New and Noteworthy: Mac users may be Web vandals' next target; Study shows development moving offshore; more

Mac users may be Web vandals' next target Doug Matheson comments on Microsoft's recent security patches, and their relation to Macintosh users' security on the 'net. "Internet Security Systems, an Atlanta-based computer firm, characterized (a) Windows flaw as 'an enormous threat.' Why would a Mac guy be concerned? Computer security along with secure data backup should be the No. 1 priority of all who use computers in their lives, especially those who use the Windows platform, since much of our personal and business data are documented on a computer somewhere, and most of those computers are Microsoft Windows based. That is my concern." More.

Study shows development moving offshore Lured by low labor costs, more than eight in 10 software companies are shipping work offshore today or will do so in the next year, according to a study. The report, written by investment and research firm Sand Hill Group , also found that software company leaders aren't terribly concerned about theft of intellectual property abroad. News.com has more.

Judge OKs $1.1 billion Microsoft deal A California judge on Friday gave preliminary approval to a landmark settlement under which Microsoft will pay $1.1 billion to settle a class-action suit that claimed it overcharged consumers for Windows. The ruling by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Paul Alvarado allows the settlement to proceed to the next step, during which consumers and corporations in the state will be notified that they may qualify for vouchers ranging in value from $5 to $29. The vouchers can be used to buy most hardware or software products from any manufacturer. Originally, Apple had challenged a plan that would only provide Microsoft products to consumers. More.

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