As identity theft has grown, so has fear of being victimized through high-tech means. A new study finds some computer users are cutting back on time spent surfing the internet. Some have also stopped buying altogether on the web.
The report from Consumer Reports WebWatch finds nearly a third of those surveyed say they've reduced their overall website use.
Some 80 percent of internet users say they're at least somewhat concerned someone could steal their identity from personal information on the internet. A majority of users asked say they've stopped giving out personal information on the web and a quarter say they've stopped buying online.
The survey was of 1,500 U.S. web users aged 18 and older.
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All your base are belong to us: Google has unintentionally provided a sneak peek at what appears to be a looming expansion into classified advertising -- a free service that might antagonize some of the internet search engine's biggest customers, including online auctioneer eBay.
Screen shots of the experimental service, dubbed "Google Base," appeared on several websites shortly after the legions of people who dissect the online search engine leader's every move discovered a link to a page inviting people to list things like a used car for sale, a party planning service and current events.
Google confirmed the development of the service a few hours after taking down the link.
By offering a forum that would enable people to sell goods and services without paying for the advertising, Google (GOOG) might hurt eBay (EBAY), a major buyer of the online ads that account for most of Google's profits.
Google also has confirmed it's working on an online payment service, but CEO Eric Schmidt has said the service won't compete with eBay-owned PayPal.
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Tech marches on: Police in India's technology capital, Bangalore, have urged motorists to stay off the city's roads as storms caused flooding and uprooted trees. But business was largely unaffected.
At least six people have been killed in accidents related to the heavy monsoon rains.
Major technology companies said their work was not adversely affected, but moved staff between locations or sent them home early.
Police sent text messages to mobile phone users asking them to stay off the roads as drainage systems were choked in several areas and fallen trees blocked roads.
The rains sharpened a call to boost infrastructure in the city, home to software centres for more than 1,500 companies which account for about a third of India's $17.2 billion software and business service industry.
The city of 6.5 million people is the main hub for the industry which is growing at about 30 percent.
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Liquid books: Microsoft is diving into the business of offering online searches of books and other writings, and says its approach aims to avoid the legal tussles met by rival Google.
The software giant said that it will sidestep hot-button copyright issues for now by initially focusing mainly on books, academic materials and other publications that are in the public domain.
Microsoft (MSFT) plans to initially work with an industry organization called the Open Content Alliance to let users search about 150,000 pieces of published material. A test version of the product is promised for next year.
The alliance, whose participants also include top internet portal Yahoo (YHOO), is working to make books and other offline content available online without raising the ire of publishers and authors.
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Compiled by Keith Axline. AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
