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Microsoft has issued a warning about a significant flaw in the Internet Explorer browser that could allow hackers to control unprotected computers. The vulnerability permits hackers to inject malware into any system by tricking users into visiting malicious websites. This affects anyone using Internet Explorer (IE) versions 6 to 8. The exploit code for this bug has already been published. Although Microsoft has stated there is no current evidence of its use by criminals, they are "investigating" and working on a permanent fix, according to a report by the Daily Mail. Dave Forstrom, director of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing group, said, "We're currently unaware of any attacks trying to use the claimed vulnerability or of customer impact." The bug targets how the browser manages a computer's memory when processing Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), which are design instructions that dictate the appearance of most web pages. Hackers can inject their own...

A Michigan man faces prison time for accessing a laptop at his home and reading his wife's email. Leon Walker, 33, was charged with a felony after accessing his wife Clara Walker's email account and discovering she was having an affair, reported the Detroit Free Press. Upon discovering that his wife was communicating with her second husband, who had previously been arrested for beating her in front of her son, Leon Walker turned the emails over to Clara Walker's first husband, the child's father. This led to Leon Walker being charged with hacking—a law typically used for breaking into highly sensitive government or business computers or systems, the newspaper reported. "I have to ask," Walker’s attorney Leon Weiss told the paper, "Don't the prosecutors have more important things to do with their time?" Apparently not. Oakland County prosecutor Jessica Cooper described Walker as a "hacker" who used his skills as a computer technic...

Spam is arguably the most irritating aspect of the internet and email for people globally. However, there is hope in Canada for those who have been targeted by spammers. A new law, Bill C-28, aims to facilitate government efforts in prosecuting and fining individuals and companies guilty of sending spam. This law allows the government to impose fines of up to $1 million on individuals and up to $10 million on companies. Company directors and owners can also be held personally responsible if they are aware their networks are sending spam. Additionally, the law criminalizes the use of aliases or false information in emails, making it easier for victims to prosecute offenders. However, nearly 70 percent of the world's spam is distributed by botnets, meaning the senders are often as much victims as the receivers. Therefore, these laws might not significantly reduce the volume of spam sent and received. The new legislation closes a loophole in Canadian law, as Canada was previously ...

IBM has just released its annual five-year forecast, highlighting significant technological advancements. In the presentation video, the concept of "citizen scientists" is introduced. These individuals use sensors on computers, phones, and applications to gather mass data. Citizen scientists already employ these sensors to collect local data, such as monitoring when mosquitoes first appear in specific neighborhoods. This shared data could also aid in larger-scale events, like helping with earthquake aftermath by transmitting real-time site data to other networks. One of the major predictions is the rise of 3D holograms. The technology is already advancing with interactive systems like the Wii and Xbox Kinect, and the increasing popularity of 3D movies and televisions. IBM envisions using 3D holograms in innovative ways, such as conversing with someone in another location while walking down the street or collaborating with international colleagues through holographic interac...

Hackers are planning to increase data security attacks via applications on social networking websites this Christmas, according to an expert. Earlier this month, IT security firm Sophos traced the history of malware and viruses created over the Christmas period from 1987 until 2009. The blog post revealed that, although some were relatively harmless festive pranks, more cyberattacks over the holidays could have serious repercussions for computer users. Rik Ferguson, senior security analyst at Trend Micro, stated that hackers conduct such attacks annually. "Criminals absolutely do, every year without fail, conduct campaigns designed to take advantage of people's willingness to search for and click on links relating to Christmas activity, whether that's through phishing campaigns or sending social engineering emails masquerading as Christmas cards," he said. Mr. Ferguson added that apps on social networking sites had "come of age as an attack platform" and...