The most recent News from Computeract!ve

Paypal to offer full refunds for fraudulent transactions

Dinah Greek — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:33:16 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 16:22:00

Payment provider moves to boost consumer confidence

People using Paypal to buy goods on Ebay will be given a full refund, including postage costs, if they fall victim to fraudsters....

Ebay cuts workforce

Dinah Greek — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:44:43 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 15:32:00

Online auction site cuts and spends

Ebay is to cut more than 1,000 jobs – which equates to around 10 per cent of its global work force....

Emergency text service for the deaf extended

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:16:04 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 11:58:00

People in Dorset, Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall now able to use free service

A free service that enables deaf people to alert emergency services by text message is to be introduced in more UK counties....

More homes to switch to digital in 2009

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:19:52 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 10:04:00

Five million households to swtich this year

Over five million homes will switch from analogue to digital television next year, the organisation behind the move said. Digital UK, which is leading the switch from analogue to digital...

Government plans new super database

Dinah Greek — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:03:16 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Monday 6 October 2008 at 16:54:00

If proposals are accepted spooks could spy on Brits' communications without needing Home Office approval

The UK government is considering implementing a database that can monitor and log the internet browsing habits, emails and phone calls of every Briton, according to a report in the...

Councils pilot sat nav system for trucks

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:59:14 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Monday 6 October 2008 at 14:29:00

Somerset and Suffolk councils hope new plans will minimise the effects of road traffic in rural areas

Somerset County Council and Suffolk County Council are to pilot a 'truck-friendly' satellite navigation (sat nav) system. The sat nav will suggest truck routes and pinpoint the locations of height-...

Council pilots sat nav system for trucks

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:43:43 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Monday 6 October 2008 at 14:29:00

Somerset County Council hopes new plans will minimise the effects of road traffic in rural areas

Somerset County Council is to pilot a 'truck-friendly' satellite navigation (sat nav) system. The sat nav will suggest truck routes and pinpoint the locations of height- and weight-restricted bridges to...

New e-crime unit funding 'ridiculous'

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:15:22 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Friday 3 October 2008 at 13:11:00

£7m funding for new police unit a "drop in the ocean", say experts

Security firms and business groups have criticised funding levels for the newly formed Police Central e-Crime Unit (PCeU), with one saying the Government is "setting itself up for ridicule"....

Security experts warn of smartphone hacking risk

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:23:41 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 1 October 2008 at 16:10:00

But disagree over when attacks will appear

Security experts have warned that new smartphones, such as the Apple iPhone, and those using Google’s Android software could be at an increased risk of attack from malicious software....

Yahoo plans open approach in 2009

Tom Royal — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:23:40 GMT

Tom Royal, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 1 October 2008 at 16:22:00

Search engine to open front page and email service to other applications

Yahoo has laid out plans for a new approach in 2009, opening both its home page and Yahoo Mail email tool to other applications....

Sony takes aim at Apple with new PCs

Tom Royal — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:43:43 GMT

Tom Royal, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 30 September 2008 at 17:28:00

New products include all-in-one desktops and a notebook for photographers

Sony is aiming squarely at Apple with its new ranges of desktop and notebook computers. At the launch of three new ranges Sony's Dipesh Sanghrajha described the new Vaio L...

O2 tops latest broadband speed poll

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:55:07 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 30 September 2008 at 15:40:00

But real speeds still lag behind those advertised

O2 has come top of the class in a new broadband speed survey. In Moneysupermarket’s second quarterly speed test, which measured the average speed received by 60,000 internet users, O2's...

Government launches online child safety watchdog

Dinah Greek — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:42:47 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Monday 29 September 2008 at 17:34:00

Ambitious project to watch over the web

Protecting children from harmful content on the web is the remit of a new watchdog that has been set up by the Government....

University develops game to help foreign students

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:12:07 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Friday 26 September 2008 at 16:01:00

Game helps international students adjust to British life

Portsmouth University has developed an online game to help its international students adjust to British life. C-Shock gives people a map of the university's campus and lets them create an...

UK consumers duped into money laundering

Dinah Greek — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:41:05 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Friday 26 September 2008 at 15:34:00

Opportunists are being turned into fraudsters by fake job ads

The number of adverts for ‘money mules’ appearing in UK situations vacant columns has risen by over 200 per cent in three years....

Government unveils first national ID card

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:05:04 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Thursday 25 September 2008 at 16:54:00

New ID cards will apply to foreign nationals first

The Government has unveiled the first identity cards, which will initially be issued to foreign nationals from November. The cards will show the holder's photograph, name, date of birth, nationality...

Second-hand gadgets pose data security risk

Dinah Greek — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:31:54 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Thursday 25 September 2008 at 15:28:00

Sensitive information left on mobile devices could be used by criminals

Around one in five mobile phones and PDAs bought second-hand still contain sensitive information that could be used by criminals....

Ryanair lets people use mobiles in flight

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:28:09 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Thursday 25 September 2008 at 13:12:00

Up to six passengers at a time can use their phones during flights

Ryaniar passengers will soon be able to use their mobile phones during flights to make and receive calls and texts....

Government pledges £300m to get poorest online

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:53:19 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Thursday 25 September 2008 at 17:43:00

Three-year plan to provide a million households with broadband, software and computers

Gordon Brown has announced a £300m scheme to provide broadband for disadvantaged families. Around 1.4 million children currently do not have access to a broadband connection at home, according to...

Criminals keep PCs under surveillance

Dinah Greek — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:24:13 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 24 September 2008 at 16:03:00

Attacks on PCs launched with military precision

Cyber-criminals are carrying out reconnaissance missions on PCs so they can specifically target their victims. According to security company Prevx, when hackers find a computer that is vulnerable to attack,...

NSPCC to adopt new technology

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:53:11 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 24 September 2008 at 15:38:00

Childline to offer text and instant messaging services from 2010

The NSPCC is planning to introduce more ways that children in trouble can contact its Childline helpline. It said by 2010, youngsters will be able to send text messages or...

Skype refuses to comply with 999 ruling

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:42:38 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 24 September 2008 at 10:38:00

Internet telephony firm baulks at Ofcom's rules

Skype has said that it will not “comply with Ofcom’s ruling” to allow users to call 999 emergency services from its handsets....

BT Vision and NBC offer high-definition films

Dinah Greek — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:47:19 GMT

Dinah Greek, Computeract!ve, Wednesday 17 September 2008 at 14:56:00

Agreement with studio allows BT Vision customers range of new releases and classic titles

An agreement between BT Vision and NBC Universal will allow users of the digital TV service to download high-definition films from the studio’s library....

Brenthaven launches backpack for notebook PCs

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:47:19 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 16 September 2008 at 16:04:00

Metrolight backpack will hold notebooks up to 17in wide

Brenthaven has launched a backpack to carry notebook PCs measuring between 13.3 and 17in wide. The Metrolite backpack has multiple pockets on the front panel....

Western Digital launches pocket portable device

Andrea-Marie Vassou — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:47:19 GMT

Andrea-Marie Vassou, Computeract!ve, Tuesday 16 September 2008 at 11:33:00

Device backs up files and plugs straight into games consoles

Western Digital has added two 500GB models to its range of My Passport portable USB devices. The 200g, 500 GB Passport Essential and Passport Elite devices can hold up to...