iambic announced the release of two versions of Agendus for Windows, the desktop version of iambic’s personal information management (PIM) program. Agendus for Windows, Palm Desktop Edition enables users to work seamlessly between their desktop and handheld device. Agendus for Windows, Outlook Edition delivers to users of Microsoft Outlook the critically acclaimed features of Agendus, such as customized categories, colors, and contact histories, which have been enabling handheld users to unlock the full potential of their devices.

After a years-long drumbeat of developer complaints, Microsoft may finally be budging on its support for standards and on key missing features in its Internet Explorer browser. Microsoft last month broke with a longstanding pledge and said it would release a new version of IE before its next major Windows upgrade. Security concerns catalyzed the shift in plans, and Microsoft has kept mum about any possible standards or feature upgrades that might accompany the security improvements.

Despite Microsoft’s renewed focus on security, recent research shows that computers running Windows XP and 2000 form the bulk of bot nets. The study, carried out by the German Honeynet Project, found that more than 80 percent of Web traffic from the networks of compromised computers used four ports designated for resource-sharing by various versions of Windows. The research also indicated that the vulnerabilities behind some of the exploits used to take over a PC can be found by searching for information on Microsoft’s security bulletins.

Dell has closed the lid on its white-box PC. The Round Rock, Texas, PC maker has discontinued its program to sell unbranded desktops–an effort it launched in August 2002 to compete with smaller PC assemblers. The company determined that customers were more interested in Dell-branded hardware, a spokesperson said, signaling the confidence the PC market leader has in its brand name and the PCs that carry it.

CyberScrub has released CyberScrub Privacy Suite 4.0. This application is designed to perform secure file deletion, remove all evidence of your computer activity beyond recovery and secure your sensitive data with powerful encryption. Formerly known as CyberScrub Professional Edition, this application sports not only a new name and completely redesigned interface, but over 50 new features and enhancements.

Microsoft is pushing back by several months the release of a low-cost version of Windows in India. The software maker had originally hoped to release its Windows XP Starter Edition there by the end of this month, but is now shooting for a June release.

Microsoft plans to introduce a pilot program to sell sponsored search listings. The software company has long sold "featured" listings in its search results, but has defaulted to partners including Yahoo-owned Overture Services to supply the lion’s share of its search-related ads. Late Wednesday, the company is expected to unveil details of a plan to sell its own keyword-search ads, in a first step to owning a commercial search network to rival those of Google and Yahoo.

A top European Commission official said Tuesday that the agency would continue to monitor Microsoft’s purchase of antipiracy software firm ContentGuard Holdings. Earlier the Commission had said it lacked authority to review the deal once Microsoft had extended its purchase from a two-way joint venture with Time Warner to a three-way partnership including France’s Thomson.

An increasing number of people are blocking cookies or deleting them to protect their privacy or security, according to a new Jupiter Research study. Nearly 58 percent of online users deleted the small files, which are deposited on computers to track Web site habits, the research firm’s 2004 survey found. As many as 39 percent may be deleting cookies from their primary computer every month, according to the study.

An easily remedied Web site loophole may be leaving banks and other companies that do business online more susceptible to phishing attacks, according to Netcraft. Online criminals are increasingly using cross-site scripting flaws to inject their own code into legitimate Web page URLs, the network security services company said in a note posted on its site Monday. With these sites, the attackers can try to dupe unsuspecting consumers into falling for phishing scams.