Security risk in new Google search tool

People accessing PCs in a public or workplace environment need to be aware of the security risks posed by Google`s new search tool, security experts warn.

Developed as a quick tool for locating data, Google Desktop Search also allows others to view a user`s personal or sensitive information contained in e-mails they exchanged. This could include passwords, conversations with doctors, or viewed Web pages detailing online purchases, says security consultant Richard Smith.

"It`s clearly a very powerful tool for locating information on the computer. On the flip side of things, it`s a perfect spy program."

According to AP, the tool - publicly released on Thursday in a beta test phase for computers running the latest Windows operating systems - automatically records the e-mail users read through Outlook, Outlook Express or the Internet Explorer browser.

Open source provider JBoss has unveiled a standalone business process management (BPM) application that can be deployed on its own or with any J2EE application server.

According to JBoss VP Bob Bickel, the move indicates a desire to push the company beyond its traditional application-server development activities. "This is a major development for us. Not only is the BPM market strategic on a standalone basis, but jBPM is an integral part of our middleware stack."

JBoss says jBPM 2.0`s engine design makes it easy for Java developers to bundle the application into their projects. It can also scale to complex workflow patterns as its native Process Definition Language, as it supports most existing standards including BPEL, BPELJ, BPML, BPSS, ebXML, WSCI and XPDL.

The jBPM 2.0 product is immediately available for download under a lesser general public licence, BPM-Today reports.

Gamers have less than a month to wait for one of the year`s most anticipated game titles, Vivendi Universal Games announced today.

Half-Life 2, the sequel to the 1998 release, will be available in stores around the world by 16 November, says company CEO Bruce Hack.

"The game has surpassed our expectations in every sense. Its high-quality graphics, groundbreaking physics and first-person shooter game play have set a new standard for PC action games. Half-Life 2 will go down as one of the best-selling PC titles."

VU Games will also release a Half Life 2 Collector`s Edition that will include Half-Life 2 in DVD-ROM format, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life: Source, a free limited edition T-shirt, and a Half-Life 2 Prima strategy guide book.