Intel patches holes in Centrino

Leak in wireless drivers and software duly plugged



Concerns have risen about the security of Intel’s Centrino platform after Intel released a raft of updates to device drivers and ProSet wireless management software.

The fixes address several small issues. One prevents attacks via the Wi-Fi connection – even from other wireless-enabled devices while another prevents a would-be attacker from gaining control of the system. The latter issue was with the driver software. However, it’s worth noting that there are no known exploits which would have taken advantage of these vulnerabilities.

You can download the software from the link below but be warned, at 129MB it is rather large, something which has drawn criticism from the security community. The download does contain a completely new version of the software though.

The flaws do give slight resurgence to the continuing debate about just how secure Wi-Fi really is. On a corporate level companies are still often reluctant to deploy Wi-Fi networks because of security fears.

Download the patches here.

Netgear buys SkipJam

Networking giant makes movie into home automation



In a welcome respite from the raging debate about Draft-N wireless kit, Netgear has tied up a deal to acquire SkipJam Corp.

SkipJam produces integrated software for centralised control of entertainment kit in the home. The New York company’s technology enables automation of audio-visual kit and will allow other devices to be built into Netgear’s standard networking products.

Netgear clearly hopes to use SkipJam’s expertise in future generations of entertainment kit such as the MP101 digital music player and the non-UK DAVE700 streaming box.

Commenting on the acquisition, Patrick Lo, chairman and CEO of Netgear, said: “SkipJam has the unique software technology to become the platform for our multimedia product portfolio in the growing category of digital home entertainment and control.”

The agreement will cost Netgear a total of $9m (£4.8m), including an incentive package for the SkipJam engineering team, which Netgear wants to retain.

Networked entertainment and automation has recently sparked interest from several networking vendors, not least Linksys, which acquired Danish Kiss Technology for $61m in July 2005. Linksys makes no secret of its desire to expand its digital home offering.