Return to Newsletters

 

TIME SAVING WEBSITES:
"Google News"

The Google search engine/portal has done an amazing thing. They have introduced a truly innovative thing, the Google News system.

http://news.google.com/

This system dynamically pulls in news from all over the world. The current incarnation accesses over 4,000 sites for the latest news items and organizes them according to page traffic patterns.

The result? The latest news with a true international perspective.

The most asked question so far has been, "What is the difference between the search engine and this news engine?" Technically, very little, but the Google search engine is designed to be a web crawler for the entire world wide web but Google News constantly crawls the 4,000+ websites for current and changing news.

In short, its perfect for finding more information about topics and events that have just occured or entered the public eye. I hope you enjoy its insight and quick search times. Please let me know how well it works for you.

 

 

NEW FAQs:

"How do I determine a virus hoax?"

This is my favorite question to answer. I get these all the time, and seldom do people check things out before sending out a flurry of emails to the known world.

Then eventually, someone checks the alleged virus out and have to reveal that it is, in fact, not a virus, but a virus hoax.

The best way to check our a alleged virus is to first go to Symantec's website.

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html

Symantec is the software publisher of Norton Antivirus and basically, if a virus is legitimate, they will have a fix for it. If not, then they too will know about it.

This website lists all the known virus hoaxes and makes it easy to review for some keyword that may look suspicious.

My favorite is the "SULFNBK.EXE Warning" hoax. It instructs the user to seek a standard file that usually exists on a Windows computer.

Checking out the virus or virus hoax before you hit that send button can save you a huge amount of embarassment.

Please let us know if this has helped you out.

 

 

BUZZ WORDS: "Bug Bear"

No. Its not a new creature from the Twilight Zone television program. It is in fact, a new legitimate computer virus.

Its proper name is, "W32.Bugbear@mm" and is detailed at the Norton Antivirus Center below:

Info from Symantec

In short, Bugbear is a mass-mailing worm. It can also spread through network shares. It has keystroke-logging and backdoor capabilities. The worm also attempts to terminate the processes of various antivirus and firewall programs

It is a real and sneaky foe. If you think you may have encountered this virus and are not 100% certain that it is under control. Please don't hesitate to call on us and allow us to help insure that you are fully protected and secure from the encounter.

 

 

HOME NETWORKING

Have you heard either of the phrases, "War-Parking" or "War-Chalking"?

These terms refer to the growing number of mobile hackers that may be cruising your workplace or neighborhood looking to access the Internet via your wireless network.

War-Parking refers to the habit of cruising a neighborhood seeking a signal to tap into and War-Chalking is the audatious habit of literally chalk-marking the sidewalk in front of a location with access with proper symbols for the Hobo-Hackers to freeload on your network.

More importantly is the question, "How do I keep them off my network?"

There are three quick fixes that I recommend.
1) Set your system to a non-standard SSID.
2) Disable SSID Broadcast.
3) Use the WEP Key system to secure packets.

All of these options are easily accessible via the control panels for most routers.

If these options are not available on your wireless router, or if you are not familiar with these options, please call on us to help secure your network. This is one of our specialties.

 

 

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT:
"screenit.com"

http://www.screenit.com/search_movies.html

This is one of the best review websites for movies that I have found. It won't necessarily tell you whether or not you will love or hate the movies, but the general quality of the movie is clearly detailed.

They review from a family perspective. Their reviews detail the number and context of poor language, poor role models and imitative behaior. This website is a must have for parents that prefer to preview their movies before taking the family out for a popcorn matinee at the local cinema.

I hope you find this website useful for your planning your movie viewing. Please let us know if this has helped.

 

 

--dedicated to the glory of God--
Romans 8:28

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.