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Connected! - eNEWS from Iserv
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Letter From The CEO - Vic Shepherd
Hello, and welcome to the second edition of Connected!
Since the debut of our newsletter a few months back, millions of Internet users have been hit by a series of major viruses. As a result, we have devoted our top stories in this issue to important tips on how to protect your computer from future attacks, as well as a list of top viruses and hoaxes in circulation.
At Iserv, we know that reliable, safe Internet access has become an important part of your daily life, so we are working to do our part against viruses as well. For the MSBlast virus alone, we blocked tens of millions of data "packets" that would have contributed to the infection of customer computers and the spread of the problem. Be assured that as viruses continue to emerge, Iserv will do everything in our power to protect and inform our customers.
In this issue you will also learn about Iserv's new iGuard content filtering software, exactly what V.92 means to your connection, how to reduce popups, and our usual list of favorite sites. We hope you enjoy it.
As always, if you have anything you want to see more of in Connected!, let us know. Drop us a note with your request, suggestions or questions at feedback@iserv.net.
Vic Shepherd
Chief Executive Officer
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"A Look Inside - Protection From Viruses"
By Jim Loznak , Vice President of Engineering & Operations
This summer the Internet was rife with viruses, a virtual "black plague" that shut down many businesses and gave many users headaches. Here at Iserv, protecting you from viruses is a priority. In fact, we think it is something you should expect from your ISP.
So while we work on our end to stop viruses at the source, we wanted to empower you with some ideas on other methods to save your machine from "infestation."
- Make sure to download and install software patches regularly, especially those related to your operating system and virus protection software. The Sobig virus and MBlast worm (the ones that made the papers in August) exploited a flaw in Microsoft Windows. Visit your software provider's website and look for updates that can fix important security problems. Windows users should visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com and office.microsoft.com for patches.
- Don't trust a patch that someone emails to you, often times these "patches" are just disguises for the viruses themselves. A good example of this is the recent Microsoft email hoax that has been sent around asking users to download a patch. The email is not really from Microsoft and the download is not a patch. If you receive this email delete it.
- Never open suspicious email attachments. If a message from a friend, relative or coworker includes computer files you weren't expecting, contact them to ask whether they intended to send them. If in doubt, delete!
- Make regular backups of important files, such as banking records, documents or emails. Consider coping or burning these files to a floppy disk and store it in a safe place.
While many companies and even the Federal government have established systems to identify and prevent viruses early on, they will probably always be an unavoidable reality for most computer users. For the average home computer user, a little awareness, preparation and knowledge will be the best way to keep the next virus from doing serious damage to your system.
Top 10 Viruses And Hoaxes
For August 2003, the chart is as follows, with the most frequently occurring virus at number one:
| 1. | W32/Sobig-F | 37.6% |
| 2. | W32/Blaster-A | 18.8% |
| 3. | W32/Nachi-A | 5.5% |
| 4. | W32/Mimail-A | 5.3% |
| 5. | W32/Yaha-P | 2.1% |
| 6. | W32/Klez-H | 1.3% |
| 7. | W32/Bugbear-B | 1.1% |
| 8. | W32/Yaha-E | 0.8% |
| 9. | W32/Dumaru-A | 0.6% |
| 10. | W32/Sobig-A | 0.3% |
| Others | 26.6% |
"August 2003 will be remembered as one of the worst months in the history of computer security. A series of different viruses have bombarded computer systems around the globe, culminating in the newest member of the Sobig family, which swamped Internet email traffic and took the top position in the chart. The top four viruses are all new entries -- any of which would have been number one in a normal month," said Chris Belthoff, senior security analyst at Sophos, Inc. "The Sobig-F worm clogged up inboxes and crippled networks with the sheer volume of email traffic it produced. Users and companies should remain on guard and put systems in place to protect against future attacks."
The top ten hoaxes reported to Sophos during August 2003 are as follows:
| 1. | Hotmail Hoax | 16.3% |
| 2. | JDBGMGR | 12.2% |
| 3. | Bill Gates Fortune | 10.8% |
| 4. | WTC Survivor | 7.9% |
| 5. | Meninas da Playboy | 7.4% |
| 6. | Bonsai kitten | 4.7% |
| 7. | Budweiser frogs screensaver | 3.8% |
| 8. | A virtual card for you | 3.2% |
| 9. | Frog in a blender/Fish in a bowl | 3.1% |
| 10. | Bill Gates | 1.3% |
| Others | 29.3% |
"Bill Gates seems to be a target for hoax writers and virus writers alike. While the Blaster worm capitalized on a flaw in Microsoft's software and attempted to knock one of their websites off the Internet, two hoaxes about Bill Gates are still circulating," continued Belthoff.
(Source: Sophos)
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Exciting New Products From Iserv!
V.92 Modem
Did you know that your Iserv dialup service works with V.92 modems? Perhaps it would help if we described what a V.92 modem is? A V.92 modem is also known as a Modem On Hold (MOH).
Since many households use the same phone line for both voice calls and Internet, an incoming call cannot get through when someone is surfing the Internet. A V.92 modem allows you to receive an incoming call and stay connected to the Internet (Call-waiting service from your phone company is required). It also works in reverse; you can initiate a voice call while connected to the Internet and keep the modem connection (This requires 3-way calling from your phone company).
One feature of the V.92 modem is that it cuts the modem negotiation or "handshake" time by up to 50 percent so you can dial-in faster. The average connect time for this type of modem is between 9 - 20 seconds (depending on line conditions). A traditional modem connection time is 21 seconds or more.
Iserv will be offering V.92 modems on our site, be sure to check www.iserv.net in the very near future for more information.
Blocking Annoying Pop-Up Ads
Along with Spam, pop-up ads are annoying and tend to decrease the enjoyment of browsing the Internet. In fact, one ad agency recently reported that 74 percent of Internet users found pop-up ads the most irritating form of advertising (which means they are MORE annoying than Spam, if that is possible!)
But much like Spam, it is something we can avoid if we wish. As you may have noticed, it has become very common for web pages to "spawn" or "pop-up" other browser windows when visiting a certain page or clicking on a certain link. This practice has become extremely bothersome (and even appalling) for many Internet users because of the non-stop pornographic images, which can be displayed when they or their children visit a web site they did not intend to. Like Spam, these are also being used within many web sites to push marketing towards the visitor in an attempt to sell their product or service.
Iserv will be offering a pop-up stopper in October. Cruise by www.iserv.net in October to find out more.
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Manage Your Account
Did you know you can manage your Iserv account online? You can! Simply go to www.iserv.net, click on "Manage Your Account" anywhere on the Iserv website and enter your current username and password. What can you do with Manage Your Account?
- Update your current account information including your mailing and billing address plus your credit card information
- Make a payment online
- View your invoice statement
- Change your password
- Look up your usage report
- Sign up for new products and services such as Accelerated Dialup
You can also sign up for new accounts online! Refer a friend and have them enter your email address, as the "Promotional Code" and you both will get one month of FREE dialup service.
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Q: How do I protect my family from inappropriate material on the Internet?
A: Protecting our kids from inappropriate material is an important concern for all families. A few ways to protect your children against inappropriate information is to stop Spam via email and to block pop-up ads. Another way is to install content filtering software that will automatically block undesirable web pages.
Fortunately, Iserv will begin offering a new content filtering/parental control product known as iGuard in October. This new tool will help filter and control access to online content, protecting against undesirable sites. With iGuard, you will be able to select your own filtering criteria, with individual settings for each family member, giving parents full control of what children can see and when they surf the Internet.
Iserv will be offering iGuard in October. Mark your calendar to visit www.iserv.net in October to find out more.
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Latest Trends
The Magic Of Google
Google, is there anything it can't do? Not only is it one of the best search engines for sites and news; it is also a calculator, dictionary, phonebook, spell checker, translator and stock-quote looker-upper. The best part of these features is that they are already part of the regular Google search.
For example, forgot your multiplication tables and need to know what 9 * 8 equals? Simply enter "9 * 8" into the normal search field (i.e. what you would use to search for a website) and voila, Google will tell you that it equals 72. Need to look up a meaning of a word? Simply enter the word into the search field and look to the blue box near the top of the page (where it says "Searched the web for….Results 1 - 10 of about….", hint, its under the logo and under the word "web"). Clicking on word you entered will give you the words definition. If you misspell it, Google will even give you the option to search under the correct spelling! Try it yourself!
References: www.google.com/help/features.html
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Favorite Websites Of Iserv employees
This month we asked several Iserv employees to list their favorite sites. The answers were as unique as the individuals asked. Visiting these sites perhaps is like visiting a part of that person's personality. Maybe you will know a few of us better by surfing over to the sites below!
Kevin Mitchell - Lead Systems Engineer
Timothy Wolma - Customer Services Rep
Brent Findley - Customer Services Rep
Henry Cambero - Customer Services Rep
Steve Stratton - M&A Associate
- www.smarthome.com - "This is for high tech people like myself. I use a lot of these products."
- www.weather.com - "The only place for weather that is correct."
- www.cnn.com - "Simply the best for up to date news on the web."
Websites Worth Checking Out!
Snopes.com (www.snopes.com) - Before you erase the JDBGMGR.EXE file off of your system files, mail your old sneakers to Nike hoping for a free pair in return or call up your friend with the latest "friend of a friend" story involving infected needles on gas pumps, you should definitely surf over to Snopes.com. The site is a catalog of the hoaxes, rumors and sometimes-true stories that circulate via email on a daily basis, including what are commonly called "urban legends" along with email hoaxes and virus scares. (To ease your mind, the email urging you to erase JDBGMGR.EXE is a hoax - erasing the file is harmless but unnecessary. You will also not receive free sneakers by mailing your old ones to Nike. And despite what you heard, there isn't any documented case of people getting bitten by poisonous spiders using the bathroom at Olive Garden.)
NationMaster (www.nationmaster.com) - Did you know that the former-Soviet Ukraine has more Internet Service Providers than any other non-English speaking country? The Finns are perhaps the world's greatest athletes, ranked first at summer Olympics and third in winter games? American women have the most powerful jobs? Compiling just about every national statistic in existence, NationMaster.com is a boon for fans of trivial pursuit and Jeopardy, a blessing for students and a neat site for the rest of us to kill a few hours. Visitors can rank countries by crime rates, number of automobiles or televisions per capita and hundreds of other statistics. Find out which countries are the richest, most trigger-happy, most taxed, most generous or most educated.
Arts & Letters Daily (www.artsandlettersdaily.com) - A service of the Chronicle of Higher Education, Arts & Letters Daily is an excellent spot to get a healthy daily does of culture, debate or criticism. The site offers true "fair and balanced" ideas by linking to articles on other sites across the political, ideological and geographical spectrum. Updated six days per week, with a link each day to an article of note, a book review and an essay or opinion on the arts, philosophy or politics, Arts & Letters Daily will no doubt post something that will challenge you, open you to a new perspective or add another website or publication to your reading list.
Healthfinder (www.healthfinder.gov) - Run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthfinder is a comprehensive directory to all health related information. The site features selected information and Web sites from over 1,700 health-related organizations, including health related news, online check-ups and quizzes and a directory of health related organizations. The information is organized alphabetical, by topic or by your specific gender, age, race, ethnic origin or role in helping others care for their health. Fall is a busy time of year - we want you to be healthy!
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