TippingPoint to pay bug-hunting bounty

A security company is to pay for tip-offs of security holes in software. 3Com-owned TippingPoint says its Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) will reward security researchers for telling it of security gaffes they come across, rather than making them public. Publicising flaws in software before the software vendor has time to research and fix the holes can mean that exploit code is assembled before users are protected - a zero-day attack. ...more

BenQ boasts a faster shade of grey

BenQ says the technology in its new LCD range will improve fast-motion images. Its Advanced Motion Accelerator (AMA) speeds up response times between shades of grey. It claims that while most monitor manufacturers quote response times in terms of turning a pixel on and off, this is by far the easiest task for the hardware, and the least common in terms of normal use. ...more

Microsoft and other games publishers bid for 3DO

Microsoft looks to add to its Xbox roster Seven videogames companies have qualified to bid for the assets of bankrupt company 3DO, and the sale has attracted a number of big hitters. The full list of interested parties is Crave, Eidos, JoWood, Microsoft, Namco, Turbine and Ubisoft. 3DO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late May; the auction will include the rights to bid on in progress titles like Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Street Racing Syndicate, though there's no news on whether or not any new Army Men titles are in the pipeline. ...more

09-02-2002 Essential news of the week

Brought neatly together and presented on a plate, here is a roundup of some of the week's main news stories from the world of IT. Cheaper broadband on the way, says BT From Java to C#, the Microsoft way Date set for HP and Compaq votes Forces shifting on the Broadband front HP bullish on consumer technology spending New BT, same old job cuts Apple founder backs 'revolutionary' PDA Underworld attacks Morpheus Call for health warning on vibrating game controllers The swift sword of cyber justice Don't forget, we welcome your comments. Just click on a story and go for the 'Comments' link on the right-hand side of the screen. ...more

New Instant messaging virus reaching epidemic proportions

Kaspersky Labs has warned of a new virus that is already creating a global epidemic by exploiting the ICQ instant messaging application. The Bizex worm arrives as an instant message inviting the victim to visit the 'jokeworld' website where they are shown cartoons from a 'Joecartoon' series. However, in the background, the worm harvests the victim's ICQ contacts to which sends the invitation to visit the website as if it came from the victim. ...more