Short takes from this week's news
Microsoft confirms Explorer vulnerability
Microsoft has confirmed the existence of code that hackers could
use to exploit a security bug in Internet Explorer. The code could
allow hackers to execute arbitrary code on the user's system.
Microsoft said it was investigating and would produce more guidance
where necessary. A security update will be provided through the
regular monthly patch release or a one-off release. The next
scheduled patch release is on 11 April.
Government may split population register
The government is considering splitting the central population
register, at the core of the Home Office's biometric identity card
programme, into smaller databases that could be operated by several
different companies. The plan is designed to address security
concerns associated with holding vast amounts of personal data on a
single database. The companies would be monitored by civil
servants.
Samsung three face jail for fixing chip
prices
Three Samsung executives have agreed to plead guilty on charges
of conspiring to fix the price of computer memory chips with other
companies, and now face jail. The three men have each agreed to
serve prison terms of seven to eight months, and pay a fine of
£147,000 each. A US government investigation into the price fixing
of DRam chips in the US market has so far resulted in a total of
£421m in fines, against 12 individuals and four firms.
Unison calls for council IT workers to
strike
Work in council IT departments was expected to grind to a halt
today as Unison called for its 800,000 local government members to
strike over pensions. The one-day strike was called as part of
Unison's efforts to secure the same early retirement deal that
public servants in central government have achieved. Some 80% of
Unison members voted in favour of strike action.
Taxman invests £340m in online
infrastructure
HM Revenue and Customs is to invest £340m over the next nine
years in its online service infrastructure, in line with
recommendations made in Lord Carter's review of HMRC's electronic
filing services, published last week. Carter's key recommendation
is that HMRC should work towards universal online filing of tax
returns from businesses by 2012.
Lost HP laptop prompts identity fraud fears
A laptop with personal data on 196,000 current and former
Hewlett-Packard employees has been stolen, igniting another US
identity fraud threat. The stolen laptop belonged to Fidelity
Investments, which provides financial services to HP. The data
stolen includes names, addresses, social security numbers, dates of
birth and employment-related information.
Global IT spending set to increase 6.3% in
2006
Worldwide IT spending is set to increase by 6.3% in 2006
according to IDC. IT spending is expected to increase by 5.8% in
the US, with 6% growth in Western Europe. The global increase in IT
spending is down from 6.9% in 2005, which was boosted by increased
spending on infrastructure upgrades. This year, growth is expected
to be stronger in software (7%), with hardware and services
spending expected to increase by 6%.
Brown cuts tax breaks for home computers
The government is cutting tax breaks designed to encourage the
take-up of home computers by UK employees. Chancellor Gordon Brown
announced in last week's budget that the tax exemptions offered
within the Home Computing Initiative will end from 6 April. The
initiative has allowed employers to loan computing equipment to
their employees for personal use at home as a tax-free benefit.
Carphone Warehouse signs network deal
Carphone Warehouse has signed Indian support services company
Patni to supply its fixed line and wireless networks. Patni will
also be the retailer's mobile virtual network operator in Europe.
Carphone Warehouse is paying a fixed price for the contract, which
is believed to be for five years.
Capita boss quits over Labour loans affair
Rod Aldridge, executive chairman and founder of outsourcing firm
Capita, has resigned from the company in the wake of the Labour
loans scandal. Aldridge, who lent the political party £1m, said he
resigned to protect Capita from the fall out of the
"money-for-peerages" allegations. "As founder and chairman I have
always seen it as my role to ensure that the group enjoys the
highest possible standing and operates with total integrity," he
said.