Microsoft unveils security tool

Microsoft is launching a security product that offers virus and spyware protection, a new firewall and various tune-up tools for Windows PCs.

According to XinhuaNet, a pilot version of Windows OneCare is scheduled to be available by the end of this year, and marks the company`s long-awaited entry into anti-virus software.

It offers improved backup and restore capabilities and easy access to Windows PC maintenance tools for file repair and hard drive clean up.

Microsoft acquired anti-spyware technology late last year from Software Enditem.

A security firm has proved that today`s cars cannot catch computer viruses.

According to BBC, Finnish security firm F-Secure performed tests in response to rumours that a virus had infected some Lexus cars. The vehicles use Bluetooth so owners can use their phone-based address book with the in-car phone.

However, the phone system on the vehicle did not respond to any of the attacks tried out by F-Secure researchers.

The attempts to infect the car were carried out in an underground testing chamber to guard against the chance of accidental infection.

The F-Secure researchers used phones compromised with the Cabir virus to see if they would infect the car too. All the attempts at infection failed.

Microsoft`s Internet Explorer (IE) Web browser usage fell from 89.9% on 18 February 2005, to 88.9% by 29 April 2005 in the US, while Mozilla`s Firefox improved its market share from 5.7% to 6.8%.

This is according to a report by Web analytics company WebSideStory, which also contains data from Germany and Japan. Firefox was found to have a much higher usage share in Germany (22.6%) and a lower rate in Japan (2.8%), where IE still holds 93.9% of the market.

While Firefox`s market share is still increasing in the US, its growth has slowed down compared to a very rapid increase after its widely reported 1.0 release on 9 November 2004, CanadianContent reports.

Some corporations are also making steps towards promoting Firefox as an alternative to IE. CNET News reported on Thursday that technology giant IBM is encouraging its employees to use Firefox. IBM is also promoting other open source technologies such as the free Linux operating system.