Britain fears large-scale e-mail attacks

British cyber-security officials yesterday issued an unusually dire alert, warning that hackers are targeting e-mail-borne viruses against government agencies and high-profile British corporations, with the aim of stealing confidential data, the Washington Post reports.

A document released by Britain`s National Infrastructure Security Coordination Centre (NISCC) claims the attacks appear custom-made for each target, focusing on commercially or economically sensitive data.

The e-mails appear to originate from trusted contacts, news agencies or government departments, using distribution lists to target large numbers of recipients with similar interests, the report said.

NISCC said the links and attachments that arrive with the e-mail attempt to download a Trojan program that allows hackers to control unsecured computers.

Hackers are running unauthorised programs and games on the US version of Sony`s new handheld game console, TechNewsWorld said this week.

Sony has installed controls to prevent gaming enthusiasts from running programs and games on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) that are not licensed by the company, which includes classic games designed for use in older versions of the company`s game consoles, the report said. However, the report added that hackers have nonetheless been successful in unlocking the device`s capabilities.

Sony`s restrictions were defeated by a program disseminated on the Internet this week, which requires two memory cards that are switched while the PSP is working. The hack only works with version 1.5 "firmware".

While this presents a challenge to Sony`s policy of tight control, it also suggests the possibility that PSP games could be pirated.

To counter the attack, Sony yesterday released version 1.51 of firmware, which includes several security updates to fix vulnerabilities. Older versions of the handset are still exposed to attack unless the software is updated.

The new legitimised Napster concluded a deal with Ericsson this week, opening the way for a mobile music download service for wireless carriers, PC Magazine reports.

The service combines elements of Napster`s To-Go online and mobile subscription service, and Ericsson`s personalised M-USE service.

The new service will support a combination of wireless and PC downloading, and both a-la-carte and subscription models, and will be created in conjunction with wireless service carriers.

Napster and Ericsson also said the service will be designed to work with current cellphones from all major manufacturers that support content protected by digital rights management.

KT and Intel have announced a collaborative deal to speed up delivery of IEEE 802.16e-based wireless broadband services in Korea and around the world, as well as to harmonise Korea`s WiBro service with mobile WiMAX1 technology, hardwarezone.com reports.

In terms of the agreement, Intel will work closely with KT to drive its WiBro2 commercialisation efforts, and Intel will provide its broadband wireless expertise, silicon and technical services to develop 802.16e-based devices that meet the needs of local telecommunications carriers.

KT will first demonstrate the global standard-based WiBro service in November at APEC Summit 2005. Meanwhile, Intel and KT will work together to globally promote the delivery of WiBro services and mobile WiMAX technologies.