E-mail Policy Update - Blocked ZIP Attachments
E-Mail Virus - The
Netsky Worm Spreads Across The Web
Gallatin River Offering Unlimited Long Distance
Ask The Help Desk - How Do You "Drag And Drop?"
Shortcuts When Managing Your Favorites
Yikes! Remove Those Parasites!
Great Sites To Check Out This Month
In the past, most computer viruses and worms have been carried through e-mail via infected executable attachments. These files usually have an extension of .exe, .com, .pif, etc.
However, a number of recent viruses (including MyDoom, Bagle, and Netsky) have begun spreading primarily through infected attachments with .zip extensions. These compressed ZIP files, once uncompressed, contain the viruses/worms that have infected many of our customers.
To help stop the spread of these viruses, the Gallatin River mail servers have been temporarily configured to reject any incoming or outgoing e-mail messages containing ZIP files (i.e. files with a .zip extension).
We also urge all our customers to buy or download antivirus software, and
make sure that it is up-to-date. (Most anti-virus programs have "Update" buttons
that will ensure it can handle the latest viruses.) We have recommendations of
some excellent free and commercial
anti-virus programs on our Avoiding Computer
Pitfalls page.
Thank you for your co-operation!
The most recent worm to cause a major stir around the Internet is the "32.Netsky@mm Worm" which was first discovered on February 18, 2004. The 32.Netsky@mm Worm is a mass-mailing worm that sends itself as an attachment to e-mail addresses found within an infected machine. (The worm only infects Windows-based systems, not Macintosh, Unix or Linux systems.) Once launched on the infected computer, an error dialog box appears that states that "The file could not be opened!" The worm also copies itself onto computer subdirectories that contain "share" or "sharing" in the directory name. This could allow copies of the worm to be spread through Instant Messaging clients, file-sharing networks, or via any folders that contain the words "share" or "sharing."
Like most worms circulating around the Web, the 32.Netsky@mm Worm has a "spoofing" feature that disguises the actual source of the e-mail by randomly selecting e-mail addresses from the infected computer's system to be shown as the "sender" of the e-mail. So, if a person receives this e-mail worm from a co-worker or relative, chances are the person it shows being sent from was probably not the person who actually sent it.
An e-mail message that contains the 32.Netsky@mm Worm as an attachment will have one of the following text messages within its subject line:hi
HI
hello
read it immediately
something for you
warning
information
stolen
fake
unknown The message body will randomly contain any one of about four dozen short phrases. The attachment will also appear as one of dozens of randomly selected names. Remember, receiving an e-mail attachment from a trusted friend or a reliable source may not necessarily mean they were the actual senders of the message and attachment. Also, the ultimate responsibility of protecting your computer against worms and viruses lies with you. Many viruses and worms not only spread via e-mail, but also through the sharing of files when using floppy disks, zip disks, CDs and networks, as well as when downloading software from the Internet. We encourage each of our users to install and utilize virus scanning software, to update this software on a regular basis, and to scan all incoming attachments before opening them, even if the attachment shows coming from a reliable source.
With our new No Limits Broadband package, you get:
- Unlimited high-speed Broadband Internet service.
- Unlimited long distance calling – talk as long as you want, any time you want, anywhere in the continental U.S.
- Unlimited use of our most highly popular calling features, including Caller ID, Enhanced Call Forwarding, and Call Waiting.
- Voice Mail service with no monthly fee.
All together for one great low price, all on one convenient bill, all from one local company you know and trust. Call us today for all the details – because the offer is – as much as we're hate to say it – limited.
Gallatin River Communications
www.gallatinriver.com
800-223-1851
Offer requires one-year service agreement. Broadband available in most
areas. Unlimited long distance calling for residential
direct-dial voice service only. See additional usage conditions
online at www.gallatinriver.com.
Federal Subscriber Line Charge included in your Residential Access Line
cost of $20.63. Other regulatory fees, taxes, surcharges and
Local Measured Service not included.
Question: People often refer to "dragging and dropping" files, text, etc. What does this mean?
Answer: Dragging and dropping is the simple procedure of "picking up" something (a selected file, text, picture, etc.), "dragging" or moving it to a new location on your computer, and then "dropping" or placing it at the new location.
To drag and drop an item, click on the file that you want to move to a new location with your left mouse button (if you have one). Now, keeping that mouse button pressed down, move the item by "dragging" it with your mouse to the desired destination. Once you have the item hovering over its new home, release the left mouse button and the file will be automatically "dropped" into place. You've just "dragged and dropped!"
Using the "Favorites" (on Internet Explorer) feature on your browser is a great tool for storing links to the fun and useful Web pages that you frequent. The contents of your current Favorites list can be found in a variety of places, depending somewhat on the browser that you are using. The most obvious place is the Favorites menu at the top of your browser window. Internet Explorer also has a Favorites side bar on the PC.
When clicking your cursor arrow on bookmarked favorites at any of the locations listed above, your bookmarked sites will appear. (If you have yet to place a Web page into your browser's favorites list, most browsers have a few already placed there to get you started.) The Favorites feature allows you to add Web pages to your list, delete Web pages from your list, as well as categorize sites into folders by subject within your Favorites list. For short/easy tutorials on each of these functions, click your cursor arrow on your browser's Help menu located at the top of your computer screen.
*Shortcuts For Managing Favorite Pages With Internet Explorer Via Windows:
To add the current Web page to your Favorites list CTRL+D
To open the Organize Favorites dialog box CTRL+B
To move selected item up in the Favorites list in the Organize Favorites dialog box ALT+UP ARROW
To move selected item down in the Favorites list in the Organize Favorites dialog box ALT+DOWN ARROW
Adware and Spyware are Internet programs that create annoying, but also sometimes harmful, parasites within your PC.
Adware programs exist to advertise. Adware causes those annoying ads to pop-up on your screen, changes website banners, and can change your search results with advertisements instead of your intended results and place them on your desktop, start menu, and/or in your browser’s Favorites and Bookmarks.
Spyware programs hide on your computer without you knowing and can do a number of annoying things. These programs can also be very harmful in that they are capable of obtaining personal information from your PC such as credit card information, email addresses, personal information such as addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers, track where and when you surf the Net, and more.
There are a number of parasite removal software programs available on the Internet such as Ad-aware and Spybot. For more information on Adware and Spyware and to download a removal software, visit our website at http://www.gallatinriver.net/local/tools/pitfalls.php. Most of the parasite removal programs also provide free, regular, easy-to-install updates to help eliminate the ever-changing tactics of spyware and adware makers. By removing these annoying parasites, you also may free up disk space on your computer allowing it to work faster and more efficiently, helping it to achieve its optimum performance.
It's Spring-Cleaning Time
http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons.asp
- Do you have CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone
Over Syndrome) in your house? Or would say that you are BO (Born Organized)?
Marla Cilley, better known as the FlyLady, has coined these "buzzzz
words" and developed methods and routines to help you de-clutter and clean
your house and keep it that way. A free subscription to her newsletter is
offered to provide encouragement but all of her housecleaning tips and organizational
advice can be found on this website.
Puzzles, Riddles, And Quizzes
http://rec-puzzles.org/ - Test your wits at this site full of quizzes,
riddles, and puzzles. Sample Trivia Question: Can you name ten body parts that
are spelled with three letters? (No slang words.) Sample Riddle: I build up
castles. I tear down mountains. I make some men blind. I help others to see.
What am I? You'll need to go to the site to find out the answers.
Ratings That Allow You To
Accurately Prescreen Movies
http://kids-in-mind.com/ - It's fun to take in a movie with friends or
the family but sometimes the content can be a little shocking. Here's a website
that allows you to screen movies to determine if they would be suitable for
your children and/or enjoyable for you. The movies are assigned a rating for
sex and nudity, violence and gore, and profanity. Descriptions of each instance
are listed so that you can decide if the movie is one that you should see by
yourself, with the family, or skip altogether.
The Oprah Winfrey Show -
Seventeen Years of Success
Professional Bowlers
Association's World Championships
http://Oprah.com
- Oprah Winfrey has hosted the most
popular daytime talk show for years. She's also one of the richest and most
famous women in
http://pba.com
- The best bowlers in the world will
compete in the Professional Bowlers Association's World Championships March
15th-21st in Michigan. Get updates from regional tournaments, current world
rankings for both the regular and senior tours, schedules for upcoming
tournaments, as well as ticket information, player profiles, and more. If you love
bowling, this is your site!
We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on some of the latest happenings. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins on a monthly basis, send us an e-mail at and type REMOVE in the subject line.
Thanks for your business!
Gallatin River Internet