Dangerous coding errors revealed

The US National Security Agency has helped put together a list of the world's most dangerous coding mistakes, reports the BBC.

The 25-entry list contains errors that can lead to security holes or vulnerable areas that can be targeted by cyber-criminals. Experts say many of these errors are not well understood by programmers.

According to the SANS Institute in Maryland, just two of the errors led to more than 1.5 million Web site security breaches during 2008.

China surpassed the US in 2008 as the world's top user of the Internet, according to a government-backed research group, says CNN.

Nearly 91% of China's Internet users are surfing the Web with a broadband connection. The number of Web surfers in the country grew by nearly 42% to 298 million, according to the China Internet Network Information Centre's January report. Yet only about one in every four Chinese has Internet access.

The rapid growth in China's Internet use can be tied to its swift economic gains and the government's push for the construction of telephone and broadband lines in the country's vast rural areas, the report says.

Apple has released details and prices of its battery-replacement programme for the recently released 17-inch MacBook Pro, states The Register.

When the notebook was unveiled, keynote presenter Phil Schiller revealed the battery was sealed inside. Apple claims the battery can power the MacBook Pro "up to eight hours on a single charge" and can be recharged "up to 1 000 times”. However, it is not user-replaceable.

Replacements can be made at an Apple retail store, through an Apple-run mail-in service, or by Apple-authorised service providers. In the US, it will cost $179, before taxes, to replace.

In an effort to keep pace with rival Netflix, Blockbuster has partnered with Sonic Solutions to offer instant access to its video library through various home and portable devices, according to CNet.

The movie rental company partnered with Sonic to offer more than 10 000 movies for rent and sale to a variety of PCs, cellphones, portable media players, Internet-connected televisions, and Blu-ray disc players.

The partnership is Blockbuster's latest attempt to match Netflix, which has expanded past its DVD-by-mail service to offer movie streaming on various Internet-connected devices.