Nearly half the world's computers may soon have built-in protection against debilitating infections of spyware and other unwanted software, thanks to Microsoft's update of the Windows XP operating system. Expected to be released this summer, the Windows XP Service Pack 2 update will contain no fewer than five new security features designed to ward off the unauthorized installation of software via the Internet, according to Microsoft officials.

In this corner, it's MSN. In this corner, AOL. And in this corner, Yahoo!, as the instant messaging (IM) providers put up their dukes -- or, rather, enhancements -- in the fight to attract consumers.

Listen to this: Eavesdroppers can decipher what is typed by simply listening to the sound of a keystroke, according to a scientist at this week's IEEE Symposium of Security and Privacy in Oakland, Calif.

Search for recipes on Cooking Light's Web site in the coming days and you're likely to find first lady Laura Bush praising her husband's education policies. Check game statistics at Sports Illustrated's site and you may see John Kerry's picture on an ad seeking donations in support of the Democrat.

Political gadflies who need to read up on the latest news before diving into blog discussions can turn to a new site to prepare. What's Making Blognews lists the main stories making the rounds on political blogs. Unlike other meta sites like Blogdex or Daypop, What's Making Blognews concentrates only on political issues.

Internet search engine leader Google Inc. on Monday introduced a simpler way to publish the online personal journals known as "blogs," continuing a flurry of improvements that has coincided with stiffer competition from its former ally, Yahoo! Inc.

If there ever was an employee who carried the water for Google, it's Craig Silverstein, employee No. 1, technology director and loyal chanter of the search company's "don't be evil" mantra. Silverstein, 31, left his doctoral studies at Stanford University in 1998, joining school chums Sergey Brin and Larry Page in a nearby garage to build the now famed search engine.

Browser hijackers are doing more than just changing homepages. They are also changing some peoples' lives for the worse. Browser hijackers are malicious programs that change browser settings, usually altering designated default start and search pages. But some, such as CWS, also produce pop-up ads for pornography, add dozens of bookmarks -- some for extremely hard-core pornography websites -- to Internet Explorer's Favorites folder, and can redirect users to porn websites when they mistype URLs.

Spending by U.S. consumers for online content rose almost 19 percent to $1.56 billion in 2003 from 2002, largely fueled by increases in the two top categories, the Online Publishers Association and comScore Networks said on Monday.

Among the media credential applications for this summer's Democratic National Convention -- from the TV networks, newspapers, and radio stations -- is the one from 21-year-old Jesse Taylor, a pundit of the self-declared variety.