Short takes from this week's news
Online records earn Land Registry £20m
The Land Registry revealed this week that it is earning an
extra £20m a year by moving its transactions online. The agency,
which records property and land records, is completing 54% of its
transactions online since going live with an internet service in
March. The agency has installed an Entrust security server to
authenticate the identities of 53,000 customers. The service allows
customers to look at plans and title deeds, lodge official searches
and request copies.
BEA releases Diablo for high-volume apps
BEA Systems has unveiled BEA Weblogic Server 9.0, codenamed
"Diablo". The server is designed to help companies develop and
deploy "very high-volume, minimal-disruption applications in a
service oriented architecture", the company said. The simplified
development of service oriented applications can help lower
development and operational costs, said BEA.
Maslan -C worm attacks Chechen rebel
websites
An e-mail virus the Maslan-C worm (W32/Maslan-C) has been
discovered by security experts Sophos. It carries the subject line
"123" and carries an attached file called "Playgirls2.exe". It is
designed to launch a series of denial of service attacks on
websites run by Chechen rebel separatists. Recipients who run the
attached file and become infected can pass the virus to other
e-mail users.
BCS sees boom in new, younger membership
The British Computer Society is pulling in young IT
professionals as part of a recruitment drive to boost membership
figures. The society has taken in 7,500 new members in the last
seven months and said the average age of applicants has fallen from
37 to 29. The boom in new memberships is the result of a drive by
the society’s chief executive David Clarke to make the society more
inclusive.
Yahoo tests PC and web search engine
Yahoo is to start testing a downloadable desktop search
application to keep up with rival Google. The California-based web
portal said last week it will introduce free software with X1
Technologies. The engine will allow users to search their hard
drive, e-mails, Word documents, PDFs, music and photos. The
application will be available in early January.
Landesk Software releases security suite
Landesk Software has unveiled the Landesk Security Suite for
managing systems and security across enterprises. Security Suite
aims to help users manage and defend against threats including
malicious attacks, adware, system intrusion and spyware.
Beta testing begins on Windows Server R2
This month, 1,000 selected Microsoft beta testers will begin
testing Windows Server 2003 R2, an update to the Windows Server
family, which is planned for release next October. A second beta is
scheduled for the first half of next year, with the final product
filling the gap between Windows Server 2003 and Longhorn, expected
in 2007.
Government to carry out inquiry into
e-voting
The government is taking its first steps towards electronic
voting. The House of Constitutional Affairs will carry out an
inquiry next year into the practicalities of e-voting, focusing on
the merits of electronic registration versus paper-based
registration and whether to set up a national electoral
register.
Newham signs £14m contract with HP
The London Borough of Newham has signed a £14m, 10-year deal
with HP for its Microsoft Windows and Exchange 2003 IT
infrastructure service, which includes design, implementation,
Proliant blade servers, storage systems and desktop, laptop and
tablet PCs. The server and storage project began in October, with
the desktop refresh due to commence in early 2005.
Novell to sell Netline’s Openxchange server
Novell is to sell and provide training, maintenance and support
for Netline Internet Service’s Linux-based Openxchange Server.
Novell will drop the SuSE Linux Open-xchange Server. The server
supports businesses with flexible groupware functions including
e-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks and real-time document
storage.
Symantec to acquire Platform Logic
Symantec is to acquire Platform Logic, which produces intrusion
detection software. The deal will add Platform Logic’s Appfire host
intrusion prevention software to Symantec’s product line, and will
give Symantec the ability to block "zero day" exploits, Trojans and
spyware.
Oracle, EMC, Intel and Dell collaborate on
grids
Dell, EMC, Intel and Oracle are collaborating on "Project
Megagrid" to create a standard approach to building and deploying
enterprise computing grids. The project will focus on designing,
testing and documenting best practices for building grid
infrastructures, the companies said.
BMC system certified for 10g Application
Server
BMC Software’s Remedy Action Request System has been certified
with Oracle Application Server 10g, allowing users to define,
manage, and deploy business services and composite applications on
grid architectures. Users can use the Action Request system to
automate and maintain their Oracle-based business processes, BMC
said.
Training course offered for move from 8i to
10g
Oracle University, an online training centre, is offering a
"bridge" course and certification for Oracle certified
professionals who want to migrate from Oracle8i to Oracle Database
10g. The course, Oracle Database 10g: New Features for Oracle8i
DBAs, will be available in January 2005.
Oracle App Server gets security
accreditation
The Oracle Cryptographic Libraries Secure Sockets Layer
component of Oracle Application Server 10g has been validated to
FIPS 140-2 Level 2, a US government security standard.