Actrix Newsletter March 2003

This newsletter has been produced to help you get the most out of the Internet,
and to keep you, as an Actrix customer, informed of developments and services within the company.
Past newsletters may be viewed at http://editor.actrix.co.nz/
Newsletters are now archived by article at http://editor.actrix.co.nz/byarticle/
Questions and comments about the newsletter can be e-mailed to editor@actrix.co.nz
Other inquiries should be e-mailed to support@actrix.co.nz

Last month I encouraged readers to provide feedback on the newsletters by way of an online survey. My aim was to get some gathered feedback on how the newsletters were being received and how they could be made better. As many readers noted in their comments, the newsletters "must take a lot of work to produce," and I would rather work smarter than harder, so I wanted to get an idea of what was worthwhile and what was a waste of effort. I am grateful to all those who took the time to respond.

At the time of this writing, roughly 2-3 weeks since the survey was released, I have received 597 replies. A few responses continue to trickle in each day, but I have to draw the line somewhere in terms of the collected body of data I'm going to work with.

The results were overwhelmingly positive. That's pretty much to be expected, I guess. I'm well aware that only regular readers were likely to bother with the survey, and if they didn't see some value in the newsletters, then they wouldn't be regular readers. I truly appreciated the few who weren't so keen on the newsletter who gave me their feedback anyway.

I toyed with the idea of posting all the comments too, just for curiosity's sake. I would have removed all possible identifying words or phrases (and references to our competitors that it would have been bad form for us to publish), but in the end I decided I couldn't really do even this as people filled in the survey without me having mentioned posting results (even anonymously) beforehand.

Some of the comments were really helpful and thoughtful. Many took the opportunity to voice their disapproval of one thing or another that Actrix does or is doing, and I made sure that such comments were forwarded to the appropriate managers or departments. Many took the opportunity to ask questions but neglected to say who they were, so I was not able to get back to them. Some did leave their details, and I think I have replied to most of them. A couple of respondents pointed out that my questions were leading. I admit I probably could have worded some of them better, or provided more options to choose from, but I wasn't trying to skew the results and did try to provide a fully negative option for each question. At least one person noticed this and chose the most negative option at every opportunity. Heh heh.

At time of writing 259 females, 333 males and five who didn't want to indicate their gender replied. Two thirds of respondents were over 50 years of age. Respondents in higher age brackets tended to favour articles on how to make the most of the web or their software. Younger respondents tended to go for the Interesting Sites and the News Snippets. The one thing that surprised me in the results had to do with the articles that were the most popular. The ones most liked were often the ones I spent less time on, researched less deeply, or didn't think were as interesting as the ones I had worked harder on, or enjoyed more as I wrote them. I guess that underscores the value of this sort of feedback.

The message was reasonably consistent that no significant changes are needed for the newsletter in terms of layout or content.

There were a few recurring themes when it came to requested content. One or two thought a regular staff profile would be good. This is an interesting idea and I wouldn't mind doing it, but I doubt many Actrix staff would like having their mugshot and rap sheet on display. I don't think I'd get a lot of internal company co-operation on that one.

Lots of people indicated that they'd like to be able to print individual articles more easily. This has always been possible via the Archives Page, but from now on I will endeavour to make this a lot simpler by providing a link to a "printer friendly version" for each significant article.

Quite a few people mentioned the idea of a readers' forum, where people confused about a net-related topic or something peculiar to Actrix could write in requesting help. I think this would be a valuable addition and I'll include an invitation to readers to do so in this newsletter. Perhaps some of the help desk staff could have a go at responding. If it takes off we'll keep it as a permanent feature of the newsletters.

A small number wanted the articles to be more technically in depth, but most who addressed this issue would prefer articles to stay about the same, or perhaps be written even more simply, or deal with topics aimed at the greenest of novices. Each month I do try and get a good mix of material but it will often depend on how much time I have to research and plan, or which staff members are nearby and willing to write something for me. I'll continue to aim for a good mix of material.

Well, that's probably enough in terms of a survey report. Please check out the results summary and feel free to e-mail me if you think there are other conclusions that I could have drawn from the data.

When returning last month's newsletter survey, quite a few people mentioned the idea of a readers' forum, where people confused about a net-related topic or something about Actrix services could write in requesting help.

This would appear to be an excellent idea and all newsletter readers are invited to do just that. Exactly how questions will be dealt with will depend on how many, and what types of questions come through. If there are several, I'll choose the one or two that I think would be most useful for all and attempt to provide an explanation or some form of help. I'll also try to see that questions that aren't published are answered privately.

Please keep in mind that questions should be limited to Internet/Actrix matters. Problems with software such as Word, or with games, or with anything unrelated to Actrix or the Internet should best be directed to whoever you got those programs from.

So here's your invitation to write in for help on any Actrix or Internet-related matter. Simply send me an e-mail with the word "forum" in the subject line and check back next month to see the results!.

With regards to the Actrix Security Suite announced last newsletter, the ultimate prognosis is good. Both the anti-Spam and the anti-Virus products have been developed and are already in use by Actrix staff. They are proving to be extremely effective in eliminating viruses and Spam; so much so that we are very excited about their impending release.

In particular, our anti-Spam product, CyberFilter, has been developed completely by our own web technicians. Therefore it needs to be put through some very rigorous pre-release testing, and this is happening right now. We were planning to release the products by mid-February, but be assured that we are very close. Please watch for the e-mail announcement coming to you soon from us at Actrix. We think it will be worth the wait.

In light of the fact that Actrix has many customers new to the Internet, and that more and more are coming online through Actrix each day, I thought it might be a good idea to do a series of review articles. I talked with a few chaps and chapesses around the office to see if we could come up with a handful of things that anyone new to the Internet really ought to know. We came up with the following:

The Windows Update Page
Commonsense with Viruses
The Basics of How the Internet Works
Remaining Secure Online

For the next few months I'll deal with these topics one at a time under the Internet Basics section of the newsletter. Sometimes it will be very much an exercise of review. I'll take articles written in the past and make sure they're updated and relevant. No doubt the topic list will grow and we move through the issues and as I receive suggestions from readers.

This month - The Windows Update Page, perhaps the most important issue of all.

If you're a Windows user (and that's more than 95% of you) you need to know that Microsoft Windows is far from perfect. From time to time Microsoft discover (or are alerted by others) that there are bugs or security holes in the products they release. These security holes are what virus writers and hackers use to inflict their nefarious business on others. For example, many virus writers exploited a hole in Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express that allowed hidden code in an e-mail to run as soon as the incoming e-mail was viewed in the Preview pane. This meant that, for the unfortunate, the minute the virus-ladedn e-mail arrived, the receiving machine was infected. There was nothing to prevent the code from running. The recipient didn't have to click an attachment or do anything at all.

As soon as Microsoft became aware of the security hole in their program they released a patch for it. Basically a patch is just a little program that installs itself into the exisiting program changing the program to remove the security hole. When the patch for this problem was installed, Outlook and Outlook Express would no longer run hidden code in an arriving e-mail. This would then prevent the unsuspecting from becoming infected just by viewing the e-mail in their preview panes.

Basically this is like continuing to drive a car and never bothering to service it. One day the oil is going to dry up, or the brakes are going to fail, and, according to Murphy's Law, this will occur at the worst possible moment. So too with your computer. If you're driving out-of-date gear, one day you're going to crash. Despite the fact that Microsoft promptly released a patch for the security hole mentioned above, the viruses that used the hole continued to flourish around the world, demostrating that far too many people continued to surf on regardless continually infecting others who were as unprepared as they were.

The Windows Update Page is the method Microsoft uses to get the patches and other updates to programs to the millions of Windows users around the world. There's a little program at the site that will, with your permission, connect to your computer and analyse the Windows programs on it. After that it will create a list of available updates that you can download for free. This list will be unique to you. All you have to do is tick the boxes you require and then click the button to set the process in motion. The page will provide you with progress reports on how your download is going, and instructions on how to make sure the updates are properly installed. You should pay particular attention to the updates Microsoft describe as critical, but you do not have to download all the suggested updates. Some are irrelevant to most users or unnecessary for one reason or another. Remember - if the update has to do with security or is mentioned as critical, you should select it for download or install.

by Jim Breen

0303macimage1.jpg (1328 bytes)

Actrix has many customers who are using Macintosh systems and some information and tips on how these customers can get the most out of their internet experience and be able identify and rectify common problems should be useful.

There are many versions of the Macintosh operating system still in use ranging from OS 7.5 through OS 8 and OS 9 to OS X. Also, many different web browsers and mail programs commonly being used. For the moment we will concentrate mainly on OS 8 to 9 as there has been a lot of information and publicity recently about the new OS X system and the many users on other systems have largely been ignored.

Basic trouble-shooting before calling Support

First, re-start your computer as this will fix many problems, especially modem related ones. This is the only way to reset internal modems on a Mac. If you have an external modem cycle the power switch on the modem before trying again.

If you find you are suddenly unable to get websites or e-mail and these had been working normally prior to this, check that you are actually connected with your modem.

If you have your dialup set to connect automatically when starting a web browser or when selecting send/receive on your email program, it might not always be obvious that the modem connection has not been made. This can be checked easily by opening the dialup connection screen.

For OS 8.5 to 9 Go to the Apple Menu/Control Panels/Remote Access. In OS8.1 it will be called PPP. 0303macimage2.jpg (12860 bytes)

You will be able to check the status of your connection, whether connected or idle. It is sometimes more reliable to connect directly from here initially but if you are having trouble, make a point of selecting Connect from here as it will give an error message that is useful in determining the problem.

Also check here that your username is correct. This is the first part of your e-mail address before the @ sign. If you are getting any password error when connecting, delete your password and re-type it, making sure you don't accidentally have the capslock key on, as passwords are case sensitive.

Help the helpdesk

When you call the helpdesk the first things you will be asked for are username, operating system and version of the web browser or e-mail program you are using.

User name: If you have forgotten your username you can check it on the connect screen described above.

Checking your operating system: First make sure you have Finder selected. Go to the Finder icon in the top right corner and select Finder. Go to the Apple Menu in the top left and select About this computer.

You will see the operating system listed here, as well as other useful information about the amount of built in memory and the amount being used by any programs you have open.

Checking versions of you web browser and e-mail program: Open your web browser (it might be Netscape, Internet Explorer or something else) and open your e-mail program (it might be Communicator, Outlook Express, Eudora or something else).
Go to the Finder in the top right corner and select the program you want to check.
Go to the Apple Menu and if, for example, you are using Netscape Communicator you will see that listed at the top, click on it and it will give you all the details about the version installed.

Next month - Current Macintosh browser and mail programs available for download, useful Mac sites and Using the Help Menu.

Please note: Actrix supplies links to these sites for your interest and possible use. We cannot endorse or take any responsibility for their contents. Got a site you think would be neat to share with other readers? Let me know and receive a free Norrie the Nerd chocolate bar courtesy of Actrix!

Wises - New Zealand Maps and Guides
www.wises.co.nz/ - Now this is the sort of useful thing that the Internet is all about, and that we're going to see more and more of over time. Enter any New Zealand address to invoke the relevant area map. Under Driving Directions you can enter two destinations and receive a mapped route between the two. Click the screen to see it in close up. Under the Looking For... section you can enter the name of a business and its street address and be given a map showing how to get there. It certainly found Actrix on Wakefield Street without problems. It's free and you don't need to sign up for anything to use it!

Good Quotes
http://www.goodquotes.com - There are lots of quote sites on the Internet, but this one is particularly good for its simplicity and layout. Quotes are arranged in categories, mainly according to their humour value: Grave Stones, Celebrity Quotes, Stupid Quotes etc, etc.

My Creepy Valentine
www.monsterillo.com/numerology.html - It would have been good if I had found this site last month to get it out in time for Valentine's Day, but then again, no one deserves to have one of these sent to them! Some of these are quite disturbing! "Sometimes it's the expression on a face. Maybe it's the off-kilter sentiment expressed in the wording. Maybe it's just a monkey. These are genuine valentines that no one with half a brain would send on February 14. Gallery 2 is even worse (or even better, depending on how you look at it) than Gallery 1."

Space Wander
www.spacewander.com/USA/english.html - Take this 12 minute journey through space. You start with views from inside the shuttle as it takes off, fly past the moon, land for a brief visit on Mars, and then head on out to Jupiter. From there you travel light years into neighbouring galaxies. All photos are courtesy of NASA. It may take a while to load. You can either wait for the tour to take its course or you can speed things up by clicking the FWD button.

Visions of Jesus and Mary
www.visionsofjesuschrist.com/ - Whether you're a believer or not, this collection of strange appearances of Jesus, weeping statues and crying Virgins Mary is certainly interesting. Lots of photos are included as well as brief descriptions of the events that some see as miracles and others are sure are hoaxes or normal phenomena. Here and there are links to related sites.

Heavens Above
www.heavens-above.com/ - Tony "Haggis" Henderson sent in this resource for backyard astronomers. You can find out where satellites will pass over, when and for how long as well as where the International Space Station (ISS) is now The site provides 10 day predictions of visible passes of major satellites like the ISS and a whole lot of other stuff. Thanks Tony. I hope you enjoyed your Actrix "Norrie the Nerd" chocolate bar!

Desktop Linux Consortium
www.desktoplinuxconsortium.org/ - This is an excellent site for those interested in reading where Linux is going as far as the desktop is concerned. The Desktop Linux Consortium intends to promote interests and raise awareness of the emerging role and benefits offered by GNU/Linux on the desktop. Their aim is to speed the adoption rate of Linux on its own merits, and not solely on the basis of being a Windows alternative.

Psychic Mind Reader
www.cyberglass.co.uk/FlashEx/mindreader.html - This one is really amazing and had me boggled for a while. You choose a number, do something mathematical to it, and then click the big blue circle. The symbol for the number you were thinking of comes up every time, even if you change it, and think of it only in your head. Just how do they do it? Think about it for a while and you'll get it...... maybe.....

Misheard Lyrics Archive
www.kissthisguy.com/ - We've all done it - been happily singing along to some song we love when someone points out that we have the lyrics wrong. There's a moment or two of crushing embarrassment, while everyone present has a laugh at your expense. Well, now you can go online and laugh at other people's mistakes. You're given the true lyrics, what the mishearer heard, and a few details about when they first came to realise their error.

Birthday Alarm
www.birthdayalarm.com/ - This site comes highly recommended by customer Marj Buckley. You never have to forget a birthday again. Here you can record all the birthdays and special dates you would like. The site will send you a reminder one week before the event. The site also provides the facility for sending cards. You do have to sign up but it is free and the privacy policy states that you e-mail address will not be handed out to anyone else. Thanks Marj.

Mites Alive!
www.geocities.com/thesciencefiles/eyelash/creatures.html - See the 1000s of tiny creatures who live in your eyelashes, munching on your hair follicles. They're pretty yucky looking, but I guess we've all lived with them okay until now. Take the site's advice and just pretend they're not there!

Web Crosswords
www.webcrosswords.com/ - Here's one for all crossword enthusiasts. Now you can do them online. Select from Master or Regular game. Then click anywhere in the puzzle to have the appropriate clue highlighted on the left - or click the clue on the left to have the appropriate part of the puzzle highlighted. Then all you have to do is type in the answer you believe to be correct. Incorrect letters will be rendered in red. If you are the competitive type, you can race against the clock.

'Clot risk' in computer use: Professor Richard Beasley, from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, and his fellow researchers have dubbed the new disorder e-thrombosis after discovering a man who developed a blood clot after spending up to 18 hours a day at his computer. Click here for more.

NZ scientists take Back to the future: Kiwi computer scientists are redesigning the one thing internet users use the most - the back button - hoping to make it easier for people to navigate the net. Billions of web pages are viewed each day and the back button accounts for over 40% of all mouse clicks people make online. Click here for more.

PC sales rose 10% last year: Personal computer sales in New Zealand climbed nearly 10 per cent last year, thanks to a strong end to the year and rising demand for notebook computers. Preliminary figures released by market analysts IDC estimate 363,250 PCs were sold in 2002, up 9.4 per cent on 2001 sales. Click here for more.

Snooper a high flier : A high-tech security device, which records keystrokes before they enter a PC, has attracted interest from clients ranging from the CIA to home computer users, writes Will Harvie. Click here for more.

'Slammer' worm slows global internet traffic : Worldwide internet traffic slowed dramatically for hours yesterday, after a fast-spreading computer worm clogged pipelines of the global network, officials said. Click here for more.

New [Bill] Gates fund seeks better cures for world's ills : Saying that medical science has solved the "easy" problems of the rich world, Microsoft founder Bill Gates today announced a $US200 million ($NZ370.3 million) fund aimed at luring researchers into finding original cures for the poor world's ailments. Click here for more.

Robbie Williams: Music piracy 'great': France (Variety) -- British pop star Robbie Williams shocked attendees Sunday at music industry confab Midem by declaring piracy a good idea. Click here for more.

Web recovers from worm attack, variants feared : The two-day-old computer worm that wreaked havoc on the Internet over the weekend was finally losing steam today as companies scrambled to secure their networks, while computer security experts warned more dangerous spin-offs might emerge in the next few days. Click here for more.

KaZaA fights back; files countersuit : The owners of the KaZaA file-sharing network are suing the movie and recording industries, claiming that they don't understand the digital age and are monopolizing entertainment. Click here for more.

Things to look out for when buying a cheap PC: Computers are always a hot gift item. Retailers know this, too. That's why many of them dangle seemingly irresistible pre-configured systems that vastly undercut the prices typically seen from major PC makers. Click here for more.

Parents' guide to when to buy the kids a PC: It's a parent's worst nightmare: a toddler with a milk bottle in one hand and a crayon in the other quietly sits down in front of a $3,000 computer and, in a matter of minutes, figures out how to short out the keyboard, draw whiskers on the mouse and erase the contents of the hard drive. Click here for more.

EBay pulls shuttle debris listings: EBay deleted several items billed as debris from the space shuttle Columbia from the online auction site this weekend, warning that anyone attempting to sell fragments from the doomed shuttle could be prosecuted. Click here for more.

Study: Net now more important than TV: Internet users consider the information network at least as important as other media, yet they don't necessarily trust what they find online, according to a new study. Click here for more.

Gaming 'is good for you' : Computer games are good for you, say researchers who studied the complex social interactions in the popular shoot-em-up Counter-Strike. Click here for more.

U.S. government warns 'patriot hackers': Real patriots don't hack. Uncle Sam says only he can do that. The FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center warned Wednesday that growing tensions between the United States and Iraq could lead to an increase in global computer hacking activities on both sides. Click here for more.

Web warnings: Sites extol, slam professors: For Brandon Jank, scheduling classes each semester requires two essential tools -- a University of Idaho course catalogue and an online connection. Before he registers, Jank, a sophomore computer science major at Idaho, taps into RateMyProfessors.com to "see how teachers are rated, see how hard their classes are, see what kind of teacher they are and how they fit into my paradigm." Click here for more.

Kazaa looks for salvation: Two Guy Trio's singer, Evan Gamble, doesn't mind that bootleg copies of his band's "Shelby Sugarcane" are spreading on the Internet through the Kazaa file-sharing system. A half-million fans have downloaded legal copies of the song through Kazaa, the Internet's leading bazaar. Illicit trading by a few million others is a minor nuisance. Click here for more.

Phone, Net number in one : The US Government has thrown its weight behind an emerging standard that could simplify personal communications by providing a single point of contact for telephone and Internet communications. Click here for more.

Serving up the world on the web: To hear some people talk, web services will be the biggest thing to hit the internet since the letters "www". Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has described it as nothing short of an online revolution. "Everything in the world will be in web services..." Click here for more.

Microsoft also gets slammed by worm: Microsoft Corp. itself was exposed to the virus-like attack that crippled global Internet activity last weekend because it failed to install crucial fixes to its own software on many Microsoft computer servers, according to internal e-mails obtained by The Associated Press. Click here for more.

Experts: Microsoft security gets an 'F': Computer security experts say the recent "SQL Slammer" worm, the worst in more than a year, is evidence that Microsoft's year-old security push is not working. Click here for more.

Smart technology in everyday objects : When Microsoft researchers wanted to know how to bring the internet to everyday devices like the wristwatch, they turned to the sleepy technology of FM radio. Click here for more.

Linux Advocates Turn Violent, Go On Rampage (satire): Until yesterday, protesters had kept a quiet, good-natured presence outside of Microsoft's new office in downtown Seattle, handing out free CD's of computer software, and even giving cute little stuffed penguins-their mascot- to the children of passers-by. "They're such NICE young men," said 78 year old Mildred Matthews, walking her dog nearby. Click here for more.

NZ Post chooses Windows 2000 over Linux: NZ Post will move the point-of-sale systems at its 320 Postshops to Microsoft's Windows 2000 operating system by next month after studying, but ultimately rejecting, open source rival Linux. Click here for more.

Linux installfest : Canterbury Linux Users' Group is organising the second Linux installfest on March 15. Organised by Linux keeners, it is an opportunity for all levels of computer users to learn about open-source software. Click here for more.

Filtering out annoying spam : It's your first day back at work after a glorious summer holiday. You should be refreshed and excited about returning to your small business desk after a break, but instead you find yourself cringing before your computer screen. Click here for more.

Old computers hold personal info: So, you think you cleaned all your personal files from that old computer you got rid of? Two graduate students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggest you think again. Click here for more.

Experts: Internet attack hunt difficult : Leading experts on Internet security are skeptical that the FBI and other investigators will be able to track down the person responsible for last weekend's attack on the Internet. Click here for more.

Sneaky Toolbar (Xupiter) Hijacks Browsers: It's the most evil thing on the Internet, according to some of its victims. But it's not a virus, a scam or a raunchy porn site. It's a browser toolbar that some swear is doing "drive-by downloads" -- installing itself without users' permission -- then taking over their systems and making it impossible to uninstall. Click here for more.

Worm spread worldwide in 10 minutes: It only took 10 minutes for the SQL Slammer worm to race across the globe and wreak havoc on the Internet two weeks ago, making it the fastest-spreading computer infection ever seen, researchers said on Tuesday. Click here for more.

Simple tips for shopping safely online: Online shopping is fantastic! No queues, no parking, no screaming children, bargains galore and the internet never closes. It's just as safe as shopping at the mall but there are a few simple rules you can follow to make sure you don't get burnt. Click here for more.

Famous hacker Kevin Mitnick gets hacked: The world's best-known computer hacker suffered the indignity of having someone break into his new security consulting company's Web site. But Kevin Mitnick shrugged it off as "quite amusing," not serious enough for him to call the FBI. Click here for more.

Gay activist targets shooting game : A Dutch gay activist is fighting to outlaw the import of a United States computer game in which the player can shoot homosexuals, junkies, dogs, and cats. Click here for more.

Bishops seek saint for Internet: Fed up with hackers, a flood of spam and lousy connections, Italian Roman Catholics have launched a search for a patron saint of the Internet. And they hope their online poll will yield a holy Web protector by Easter. Will it be Archangel Gabriel, whom the Bible credits with bringing Mary the news that she'd give birth to Jesus? Click here for more.

Internet twins' mom says she's gotten unfair reputation : The mother of twins who were twice adopted over the Internet said she never received any money for giving up her girls and is a victim of negative media coverage. Click here for more.

Virus Alert: Heavyweight [Satire] : Virus researches have raised the level of alert to Code Yellow for the Heavyweight virus which physically destroys the hard drives of its victims. Click here for more.

Bike-powered PCs take village online: BAN PHON KHAM, Laos - Villagers in this remote jungle hamlet have lived for years without electricity or telephones, relying on occasional visitors and a sluggish postal system for news of the outside world. Click here for more.

Thanks again for reading the Actrix newsletter. Feedback can be sent to me via the e-mail address listed below. Please limit this to comments/suggestions regarding the newsletter. Requests for support should go to the Actrix Help Desk (support@actrix.co.nz) or to the Accounts Department (accounts@actrix.co.nz).

Please note to that I will be on leave for the rest of February and the start of March. You can write to me, but my replies might be a little tardy.

Take care through March,

Rob Zorn
editor@actrix.co.nz
http://editor.actrix.co.nz