The FBI has backed down on a secret request for information about a user of the Internet Archive digital library, thanks to a legal challenge from two prominent advocacy groups.

The case, which was brought by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the archive, dates to last year but only became public on Wednesday. Thats because the type of request involved, known as a national security letter (NSL), is accompanied by a gag order that forbids the recipient from disclosing its existence or discussing it with anyone except his attorneys, who are also gagged. As a result of a settlement, the FBI agreed to withdraw the national security letter and to lift the gag order.

The 2001 Patriot Act and its subsequent reauthorization dramatically expanded the FBIs ability to use NSLs, which do not require a court order...

"Grand Theft Auto IV" has surged past "Halo 3" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End" to set the record for the biggest opening week of any entertainment product.

Publisher TakeTwo Interactive is set to confirm today that "Grand Theft Auto IV," from its Rockstar Games label, sold over six million units in its first week, grossing over $500 million in consumer sales.

The previous videogame record holder was Microsofts "Halo 3," which grossed about $300 million in its first week. That game did have the disadvantage of being available for only the Xbox 360, while "GTA IV" is also available for Sonys Playstation 3.

"GTA IV" sold approximately 3.6 million units, worth $310 million, on its opening day April 29. Microsoft didnt release worldwide sales figures for "Halo 3," though it did reveal that the game grossed $170...

Based on 10,099 notebook and desktop computer owners who contacted customer support between Sept. 2006 and Jan. 2008, Consumer Reports found Apple to be number one in technical support. Lenovo came in second for notebook computers and Dell was second for desktops.

The findings will be published in the June, 2008 issue, and a copy was obtained by TMO.

Consumer Reports made the following observations in its report:

1. Apples tech support solved the problem more than 80 percent of the time. This was much higher than the typical 60 percent achieved.

2. Apples Genius Bar solved the problem 90 percent of the time, and the assistance is free.

3. In general, extended warranty plans generally arent good buys. Except for Apple. Consumer Reports recommends Apples AppleCare primarily because free callin technical support ends after...

Yahoo Inc. and McAfee Inc. are joining to offer alerts about potentially dangerous Web sites alongside search results generated at Yahoo.com.

With the new security feature — slated to take effect Tuesday — people who search the Internet using Yahoo will see a red exclamation point and a warning next to links McAfee has identified as serving dangerous downloads or using visitors email addresses to send out spam.

Dangerous downloads can include "adware," which shows unwanted advertisements; "spyware," which secretly tracks users keystrokes and other actions; and other malicious programs that can give criminals control over users computers.

Yahoo and McAfee hope the move will quell users anxiety about accidentally clicking on malicious links.

"Yahoo users have clearly told us that among the most important concerns for them are...

After weeks of negotiations and posturing, Microsoft is giving up its efforts to buy Yahoo, saying that the price the Internet firm is demanding is too high and that any hostile takeover battle would cause enough damage to make the union unappealing.

The move ends for now the possibility that the two tech giants could form a credible rival to Internet titan Google, which has a substantial lead in online advertising. It also forces Microsoft, unrivaled in PC software dominance, to find another means of trying to find a foothold in the Internet era.

"Clearly a deal is not to be," Microsoft chief executive Steven Ballmer wrote to Yahoo chief executive Jerry Yang yesterday.

In a statement, Yang said the three months of negotiations had only underscored the financial value of Yahoo, which had suffered from what many analysts considered lackluster...