Sun launches Java desktop

Sun has unveiled its desktop platform, the Sun Java Desktop System, formerly known as Project Mad Hatter. Except that the only mad thing about seems it has little to do with Java. The Java Desktop system is built on SuSE's distro of Linux, with office apps from Star Office 7, Mozilla's browser and Ximian's Evolution calendaring and PIM apps suite among the host of open-source programs provided. ...more

US under simulated hacking attack

For the past week, the US has been under a simulated cyber attack. The exercise, known as Cyber Storm, was intended to test America's defences in response to a full-scale cyber attack by hackers. The main aim was to discover how well the US is prepared to respond not only to attacks on military and other security services but also against energy, information technology, telecommunications, and transport infrastructures. ...more

Microsoft's digital signature security compromised

Microsoft and VeriSign are warning that an impostor fraudulently obtained two digital certificates. The danger is the certificates will be used to deceive users into receiving damaging code under the guise of it being officially supplied by Microsoft. An audit procedure at VeriSign - the issuers of the certificates - identified the problem that actually occurred back in late January. ...more

Who would buy that?

Only on the Internet. There's now a Web site dedicated to strange "rubbish" that people want to try and sell online. Forget about trawling through the thousands of items on eBay for that really eccentric gift, just surf over to whowouldbuythat. ...more

Napster offers free music player in US downloads battle

Napster in the US is to offer a 'free' music player to its subscribers. Customers who sign up for a year's subscription at $119.40 get a Rio Chiba sport for free. ...more