Anti-trust regulators investigate MS

European anti-trust regulators have begun investigating Microsoft`s plans to market consumer security software, reports The Register.

Symantec has been asked to provide information about Microsoft`s plans for OneCare - an all-in-one PC health check service targeted at consumers - in order to help investigators decide whether Microsoft might have fallen foul of anti-trust rules.

Windows OneCare is a subscription service that will provide automatically updated anti-virus, anti-spyware and two-way firewall protection.

The technology, due next year, pitches Microsoft squarely against former partners such as McAfee and Symantec.

Symantec spokesperson Genevieve Haldeman denies that the company made a formal complaint to regulators and explains that it is simply helping regulators with their inquiries.

Google has fixed a security flaw on its Web site that opened the door to phishing scams, account hijacks and other attacks, security researchers said yesterday.

The flaw, known as a cross-site scripting vulnerability, existed on the Web site for Google`s AdWords advertising program and a customer-training site, CNET reports.

Attackers could have exploited the flaw to hijack Google accounts, launch phishing scams or even download malicious code onto users` computers, according to security company Finjan Software, which discovered the problem.

Finjan informed Google of the bug late last month and the problem was fixed within 30 hours, says Finjan VP, Limor Elbaz.

Yahoo has started a Web site that lets people find and listen to podcasts, reports the BBC.

The site lets people search for and subscribe to the personally produced audio programmes designed to be downloaded to portable music players.

It also features reviews of noteworthy podcasts and will let listeners rate the downloads they have listened to.

Yahoo says it is working towards producing its own tools to help people make their own podcasts.

Sony Ericsson emphasised its continued commitment to Symbian OS with the announcement of its next-generation SmartPhone to the global community, reports AME Info.

The P990i will be the first commercially available SmartPhone to adopt the enhanced Symbian OS version 9.1 and UIQ 3 platform.

This flagship UMTS SmartPhone is WiFi-enabled, has a 2MP camera with auto focus and features a new hardware keyboard beneath the flip-down keypad.