Dell pulls Axim patch

Dell has missed a self-imposed deadline to post a fix on its support Web site for the performance problems that plague the Windows Mobile 2003 versions of its Axim handheld.

PC World reports that the company quietly posted an FTP link to the patch yesterday. However, it pulled that file after some users discovered a way to upgrade their Pocket PC 2002 operating systems without a licence.

US government and industry experts are increasingly concerned about brewing hacker activity, which they consider to be a precursor to a broad Internet attack that will target a serious flaw in Windows software.

News Day reports that experts are advising computer users with renewed urgency to apply a free repair patch that Microsoft has offered on its Web site since 16 July, when it acknowledged that the flaw affected nearly all versions of its flagship Windows operating system software.

The US Homeland Security Department has cautioned that hackers have in recent days successfully tested new tools to seize control of such vulnerable computers over the Internet, stealing data, deleting files or eavesdropping on e-mails. The government also said it had detected an "Internet-wide increase in scanning" for victim computers.

Australia is now officially under the thumb of the mod-chip banners, after the Court of Appeal accepted an argument that mod-chips should be made illegal, reports The Register.

Mod chips enable games console players to overcome protection built into their machines to run imported games bought legitimately and to backup games legitimately. But they also facilitate the playing of pirated games.

For a short time, selling mod chips in Australia was legal, following a court ruling last July. Sony had filed a suit against a Sydney mod-chip trader, Eddy Stevens.