Windows cashpoints more vulnerable?

Cash machine networks could soon be more susceptible to computer viruses, a security firm has warned.

The warning is being issued because many banks are starting to use the Windows operating system in machines.

According to Trend Micro spokesman Todd Thiemann, there have been four incidents in which Windows viruses have disrupted networks of cash machines running the Microsoft operating system, most notably the slammer worm, which knocked out 13 000 Bank of America cash machines last year.

However, banking experts say the danger is overplayed and the risks of infection and disruption are small, BBC reports.

Many cash machines will need to be upgraded for the new Europay, MasterCard and Visa credit cards that use computer chips instead of magnetic stripes to store data, which in turn is increasing the need for banks to incorporate Microsoft software.

Google plans to release a version of its desktop search tool to run on Apple`s Macintosh operating system.

A specific date has yet to be announced, as the tool will have to be rebuilt from the ground up due to the fundamental differences between the Mac OS and Windows, Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said on Friday.

According to Reuters, Google released the desktop tool earlier this month, staking out early ground in a battle for personal information retrieval that is expected to eventually include players like Microsoft and Apple.

Global manufacturer Kyocera has announced a precautionary recall of batteries found in the KE/KX 400 Series, 3200 Series and Slider Series phones.

The company discovered that a battery supplier had intentionally provided batteries containing unapproved battery cells, MobileBurn reports.

In an official press release, the company said it is not clear what percentage of batteries from the supplier in question contained fraudulent battery cells, which can only be identified by disassembling the batteries.

Kyocera has put into motion a plan with its carriers to contact customers with these phones directly and let them know of the recall. Recall batteries can also be requested online here.