[Fsfe-uk] Government IT security initiatives and EU pressing Microsoft

[Paul Mobbs]

Hi,

Two related reports(??)

The Cabinet Office nformation is at:
http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/co/kimscsia.nsf/0/
7922576C7B1FC67E80256EA10038654E?OpenDocument


P.




http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1342325,00.html

Mind the gap

With computer crime growing, the government must act to increase IT security, 
says a new report. Michael Cross investigates

The Guardian, Thursday November 4, 2004


With millions of Britons being invited every day to share their credit card 
details with "phishing" fraudsters, the government is under pressure to do 
something about IT security as it affects the public.

A report published last week by the Cabinet Office points out the need to 
raise awareness about "information assurance" among ordinary users.

Meanwhile, Ian Watmore, the government's chief information officer, last month 
invited companies to join a new government-sponsored awareness scheme, 
Project Endurance. Microsoft's chief executive, Steve Ballmer, attended the 
inaugural lunch and "voiced support", the Cabinet Office says. 

<SNIP>




http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/news/0,12597,1347632,00.html

EC vows to pursue Microsoft despite settlements

David Gow in Brussels and David Teather in New York
The Guardian, Wednesday November 10, 2004


The European commission, which fined Microsoft a record €497m (£345) this year 
for abusing its dominant position, yesterday vowed to continue pursuing the 
US software group through the courts for anti-competitive behaviour.

The comments came as Microsoft shareholders approved plans to hand back $32bn 
(£17bn) to investors through a one-off special dividend of $3 a share. The 
dividend was approved a day after Microsoft for the first time put a figure 
on its outstanding legal liabilities from the monopoly abuse cases of the 
late 1990s, capping them at $950m.

EC officials were scathing about Microsoft's alleged efforts to "buy the 
silence" of rivals. On Monday it reached a $536m settlement with software 
maker Novell, and a ceasefire with the US Computer and Communications 
Industry Association. As part of the settlements, both withdrew from the 
Brussels case.

<SNIP>


-- 

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(Edward Burroughs, 1659 - from 'Quaker Faith and Practice')


Paul Mobbs, Mobbs' Environmental Investigations,
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