Short Reports

Security experts were warning Internet users Monday 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, dubbed “Brown Orifice” in a reference to the popular hacker tool BackOrifice, 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.

British Airways PLC reported a first-quarter loss of $75 million Monday as it continued to struggle with high fuel costs and intense competition.

Charles Wang, the country’s highest-paid executive last year, stepped down Monday as chief executive of Computer Associates International Inc., the world’s third-largest software company. Wang, who will remain as chairman, had a compensation package totaling $650.1 million, most of it from bonuses related to stock performance.

Broadcom Corp., whose integrated circuits help data move through broadband computer connections, said it will buy chipmaker Silicon Spice, Inc., for about $1.2 billion in stock.

A international arbitrator’s ruling will free Andersen Consulting, with 65,000 employees, from its parent company, which now consists entirely of Arthur Andersen, a tax and auditing firm with 77,000 employees. In exchange, Andersen Consulting will have to give up its name and pay Arthur Andersen $1 billion.