Potential virus risk to Windows Vista

Malicious code has been discovered that targets a new command-line shell that may be part of the next Windows operating system, reports News.Com.

The report says a virus writer has published examples of malicious code that targets Microsoft`s upcoming command-line shell, code-named Monad, according to Finnish anti-virus maker F-Secure.

If the technology is included in Windows Vista, these could be one of the first viruses to target the new operating system formerly known as Longhorn, says F-Secure.

Monad is the replacement for the simple command shell in the current versions of Windows, but has the ability to run more complex scripts, which F-Secure warns could possibly open another door to attackers.

F-Secure warns that if Microsoft ships Monad with Vista and it is enabled by default, this could lead to an outbreak of scripting viruses.

The UK government has admitted its planned biometric identity cards won`t solve every problem facing the country, from fraud to terrorism.

However, the The Register reports that despite this admission, the UK Home Office has pledged to push on with the idea, saying it will still "help" in situations where fraud and identity abuse are factors.

The rather abrupt about-face follows a decline in public support for the card, following revelations about the potential cost of the project.

Yahoo is testing a search-engine feature that can sift through millions of songs offered by various Internet music services, reports Internetnews.

The free service allows users to search a list of 50 million music, voice and other files. Yahoo says its Audio Search is designed to complement music services, such as Yahoo Music Unlimited and other third-party services, by providing consumers access to an extensive array of other audio-related content such as podcasts.

Yahoo says the specialty engine will let users request an individual song or artist from 16 different services, including iTunes Music Store, Napster, Rhapsody and Yahoo`s own Music Unlimited.

Acer South Africa has introduced its fourth-generation convertible tablet PC in the form of the new TravelMate C310 series.

According to Acer, mobility is an important feature of the C310, with the Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG network connection chipset delivering IEEE-certified 802.11b/g dual-mode WiFi connectivity.

The new Acer Tablet series also sports the latest PCI Express bus architecture and dual-channel DDR2 533MHz memory, which Acer says is aimed at providing faster data transfer speeds and enhanced multitasking.

The TravelMate C310 series features the Acer Soft Button software utility that provides rapid software launches, fast Internet and e-mail access, easy system configuration, and quick adjustments to the connectivity options.