The Register reports
that “various Hotfix files” on several of Microsoft’s support websites were infected with the FunLove virus. The infection period, according to Microsoft, lasted “from Friday, April 6, 2001 to Friday, April 20, 2001.”

Linux Today: “On May 17, 2001, the Montreal Linux User Group will hold an evening seminar in collaboration
with Fuji Graphic Systems Canada to introduce Linux to Montreal area printers and pre-press
shops. A Fuji source indicated that many of their clients have shown keen interest in the
platform and this seminar is being organized in response. Although Fuji has considerable
UNIX expertise in-house, they have turned to MLUG for assistance in introducing GNU/Linux
and the advantages of logiciel libre to their clients. MLUG members will present general
information on Linux, the GPL and various applications such as Samba, Apache and Zope.”

The 26th monthly installment of Georg C.F. Greve’s roundup of GNU news is now online. This issue covers GNU Pipo BBS, Larswm, GNUstep, W3Make, the OpenWebSchool Project, and an update on Free Software Foundation Europe. Read on a gnu.org.

Wired News: ”
A controversial Linux tech support and training company appears to have closed after months of investigations conducted by
the Better Business Bureau and local law enforcement. Linuxgruven was allegedly involved in a scheme promising employment and then requiring prospective hires to pay several
thousand dollars for training. There are also charges of bounced checks, false advertising and unethical business practices.”

ZDNet Interactive Week reports “A new traffic management protocol, called
Source-Specific Multicast, solves a key network
configuration problem that has limited the adoption
of traditional Internet Protocol multicast
technology. While upgrading networks to support
Source-Specific Multicast will take time, experts
say, so many companies are behind the effort that
it’s likely to take off and become a standard part of
next-generation Internet networks.”

Wired News: “The open-source movement in Africa will get a boost this week when technology experts from around
the world meet in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Though many African-based software firms will get the chance to showcase their products alongside those of their hallowed
counterparts from Silicon Valley, the highlight of Linux in Africa — the biggest Linux event to be hosted on the continent —
will be the appearance of Jon “Mad Dog” Hall, the legendary executive director of Linux International.”

In a report filed with the SEC, Caldera reveals its plans for staff cuts: “In anticipation of the closing of the acquisition of SCO’s Server Software and
Professional Services Groups (which is subject to shareholder approvals) and in
an effort to reduce operating costs, Caldera Systems, Inc. (“Caldera”)
announced today that it will reduce its workforce approximately 17% by
eliminating 32 of its 188 positions. The reductions will target all functional
areas of Caldera The cost-cutting efforts will result in a one-time charge
estimated to be $450,000 for severance benefits and outplacement.”

Consulting Times interviews Nez Furlong of the Free Distributed Computer Environment Project.

Want to know where and how to submit those Linux patches? Linus Torvalds explains it all for you, in a mailing list post reprinted at LinuxProgramming.com.

According a Reuters item (via InfoWorld), Sun Microsystems will cease all operations for four business days in July. Employees will be asked to take holidays or unpaid leave during the shutdown.