PLUGGED IN : NEWS BYTES.

THE PRICE OF PIRACY: Pirated software cost the international computer industry nearly $11.2 billion in lost revenues last year, according to a study by the Software Publishers Association and the Business Software Alliance. Nearly one out of every two business applications - from word processors to communication software - is illegally copied and either sold or given away, the study reported. The report found Vietnam, China and Russia to be pirating hot spots.

FTC TOUGH ON SPAM: The Federal Trade Commission announced last week it will punish businesses that put false information in the unsolicited mail sent to millions of World Wide Web users. Penalties for junk mailers which break the law could include court injunctions to stop the practice, the agency said. Repeat offenders could face fines of tens of thousands of dollars.

WEB LINKS

PUMP UP ON YOUR PC: As the number of women using the Internet grows, so do the sites catering to their interests. The newest arrival is Healthy Ideas, http://www.healthyideas.com/ a health and fitness site. It's the second of three new sites from Women's Wire Networks, which also produces Beatrice's Web Guide and the on-line magazine Women's Wire, http://www.women.com. Prevention magazine supplies the content for Healthy Ideas; Women's Wire is producing the site. Healthy Ideas will provide information, updated daily, on such topics as nutrition, preventive medicine and weight control.

CNN GETS PERSONAL: Joining the personalized news service businesses, CNN has partnered up with database gurus Oracle to launch its Custom News site at http://customnews.cnn.com/. Users create a profile that determines what makes it on their ``front page,'' then follow up with specific keywords that help the service pinpoint what stories would appeal to the readers' tastes. And best of all, it's free.

RANDOM ACCESS

HOLY PHONE CALLS!: Like Batman and his partner Robin, MCI and Warner Bros. are joining forces to launch a hero-size promotion. Limited edition ``Batman and Robin'' MCI prepaid phone cards are being released. Top-rated radio stations in 60 markets nationwide will award 2,500 of the customized cards. They are also for sale at retailers nationwide and can be ordered by calling [phone].