HP axes Global Operations ... Hacker discovers second Excel attack

Today's IT News Audio Update
Intel price cuts expected .... Electronic Arts makes Mythic acquisition ... Philips speeds up spinoff of chip unit


HIGHLIGHTS

News: HP axes Global Operations in realignment
News: Hacker discovers second Excel attack
News: Worm lures victims with 'Naked World Cup'
News: Linux kernel update supports Niagara
Tip: Remotely Forcing Group Policy Refresh
Opinion: Ruin the French economy in 3 easy steps
ITwhirled: Hawking: Humans must settle space to survive


NEWS UPDATES

HP axes Global Operations in realignment
Hewlett-Packard Co. said Tuesday it will dissolve its Global Operations organization and delegate the group's activities to the company's three main business groups as part of an ongoing companywide restructuring.

Hacker discovers second Excel attack
With Microsoft Corp. developers scrambling to patch a security hole in Excel, a hacker has now posted code that exploits a second vulnerability in the spreadsheet software.

Worm lures victims with 'Naked World Cup'
Soccer purists can breathe a sigh of relief. There is no Naked World Cup. IT professionals, on the other hand, may want to be a little more vigilant, as a new e-mail worm is on the loose that preys on the intense worldwide interest in the international sporting event.

Linux kernel update supports Niagara
The latest version of the Linux kernel, 2.6.16, has been released with updates supporting Sun Microsystems Inc.'s Niagara chips and a popular family of Broadcom Corp. Wi-Fi chipsets, among other changes.

Cell 'walkie-talkie' standard approved
The push-to-talk technology that lets mobile callers talk instantly with the push of a button has been standardized, a mobile industry group announced Tuesday at the CommunicAsia conference in Singapore.

Open-source ERP vendor Compiere gets $6 million funding
Compiere Inc. has secured its first external funding to the tune of $6 million and is planning to relocate its headquarters, the open-source midmarket business applications company said Tuesday.


TIP

Remotely Forcing Group Policy Refresh
By Mitch Tulloch

One of the cardinal principles of managing enterprise networks is avoiding having to touch desktop computers unless you really must. Of course, by "touching" a desktop what I mean is having to walk over to where that machine is located and log on interactively to perform some administrative task.


OPINION

Ruin the French economy in 3 easy steps
By Peter Sayer

It's 2009, and the French economy has been ruined by a policy of frivolous tax-cutting and overspending on pork-barrel projects, including homeland security, prison construction and international military action. Public approval ratings are plummeting, the deficit has spiraled out of control, and the citizens are revolting.

Who's to blame? Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin? Uh, no, actually, it was me. I was just trying out some alternative budget scenarios. Sorry. I thought it was only a game.


ITWHIRLED

Hawking: Humans must settle space to survive

This week, physics superstar Stephen Hawking urged mankind to begin settling the moon and other planets as soon as possible. He believes that a major disaster, such as nuclear war or global warming, could wipe out life on this planet, and that space colonies could be essential to our survival as a species.