Microsoft casts its .NET over eBay

eBay and Microsoft have announced a strategic alliance to integrate their online offerings. Three initiatives have been agreed. The first will see eBay supporting Microsoft . ...more

GSM network operators reject MPEG video DRM licensing terms

The international body representing some 800 GSM network operators and device makers has rejected licensing terms for digital rights management technology for MPEG video and called for a complete re-examination of DRM options for mobile devices. The GSM Association (GSMA) said that the terms for the Open Mobile Alliance's Digital Rights Management 1.0 standard proposed by MPEG LA are 'impractical, excessive and short-sighted', according to GSMA CEO Rob Conway. ...more

Interfacing with Jakob Nielsen [part 1]

Jakob Nielsen, the world's best known expert on Web site usability is in London this week fronting the Usability Roadshow. Doctor Nielsen is best known for his method of heuristic evaluation and development of Web sites with small groups of testers and incremental development. He is also the author of a number of books on usability, his latest being Homepage Usability, 50 Web sites Deconstructed. ...more

Commwarrior virus threatens mobile phones via MMS messages

Finnish security expert F-Secure says it has discovered the first virus that spreads via multimedia messaging services, or MMS, sent by mobile phones. The virus, known as Commwarrior, is far from a simple proof of concept and has already been discovered in the 'wild'. There are already two variants. ...more

Aussie student stooges hauled in for Internet banking hacks

Four Sydney students found their pocket money strategies landed them in hot water with the law when it was revealed they were using their bank accounts to transfer money out of cracked online bank accounts. Australia's Daily Telegraph reports that New South Wales police arrested four students operating as mules for an Internet scam run by a Russia-based crime gang. The gang infected computers with a virus that monitored activities recording passwords and other sensitive information and sending it back. ...more