SECURITY...

• Critical flaws found in IPsec protocols - Flawed cryptography is leaving people using IPsec security protocols vulnerable to hacking, according to the UK's National Infrastructure Security Coordination Centre (NISCC). The organisation has released an advisory about the discovery of three key flaws in the Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP) that provides base-level encryption of data, typically travelling though virtual private networks. "An attacker could modify sections of the IPsec packet, causing either the cleartext inner packet to be redirected or a network host to generate an error message," warned NISCC.
• Mozilla fixes Firefox flaws - Less than a week after the discovery of critical flaws in Mozilla's Firefox browser, the organisation has released a fix. The Mozilla Foundation is urging users to upgrade their browsers to the new version 1.0.4, which is available for download.
• Symantec Worm Simulator 1.0 - A new simulation program developed by Symantec Research Labs not only has the answers, it also provides pictures. The new Symantec Worm Simulator visually demonstrates how worms spread through the Internet, and how they fare against a custom network and security policy.To use the Worm Simulator, all users need to do is load a simulation file and click "play." The Worm Simulator is distributed with simulations of six actual worms: MyDoom, Netsky, Sasser, Slammer, Blaster, and SoBig. Each simulation is tailored to accurately represent how the real worm spread in the wild. As the worm spreads, nodes in the network and on the globe start turning colors.
• Tiger update to patch Dashboard vulnerability - The fix is believed to be one of over three dozen expected in Apple's Mac OS X 10.4.1 Update. According to rumors, the update, code-named "Atlanta," could see a release as early as the end of the week
• Student Raises the Specter of an Attack on Intel Chips -  A research paper released on Friday by Oxford University computer science student Colin Percival details a method by which an attacker could heist cryptography keys on servers running Intel processors with Hyperthreading. Hyperthreading technology runs two threads or streams of data, making computer software view a single processor as two.  The exploit Percival details takes advantage of the threads' shared access to memory caches within the processor to interpret data that's being processed and thus lift the keys. A software timing attack basically watches the behavior of a computer in an effort to expose protected information.
• In War on Terrorism, New Search Engine Seeks Hidden Vulnerabilities - As part of an effort to anticipate -- and thwart -- the plans of potential terrorists, the Federal Aviation Administration is supporting the development of a new search engine by University at Buffalo researchers that is designed to detect "hidden" information that can be gleaned from public Web sites.
• MPAA targets TV download sites - Continuing its war on Internet file-swapping sites, the Motion Picture Association of America said Thursday that it has filed lawsuits against a half-dozen hubs for TV show trading.

OFFTOPIC...

• Cornell researchers build a robot that can reproduce - video - check it out!! (story)
• Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short - Hybrid cars are hot, but not as hot as their owners, who complain that their gas mileage hasn't come close to well-advertised estimates. Don't knock the car companies for inflated claims: Experts say the blame lies with the 19-year-old EPA fuel-efficiency test that overstates hybrid performance.

TECHNOLOGY...

• Microsoft Readies a 'Lean' Windows Client - Code-named 'Eiger,' the stripped-down version of Windows XP is designed for business users who want more security and manageability on older Windows PCs. What's fatter than a thin client, but svelter than Windows XP? Microsoft's forthcoming "lean" client, code-named "Eiger." Eiger, a stripped-down version of Windows XP Professional, is designed for customers who want more security and manageability, but who aren't ready or able to upgrade to Windows XP, according to Microsoft officials. It is not a thin client in the traditional sense. Instead, Microsoft will offer it as an interim, "bridge" solution for enterprise users who ultimately plan to move to XP or Longhorn, officials said
• IBM backs Firefox in-house - Firefox is already used by about 10 percent of IBM's staff, or about 30,000 people. Starting Friday, IBM workers can download the browser from internal servers and get support from the company's help desk staff.
• Broadband Over Gas Lines - Nethercomm Corporation announces the development of Broadband-in-Gas (BiG) Technology. This technology is designed to effectively multiply the current available bandwidth of cable television and all other broadband systems with data capacities exceeding ten gigabits. Broadband-in-Gas delivers unmatched levels of connectivity by making use of Ultra Wideband technology to wirelessly broadcast information in a way that is both safe and reliable by using the private spectrum isolated within natural gas pipelines.
• Xbox 360 previews - An Xbox 360 previews can be found on AnandTech, ByteSector, HardOCP and GamerAlias. In related news, Bit-Tech has posted an interesting editorial called "How the Xbox 360 will affect PC gamers"

HARDWARE... 

• 283000$ AMD Turion 64 notebook - AMD Board has posted some info about the Tulip E-Go! Diamond a 283000$ AMD Turion 64 notebook.
• OCZ EL 1GB DC DDR400 Gold Edition - The OCZ EL 1GB Dual Channel DDR400 Gold Edition memory module is great memory; with the use of the legendary Winbond BH-5 RAM chips, it will meet the needs of most enthusiasts. This pair of DDR400 is one of the fastest RAM frequencies of the DDR memory range. This dual channel RAM kit is able to run tight timings of 2-2-2-5, which is the best and basic requirement for a good memory module. Furthermore, with the voltage of 2.8V, it was able to hit 221 MHz which is equal to DDR 442 with the tight timings of 2-2-2-5. With higher memory voltage at 3.5V, this pair of modules is able to read 251MHz which is equal to DDR502 at the timing of 2-2-2-5.
• Asus K8N4-E Deluxe/Extreme N6600 - TrustedReviews posted a review of the Asus K8N4-E Deluxe/Extreme N6600 Motherboard & Graphics Card Bundle.
• Gigabyte's GV-RX80L256V graphics card - The lack of bundled oven mitts aside, it's hard to find fault with the GV-RX80L256V, especially given its $312 street price. At that price, it's only about $10 more expensive than competing Radeon X800 XLs, and well worth the premium for low-noise systems. Even if we disregard the card's silent cooler, the rest of the package—its VIVO capabilities, HDTV dongle, and decent software bundle—packs in plenty of value. Dual DVI output is the only feature we found lacking on the card, and while that may only be a minor issue for some, it will undoubtedly be a deal-breaker for others.
• ASUS Extreme AX800XL-2DTV - Performance in our tests was pretty good. In all the game tests, except Doom 3, the x800XL did very nicely providing playable frame rates in basically all situations. Doom 3 is playable at 1024*768 with 4X AA and 16X ansiotropic filtering, but going higher isn't too recommended.
• SLI Comparison : nVidia's nForce4 SLI for Intel and AMD  - Unfortunately, the new nForce4 SLI Intel Edition cannot make up for the architectural differences which have held back the Pentium 4 against the Athlon64 FX-55. In the majority of benchmarks, a top of the line Athlon64 FX-55 SLI system will best a top of the line Pentium 4 Extreme Edition system in gaming benchmarks.
• Budget Battle: HyperMemory vs. TurboCache - We really can't see much reason to recommend the 64MB TurboCache part. Unless one of the vendors comes out with a solution that runs the memory at 700MHz or more, there's really no advantage to the 32MB onboard part (in fact, there is a disadvantage at the speeds that we tested). We really can't see any reason for the most expensive part that we tested to cost as much as it does.
• Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200JB - 320GB models from WD are presently the second in capacity on the market (after 400GB models from Seagate and Hitachi), but they are noticeably less noisy and less hot than similar models from the competitors. The WD3200JB/JD drives with their current price only slightly exceeding $200 are a good choice for those PC users, who want a high-performance system of a high capacity, which will still be quiet and relatively cool. 
• Vantec All in 1 USB Card Reader - The size of the Vantec All in 1 USB Internal Card Reader is specially design to be mount into the 3.5" drive bay. It also bundles with a extra face plate to be exchange in order to match the color of your case. The card reader function is even better, it able to support the CF/CF ll, MMC/MMC2, SD,SM, Microdrive, MS, MS DUO, MS Pro and MS Pro DUO.
• HP PSC 1610 Multi Function Device - TrustedReviews posted a review of the HP PSC 1610 Multi Function Device.

GUIDES... 

• XP Media - A Windows XP Media Guide - Media editing in Windows XP requires having the right software. This guide will show you the best Free Applications that will let you create, edit, playback and display Documents, Reports, Spreadsheets, Multimedia Presentations, Graphics, Photos, Pictures, Audio, Music, MP3s, Video, Movies, DVDs and CDs.
• Linux vs. Windows Web Hosting - The Tech Zone continues their guide to web hosting with a comparison of Linux vs. Windows web hosting.

SOFTWARE...

• Nero 6.6.0.13 - Nero 6.6.0.13 (changelog / download - mirror1, mirror2) fixes these bugs: AAC Audio encoder settings not applied, Error using disc finalize feature in the 'Disc Info' section, Using UDF as default file system for using dual layer DVD-R medias with multisession compilation, Nero Express did not ask to save a LightScribe document if the application was closed by ALT+F4 or the [X] close button, An internal LightScribe error occurred for print and/or preview if Nero was accessing (e.g. erasing) the same device, An "Internal error" occurred if accessing a folder which was linked to a remote network path.
• MR Tech's Local Install 1.3.2 Firefox Extension - This extension adds an Install button to both the Theme & Extension Manager to match the Thunderbird interface, "Install.." options to the File Menu, Alt-X Access Key for "Install Extension" 1, Alt-M Access Key for "Install Theme" 1 and more.
• EliteToolbar Remover 1.3.0  - This freeware utility (download) helps people to delete the new infestions caused by the EliteToolbar variants that are circulating on the Net nowadays.  Tool should be run from safe mode.
• VideoLan 0.8.2 Beta 1 - VideoLAN (download) main goals is MPEG streaming on a network, but it also features a standalone multimedia player. The VideoLAN Server can stream video read from a hard disk, a DVD player, a satellite card or an MPEG 2 compression card, and unicast or multicast it on a network.
• Forceware 73.00 WinXP & Win2k BETA Driver - A new ForceWare driver has hit the web. This time version build 73.00 It Supposedly fixes dual display issues with SLI. Also it seems some game profiles were added. OpenGL 1.5.3 supported.