Bits & Bytes;
An occasional newsletter from MCS
June,
2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this issue:
New Stuff - Cool Stuff!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take AIM with Zipit
If your kids tend to hog the
family PC with instant messaging, or if they run up big
bills sending text messages to their friends, you'll be
interested in the Zipit Wireless Messenger. At about 4 x 4
inches and only 8 ounces, this cute little device connects
to any wireless network, including local "hot spots" (places
that make free wireless Internet access available to one and
all). It has a full (but small) keyboard and it works with
AOL, MSN and Yahoo! Services. In addition, it blocks
uninvited contacts and has no exposure to inappropriate
websites or to dangerous file downloads. It’s priced at
under $100 and you can get more info at http//www.zipitwireless.com
. In order to be used at home, it does require a wireless
network. But if you don't already have one, we can sure help
with that. Give us a call.
By the way ~ You may have
noticed in recent news reports that the Nashville public
libraries are about to become wireless hot spots. So send
the kids there with their new Zipit and maybe they'll soak
up some useful knowledge by osmosis.
------------------------------------------------------
Pharmers want to harvest
your personal data
Pharming (not a misspelling)
is the latest scheme devised by Web-based con men to
separate you from your money. In an attack, a program enters
an unprotected computer and makes changes to the "host"
file. In simple terms, the host file tells your PC how to
locate a website after you type in the address or click on a
link. By altering this file, they can send you to false
sites that have been created to look and act just like the
real thing.
For example, a pharming
attack could change the host file in such a way that when
you try to go to your bank's website, you are unknowingly
redirected to a site that looks exactly as it should and
even displays the usual blanks for your login and password.
And that's the information they want. In addition, due to
the method used, the address bar of your browser will
probably indicate the correct address of your bank,
eliminating one of the obvious clues that something is
amiss.
In a previous newsletter, we
suggested looking for a couple of signs that indicate safety:
1.) a secure site will always show a closed padlock icon
somewhere in the browser's margin and 2.) the site address
will begin with "https" instead of "http". Verifying these
things before logging into a secured site is still good
advice, since setting up the kind of security required to
replicate those signs is more trouble than many pharmers
will go to.
It's also important to note
that this is not cause for panic (don't worry, we'll tell
you when to panic ;-) . First of all, a properly protected
computer is very unlikely to be affected by this type of
attack. Machines running Windows 2000 or XP should regularly
have all available updates and patches downloaded and
applied. More importantly, every PC using a broadband (cable
or DSL) Internet connection should have a firewall of some
kind correctly installed and configured. Not instituting
these simple and effective precautions is like leaving your
front door wide open every time you leave the house.
If you're not sure whether
you're computer is adequately protected, give us a call. We
may suggest scheduling an inexpensive security checkup or,
with a little information from you, we may even be able to
answer your questions over the phone.
As always, we suggest that
you not lose any sleep over this. Of course, neither should
you wait until your bank account has been drained or your
credit card maxed out before doing something about it.
------------------------------------------------------
And speaking of...
We've recently seen a renewed
round of the PayPal phishing scam. If you receive an e-mail
that appears to be from Paypal telling you to update your
account information, trash it. The link in the message takes
you to paypalonlineupdate.com which, as we've pointed out
before, is not the same as paypal.com. Don't be fooled!
------------------------------------------------------
New ways to search
Search engines have been
around for nearly as long as the Web. But in a field that
has become pretty boring, there’s something new afoot. "Web
aggregators" are sites that... well... search the search
engines; and their results can often be more relevant that
those found by at a single site. Check out Become.com
(http//www.become.com) to see how it works.
And if you’re a sucker for a
sale (and who among us isn't?), you have GOT to visit Cairo
(http//www.cairo.com). This little gem catalogs the Sunday
supplements in your area and will search by Zip Code for any
item you specify. You can view the advertisement itself and
buy at the sale price with just a click or two. Very cool!
So there you have it --
something for everyone. Now get out there and have some fun!
'Like this newsletter? Feel
free to pass it on!
_________________________________
Computer running slow? Time
for a tune-up!
Give us a call!
Mosaic Computer Services
|
