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Trend Micro forced to apologise to customers for faulty update file. A red-faced Trend Micro has apologised to its customers for the release of a faulty update file that caused chaos for thousands of computer users worldwide. Official Pattern Release 2.594.00, released in the morning of Saturday 23 April (Japanese time), caused 100% CPU usage,…

AV firm awarded $3.1 million in case against software pirate Symantec has been awarded a $3.1 million judgment in a software piracy lawsuit it filed in April last year. Symantec sued Sam Jain in April 2004, alleging that he and his co-defendants were using pop-up ads as a means to mislead Symantec customers into believing…

Australian Communications Authority takes action A popular Australian car sales website has been fined AU$6,600 for sending SMS spam. Classified car sales website Carsales.com.au had been sending SMS messages promoting its services to members of the public whose phone numbers it harvested from classified advertisements in newspapers and magazines. The privacy policy of Carsales.com.au states:…

Microsoft lawsuit cited as reason for bankruptcy High-profile email marketer Scott Richter, aka the ‘Spam King’, has filed for bankruptcy, citing a Microsoft lawsuit as the reason. Richter was sued last year by the State of New York – but escaped the $20 million judgement NY State had initially sought when the case ended in…

Offer of $25,000 reward for OS X virus is withdrawn – for legal reasons A competition offering a $25,000 reward to the first person to successfully infect two Apple G5 PowerMacs with an OS X virus has been cancelled due to legal reasons and complaints from Mac users. DVForge, a company specialising in Apple accessories,…

Zero bids received in online auction of website Industry hype-fighting website VMyths went up for auction on eBay this month, but no bids were received. For ten years VMyths has prided itself on being the ‘voice of reason’ in the AV industry, debunking virus-related myths perpetuated by the media and slamming the hype generated by…

Microsoft allows Parson to work community service instead of paying $500,000 Microsoft has filed court documents requesting that Jeffrey Lee Parson, author of the B variant of the Blaster worm, serve 225 hours of community service in lieu of the $500,000 he owes the company in restitution. In January 2005 Parson was sentenced to 37…

Spammer undergoes criminal investigation in the Donetsk region of the Ukraine A spammer is undergoing criminal investigation in the Donetsk region of the Ukraine. This is the first case of spamming to be pursued by the countries law enforcement authorities following amendments to the Criminal Procedures Code which came into force earlier this year. The…

A revised anti-spyware bill was approved by a committee in the US House of Representatives. A revised anti-spyware bill was approved by a committee in the US House of Representatives. The ‘Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act’ (HR29) requires spyware programs to be both easy to identify and easy to remove, and restricts the…

Louisiana man gets six months behind bars A Louisiana man has been sentenced to six months imprisonment and ordered to pay Microsoft more than $27,000 after he admitted sending a Trojan that dialled 911, the US emergency number, without the recipients’ knowledge. David Jeansonne sent the malicious code to customers of Microsoft’s Web TV service…