Chinese Web sites published reports and photographs on Wednesday which they said may contain the ending to the eagerly awaited seventh and final installment of the Harry Potter book series.

The author of a Potter article on the Web site of a newspaper called Strait News, said by telephone that the pictures came from an overseas peer-to-peer download site.

“Since the actual book hasn’t been released, no one can be sure if it’s the real thing or not,” he said. The pages were subsequently removed, he added.

But a handful of other sites, including the popular Sina.com, also ran the article and pictures.

Hackers stole information from the U.S. Department of Transportation and several U.S. companies by seducing employees with fake job-listings on advertisements and e-mail, a computer security firm said.

The victims include consulting firm Booz Allen, computer services company Unisys Corp, computer maker Hewlett- Packard Co and satellite network provider Hughes Network Systems, a unit of Hughes Communications Inc, said Mel Morris, chief executive of British Internet security provider Prevx Ltd.

Of the list, only Unisys acknowledged that viruses had been detected and removed from two PCs, saying no information had been leaked. A Department of Transportation spokeswoman said the agency could not find any indication of a breach and a spokeswoman for Hughes said she was unaware of any breaches.

The other parties either declined comment or did not respond to requests for comment.

Microsoft Corp. said on Tuesday its Office Live will use search advertising tools from Ask.com to help small businesses reach consumers on the Internet.

Microsoft Office Live is Internet-based software that allows small businesses to create Web sites, e-mail accounts and other applications.

It will add Ask Sponsored Listings to its search advertising service, allowing marketers to buy search terms and manage Web campaigns on Ask.com’s site and its network of Internet publishers.

Telecoms companies in Europe are not required to hand over information on clients believed to be running music-sharing Web sites in civil cases, an adviser to the European Union’s top court said on Wednesday.

The case was brought by a Spanish music and audiovisual association after telecoms provider Telefonica refused to hand over the names and addresses of its Internet clients suspected of running illegal file sharing sites.

The association, Promusicae, wanted to identify the clients, who used the file-sharing program KaZaA, so it could start taking action against them.