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MS admits security update errors

Kirsten Doyle
By Kirsten Doyle, ITWeb contributor.
Johannesburg, 16 Mar 2010

MS admits security update errors

Microsoft has been forced to admit that a security update for its popular Excel application caused non-English text to appear on some users' screens, reports Computing.co.uk.

In a posting on the Office Sustained Engineering blog, Microsoft engineers branded the error a “cosmetic issue”, caused by the firm's patch update, issued on Tuesday.

“We have received reports from some of our Excel 2003 and Excel 2002 customers that - after installing update KB978471 or KB978474 - they are seeing non-English text in the Add or Remove Programs tool (WinXP) or the Programs and Features --> Installed Updates view (Vista, Win7),” the posting noted.

Crooks plant fake payment card terminals

Crooks planted bogus payment card processing terminals at multiple locations operated by the Hancock Fabrics chain store that allowed for the theft of sensitive financial data from customers, says The Register.

The personal identification number pads were stolen in August and September, and "replaced with visually identical, but fraudulent PIN pad units," Hancock Fabrics warned in a letter to customers. "As a result, certain account information and PIN numbers used at these locations may have been unlawfully acquired by third parties."

Intercepted information may have included the name printed on the payment card, the card number, the expiration date, and the PIN, if it was entered into one of the fraudulent terminals.

HSBC admits huge data theft

HSBC has admitted that about 24 000 of its private banking operation clients, in Switzerland, had personal details stolen by a former employee, reveals the BBC.

In December, HSBC said that just 10 account-holders were affected by the theft, which happened three years ago.

The information stolen concerns 15 000 accounts that are still active. Another 9 000 accounts have been closed since the theft.

FCC unveils national broadband plan

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made its national broadband plan public yesterday, outlining specific recommendations for policy-makers over the next decade to ensure all Americans get access to high-speed Internet, writes CNet.

Congress asked the FCC, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed in February 2009, to come up with a comprehensive plan to spread affordable broadband access throughout the US, with the goal of creating more jobs for Americans, improving healthcare, and encouraging energy independence.

The FCC task force, which has been working on the report for nearly a year, will present its 360-page report to the FCC commissioners today and will present the report to Congress on Wednesday.

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