Cook told the Journal that Apple will make an early version of the software available to developers on Thursday, and will start selling it in late summer.

FORBES: Apple To Add iOS-Like Features To OSX 'Mountain Lion'

Those automated tools could help prevent the sort of exploits that planted malicious software on the Wall Street Journal and Jerusalem Post Web sites last month, and the attacks seemingly based in China that hit half a million sites in 2008.

FORBES: Researchers Will Turn Google And Bing Into Web Bug Warning System

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Microsoft also is planning price breaks for its Windows and Office software as part of a strategy to spur lower-cost touch-screen devices enabled by its Windows software.

WSJ: Microsoft Plans 7-Inch Tablet

And now anyone with a modem and a few dollars can become his own publisher by using simple software to create a blog -- a kind of diary of opinion or a running journal that also provides links to articles and other Web sites.

WSJ: Caught in the Web