It's just the latest version of an old worm called "MyDoom," and it's the reason why Google and other search engines slowed down or didn't work this week. The Washington Post tells how to avoid infection and - if your child does open the attachment that launches it - provides links to free fix-it tools offered by several computer security companies. Here's the BBC with more on what this worm's … [Read more...] about To avoid this week’s worm
Back-to-school tech: Cheaper now
Good news for students and parents: Prices are dropping and quality improving on tech products that have been around for a while, Reuters reports. That includes laptops, DVD players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and little data storage devices. Reuters cites market research company NPD Group as saying prices have dropped 5% to 10% from last year. And the article points out that Taiwan-based … [Read more...] about Back-to-school tech: Cheaper now
File-sharing paid-for tunes
It has become a trend: More and more pay-per-tune services are offering file-sharing of tunes their customers purchase. MusicMatch is the latest to join in, the Washington Post reports. "Like Napster 2.0 [and unlike Apple's iTunes], MusicMatch subscribers can share playlists with fellow subscribers and others who don't subscribe to the service," according to the Post. "Unlike Napster, which only … [Read more...] about File-sharing paid-for tunes
Oz porn watchdog: No bite
Once famous for its unusually tough approach (for a democratic country) to Internet porn, the Australian Broadcasting Authority has been found "powerless against offshore [porn] operators," Australian IT reports . The article adds that the ABA shut down only four Australia-based sites last year. But Aussie adult sites aren't the primary problem, apparently. The international, borderless nature of … [Read more...] about Oz porn watchdog: No bite
File-sharers to be ‘unmasked’
This may be a little scary to young music fans and file-swappers, and possibly their parents, because the RIAA sues minors too. A federal judge just made the RIAA (Recording Industry Assoc. of America) very happy by granting its request to "unmask anonymous file-swappers accused of copyright infringement," CNET reports. US District Judge Denny Chin ruled that Cablevision, a broadband Internet … [Read more...] about File-sharers to be ‘unmasked’