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Business Briefs

Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire

Tuesday, August 8, 2000

Netscape's browser has security hole

WASHINGTON -- Security experts were warning Internet users about a security hole in Netscape's Web browser that has already infected almost 1,000 computers. Once a computer is infected, a hacker can click through the victim's computer and see, run and delete files on the target computer. The method has been making the rounds of computer security mailing lists and bulletin boards over the weekend. Netscape has not yet made a remedy available, but are working on the problem. based Internet Security Systems, which analyzed the security hole, advises Netscape users to disable the Java programming language in their browser. Netscape, owned by America Online Inc., suggested the same temporary solution.

OfficeMax loss grows on inventory shift

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- OfficeMax Inc. said it had a fiscal second-quarter loss as the third-biggest U.S. office-supply chain shed computer inventory and spent to build its Internet business.

The loss was $24.1 million, or 22 cents a share, for the quarter ended July 22, compared with net income of $2.43 million, or 2 cents, a year earlier. Sales rose 11 percent to $1.08 billion from $970.5 million. OfficeMax in February agreed to allow Gateway Inc. to sell its computers in boutiques inside OfficeMax stores. To prepare, OfficeMax converted computer departments and completed the liquidation of its PC inventory. The loss in OfficeMax's computer business widened to $7.6 million from $5.6 million, as sales fell 36 percent to $30.5 million.