Server breach raises Linux worries

The GNU Project, which develops many of the components in Linux, said this week that an attacker had compromised the system housing its primary download servers.

CNet reports that the project urged those who had downloaded software from the server since March to check that the source code had not been tampered with. Linux, which dominates the Web server market, uses the compiler, libraries and other software that was originally developed by the GNU Project. The project warned that the attacker may have inserted malicious code into its software, although it said all the code checked so far appeared to be intact.

Microsoft has scoffed at suggestions that its software contains back doors for use by US intelligence services, as the Australian government signed on for access to the source code behind Windows, reports The Age.

Creating back doors for the CIA would be a "stupid decision" as the feature would certainly be discovered, says Microsoft`s chief security strategist Scott Charney. Formerly of the US Department of Justice, Charney was US chief federal prosecutor for cyber crimes before starting as Microsoft`s chief security strategist in 2002. He is now also chief Trustworthy Computing strategist.

Western Europeans are being offered a new ITunes-like digital music store that is accessed through Microsoft`s Windows Media Player 9 Series software, reports PC World.

The pay-per-song service launched yesterday in the UK and is being branded by both the MSN Music Club and the Tiscali Music Club. Users access two music clubs through the Premium Services tab of the Windows Media Player 9 Series.

A new movie that features two of film`s scariest horror characters, Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees, relied on mobile scanning services from Eyetronics for its sophisticated visual effects, reports SACM.

Eyetronics technicians scanned the actors who play Freddy and Jason entirely on location using Eyetronics` ShapeCam system. Jason`s mask and machete, and Freddy`s knives and glove were also scanned.

ShapeCam is a handheld scanning system that consists of a digital camera and specially designed flash devices mounted on a lightweight frame. It allows Eyetronics technicians to move freely around persons or objects, capturing dimensional and texture information simply by taking pictures.