Digital Britain: Lord Carter vows to force ISPs to crack down on web piracy

Communications minister confirms pledge to deliver broadband to every home in the UK by 2012. By Mark Sweney

Digital Britain report set to push broadband for all by 2012

Getting broadband to everyone in the UK by 2012 is expected to be one of the central ambitions of Lord Stephen Carter when the communications minister unveils his initial thoughts about creating a Digital Britain tomorrow

For sale: the finest cottage known to humanity

Sleddale Hall, near Shap in Cumbria, featured in the film Withnail & I and is now on the market. But how might Withnail set out its particulars, wonders Peter Bradshaw

Home truth: staying in is new going out

Shut the door, enjoy a ready meal, then put on a DVD. Huma Qureshi checks out the options

Broadband for all to be funded by the industry

The government wants everyone in the UK to have access to a basic broadband service by 2012

UK behind in global rush to broadband

Computer expert calls for urgent programme to install fast fibre-optic cables across Britain

Download a film in three minutes with 50Mb broadband, says Virgin Media

Cable operator Virgin Media claims its new super-fast 50Mb broadband service will enable consumers to download films in just over three minutes and TV shows in just 60 seconds - although the service will cost as much as £51 a month for new subscribers. By Mark Sweney

How to buy stuff safely online this Christmas

Here are five tips on online purchases to ensure you get the videogame hardware that you paid for

Most employers restrict staff time on internet, says survey

Generation gap in workplace internet usage between 'dinosaur' bosses and younger tech-savvy managers

Our digital addiction: 727 hours surfing, 27 phoning and 972 texts

The British love camera phones, digital TVs and recorders more than anyone else, according to an Ofcom report. By Richard Wray

Zopa shows banks how to do it right

It has just dawned on me that one of the places I have deposited part of my modest savings, the lending site Zopa, doesn't have a government-backed guarantee - unlike high street banks and credit unions. Yet the curious thing is that, despite all that and the global credit crunch, Zopa is enjoying a boom. In the third quarter new borrowers soared by nearly 50% to 3,700 compared with the previous quarter. Why is this happening - and is it safe?