Cozahost Newsletter Archive

Newsletter Archive

The about to be released Windows XP service pack 2 will make the internet a lot safer for all of us.  A range of new functions and features will deliver a blow for the good guys, but your web site might be in danger... 

You are welcome to forward this newsletter to anyone you think may benefit. 
 

The new software is called NukeX and we will be devoting a special issue of the newsletter (later this month) to this breakthrough product.  This software is so technically advanced it allows ANYONE to build a web site in less than an hour.  No kidding. 

The reseller product will also be covered next time, but if you can't wait or have clients you want to provide web hosting for you may sneak a peek here.

Both of these products have to wait for more urgent news however:

If you are using Windows XP, then the internet is about to change for the better.  Microsoft will release service pack 2 for Windows XP in the next few weeks - the most significant advance in preventing worms, viruses, adware, spyware and other vermin in the history of Microsoft operating systems.

The service pack will not only affect XP users, but also anyone who owns or operates a web site.  Since the service pack makes XP much more secure, your web site may be "broken" when viewed by an XP SP2 user unless your site adheres to the new rules used by XP to determine whether or not your site is "safe".

This service pack will have a HUGE impact on security on the internet, your PC and on your web site.

If you are still using Windows 95 or Windows 98, you need to upgrade.  Or you may have to stop using the internet.
 

I spoke to a newsletter reader last week who installed a personal firewall on his PC for the first time.  Soon after installing his firewall, the software identified hundreds of ghostly fingers reaching out from the internet and probing his PC for weaknesses.  (The image of an involuntary prostate examination came to mind)

He wanted to know if this was a normal thing.  I told him it was, and shifted uncomfortably on my chair.

Before he installed his firewall he was not aware of the fact that there are thousands of computers actively searching for new victims to infect.

We spoke about how the internet deteriorated to the point where children are sent porn spam, how hundreds of new viruses are developed each month and how much of a hassle it has become to use the internet.  The situation has gotten so bad that people are actually deciding to stop using the internet altogether.

People love to blame Microsoft for bad and insecure software, but the truth is that the most devastating attacks are based on vulnerabilities that have already been patched.  The problem is that the majority of people do not keep their operating system secure - like driving 120Kph at night with your car lights off and then blaming the car when you crash.

Microsoft certainly deserves a lot of blame, but the sad fact is that 66% of all internet threats exist because majority of people do not run adequate protection for their PCs.  These unprotected PCs are hijacked to send spam, viruses and worms to all of us.

Microsoft built their operating systems based on the original philosophy behind the PC  - i.e. a PERSONAL computer.  You can run any software you please - any way you like.  It is open by default. 

In the internet age unlimited freedom is leading to unprecedented chaos.

This is about to change - permanently.

Microsoft will be announcing service pack 2 for XP in the next few weeks.  This free update will "reprogram" Windows XP to be CLOSED by default with a lot of new features and basic operating system changes that will make it much more difficult for virus writers to sneak destructive programs onto your computer.  It is the most significant initiative to fight back the bad guys on the internet Microsoft has ever taken. 

Here are the most significant changes to Windows XP:

New firewall for XP

The existing firewall in Windows XP is disabled by default, which means that unless you went through the trouble to find and configure it, your PC was at the mercy of "probing-fingers".  (By the way, these fingers don't just probe like your friendly doctor: they rip out anything they manage to grab onto.)

After you install XP Service pack 2, a new firewall will be installed and enabled by default.  This firewall is miles better than it's predecessor but since it is not as sophisticated as some professional grade firewalls you can disable it if you want and run your own favorite instead.

For the vast majority of users this firewall is adequate protection to put hundreds of new viruses out of business immediately and permanently.  The mistaken belief that an anti-virus program provide adequate protection against virus infections are now mute because all XP users will be protected by a firewall.  At last.

Much more secure Internet Explorer for safer web browsing

A large percentage of security problems arose from weaknesses in Internet Explorer (the web browser).  Users were tricked into visiting web pages that could install viruses, spy ware or spam bots on their PCs without their knowledge.  As from service pack 2, any web site that uses pop-ups, ActiveX components, invisible downloads, Microsoft java scripts or browser helpers will either cause the user to be prompted for permission or will not be allowed to display at all.

Generally this is a good thing because you will be able to see immediately that a web site is trying to do something "sneaky", but many legitimate web sites will be affected too.  If your site uses a pop-up to advertise your newsletter or to provide a login screen, or  java script for validation, those features may stop working.  (There are several other security features that may interfere with your web site, so if you have your own web site, please see the Microsoft article on making your web site XP SP 2 ready.)

The most visible change to IE is a new information bar that allows you to allow/deny actions on a web page by web page basis.

Initially this can be quite irritating because you are prompted several times when the page tries to do something "suspicious".  In my mind this is a small price to pay to stay safe online - after all, I want to know if a web page is trying to download or install something on my PC!

Apart from the visible changes, several other low level enhancements to IE makes it more robust and resistant to future virus and worm attacks.

Add on manager

An excellent and long overdue feature now added to IE is an Add on manager.  This utility runs inside IE and allows you to selectively install, enable or disable ActiveX controls or browser extensions.  This helps enormously to get rid of the mountains of junk that web sites install on your PC to view movies, documents and other paraphernalia that serves only to eat up your disk space and processor power.  If you decide to disable a control and then visit a web site that requires it, IE will prompt you to re-activate the control.

I think the biggest surprise most people will have is when they see how much junk IE already downloaded without their knowledge!

By the way, an ActiveX is a small "helper" program that some web sites send to your PC to help it display content other than standard HTML.  Examples of these are the .pdf reader and the flash display add-on.  Both of these ActiveX controls are very useful, but others can do things like set your home page to a porn site, dial international phone numbers automatically (at night when you are sleeping), spy on your internet activities and so on.

Attachment manager

A new attachment manager integrates to Outlook Express and IE and intelligently searches for dangerous attachments when you receive them by email or via a web site download.

If you refuse to accept potentially dangerous attachments, then you cannot be infected by a virus or worm by email.  Simple isn't it?

As we have pointed out before, several new viruses are released PER DAY, so unless you keep your virus scanner updated on a twice-daily basis, you can still get infected when viruses arrive by email.  In fact, a good programmer can write a worm in less than an hour and send the resulting program to your email inbox.  Since the worm was written a short time ago, your virus scanner will NOT identify it as a virus and your PC will be infected.

The only way around this is NOT to accept any executable attachments via email (worms / viruses are programs - ie, they arrive as executable attachments in your email).  At Cozahost we have been intercepting executable email attachments for a long time, and Outlook also blocks them, but with the new service pack the majority of internet users will enjoy this security instead of the current minority.

Windows security center

This is a cool new XP feature to make sure that you are aware of the security status of your PC.  It will tell you if you don't have the latest operating system patches, warn you to install a virus scanner if one is not running and will warn you if your PC is vulnerable to attack because you are not running a firewall.

While not perfect, the new security centre will go a long way towards warning you in a simple and visible way that your PC is not adequately protected - very useful if more than one person use your PC and might install or remove software from your PC without your knowledge.

If your PC is unprotected and subject to an involuntary prostate exam - it will say so, and ask you to pretty please make a plan to protect it. :-)

This is such an obvious enhancement to Windows that one has to wonder why it was not done years ago!

Automatic operating system updates

The new automatic update tool is enabled by default to automatically download critical patches in the background while you are connected to the internet.

The new update tool is more sympathetic to dialup users and will reduce download time by only downloading the patches that apply directly to your PC.  Downloads are broken up into small blocks at a time as not to interfere too much with what you are doing online.

After the download is completed, it will wait for the next time when you shut down your PC to install the downloaded patches automatically. 

If you prefer you can configure the tool to check for updates using a schedule that you control.

At first you might spend a little more time online while your PC download critical updates, but at least it is not a manual process and you don't have to remember to do it.

In essence, if you leave your PC online, it will look after itself as far as security updates are concerned.

This does not mean that XP SP 2 will make your PC the equivalent of a bullet-proof superman, but it does get rid of the mundane aspects of maintaining your PC.  The beauty of this tool is that it is enabled by default, so you do not have to explain to novice users about updating their PC - simply leave all the default settings in place and everything will happen automatically.

Safer internet community

These new features (and several other invisible ones) change to XP makes it a much more robust and safer operating system.

Remember that every person on the internet shares responsibility to ensure that their computers do not do the equivalent of walking into a room full of people and sneezing in their faces!

The fact that XP SP 2 takes care of most of the rudimentary and mundane security procedures automatically means that fewer computers will be spreading viruses and spam on the internet.

That is very good news for all of us.

Where to from here

We don't have the space to discuss ALL the features and benefits of SP 2, so if you would like to learn more, visit the Microsoft web page for more information on Windows XP service pack 2.

Service pack 2 will be available for free download during the next few weeks, but the 80 Mb download (about 4 hours) might be a bit painful to modem users.  We will try to make the service pack available on CD for our newsletter readers (for a small fee to cover expenses) when it becomes available.

The service pack is available to all Microsoft users, so you need only one copy of the service pack for your organization, and you can make and distribute copies for your friends.

You can download a preview of service pack 2 (RC 2) here...
 

Photo Filtre
This is an easy to use (and free) graphics program that enables you to edit digital photos or make graphics for use on your web site.  More than a hundred pre-defined filters can be used to change your graphic to a special work of "art".  Give your digital a whole new lease on life. :-)  Visit the site to see the online examples gallery of manipulated images.
 

Here are some quick links to CozaHost services and products:
 

Dirk clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem. He gave her a bill for a minimum service call. As he was walking away, Heidi called after him, "So, what was wrong?"

Dirk replied, "It was an ID ten T error."

Heidi didn't want to appear stupid, but nonetheless inquired: "An ID ten T error? What's that in case I need to fix it again?"

The computer guy grinned... "Haven't you ever heard of an ID ten T error before?"

"No," Heidi replied.

"Write it down," Dirk said, "and I think you'll figure it out."

So she wrote out ... I D 1 0 T

From www.gutterville.co.za
 

Thanks for reading this newsletter and we hope you enjoyed it!  Please contact us if you have comments, suggestions or questions - we would love to hear from you!

Wishing you happy, safe and productive computing - till next time.