This week started with several announcements about new launches. 1&1 Internet, Inc., has introduced an exclusive, first-of-its kind Web content tool. The new addition allows users to increase the value of their Web pages by easily adding informative and entertaining content at no charge.

The 1&1 Dynamic Content Catalog gives users the ability to enhance the professional appearance of their Web sites by adding relevant content from major news and information sources. The content feed is within a variety of subject categories, such as: news, finance, sports, entertainment, health, science, high tech, travel, games and weather. This will allow a travel agency, for example, to offer current weather and other information about popular destinations.

The popular Fantastico De Luxe is available as a new add-on to FastServers.Net (www.fastservers.net) cPanel dedicated server line. The new launch is available free to existing customers and as an add-on for new customer. Fantastico De Luxe offers web hosting companies and organizations the ability to add over 50 point and click scripts to hosting plans.

Qwest Communications International Inc. announced today that in a survey conducted by Qwest's proxy solicitor, MCI shareholders claiming to hold over 50 percent of MCI outstanding shares. The voting is based on the believe that Qwest's $30 per share bid for MCI is superior, even if Verizon were to increase its offer for all shareholders to the $25.72 per share offer, plus the call option. Last week MCI announced that its Board of Directors has determined that Qwest Communications International Inc.'s latest offer to acquire the Company is superior to the terms of the current MCI/Verizon merger agreement.
One more acquisition was released this week. Quest Software, Inc. (www.quest.com), a provider of application, database and Windows management solutions, and Imceda™ Software, Inc., a privately-held leader in database administration and development products for SQL Server databases, announced a definitive agreement for Quest to acquire Imceda.

In the security sphere, Netcraft reported this week that the monitoring agency has launched an anti-phishing system at the start of 2005. In the report is noted that the users install the toolbar, becoming this way a part of a giant neighbourhood watch system.   

More than 5,400 unique phishing sites have been detected and blocked up to now. Netcraft is now making available the list of phishing sites reported by the Toolbar community and validated by Netcraft. The information is intended to be used as feed suitable for ISPs, hosting companies, enterprises, and other companies that operate mail servers and web proxies.

VeriSign, Inc. (www.verisign.com) announced this week that it has achieved compliance with three highly coveted industry certifications: The Visa Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP), MasterCard Site Data Protection (SDP) program and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant's (AICPA) Statement of Auditing Standards #70 (SAS70). Each certification underscores a strong VeriSign commitment to making security a central focus of its development efforts and protecting the safety and integrity of customer data. 

Sophos, a provider in network security, has published this week a report revealing the top ten viruses and hoaxes causing problems for businesses around the world during the month of April 2005.

The report, compiled from SophosLabs™, Sophos's global network of security research centers, revealed that Zafi-D, which first appeared at the end of 2004, continued its reign at the top of the list. Only one new threat - Mytob-Z - managed to break into the chart for April, appearing in seventh place.

"During the month of April, several older viruses maintained their spot on the chart," said Gregg Mastoras, senior security analyst at Sophos. " The Zafi family of viruses accounted for more than 50% of all the viruses reported to Sophos this month."

Sophos reported that the security company analyzed and protected against 1146 new viruses. The total number of viruses Sophos now protects against is reported to be as much as 103,269.

Sophos research shows that 2.17%, or one in 46 emails, circulating during the month of April were viral. This figure is slightly lower than last month when 1 in 38 emails were viral.

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