WAS IT REALLY HOTMAIL?

Meanwhile, back at the Hotmail ranch, that security breach last weekend exposed among other things a Swedish businessman contacting prostitutes, CNN reports.

During the breach, someone managed to read mail on an account belonging to a pair of youthful Swedish prostitutes. These letters, and the name and telephone numbers of several clients, were included on an anonymous Web site on an American server, according to a Swedish newspaper cited by CNN.

The business manager of a well-known Swedish media company was among the letter writers, CNN says. "I am seriously interested in learning French from you on a regular basis," his letter read. "Please give me more information about your lessons, it would also be nice if you could attach a picture of the study plan."

When the Swedish newspaper contacted the business manager, CNN says, he already knew that his name and telephone number had been published on the Web site.

"This is nasty, and I understand that this can lead to rumors," he said, insisting he had never paid for sex with the young women. "I just wanted to know if they really were prostitutes."

The Hotmail security breach was discovered on the morning of 30 August, prompting Microsoft to shut Hotmail down two hours.