Broadband undercuts dial-up on price

Broadband access has become cheaper than dial-up for the first time, latest figures indicate. Consumers with a dial-up connection are now almost certain to make savings by switching to broadband, irrespective of whether they pay per minute or via a monthly fee for unlimited access, according to SimplySwitch.com, the price comparison service. ...more

Directgov launched to offer online Government services for all

The Office of the e-Envoy has announced the first stage of its Directgov online service. The idea is to simplify access to government services and information. So whichever departments of Whitehall you need access to - the site is a one stop shop for all of them. ...more

Kaspersky has IP doubts about Microsoft's Virus Information Alliance

Kaspersky's CEO Natalya Kaspersky has said her company has been hesitant in joining Microsoft's Virus Information Alliance because of concerns that Microsoft would use that information to the advantage of its own antivirus product. Microsoft's Virus Information Alliance (VIA) was formed to share information on viruses. However, antivirus companies do this already on a monthly basis - more often if necessary - outside of VIA. ...more

Microsoft buckles under EU pressure

In its stand-off with the European Union, Microsoft seems to have blinked first. Following threats of fines of up to €2 million a day for non compliance, Microsoft is to license all the Windows Server source code for the technologies covered by the European Commission's Decision of March 2004. Under that ruling, the European Union had decreed that Microsoft had kept certain aspects of Windows Server code to its own programmers so that, for example, Microsoft Office applications performed better than those of rival vendors. ...more

Sober worm mutates to spread neo-Nazi propaganda

German neo-Nazis have begun sending spam emails to entice the unsuspecting to racist websites. Over the weekend a version of the Sober worm (Sober.Q) dispatched emails to millions of computer users - the quantity has been described as 'staggering' - with subject lines, in German, such as 'Multicultural = multicriminal'. ...more