COMPANIES

In the wake of the latest cyber attack on Sony's networks, one of the company's chief rivals Nintendo has confirmed that its network had recently been the target of a similar hacking attempt.

With Sony only just having gotten its PSN and PlayStation Store fully functioning, the hacker group LulzSec have released a statement claiming to have once again bypassed Sony's online security -- this time on one of its websites -- but, unlike the first PSN breach, it appears that a significant proportion of the general public have reacted with pity or even sympathy rather than anger.

Since search-giant Google confirmed a recent attack on its Gmail service, speculation about a possible security breach to the U.S. Government's network has arisen, with the Chinese Government once again being suspected of coordinating the cyber attack.

UK-based bookmaker Betfred has been chosen to buy the Tote after an auction process that began in November.

Shares in British banks were mixed on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after Greece looked ready to come to an agreement that will see it impose greater austerity measures in return for a second bailout.

On the same day that Sony Corp. finally managed to restart its PlayStation Store service, a new group of hackers claimed to have successfully bypassed the company's online security, compromising a further one-million Sony customers account information.

After partial service was restored to the PlayStation Network midway through last month, the PlayStation Store has finally been re-activated early this morning.

Since Nintendo announced its intention to unveil its new Project Cafe console at the E3 expo later this month, critics and fans alike have been speculating about what new features the console will boast.

As the debate around cyber attacks intensifies, with the newly revealed assault on Google's Gmail service and the U.S. zero-tolerance policy, the U.K. has launched its own initiative -- a recruitment competition designed to groom the next generation of cyber security experts.

Since Google revealed that the latest cyber attack against its Gmail service once again stemmed from China, representatives for the Chinese Government has spoken out and officially denied the country's involvement.

Just days after the U.K. and U.S. governments indicated a new zero-tolerance policy to cyber attacks, the search-giant Google has confirmed that it recently suffered yet another attempted cyber raid on its email service.

Shares in Johnson Matthey were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the chemical company reported a rise in revenue and pre-tax profit in the year ended 31 March.

Shares in British banks were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as investors fretted over weak economic data from the U.S.

With the debate about the growing threat cyber attacks pose the world, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence has begun a new campaign teaching its personnel about what it considers acceptable behaviour on social networking sites.

Shares in Kingfisher were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the group predicted a "tough" year, despite reporting a rise in retail profit and sales in the first quarter ended 30 April.

After close to two months down as a result of Sony's recent PSN crisis, the PlayStation Store has today gone active.

With E3 set to launch in Los Angeles in just a few short days, fans and developers alike have begun speculating about what each of the big-three games companies are going to bring to this year's conference.

Since Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey yesterday revealed the U.K. Government's sponsored development of cyber weapons, a report from the Washington post has revealed that the U.S.A. also has a similar sponsorship programme currently under way.

Shares in Johnson Matthey were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the chemical company's full year results, expected tomorrow.

Shares in Kingfisher were down on the FTSE 100 in afternoon trading ahead of the retailer's first quarter update, expected tomorrow.

Two top security firms have reportedly been targeted by as yet unidentified hackers seeking information regarding SecurID authentication products and key government contracts.

Shares in Wolseley were down on the FTSE 100 in morning trading after the plumbing product distributor reported a rise in revenue and trading profit in the third quarter ended 30 April 2011.

In the wake of Sony's recent PSN disaster and the U.K. Government's increasing emphasis on the topic, Microsoft took the opportunity to add its two-cents on the question of cyber attacks at this year's Global Cybersecurity Summit.

Shares in British banks were up on the FTSE 100 in morning trading as talks on a second Greek bailout look set to be concluded tomorrow.

Shares in Northumbrian Water were down on the FTSE 250 in morning trading after the water company reported a rise in revenue and pre-tax profit in the full year ended 31 March 2011.

A 58-year-old grandmother has been sentenced to three year's probation after pleading guilty to illegally downloading and sharing an estimated £54,000 worth of music

After taking the matter up with Californian authorities, the U.K.'s Tyneside Council has successfully forced Twitter to hand over details regarding certain account holders.

Apple representatives have recently confirmed the company's plans to reveal its new iCloud music streaming service, iOS 5 smartphone operating system and OS 10.7 Lion computer operating system at next month's Worldwide Developers Conference.

After Twitter recently announced its willingness to hand over user information, the ongoing injunction and super-injunction debate has seen another dramatic turn, as yet another Twitter user has published information regarding 14 privacy injunctions.