MI5 warns over China spy threat

Leading British firms and government agencies have been warned Chinese state organisations may be spying on them, reports the BBC.

UK intelligence network MI5 has contacted 300 chief executives and security experts at banks and financial institutions to raise the concerns.

It is alleged that UK organisations may suffer a concerted cyber attack to gain commercially-sensitive data. Zhao Shangse, an official from the Chinese embassy in London, has denied the allegations.

A Computer Associates security researcher is sounding the alarm that Facebook`s controversial Beacon online ad system goes much further than anyone has imagined in tracking people`s Web activities outside the popular social networking site, reports PC World.

Beacon will report back to Facebook on members` activities on third-party sites that participate in Beacon even if the users are logged off from Facebook and have declined having their activities broadcast to their Facebook friends.

That`s the finding published on Friday by Stefan Berteau, senior research engineer at CA`s Threat Research Group, in a note summarising tests he conducted.

Sony`s PlayStation 3 (PS3) games console outsold Nintendo`s Wii in Japan for the first time last month, in what may be a turning point for Sony`s struggling games division, reports FT.com.

In October, Sony introduced a new 40GB PS3 model for $361 and cut prices on older models, which ignited sales and could provide the next-generation console with the momentum it needs through the holiday shopping season.

According to data provided by Enterbrain, the trade magazine, the PS3 sold 183 217 units in November in Japan, outstripping the Wii`s 159 193 consoles.

Randall Stephenson generated headlines last night by announcing a new 3G iPhone for next year. An even more interesting statement by the AT&T chief may have been his apparent dismissal of a move by top rival Verizon Wireless to free up its network for other wireless devices, says Market Watch.

Stephenson scoffed at Verizon`s opening up its wireless network, saying he thought the news was "overblown" because the industry is already heading that way.

"We are probably one of the most open networks in the world," Stephenson said in an interview with Forbes` Quentin Hardy.