Microsoft Corp. last week said it fixed a widely reported flaw in its Internet Explorer browser. The flaw had been used by attackers over the past few weeks to take over the PCs of unsuspecting users. The flaw was one of four IE bugs fixed in Microsoft's regular monthly software update. Security experts had known about the flaw since May.

EarthLink buys VPN services company

EarthLink Inc. last week agreed to acquire New Edge Network Inc. for US$144 million in an effort to add to its virtual private networking customers among small and midsize businesses. EarthLink projects that the deal will bring in $120 million in annual revenue. New Edge, which offers VPN services to businesses, will become a subsidiary of EarthLink and will retain its name. EarthLink will keep on all of New Edge's 345 employees.

Network General names Gibson CEO

Network General Corp. has named Bill Gibson as its CEO. The CEO post at the maker of network and application performance analysis products had been vacant since October 2004, when CEO Bruce Framm left. In the interim, Mike Pope ran the company as president -- a position he will continue to hold. Gibson had been chief operating officer at Crystal Decisions Inc., now part of Business Objects SA.