UK govt report gives Linux thumbs up

UK government departments have moved a step closer to using open source operating systems such as Linux after a study found that they were "viable" products, reports BBC News.

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) report says open source software could "generate significant savings".

The OGC says the pilot schemes in the UK show that Linux could support government bodies by offering efficient and cost-effective IT solutions. It says the report will assist public sector bodies in making informed, value-for-money judgements when deciding upon which solutions best suit their needs.

The US Secret Service has arrested 28 people from eight US states and six countries allegedly involved in a global organised cybercrime ring.

A Computerworld report says charges filed against the suspects include identity theft, computer fraud, credit card fraud and conspiracy. The suspects are alleged to have collectively trafficked in at least 1.7 million stolen credit card numbers.

Financial institutions have estimated their losses associated with the suspects targeted by the investigation to be more than $4.3 million.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has filed another round of lawsuits against alleged file-swappers, including students on 13 university campuses, reports CNet.

The RIAA says its 750 lawsuits are helping build a foundation for the growth in authorised music services such as iTunes, Napster and others.

Security experts say Microsoft Windows users need to watch out for several flaws in non-Microsoft media players, reports CNet.

The report says Apple Computer and RealNetworks have both issued fixes for their Windows software to patch serious security vulnerabilities. This week, Apple released Quicktime 6.5.2 to plug two holes in its Windows media player and RealNetworks advised users of its RealPlayer software to download the latest patches.