Washington - Need a faster internet connection? Who doesn't? Although the free Download Accelerator (http://www.speedbit.com) has been around since the days when dial-up was the primary means of getting online, the tool is useful for today's broadband connections as well. It can speed up your downloads by as much as 300 per cent, depending upon your connection. The program works by finding the fastest path for your downloads and general surfing. --------

Washington, Nov. 15 : Cyber hackers have broken into the computer system at the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a Fox News report has said.

The hacking took place last week, throwing the IMF into a major crisis.

It provoked a shutdown of IMF computers that lasted for several days.

FOX News has been unable to determine what, if any, information may have been obtained by the hackers. The IMF denies any critical intrusion took place.

Washington, November 13: A multi-university research team, including an Indian-origin expert, is testing the live broadcast of surgeries using the advanced networking consortium ‘Internet2’.

The technology, which allows for the transmission of high quality video to multiple locations in real time, may enable doctors from different hospitals across the world to collaborate on a surgery, without having to actually be in the operation theatre.

London, Nov 6: Soon, Internet “black boxes” could be used to record every email and website visit made by computer users in Britain.

According to a report in the Telegraph, under the British Government’s plans to monitor Internet traffic, raw data would be collected and stored by the black boxes before being transferred to a giant central database.

The vision was outlined at a meeting between officials from the Home Office and Internet Service Providers in London.

Union IT and Communications Minister, A. Raja announced that under the rural broadband project by 2012, all Gram Panchayats, Government High Secondary Schools and Public Health Centres will be provided broadband connectivity.

Speaking at the National Round Table Conference on ‘Telecom Sector in Education Development’, the minister said that funds from USO are being extensively deployed to increase broadband connectivity at each block and village level.

Washington - Want to see what lies ahead in the world of operating systems? Head to the Web.

That's where you'll find some workable examples of operating systems that move everything - applications, files, and communications
- from the confines of your desktop to the more widely accessible Internet.

While the major players in the software industry are not yet among those with Web-based operating system (OS) prototypes, it's clear that the big names are paying attention - and making plans.