MS targets zombie spammers

Microsoft has filed a lawsuit against groups using zombie computers, saying experiments have shown that the use of infected PCs to thwart spam blockers and pass along immense quantities of junk e-mail is more widespread and disruptive than previously thought.

PC World reports that although Microsoft has just announced legal moves specifically targeting illegal e-mail operations that connect to zombie computers to send spam, a civil suit was filed in August in Washington State`s King County Superior Court.

Microsoft now plans to amend the lawsuit to name the spammers who are taking advantage of consumers.

Motorola and Intel plan to intensify collaboration efforts to accelerate the development and adoption of WiMax broadband technology for mobile devices, reports ZDNet.

The companies have been working with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers on the 802.16e standard for both fixed and wireless broadband applications, but now plan to share test and design information to ensure their WiMax products are interoperable.

The report says the collaboration is aimed at promoting WiMax technology, which is considered a promising next-generation wireless technology because it supports high data rates and has a long transmission reach.

An international civil aviation expert has warned the UK government that biometric passports alone will not be enough to counter terrorism threats.

BBC News says Barry Kefauver told a conference in London that new e-passports need to be linked to databases held by police and other agencies to be effective and that biometrics on passports would not be a panacea against the threat of terrorism.

The UK Passport Service plans to introduce biometric passports, which contain chips with data from a facial scan, in early 2006.

Sonly has had to increase the number of game players it is shipping to retailers to meet demand, according to Reuters.

The company says it has raised the target of shipments of both its PlayStation 2 (PS2) game player and PlayStation Portable (PSP) machine for the year to March 2006 by a million units each to 14 million units.