Worms Turning

Microsoft has been slammed for dragging its feet in providing a patch for its latest Internet Exploder flaw. Vole wants to wait until April 11 to release a patch for the bug which is already being used by hackers on hundreds of web sites. If a user goes to one of these sites, they will have the bonnet of their computers opened, and dodgy software jacked in, in a twinkling of an eye, says security outfit eEye. Vole claims the attacks are limited and the only reason it is taking the flaw seriously is because it can hijack a users machine. Punters can wait until April 11, or patch Tuesday, when the software giant traditionally releases its bumper crop box of virus and patch fixes. Apple Computer Inc. and Apple Corps Ltd. are due to face off in the courtroom in a case involving Apple's iTunes music store, which violates an agreement intended to keep the U.S.-based computer company out of the music business, according to Apple Corps, the multimedia company founded by The Beatles. Apple offered no additional comment on the case aside from a statement saying "unfortunately, Apple and Apple Corps now have differing interpretations of this agreement and will need to ask a court to resolve this dispute." The company has always maintained that selling music over the iTunes store doesn't violate the 1991 settlement. The Beatles created Apple Corps in 1968 to oversee the Fab Four's business interests. The label now reissues Beatles music and works to ensure the rights of the Beatles and their musical catalog. In 1991, Apple paid Apple Corps $26.5 million to settle a prior dispute. Under that pact, the Macintosh line of computers was to remain capable of editing and playing music, but not creating it. In 2003, as Apple Computer began to enjoy a boom in online music downloads via iFumes, Apple Cores filed suit.