Ryan Naraine

Microsoft on Friday rushed out a major cumulative patch to plug ‘critical’ holes in Internet Explorer (IE) that allowed attackers to hijack the browser or change DNS server settings. In an unusual move, Microsoft issued an advisory late on Friday after security consultants warned that a QHosts-1 trojan was sneaking into PCs via unpatched Internet […]

A proposed class action lawsuit asking that Microsoft be held liable for software security vulnerabilities has reportedly been filed in a Los Angeles court, prompting a new round of discussion about the legal liabilities faced by large software vendors. According to a Reuters report, the complaint charges Microsoft with unfair competition and infringement of California’s […]

The OpenSSL Project has released new versions of its popular implementation of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols to plug multiple security vulnerabilities. According to a security advisory issued by the OpenSSL project, the vulnerabilities could allow malicious people to cause a denial-of-service or to gain system access. All versions […]

NEW YORK — In a coup for Roxio , the soon-to-be-relaunched Napster 2.0 has found a home on the upgraded WindowsXP Media Center Edition 2004, putting the paid download music service before a potentially large audience. Napster 2.0, which Roxio expects to launch before the holiday shopping season, has been embedded on the second iteration […]

Digital music software firm MusicMatch on Monday hopped aboard the paid music download train, rolling out a music store for PC users with relaxed usage rules. The San Diego-based MusicMatch, which already markets a popular music player, on Monday launched a pay-as-you-go store that piggybacks on the successful business model of Apple’s iTunes service. MusicMatch […]

Just months after America Online removed what it called an unauthorized copy of its Nullsoft division’s WASTE file-sharing program, an updated version promising secure P2P communication has reappeared on open-source repository SourceForge. Version 1.1 of the WASTE software, which was created by an employee of AOL’s Nullsoft subsidiary, remained available for download on the site […]

Looking to take the sheen off Google’s search engine dominance, online superstore Amazon.com plans to spin off a subsidiary to invest and develop e-commerce search technologies. The Seattle-based Amazon.com has released its VP and Chief Algorithms Officer Udi Manber to be president of the A9 subsidiary, which has quietly set up shop in Palo Alto, […]

Norway-based Opera Software is continuing its push to add power-browsing tools to its Web browsers, rolling out new versions for Windows users and for the Sony Ericsson P800 smartphone. Opera, which trails Microsoft and the Mozilla project in the three-way Web browser race, announced the availability of the final Opera 7.20 for Windows. It adds […]

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday confirmed that its internal computer system, which is used to screen visa applicants, was temporarily crippled by the so-called ‘friendly’ Welchia worm. A State Department spokesperson told internetnews.com the Welchia worm was detected in its Consular Lookout and Support System (CLASS), which ties into databases from law enforcement agencies […]

Enterprise anti-virus specialist Sophos on Wednesday shelled out $23 million in cash to acquire Canada-based anti-spam developer ActiveState as part of plans to offer “consolidated protection” from the blended threat of e-mail borne attacks. Sophos, which maintains U.S. headquarters in Lynnfield, Mass., said its anti-virus protection tools would be married with ActiveState’s flagship PureMessage enterprise […]

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Tuesday announced a settlement of two unfair trade practice charges against America Online and its Compuserve subsidiary over complaints the ISPs made it overly difficult for subscribers to cancel monthly subscriptions. Making it clear AOL was not admitting any wrongdoing, the FTC said the ISP faces civil penalties of […]

As part of a big marketing splash to coincide with Wednesday’s launch of the new “AOL 9.0 Optimized,” America Online announced a major freebie for its broadband subscribers — live video access to the Dave Matthews Band’s Central Park concert. The company said ‘AOL for Broadband’ subscribers would get VIP access to “Dave Matthews Band […]