Feature of the Month

November 2003

Taming the internet

Scenario: All of your stores have high-speed DSL internet service. 

In a typical day, your employees are using Instant Messenger (IM) to keep in touch, emails are sent to   suppliers, buyers are receiving shipping notices and your sales people are capturing customer names, addresses and credit card numbers.  These activities and many others are exposing you to viruses, or worse.  The following suggestions may help:

Update Windows Windows 2000 and XP should always be on the latest service pack from Microsoft. If you’re not using automatic updates, service packs can be accessed through the Control Panel on your desk top.  Keep in mind that installing an update at night may interfere with polling or backup operations.

Microsoft continuously finds flaws in its operating systems.  Using Automatic Updates insures you that you’ll get the latest patch from Microsoft as soon as it’s available.

Update your anti-virus software

Anti-virus programs find a lot more than email & Excel viruses.  They find worms, Trojan horses and all sorts of potential ugliness.  Again, they have the ability to update automatically through the internet.  Macafee Virus Scan gives you access by double-clicking on the VShield icon that is near the time, (shown at right) then choosing ‘Check for a VirusScan Update’.  New viruses are discovered all the time, so when they tell you there’s an update, it’s a good idea to get it. 

Broadband Routers: Simple, Inexpensive, Protection

If your internet connection is always on (broadband, DSL, cable, T1, etc.), then you’ve got a doorway to your system that’s always open.  An easy and inexpensive method of protection is to put a physical barrier (router) between you and the internet.  Is it foolproof?  Not really, because a professional hacker can hack through a router.  However, it slows down and stops amateur hackers.  A router is a physical barrier between you and the internet.  More importantly, it also hides your computers from the rest of the internet.

Again, using a router greatly increases the time & effort to break into your system.  Another benefit is that installing a router can stop the annoying messages that advertise everything from anti-spam software to weight-loss products.  BHD technical support staff requires its customers to install a router at each location that has access to the internet. 

Practice Safe Surfing
The best way to prevent unwanted software or viruses is to be alert when you’re using the internet.  One screen that you may see is shown at right.  This indicates that the website you’re visiting (or the link you just clicked on) is trying to run a program.  If you’re certain that this is safe and it’s an action you intended, then clicking on YES will be OK.  If you’re at all unsure, then click NO.  There are some sites that attempt to install their software on your computer and will bring up another window telling you to click on YES, for no apparent reason.  It’s trickery.  Click NO. 

Other websites will perform tricks like changing your browser’s home page, adding items to the toolbar, placing shortcuts on the desktop, etc.  Being aware and pay attention!

Pop up, spam & other annoyances

A “pop up” is a window that is opened by another window.  Websites do this to put advertising in front of you.  Pop ups open behind your browser, littering your desktop with advertisements.  The new Google toolbar has pop up blocking functionality.  Pop up Stopper is another program that eliminates pop up distractions, and has a free version for individual use.

Google Toolbar:                                                http://toolbar.google.com/

Popup Stopper:        http://www.panicware.com/popupstopper.html

Spam is unwanted junk email, usually used for advertising.  The best way to deal with spam is a third-party spam filtering software, or simply deleting the offending emails.  You can also use filters or rules in common email programs to filter for certain keywords or email addresses to block some spam.  It’s partially effective, since spammers change their email structure often enough to defeat simple filters.

Spyware is a program that steals information about you and the websites you visit.  Upon gleaning the personal information from your computer, spyware sends it to another server (without your knowledge) for statistics gathering.  Nefarious organizations will send your private information to everyone from spam companies to someone who is specifically spying on you.  Again, third-party-software is good at detecting spyware and removing it.  One good solution is Ad-Aware.  The single-user version is free.  BHD hardware dept. recommends, either, Spyware Blaster or Spybot Search & Destroy.

These programs, like anti-virus-software, require updates to defeat newer spyware programs.

Ad-Aware:                        http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adawareplus/

Spyware Blaster:                http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Spybot Search & Destroy:                                      http://www.safer-networking.org/