Intel Japan raided

Reuters reports that officials from Japan`s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) have raided Intel`s Japanese offices on allegations of unfair business practices.

The report says Intel`s Japanese unit is suspected of seeking to prevent rival processor makers from supplying PC makers.

Intel has confirmed that FTC investigators raided its office in Tsukuba, near Tokyo, but declined any further comment. Japan is the world`s third-largest personal computer market after China and the US.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has called on the US government, businesses and consumers to work together to fight cybercrime.

PC World reports that Ballmer told a Business Software Alliance-sponsored event in Washington that every user of a computer had a responsibility to ensure they were protected.

The report says Ballmer called on consumers to actively protect themselves by using firewalls, employing up-to-date security, and running anti-virus software.

Microsoft has announced various measures to increase security aimed at protecting users from virus attacks and other cybercrimes.

Computer Associates International`s former CFO and two other executives have agreed to plead guilty to charges related to the federal investigation of CA`s accounting, reports Associated Press.

Ira Zar, CA`s former CFO, is scheduled to plead today, but the report says it is unclear to which charge or charges he will plead guilty.

Zar was dismissed last year after a board review found some sales contracts had been reflected as revenue before being signed by customers. At issue is whether CA altered its books to meet earnings targets.

Two other former CA finance officers, David Rivard and David Kaplan, are also expected to plead guilty.

CA is the subject of probes by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) has completed its acquisition of Novadigm, a provider of policy-based change and configuration management software.

The software enables users to automate management of software assets and heterogeneous resources to meet specialised business needs.

Novadigm`s management products are to be integrated with the HP OpenView management software portfolio as part of HP`s Adaptive Enterprise strategy.

The acquisition is the latest step in the evolution of HP`s software portfolio. HP has made six acquisitions over the past seven months to extend its capability to automate the dynamic link between IT and business.