It is an ongoing race against time for anti-virus vendors as ever-increasing viruses attack computers worldwide. Meanwhile, one anti-virus vendor is acting proactively by developing anti-virus software for the Palm platform.

In addition to the on-going Microsoft saga, Dimension Data`s UK listing news and losses from Bynx and Contlan Holdings made IT news headlines last week.

Business intelligence (BI) vendors frequently claim scalability when touting their offerings, but very few deliver on this component which is often neglected when making an intelligent BI decision.

Component technology is enabling companies to adopt a step-by-step approach to e-business.

As the virus tally constantly increases, cyber crime history is being made as online thieves take every opportunity to steal cyber bucks or cause PC havoc, and more often than not get away with it too.

The Microsoft ruling and the SATRA and Department of Communications "squabble" had the IT world talking last week, while Baan`s take-over by Invensys looks uncertain as shareholders mutiny.

In the headlong dash to join the e-commerce economy, companies are in danger of repeating the mistakes of enterprise resource planning.

Man shot for manipulating computer records, Indian computer engineer arrested for stealing Internet time, fickle firewalls and telling the nasty from the damp squibs are all fodder for this week`s round-up of security-related news.

Proactive customer care means challenging a company`s traditional processes and channels in order to find a smarter way of doing business.

Last week`s three major international acquisitions and takeovers were predicted in the previous edition of Booth`s Bites.

The demands placed on CEOs are changing dramatically as technology makes its mark on the business world. In order to move forward, CEOs should be e-commerce adept and old economy tested.

Last week saw several acquisitions, speculation over Baan`s new owners and European telecoms rumours.

The announcement of a merger and the failure of a merger was top international IT news last week, while Brainware`s troubles was the most talked about news locally.