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---If you have not run Windows Update lately, now is the time. There are some serious security issues solved by the updates over the last two months, including a couple of bugs in Windows Vista.

Most people not on dial-up Internet accounts should have automatic update turned on but if you don't, head to "update.microsoft.com" and get all the critical updates for the month.

---If you own an Apple computer don't feel so smug; dozens of patches have been released in its latest update as well. To get it run update from within the operating system and get the latest releases.

---Microsoft also claims it has fixed a bug that can corrupt certain Ipods if they are removed from the Windows PC running Windows Vista. Microsoft warns Ipod owners to use Itunes to initiate the removal of the Ipod. That patch will come from Windows Update too.

---PC World has reported a bug in Yahoo Messenger that can leave you vulnerable from attack from your Internet Explorer browser. You need to download the latest version of Messenger from Yahoo's Web site to eliminate the risk.

---The popular music download site "allofmp3.com" suffered another setback after a seller of vouchers good for downloads on the site was arrested in London. The recording industry has been fighting for years to shut down the site, which is based in Russia, because they claim even though users pay a modest fee per song, none of the fee goes to the artist.

The Web site claims it is legal in Russia but users hit the site from all over.

Taking a cue from online betting sites, the recording industry is attacking and removing the ability of users to pay at the site. They have already gotten the credit cards and PayPal to stop taking payments. This is going to get very interesting very quickly.

---In an ironic twist, Symantec has warned of a security flaw in Norton Internet Security 2004 and Norton Personal Firewall 2004. If you have either of these products there is a bug that could allow a hacker to take over your system. You need to run Live Update as soon as possible to automatically download and install a patch for the flaw.

---MySpace, the popular social networking site aimed at young people, blinked in its battle with eight state attorneys general over turning over records of the registered sex offenders found using the site. The site now says it has identified and removed 7,000 profiles from sex offenders out of a whopping 180 million.

Of course, many people registered at the site don't use a real name (or any name) so good luck on those folks.

WEEKLY WEB WONDER: The search engine Ask.com now claims to be better than Google in finding relevant results out of the billions of Web pages out there. Give it a try and see.

James Derk is owner of CyberDads, a computer repair firm, and tech columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail address is jim(at)cyberdads.com

Taxing Times

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Taxes unify Americans, but rates vary by state

Identity Theft

Who's got your number?

In one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft, crooks are stealing tax refunds by swiping personal information and using it to trick the Internal Revenue Service.

Lawmaker offers anti-ID theft law to foil crooks who profit off dead children