Cloud computing puts your data and applications on the web. From that point you are dependant in the hands of a third party who may not be bound by UK laws. Businesses should be very careful adopting this new technology. Many have slow internet connections. Imagine uploading quality photos to be edited - you'll be there for hours. Also what happens when your broadband connection fails. It can take hours or even days to restore the connection. Bad enough for emails - but if all your company data is online you cannot trade.
Make sure your views are known. It takes just two minutes. Here: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/speakout/extremeinternetl
The Carbon Trust will be lending the money to organisations to upgrade their computers to Broadleaf energy-efficient systems provided by VeryPC. Details and application form here:
http://www.energysavingcomputers.com/
No details are available about the next version of the software. However, Microsoft have already confirmed it will not run on Windows XP.
The change follows a determined attack on the Internet name services last summer. New security will be applied to the core DNS servers on May 5 2010. If all goes well the public will not be affected. You can check if your internet connection is ready here: https://www.dns-oarc.net/oarc/services/replysizetest
An awful mistake! McAfee has apologised to its customers after a routine security update crippled Windows XP PCs. The problem appears only to have affected McAfee customers running Windows XP SP3, but it has reportedly downed tens of thousands of PCs across the world, including those of Intel, US police departments and universities. The fix is here: http://vil.nai.com/vil/5958_false.htm
Brightbook is an application designed for freelancers and sole traders. See "Clouds are Dangerous" above. Early days but try it for free: http://www.brightbook.co.uk. I have asked them to add independent backup/restore feature.
AVG have produced a rescue package based on Linux which can be used to recover a broken Windows PC. Completely free from here: http://www.avg.com/ie-en/avg-rescue-cd
Online security of high street retailer Argos has been exposed following a PC Pro investigation. Argos has sent card numbers and security codes, hidden and unencrypted, inside order confirmation emails. This has been going on since early 2009 and is now well know. If affected its probably best to contact your bank and change ask them to renew your card.
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