bdpnetworks
newsletter - issue #8bdpnetworks
newsletter - issue #8Oops!
• Internet
Explorer AutoSearch "feature" - how to change it
Tips & Tricks
• Windows screen
refresh rates
• Netware:
make your files and directories "stick."
Technews
• Big
hole found in Microsoft Exchange - requires patching
• Microsoft
changes default marketing preferences
• Mozilla
1.0 finally released!
• Klez
& ElKern viruses
• HP
Product Roadmap
• The
dangers of KazAa
Information
about my services
• Who is this guy?
• What is this all about?
Fun
& Cool
• ChipWorks - Silicon Art
• Absolut Director
• Fire Extinguisher Balls
• Light Up the World
• Sound Bug
Welcome once again to the bdpnetworks monthly newsletter, an eclectic but hopefully useful assortment of information in a condensed format. My goal is to give you some information you can use, while raising awareness of the types of services I can provide.
If you find any of this information useful or fun, please pass a copy of this newsletter on to someone else. I would really appreciate it.
As always, if you have any questions or comments about anything at all, please don't hesitate to contact me at info@bdpnetworks.com. I do NOT charge for basic questions (even for non-customers), so give it a shot. :)
NEW! I'm now offering fixed-price Project bids, and fixed-price Maintenance Retainer contracts! For details on these and more information on bdpnetworks, please see the section below entitled Information about bdpnetworks.
Special thanks to Katerie Prior for helping to proofread this newsletter. Visit her writing website at http://www.writers-confidant.com
Thanks again for reading!
In issue #7, I wrote about Microsoft's new "feature," that redirects users to their own MSN search engine if they go to a nonexistent web site.
I was critical of Microsoft for directing even more users to MSN, but a sharp-eyed reader pointed out that Microsoft has recently added an option to Internet Explorer that will allow you to specify your own search engine instead of Microsoft's default of MSN. Here's how:
Click the search button on your Internet Explorer toolbar to see the search pane on the left side of your screen.
Click the "Customize" button, located towards the top of the search pane.
Select "Use one search service." (Note: Strangely, you cannot select Google with this method.)
Pick your desired search engine. This is the one that comes up on the left when you hit "Search" on the toolbar.
Click "AutoSearch Settings" and choose your preferred search engine. This is the one that a nonexistent address will be directed to, like MSN.
Microsoft is betting that most people WON'T follow these steps to change their search engine from MSN. Prove them wrong.
(Special thanks to Paul Ketola for pointing this out!)
NOTE: Google fans will be much better served by the Google Toolbar, a very easy-to-install add-on to Internet Explorer that gives you a bunch of great added features. It's available here:
My goal is to ultimately reduce your dependence on outside computer networking support organizations. I want to help you to be more self-sufficient, so that you don't have to worry about managing disasters as they happen. A good network is one where the individual components don't crash or unpredictably fail, and one that is as secure as possible from viruses or outside intruders. It means you spend less time worrying about the state of the network or the attached computers, and have more time to focus on your business.
How can I make a living by helping you to be more self-sufficient? I'll recommend new features and technologies that you may not have heard of that can be added to your existing network. These features can help you manage your information, or help you and your employees get access to their information in new and useful ways. I only ask that you think of calling me when you're ready to move on projects like this. I am much happier expanding and extending networks with valuable features than when I have to run around and constantly put out fires! Some companies make lots of money putting out fires, but customers are often unsatisfied with these companies' "break & fix" attitudes. I want your company to get past that level and to focus on business processes, not computer procedures. Your network should work for you and around you, not the other way around.
And now, I offer maintenance plans that keep your system in great working order so it's always ready when you need it. For a low fixed monthly rate, you can have the benefits of having an "on call" expert network engineer available at all times. These plans specify an unlimited labor scope, so you won't have sudden huge costs to contend with if things start going wrong. Additionally, you'll get automatic scheduled maintenance visits to check on virus protection, backups, and any other "laundry lists" of problems your network may have. You'll even receive full documentation for your system as well as regular written logged updates about the status of your network devices & software.
For more information on network maintenance plans, visit this link:
http://www.bdpnetworks.com/maintenance.html
And if you'd like me to put together a customized proposal for your environment, please e-mail me at bdp@bdpnetworks.com, or call (206)351-7964.
A monitor's "refresh rate" is how many times the screen is completely redrawn by the graphics adapter inside the computer (video card) every second. Computer monitors draw an entire picture at the rate of at least sixty times per second. But sixty times per second is considered the "safe" default by Windows because even very old monitors can display images at this rate. Unfortunately, people can develop headaches or eyestrain at this speed because it's simply too slow.
Windows usually defaults to a 60Hz refresh rate for most graphics cards and monitors. Almost all computer monitors now support at least a 75Hz refresh rate. (Hz=Hertz, which literally means "cycles per second.") The 75Hz rate is much easier on the eyes and makes the screen seem more "solid."
To change your refresh rate under most versions of Windows, right-click on your desktop and select "Properties." Then select "Monitor," and you should be able to change it from there. Some monitors support upwards of 120Hz for specific resolutions; try higher rates until you find one you like. (You may have to adjust the screen a little if you switch to a much higher rate.) Your eyes will thank you!
By the way, LCD-based displays (flat panels or laptops) don't have adjustable refresh rates, but are MUCH easier on the eyes than traditional CRTs (cathode ray tubes) for a number of other reasons.
Last time, I wrote about the undelete facility on Novell Netware, and why it saves so much time. This month, I'd like to focus on Novell's extensive file attribute settings which allow you to protect files in ways not possible with other network operating systems. Netware file attributes are extensions of the old-style DOS file attributes - in DOS, you can mark a file with attributes such as "Read Only," that prevent the file from being overwritten. But on a Netware server, files can have several more extended attributes that let you do some nice tricks.
Have you ever seen anyone accidentally move an important shared folder from one directory to another with Windows Explorer? This is a common problem that usually results in lots of finger-pointing and frustration. If you enable the Netware attributes "Rename Inhibit" and "Delete Inhibit" on the folder in question, it will stay stuck in place without preventing people from reading and writing the files contained in the directory.
The other interesting attribute is called "Copy Inhibit" which allows people to open files but not make any copies of them. This is great if you have sensitive information on your network you'd like to keep from walking out the door.
If you have the Novell-supplied Netware client (also known as Client32) installed on your Windows workstation, you can access these attributes simply by right-clicking a file and selecting the Netware Info tab.
Another big Microsoft security hole was just discovered a few weeks ago. This one targets Microsoft Exchange 2000 servers; basically a specifically-formed type of e-mail message can lock up the server causing it to be completely unresponsive to any requests. Microsoft strongly suggest you patch your servers ASAP.
Here's some more information on this problem.
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-928055.html?tag=fd_top
You can download the patch from this location:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/bulletin/ms02-025.asp
As I've said before, products like Microsoft Exchange and Internet Information Server (Microsoft's web server program) are extremely vulnerable to attack, if not simply because of their popularity. There are excellent, mature alternatives out there that match these products feature-for-feature and won't give you the feeling you're "locked in" to Microsoft's way of doing business (not to mention they won't carry the high "subscription-based" licensing fees). I would even argue that in many cases the costs (including retraining) of migrating away from Microsoft Exchange and Internet Information Server (even for a large company) will be offset by the savings on upkeep and staffing levels required to properly maintain these programs and keep them secure. For more information about alternatives such as GroupWise, Lotus Notes, or even Linux-based e-mail solutions check out my last newsletter (newsletter #7).
A few months ago, Yahoo changed all of the preference for their My Yahoo! and Yahoo! Mail subscribers to allow the subscribers to receive ALL applicable advertising from third parties. MSN has followed suit with a similar action. You may want to check the settings on your MSN & Hotmail accounts to make sure you won't be unnecessarily SPAMmed.
Here's some more info on the issue: (Eastside Journal)
http://www.eastsidejournal.com/92560.html
After over four years of hard work by dedicated volunteers, Mozilla 1.0 has been released. Mozilla is an open-source web browser built to strictly support Internet web standards that runs on almost every operating system in common use. It is fast and packed with features, such as pop-up ad blocking, cookie management, and tabbed browsing which lets you open pages in a new tab within the same window instead of a whole new window. (This is my favorite feature, by the way, and makes it much easier to read through lots of links at once.)
Mozilla is available as a self-contained installable executable for Windows, Mac, and most UNIX operating systems (including Mac OS X 10.1). Mozilla does _not_ come with any official support structure as it's designed to be embedded in other products. But it is an excellent browser on its own if you don't need access to constant technical support.
If you have to have access to a technical support organization, there are a number of companies that have developed browsers around the Mozilla source complete with support options. They're listed here:
http://www.mozdev.org/projects.html
I spent several hours a few weeks ago cleaning up the Klez virus from a customer's network. They had active virus protection installed, but Klez found some "soft spots" in their network and dropped another virus, ElKern, at a rapid pace. The customer used network shares extensively from computer-to-computer and computer-to-server and this virus looked for those and spread like wildfire.
The only thing that really could have prevented the spread of this virus is constant, vigilant patching of security holes (via WindowsUpdate) and checking virus signature status at least once a week. As this is a very new virus (discovered "in the wild" on April 19th), any computer that had slightly older virus signatures would not have caught it.
Another effective defense against viruses is to migrate software to products that are less vulnerable to attack by viruses. Many small companies use Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express for their e-mail which, while easy to use and configure, are huge targets for hackers because of their security flaws and market share. Often, small companies don't rely on an in-house e-mail server for their e-mail system, instead choosing to have their Internet Service Provider (ISP) host their mail on a POP (Post Office Protocol) or IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol) server. There are lots of great alternatives to Outlook and Outlook Express that support IMAP such as Eudora, Pegasus Mail, and even Netscape Messenger. These products are inexpensive (sometimes free!) and are naturally immune to many of the viruses that infect Outlook.
Home users: it is especially important to keep your Outlook patched if you're using it for e-mail, or consider an alternative. Many people simply don't have the time to keep up on Microsoft's latest patches for their e-mail clients, so definitely consider switching to something else. You will not lose any functionality by using something like Netscape Messenger to read your e-mail, and may even like it better than Outlook!
Symantec has provided a free tool that will remove any trace of Klez & ElKern from your Windows-based system. It needs to be run in safe mode.
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.klez.removal.tool.html
More information on Klez and ElKern from Symantec:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.elkern.4926.html
And finally, here's some more press about the whole situation from Yahoo! news:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cn/20020519/tc_cn/are_you_the_klez_monster_
The HP-Compaq merger has been approved and plans are underway to restructure the company. This is a mixed bag for customers and support professionals; many were waiting to see what product lines would be dropped from the newly combined company. The new company (new stock ticker: "HPQ") has released a product roadmap that defines which lines will survive the merger.
In short, most of the Compaq servers have been retained, as well as the HP printers and scanners. HP and Compaq desktop computers will both be retained, and HP laptops will be retained instead of the Compaq models. But of special note to some may be the fact that HP is dropping the Jornada handheld unit completely in favor of the Compaq iPaq.
For more information, visit this link:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/07may02b.htm
Kazaa is a popular file sharing program that is dangerous to business networks because it steals valuable bandwidth. If you use it at home or are thinking about it, you may be interested in reading this article which explains all of the spyware that it installs on your computer.
http://www.oit.duke.edu/ats/support/spyware/kazaa.html
Ad-Aware is a well-respected free program that will remove spyware from your computer (see issue #7). The catch with running Ad-Aware against Kazaa is that Kazaa is rendered non-functional when the spyware is removed. To get around this, an ingenious programmer has created a modified version of Kazaa that does not carry the associated spyware "baggage." You can get it here:
bdpnetworks (located in Seattle, WA) is owned and managed by Brian Place (that's me!), and I maintain a network of contacts with other independent computer consultants and support firms for subcontracting purposes. I've been doing this consulting thing for quite a while as an employee of other computer service companies. While my experiences were very enriching, I've generally been frustrated by the lack of consistency or innovation at those companies and the overhead a lot of them carry. I think I can do a better job by myself at a lower cost, so I formed bdpnetworks in June, 2001.
Many companies are pouring vast sums of money into their infrastructure just to keep it stable, let alone add value or features to it. This doesn't have to be the case; I have the experience necessary to help get these networks running well again and the know-how to add innovative features that will benefit everyone. My focus now is primarily on small businesses in and around the Seattle area. I enjoy working with small companies and am looking forward to forming new relationships, especially with organizations near my Capitol Hill office.
I offer a free onsite consultation to new clients, so you have NO RISK! If you would like to set up an appointment, give me a call at (206)351-7964 or e-mail me at bdp@bdpnetworks.com
For more information, please call me at (206)351-7964 or visit my website at http://www.bdpnetworks.com
Chip engineers get a chance to show off their artistic side...
http://www.chipworks.com/art/silicon_art.htm
Make your own sci-fi space opera. This is a stunning use of Macromedia's Flash technology. (Note: Contains advertisements for Absolut Vodka - you'll need to be of legal drinking age to access the site. The site can be sluggish on a slow connection or slow computer, as well.)
http://www.absolutdirector.com
A Thai inventor has developed a great, inexpensive, portable alternative to clunky fire extinguishers.
http://www.feer.com/articles/2002/0205_09/p036innov.html (Far East Economic Journal)
(use this link if you don't want to register to the Far East Economic Journal)
This organization uses cutting-edge LED technology to bring inexpensive light to developing parts of the world--without batteries, or access to electricity.
http://www.lightuptheworld.org/
A novel way to produce sound on a hard surface. A loudspeaker for the 21st century.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1879000/1879247.stm
(c)2002 Brian Place for bdp networks. All Rights Reserved.
Proofread by Katerie Prior of The Writer's Confidant, http://www.writers-confidant.com
Feel free to forward a copy of this to whomever you wish; please leave the contents intact.
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Questions, comments, concerns or flames may be directed to newsletter@bdpnetworks.com
Thank you for reading!
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT. NEITHER BRIAN PLACE NOR BDPNETWORKS TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF ANY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT.