Yahoo to warn net users

IT Watch | K.Venugopal

Yahoo is tying up with security firm McAfee to use its SiteAdvisor software to warn Internet users about websites embedded with malware. When search results are listed, the web major will place a red exclamation mark on sites suspected to be involved in spread of malware and spam. Though SiteAdvisor has been around for a while, it is now that Yahoo has successfully integrated it with its own technology.

Thousands of websites are suspected to be embedded with malware and surfers who land there inevitably get infected. Under the new system, Yahoo will totally avoid sites that automatically install malware.

By offering enhanced security protection, Yahoo is trying to give tougher competition to search engines such as Google.

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Zune to offer TV shows

Microsoft’s Zune media player has not created waves like rival Apple’s iPod but the software major is still aggressively marketing the product. It has now decided to offer popular TV shows through its Zune Marketplace service. This will be akin to the services being offered by Apple’s iTunes for iPod users. The TV shows being offered through Zune would include Comedy Central’s "South Park" and other titles from NBC.

In fact, NBC had switched over to Microsoft’s camp after price disputes with Apple’s iTunes.

Microsoft is hoping that the new services would increase the sale of Zune. It has only sold 2 million Zunes since its launch in November 2006.

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GTF 1V sells 6 mn copies

Grand Theft Auto 1V, the latest version in the successful game series, has sold a record

six million copies across the world in the first week of its release.

The much-hyped fourth version has been making waves in the Internet weeks prior to its release.

Grand Theft Auto has had a successful run since its issue in 1997 by Rockstar Games.

It is an action adventure game with undertones of violence.

The protagonists of each version of the game have been given voice by such Hollywood stalwarts as Burt Reynolds and Samuel Jackson.

GTA 1V can be played on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3.

Interestingly, the release of the game has jacked up sales of consoles.