Critics attack US broadband plans

The Federal Communications Commission faces criticism amid reports that it will abandon plans to introduce tough rules to regulate broadband services, reveals the BBC.

Its power was recently called into question when a court ruled it had no authority to sanction cable firm Comcast for slowing some Internet traffic.

The decision was a blow for "Net neutrality" advocates, who argue that all Web traffic should be equal.

A North Carolina man's scheme to steal as much as $350 000 during an automatic teller machine hacking spree was thwarted by an ex-convict, who turned the man in to authorities, reports The Register.

Thor Alexander Morris approached the Texas-based ex-con looking for help identifying the locations of specific models of ATMs that are known to be vulnerable to tampering.

But it would appear Morris contacted the wrong man. Brian Rhett Martin turned over a CD containing chat transcripts, photos of Morris, and other evidence to FBI agents.

Intel has announced its long-awaited Atom chip for smartphones and tablets, in a crowded market populated by a host of formidable rivals - unlike the PC market where it dominates, writes CNet.

Previously known by the code name "Moorestown", the Atom Z6 processor series will "open the door" for Intel chips in the smartphone market, says Pankaj Kedia, director in the Ultra Mobility Group.

To date, Intel's Atom has been used primarily in netbooks, where it has been used widely by all major PC makers and been an unqualified hit.

Yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of the infamous LoveBug worm, the prolific malware strain that proved opening "flirty" e-mails from acquaintances seriously endangers Internet hygiene, says The Register.

MessageLabs security team was the first to stop and name LoveBug, a mass-mailing worm later reckoned to have infected 45 million computer users worldwide.

As a result of the malware outbreak, the percentage of viruses in e-mail surged overnight from just one in every 1 000 e-mails to one in 28, on 4 May 2000. E-mail servers worldwide ground to a halt under the onslaught.