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Benjamin Daines was browsing the Web when he clicked on a series of links that promised pictures of an unreleased update to his computer's operating system. Instead, a window opened on the screen and strange commands ran as if the machine was under the control of someone -- or something -- else. Daines was the victim of a computer virus. Such headaches are hardly unusual on PCs running Microsoft's Windows operating system. Daines, however, was using a Mac -- an Apple Computer machine often touted as being immune to such risks.

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Software prices could fall as companies develop subscription sales and distribute increasingly complex programs that run in Web browsers, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said Thursday. "With less piracy, with more proper use, it certainly creates an opportunity for us and for other software companies to take a look at also reducing the cost, not just improving the benefits and the value of the software," Ballmer said.

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Open source database developer MySQL has introduced MySQL Forge, a Web site and community directory designed to encourage MySQL users and developers to communicate, collaborate, and share MySQL code and applications. MySQL also announced new support for Ubuntu, a version of the Linux operating system that is gaining popularity among open source developers. "Both MySQL and Ubuntu benefit from extensive open source community development and usage," said Ubuntu project founder Mark Shuttleworth in a keynote address Thursday at the MySQL Users Conference 2006.

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Microsoft has expanded its Genuine Software Initiative, a pilot program to notify users of non-genuine Windows operating systems that their copies of the software are illegal. The software giant is using the "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications" tool -- a virtual equivalent of the exploding dye that banks use to mark stolen currency and thus deter theft. WGA automatically checks for genuine copies when customers use Windows Update, Microsoft Update for Windows and Microsoft Download Center.