NTL and Virgin in takeover talks

1. NTL and Virgin in takeover talks

NTL has confirmed it has approached Virgin Mobile over merging the firms in a potential deal worth more than £800m. The combined company would challenge Rupert Murdoch's dominant UK satellite TV firm BSkyB.

For more on this:
- read full story from BBC News, Dec 5 2005


2. New Breed Of Malicious IM Bots Get Interactive

The IMlogic Threat Center has issued a warning on a new breed of malicious IM bots which dupe users into activating their IM worm payloads.

For more on this:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Dec 6 2005


3. Beware Of IM Greeting Cards

Akonix Systems Inc. today said it has identified a new instant messaging worm named W32/Aimdes.E, that disguises itself as a holiday greeting card. Holiday greetings present a vulnerable avenue of attack and Akonix warns that this method will most likely be used throughout the month of December.

For more on this:
- read full story from messagingpipeline.com, Dec 6 2005


4. .eu domains are go, go, go!

It may have taken over five years getting there, but at 10am today, the first .eu domains will go on sale - and it's going to be a landrush. At least it will be for trademark holders, because only those holding a valid European Union trademark will be entitled to apply from now until 7 February 2006 - and only on the exact trademark they own. Applications will be checked, we are told.

For more on this:
- read full story from theregister.co.uk, Dec 7 2005


5. Ingenio brings pay-per-call ads to InfoSpace

Pay-per-call advertising pioneer Ingenio was set to announce Wednesday that ads from its network would appear on InfoSpace's search site.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET News.com, Dec 6 2005

6. Google Desktop tweaked to block attackers

Google has made an adjustment to its desktop search tool to foil attacks that take advantage of an unpatched vulnerability in Microsoft's ubiquitous Internet Explorer Web browser.

For more on this:
- read full story from CNET News.com, Dec 7 2005


7. ZoomInfo Automates Social Networking

Online social networking isn't for everybody. For those who don't enjoy the social part, there's ZoomInfo, which, thanks to recent enhancement, sports more info than the original version launched in March.

For more on this:
- read full story from internetnews.com, Dec 5 2005


8. South Korea orders Microsoft to unbundle Windows

Microsoft Corp. was ordered to separate its instant messaging service from its Windows software and allow rival products on its system in South Korea after losing a ruling on unfair business practices on Wednesday.

For more on this:
- read full story from reuters.com, Dec 7 2005


9. Livedoor Acquires Innovation Interactive

Acquisition Increases Japanese Conglomerate Leadership in Search and Performance Marketing. Livedoor Co., Ltd. today announced that it has acquired Innovation Interactive, a US-based performance marketing firm. Innovation Interactive's assets include full suite of Search Engine Marketing solutions from 360i, customized Search Management software platform from SearchIgnite, Direct Marketing Solutions, Contextual Marketing Solutions, as well as a large portfolio of Direct Navigation domains.

For more on this:
- read full story from Yahoo! Finance