Tories attack national child database plans

The Tories will step up pressure on the government over the risks posed by the ContactPoint national child database after children's minister Kevin Brennan denied a report from consultants that warned of "a number of security failings" in the way it has been set up, reports Computing.co.uk.

Brennan told MPs the database "has been developed very much with security in mind" to increase child protection.

He claimed it would help identify young people at risk from forced marriages and enable local protection authorities to act.

Attackers are exploiting a buffer overrun vulnerability in the lightweight database that provides data access to Microsoft Access, Visual Basic and third-party applications, says eWeek.

An unpatched security flaw in Microsoft's Jet Database Engine is being used to launch targeted attacks against Windows users, according to an advisory from the software vendor.

Technical details on this zero-day vulnerability are not yet available, but it is common knowledge that the Jet DB engine has suffered from major security issues over the last few years.

The Department of Justice has approved Sirius Satellite Radio's proposed $5 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings, saying the deal was unlikely to hurt competition or consumers, reports APP.com.

The deal was approved without conditions, despite opposition from consumer groups and an intense lobbying campaign by the land-based radio industry.

The combination still requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission, which prohibited a merger when it granted satellite radio operating licences in 1997.

Rock Band is ready for an encore. After chart-topping performances on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the Harmonix-developed rhythm is set to bow on Nintendo's Wii, says Gamespot.

Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello had already revealed the latest platform for the game in an investor conference call earlier this year, but today the publisher, along with MTV Games and Harmonix, announced the game's release date, 22 June.

The Wii edition of Rock Band will launch in the US and Canada as a special edition bundle including the game, drums, microphone and a wireless guitar peripheral. Although standalone instruments will be available on day one, there were no announced plans for an unbundled edition of the game.