Cisco flaw warning

Cisco has warned that some networks with its routers could be vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks.

ZDNet reports the problem is in the processing of packets sent to a Cisco router that has been configured for the Open Shortest Path First protocol. If the router receives a malformed packet, it will take a while to reset. Attackers could flood networks with packets that cause routers to reboot. The flaw is limited to versions 12.0S, 12.2 and 12.3 of Cisco`s Internetwork Operating System routing software.

Cisco has provided a patch for the security flaw and is also recommending that customers update their routers with a free software patch, available by e-mailing its support centre at tac@cisco.com. The full Cisco advisory has been posted on its Web site.

Public access WiFi hotspots have become a key communications alternative in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Charley, reports Computerworld.

The widespread power outage has hit cellular service in some parts of the state and residents are turning to WiFi as an emergency communications alternative, mainly for business.

Six days after Hurricane Charley roared throughout Florida, close to a half-million people still lack power and nearly 100 000 people do not have phone service.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has begun to incorporate a form of strained silicon into its chips, which ZDNet says will enable the company to increase the performance of its processors.

The report says strained silicon is being incorporated into all of AMD`s 90-nanometre chips and will also be added to 130-nanometre chips to be released this quarter.

Strained silicon is a design technique in which silicon atoms are forcibly pulled apart from each other. With the atoms spaced out further from one other, electrons can move more rapidly, leading to better performance.

Apple Computer has launched a voluntary worldwide 15-inch PowerBook G4 battery exchange programme to deal with 28 000 potentially faulty units, reports PC World.

The report says an internal short of the batteries can cause them to overheat, posing a fire hazard. The units were made by LG Chem in South Korea. Apple is replacing the batteries at no charge.

Not all PowerBooks are affected, only units sold worldwide from January 2004 until August 2004 for use with 15-inch G4 PowerBooks. The recalled batteries have the model number A1045.

Nortel Networks, under the shadow of financial investigations, is to cut 10% of its workforce, or around 3 500 jobs, in a bid to reduce costs, reports Computerworld.

The staff cuts are expected to result in annual cost savings of between $450 million to $500 million and are scheduled to be completed before the end of the year.

Nortel has also announced preliminary estimated financial results for the first half of this year. The company said it expects to file full reports for the first two quarters of 2004 and restated quarterly reports for the whole of 2003 by the end of September. Nortel is being investigated by the Ontario Securities Commission and the US Securities and Exchange Commission regarding restatement of results as far back as 2001.

The KDE Project has released a new version of its desktop interface for the Linux operating system, reports CNet.

The report says KDE 3.3 includes new applications such as a spellchecker dictionary and educational tools, plus enhancements to components such as the Kmail e-mail client and the Kontact address book. The new version of the free program is available from KDE in more than 50 languages.