The first virus affecting StarOffice was detected last week, but experts say that so far it isn't being used to infect computers. Kaspersky Lab said the virus uses macros to attack the Sun Microsystems Inc. office suite. The bug does not yet pose a threat, since it is a proof-of-concept virus, meaning that it was written to prove it could work but is not yet being used maliciously, Kaspersky said.

Symantec patches software flaw

Symantec Corp. has patched a widely reported flaw in the English versions of its corporate antivirus software. The flaw could be exploited by hackers to run unauthorized software on unpatched PCs. The problem affects Versions 3.0 and above of Client Security, and Versions 10 and above of Antivirus Corporate Edition.

Ballmer defends Microsoft R&D plans

Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer has defended the software vendor's plan to boost its research and development budget by US$2.6 billion next year -- a move that Wall Street analysts fear will lower its earnings potential and result in lower returns to shareholders. Ballmer told analysts at the Sanford C. Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in New York that Microsoft has proved in the past that such investments pay off in the long term.