Schools, patents and the future of Linux, Oct 18, 2004

Open source activists need to get Linux into schools if Windows' pre-eminance on the desktop is ever to be seriously challenged, a panel discussion at LinuxWorld conference in London last week concluded.

IP Telephony systems based on open source technology will eclipse revenues from Linux over the next two years, a leading open source guru predicted today.

Opera last week updated its browser to defend against a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to spy on private emails or computer files.

A flaw in versions of Opera prior to version 7.54 makes it possible for attackers to read (but not alter) files on a victim's PC or snoop on mails emails written or received by M2, Opera's mail program. The vulnerability also opens the door to cookie theft, URL spoofing (which can be used in phishing attacks) or tracking a user's browsing history.

Netcraft's Mike Prettejohn told us he was surprised at the number of Linux sites switching. Defectors include sites run on behalf of a variety of organisations, from smaller firms using shared hosting providers, to larger concerns - like gun manufacturer Colt.

Colt has had to reboot its Web site a significant number of times since shifting to Windows Server 2003, Prettejohn notes