Cisco, Intel and BT join forces on wireless security

Cisco, Intel and BT today announced a joint initiative to ensure wireless security is built into future devices and services rather than bolted on when needed. The move has been prompted by the evolution of wireless standards - specifically the adoption of WPA version 2. As this requires new hardware rather than simply upgrading existing software, the companies see this as an opportunity to ensure equipment supports this standard from the outset, and avoid the development of proprietary enhancements to technologies that will only work when all your equipment is from the same vendor. ...more

WLAN Event: Telcos turn their eye to hot spots

At today's WLAN Event in London, Ericsson has demonstrated a laptop wirelessly accessing the Internet through a hot-spot, but authenticated over a GSM mobile network using a standard SIM card. Mobile operators will now have the chance to grab their bit of gold from hot-spots, with Ericsson demonstrating how GSM networks can authenticate WLAN sessions via a standard SIM card. User would enjoy a more attractive and familiar billing system - being charged by the minute with the amount turning up on your phone bill - than the nominal ?5 per 24-hour period, proposed by Toshiba. ...more

Lost laptops pile up at Heathrow

Unclaimed laptops are accumulating at record rates in the lost property stores at Heathrow Airport, as a result of the recent heightened security. Around 120 portables are handed in every month, many of which are never claimed and end up being auctioned. Many travellers simply assume that their computer has been stolen and never try to get it back. ...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

Massachusetts man brings his open standards campaign to Europe

The erstwhile CIO of the state of Massachusetts has taken his open standards campaign to Europe, lobbying Euro MPs to ensure that public documents are not tied to proprietary formats. Peter Quinn resigned from his post as CIO in early January following an investigation into travel arrangements, for which he was subsequently cleared. But not before he changed state policy on the use of proprietary formats and the dangers these present to citizens' ability to access such documents - much to Microsoft's chagrin. ...more