which Sophos polled 4,500 administrators from companies of all sizes from across the globe, reveals that with 150 new viruses detected - some of them spreading in minutes - companies are leaving themselves unnecessarily vulnerable to attack. ...more

BT plans 1,000-exchange SDSL expansion

BT Wholesale is to equip a further 1,000 exchanges with SDSL broadband in a 12 month programme beginning in April 2005. Five hundred exchanges will be announced in January, with details of the second phase coming in August. The exchanges will be selected on the basis of feedback from ISPs and the density of SMEs in each area. ...more

Microsoft patch numbers hit record high

The number of critical flaws in Microsoft software has hit a record high, offering a prime opportunity for hackers to exploit the backlog of unprotected vulnerabilities, according to security experts. So far this year, the software giant has already addressed more critical vulnerabilities than in 2004 and 2005 combined, according to security specialist McAfee. This news follows Microsoft's latest monthly security patch update, issued yesterday, which highlighted nine 'critical' and three 'important' browser, Windows and Office-related flaws that allow remote code execution. ...more